Ukraine drops kamikaze ground robots behind Russian lines using heavy drones
Ukraine's Third Army Corps says its forces used heavy bomber drones to deploy kamikaze ground robots more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) behind Russian lines during a counteroffensive operation in Donetsk Oblast.
The deployment took place during Operation Vivaldi, the corps said on Sept. 20.
According to the military, heavy bomber drones carried unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) into the Russian rear before dropping them to continue the mission on the ground.
Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, described it as the world's first operation of its kind. The claim could not be independently verified.
"Infantry wins wars, but we protect our infantry, so robots go to the enemy first," the corps said.
Ukrainian forces also used electronic warfare and air defense systems to disrupt Russian reconnaissance drones, preventing Russian troops from detecting the planned operation, according to the corps.
The deployment came during the second phase of Operation Vivaldi, a Ukrainian counteroffensive in northern Donetsk Oblast that Biletskyi first announced on Sept. 15.
The Third Army Corps said on Sept. 20 that Ukrainian forces had regained control of the settlements of Shandryholove, Derylove and Drobysheve during the latest phase of the operation.
According to the corps, Ukrainian forces have regained a total of 125 square kilometers (48 square miles) during the two phases of Operation Vivaldi, including 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) retaken from Russian occupation.