Ukrainian Forces Expand Use of Unmanned Ground Vehicles on Frontlines
The number of military units using UGVs has increased from approximately 50 units late last year to more than 150 across Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Ukrainian military forces are expanding the deployment of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to transport supplies and evacuate wounded soldiers from frontline positions, according to reports from military personnel. The use of these systems is reported to have grown significantly in recent months.
Scale of Deployment and Usage
According to a senior operator from the 13th Brigade of the National Guard Khartiia, using the call sign "Gurni," the number of units employing UGVs has grown sharply. Approximately 9,000 UGV missions were completed in one recent month, compared to roughly 6,000 missions three months earlier.
In the Pokrovsk area on the eastern front, an official stated that approximately 90% of supplies for the frontline are now delivered via UGVs. Units like the 5th brigade are reported to conduct multiple UGV logistical missions daily.
Primary Functions and Operations
UGVs are primarily used for two critical tasks:
- Logistics: Delivering supplies including food, ammunition, water, fuel, and equipment to frontline positions. One battalion reported completing missions that delivered over 25 tons of supplies.
- Evacuation: Transporting wounded soldiers from frontline positions. The same battalion reported evacuating more than 15 wounded personnel using UGVs.
Operations often occur at night to reduce visibility. UGVs are sometimes transported closer to the frontline by vehicle before being remotely deployed to conserve battery life, with operators controlling them from safer locations.
Reported Advantages and Rationale
Military personnel cite several reasons for the increased reliance on UGVs:
- They are designed to reduce the risk of detection and attack by drones.
- They can carry heavier equipment, such as mortars and bulk supplies, that aerial drones cannot transport.
- They are reported to be less susceptible to electronic jamming compared to aerial drones.
"It is far better to send a robot on a mission. If it is destroyed, you lose equipment. But if you send two or three soldiers and they are killed, it is a much greater loss," stated Gurni, emphasizing the core rationale of preserving personnel.
Operational Context and Challenges
The expansion follows Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, which created a battlefield dominated by artillery, drones, and surveillance. Russian forces are reported to be actively attempting to disrupt Ukrainian supply routes, particularly in areas like Pokrovsk, making traditional transport methods extremely risky.
The frontline is described as a "kill-zone" with intense drone activity from both sides, where any movement is quickly identified and engaged. This environment has led Ukrainian troops to limit personnel rotation, increasing the critical need for reliable supply delivery.
Development, Adaptation, and Limitations
- Some units build and modify UGVs in workshops. Engineers from brigades previously focused on aerial drones are now tasked with modifying UGVs, applying camouflage, and integrating communication hardware.
- The Ukrainian state is reported to encourage the expansion through incentive mechanisms that reward units for completing missions using UGVs.
- While primarily used for logistics, some units are adapting UGVs for limited combat roles, such as remotely operated platforms equipped with machine guns.
Despite their advantages, UGVs remain vulnerable to drone attacks. A fully automated battlefield where machines operate independently is described by personnel as a distant possibility requiring major technological advances.
"Without infantry, without human involvement, it will not be possible... A human cannot be fully replaced," Gurni noted, underscoring the current limitations of the technology.