Ukrainian forces use robots to kill Russian troops in Kupiansk
Photo: Ukrainian forces take out Russian troops in Kupiansk using robots (DevDroid)
In Kupiansk, the Lava regiment of the 2nd Khartiia Corps of the National Guard used robots to carry out an operation to eliminate a unit of Russian troops who took up positions in a house, according to the Khartiia YouTube channel.
During the operation, Ukrainian troops used various types of drones — strike UAVs equipped with grenade launchers, explosive-laden kamikaze drones, and others.
"As a result of the operation, the Russian stronghold was destroyed, personnel were eliminated, and an ammunition depot was destroyed," the Lava regiment said.
No soldiers were deployed on the battlefield during the operation. At the same time, Khartiia noted that dozens of service members were involved behind the scenes — planners, reconnaissance teams, operators, engineers, mechanics, and communications specialists.
"Khartiia and Lava continue to demonstrate a new quality of the Ukrainian military — technological, smart, and based on efficiency, planning, and preparation," the video said.
What is known about Lava
In September 2025, the 2nd Corps of the National Guard’s Khartiia announced the creation of a new unit — the Lava unmanned systems battalion, which became the corps’ first robotic unit. In April 2026, the battalion was expanded into a regiment.
Lava is a high-tech unit working with various types of drones: multirotor and fixed-wing, reconnaissance and strike UAVs, as well as unmanned ground vehicles.
At the same time, the regiment is developing its own R&D initiatives: adapting unmanned ground vehicles for different logistics missions, integrating artificial intelligence into robot control, and developing combat applications for their use.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that for the first time, Ukrainian forces managed to take control of an enemy position using drones and unmanned ground vehicles, without infantry involvement.
In addition, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said that in March, robotic systems carried out 50% more missions than in February.
