Behind the killer robots of Ukraine's new warfare 'revolution'

Ukrainian military units are increasingly deploying unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to gain a technological advantage against Russian forces, aiming to preserve troop lives on the drone-saturated battlefield. Workshops near the front lines, like one run by Ukraine's Third Army Corps, are developing and integrating these robots, which can carry explosives, transport supplies, evacuate injured personnel, and even capture prisoners. Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi of the Third Army Corps described the gradual replacement of infantrymen with UGVs as the next "revolution" in warfare, stating, "The West slept through the (drone) revolution in many ways." The corps aims to replace about one-third of its frontline troops with UGVs by year-end. While UGVs have limitations, they are performing a wide range of dangerous tasks, with the defense ministry reporting over 50,000 logistics and evacuation missions this year. Deputy commander "Bar" noted their effectiveness in combined operations with aerial drones, emphasizing, "It's a hunk of iron sent to do the job we used to send soldiers to do."