Are ground robots becoming the new soldiers of war?

Both Moscow and Kyiv are putting their focus on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) — robots designed to support logistics, firepower and casualty evacuation.

These systems, once peripheral to military strategy, are now playing a growing role in direct battlefield engagement, as seen in Russia's war in Ukraine.

How Ukraine is expanding its robotic arsenal

Ukraine has steadily increased its investment in robotic warfare since 2024, aiming to reduce soldier exposure by relying on autonomous or remotely operated ground vehicles.

One of the key additions to its defense inventory is the Murakha, a tracked robotic platform designed for front-line operations, particularly under artillery fire or in heavily mined environments.

The Murakha, developed for utility in difficult battlefield conditions, stands out due to its size and capacity. It can transport loads exceeding 500 kilogrammes over considerable distances, crossing challenging landscapes and even shallow water.

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Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has stated that its control systems allow it to remain functional in areas affected by Russian electronic warfare measures.

In April, another vehicle — the D-21-12R — was unveiled.

This UGV comes equipped with a machine gun and joins a growing family of military robots intended to undertake a range of critical operations, including direct assault, defensive action, rescue missions, demining and logistical support.

Recently, Ukraine also approved the Targan robotic logistics system, created by domestic engineers under the Brave1 initiative.

The Targan, approved for field use in late 2024, is electrically powered and fitted with large rubber wheels, capable of carrying up to 200 kilogrammes of material across rugged terrain. It comes in multiple variants, with its standard version offering a range of 20 kilometers.

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Other Ukrainian systems, such as the Sirko-S1 and Volia-E, which entered service in mid-2024, have payload capacities of 150–200 kilogrammes and are also used to evacuate injured personnel.

Additionally, Ukraine has received foreign-supplied ground robots like the German Gereon RCS, Estonian THeMIS and Czech Trail-Blazer, expanding the technological diversity of its robotic fleet.

How ground robots are being used on the frontline

Ukrainian forces have proven adept at reimagining the use of both imported and locally made equipment. Kuldar Väärsi, founder and CEO of Milrem Robotics, a company based in Estonia, noted that Ukrainian troops are finding creative ways to utilize their ground robots more effectively.

“Ukrainian troops are really creative, and they really find very simple ways how to get even more out of the equipment,” he told Business Insider.

Milrem’s flagship UGV, the THeMIS, can be customised with various payloads including weapons and demining gear. It can transport nearly 1,200 kilogrammes and travel up to 19 kilometers per hour.

Väärsi explained that the motivation is straightforward: “If you give a tool to a soldier, then he will use it as it seems most appropriate… It is literally a question of life and death.”

The Da Vinci Wolves Battalion in Ukraine uses these systems for high-risk operations such as laying mines, collecting fallen soldiers, and carrying explosives close to Russian targets.

Oleksandr Yabchanka, who leads the battalion’s robotic systems, likens their flexibility to childhood construction toys: “The ground robotised systems are Lego sets… We all remember Lego. We were growing up together with those kits.”

His unit adapts a single robot design for multiple purposes due to limited availability of specialized models, reported Business Insider.

This approach aligns with broader Ukrainian innovation during the war, which has seen Soviet and Western hardware reconfigured for entirely new purposes — such as mounting outdated weapons on trucks, repurposing cruise missiles and integrating commercial drone parts into military platforms.

How Russia is deploying robots

Russia, too, has responded to Ukraine’s technological adaptation by increasing its own use of ground-based robots.

Facing similar challenges on a 600-mile front — particularly vulnerable supply lines frequently targeted by drones — Russia has introduced platforms like the Volchanin, developed by the Volsk Military Logistics Institute, for resupply and casualty evacuation.

It has also deployed the Courier, a multifunctional UGV with a large payload capacity designed for both logistics and combat.

Russian forces have been observed conducting training sessions with these systems. In one video posted in late 2023, troops are seen using a wheeled robot to transport supplies and wounded soldiers across the battlefield.

🇷🇺Russian forces use homemade transport bot to move supplies around in Avdeevka without coming under fire: pic.twitter.com/s9tpHGFNEc

— SIMPLICIUS Ѱ (@simpatico771) December 3, 2023

Another post featured a tracked vehicle moving across a combat zone in Donetsk before being destroyed by Ukrainian drone strikes.

More recently, Russian media footage from Chasiv Yar displayed larger and faster robots — some equipped with anti-drone cages — suggesting that Russia is improving the size, speed, and resilience of its ground robotic fleet.

Despite their technological differences, both countries are united by a strategic need: minimising human casualties while maintaining the flow of supplies and firepower.

Robotic resupply offers a cost-effective, safer alternative to manned convoys, especially in contested zones where aerial surveillance and attacks are constant.

Why these battle ground robots are crucial now

The use of ground robots for logistical operations is not just about saving lives but about operational sustainability.

With manpower constraints on both sides, unmanned systems free up soldiers for direct combat duties. Furthermore, losing a robot to enemy action is far less costly than losing a soldier, both strategically and emotionally.

These platforms leverage robotics expertise initially developed in aerial drone warfare. Ground-based autonomy is comparatively less complex; UGVs navigate two-dimensional terrain and can follow preprogrammed routes.

Some models operate using onboard sensors and basic navigation systems without relying on external communications that can be jammed — a critical feature on today’s electronic warfare-heavy battlefield.

Robots are also being increasingly deployed in urban settings where traditional resupply is logistically difficult. A Ukrainian post from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade shows robots being loaded with supplies near Pokrovsk.

Conversely, Russian drone footage captured two Ukrainian UGVs moving swiftly through Chasiv Yar, demonstrating their operational reach even in contested areas.

As Ukraine and Russia deploy more robotic systems for more missions on the frontlines, the question of whether ground robots could one day replace human soldiers is no longer theoretical.

With inputs from agencies