( DNIPROPETROVSK OBLAST, UKRAINE ) – Ukraine’s armed forces are accelerating a shift in modern warfare by expanding the frontline use of ground based drones across a growing number of combat units, aiming to counter Russia’s advantage in manpower and reduce risks to Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian commanders say these systems are increasingly used not only for support roles such as logistics, transport, and casualty evacuation, but also for direct combat. The approach seeks to create conditions in which Russian assault units encounter remotely operated machines rather than exposed Ukrainian troops.
The Ukrainian 5th Assault Brigade has become one of the main drivers of this change in its sector of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The brigade has built on operational methods developed earlier by the Third Army Corps near Lyman, expanding the role of ground robots from rear area support into active combat platforms designed to control contested terrain.
Workshops and instructors linked to the Third Army Corps have developed into a regional centre for frontline robotics. Dozens of Ukrainian units now pass through for training or technical assistance. Some arrive with no prior experience, while others bring damaged or unfinished drones for repair and configuration. Engineers also receive practical guidance on how to set up their own field workshops close to the front. Ukrainian officers say this has encouraged more units to view ground drones as an effective offensive tool against numerically superior Russian forces.
As a result, armed ground robots are increasingly deployed to guard roads and supply routes. Hidden along tree lines, embankments, and ruined buildings, they monitor key approaches using thermal sensors and night vision equipment. From these concealed positions, the machines can ambush vehicles, engage infantry with mounted weapons, place mines, or direct aerial drones toward targets.
Compared with aerial drones, Ukrainian ground robots are harder to detect, less affected by poor weather, and able to remain in position for extended periods without revealing their location. Their heavier payloads and stable firing platforms allow more sustained and accurate fire than small flying drones can provide.
Footage released by the 5th Assault Brigade illustrates how the system is used in practice. In one video, a Ukrainian ground drone equipped with night vision is sent to patrol a route used by Russian forces advancing toward Oleksiivka. Moving along a forest road at night, the drone detects an approaching Russian armoured vehicle and positions itself for an ambush. The vehicle advances without comparable night vision capability and appears unaware it has been identified. At close range, the drone opens fire, disabling the vehicle and halting the assault without exposing Ukrainian personnel to danger.
Ukrainian officers say this reflects a broader shift on the battlefield, where engagements are increasingly decided by sensors, remote control systems, and pre positioned firepower rather than direct infantry contact. In areas where they are deployed, such systems are described as providing a significant tactical advantage.
While Ukraine continues to expand the use of drones in frontline roles, Russia has largely relied on manpower intensive assaults by mobilised soldiers. Ukrainian officials say many of these troops receive limited training and are sent forward with inadequate equipment. In contrast, Ukraine is deploying remotely operated systems that can function continuously, unaffected by fatigue or darkness.
According to Ukrainian military data, the expansion of drone warfare during the second half of last year coincided with a sharp rise in Russian losses. Ukrainian forces reported striking more than 106,000 targets and killing about 33,000 Russian soldiers in December alone. Ukrainian commanders attribute this to improved logistics and engineering support, allowing drone batteries to be replaced, weapons reloaded, and ground robots returned to position within minutes.
Equipped with thermal imaging and coordinated with aerial drones, these systems operate effectively in poor weather and at night. Ukrainian analysts say this leaves Russian units with little concealment and contributes to an accelerating cycle of attrition as Ukraine continues to assign ground based drones to more offensive tasks along the front line.
