Tens of thousands of missions: Ukraine expands use of ground robots at front
Photo: Ground robotic system missions (Facebook page of the Operational Command South)
The number of missions carried out by ground robotic systems has increased 3.3-fold since the start of 2026. In August alone, the robots completed more than 25,000 logistics and evacuation missions on the front line, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
What is known about the increase in missions
As of early September, nearly 112,000 logistics and evacuation missions carried out by ground robotic systems have been recorded in the DELTA system since the start of 2026. The number of such missions has been rising every month:
- January – 7,511;
- February – 7,960;
- March – 9,072;
- April – 11,028;
- May – 14,059;
- June – 16,664;
- July – 19,940;
- August – 25,143.
As a result, the number of logistics and evacuation missions performed by ground robotic systems in the last month of summer was 3.3 times higher than in January.
On the most dangerous sections of the front, robots are used instead of personnel to deliver ammunition, water and food, as well as to evacuate wounded service members.
The growing role of ground robots on the battlefield was also highlighted this summer by Ukraine's first-ever drone parade, held in Kyiv to mark the 35th anniversary of Independence. Thirty domestically produced ground robotic systems representing six models — TerMIT, Rys PRO, Simba, Ardal, Zmii, and Ratel — rolled down Khreshchatyk Street during the event.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported on the accelerated procurement of ground robots as well, noting that the volume of contracts for ground robotic systems has nearly doubled compared with last year.
