‘Army of Robots’: Ukraine turns to machines for its most dangerous missions

Ukraine is unveiling the 'Army of Robots' initiative, focusing on automation for the battlefield (Photo credit: Serhii Mykhalchuk)Ukraine is stepping up its push to bring robots deeper into warfare, with former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov announcing a new “Army of Robots” initiative aimed at developing machines that can take on some of the most dangerous tasks on the battlefield.According to the Kyiv Independent, Fedorov announced the initiative on September 26, describing it as a defence-tech ecosystem that will support the development, testing and deployment of robotic systems for military use.The initiative is intended to build on Ukraine’s experience with drones and expand unmanned warfare from the skies to the ground.Fedorov said the initiative will focus on developing technologies that can reduce soldiers’ exposure to danger, with robots potentially carrying out missions such as reconnaissance, transporting ammunition, evacuating wounded troops, laying and clearing mines, defending positions and conducting strikes.He said the goal is to create a system in which machines can be sent into areas where deploying human soldiers would carry a higher risk, marking a further shift towards unmanned systems in Ukraine’s battlefield strategy.The initiative draws on the model of Ukraine’s “Army of Drones”, which helped accelerate the development and deployment of unmanned aerial systems after Russia’s full-scale invasion.Fedorov’s plans include the development of humanoid robots capable of carrying out basic battlefield tasks, while other robotic platforms could be used alongside drones for reconnaissance, logistics and combat operations.Robots are already moving into Ukraine's frontlineThe “Army of Robots” initiative builds on a growing use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) by Ukraine's military.According to Ukraine's defence ministry, UGVs carried out more than 25,000 logistics and evacuation missions in August 2026, taking the total number of such missions since the beginning of the year to about 112,000. The systems have been used to deliver ammunition, food and water and evacuate wounded soldiers from high-risk areas.Ukraine's Defence Procurement Agency said more than 22,000 UGVs had been contracted in 2026 by July, nearly twice the number contracted during the whole of 2025.The majority were logistics systems, followed by engineering and combat platforms, with some designed for ammunition delivery, casualty evacuation and reconnaissance-strike missions.Why robots are becoming increasingly important on the battlefieldThe growing importance of battlefield robots is being driven by the need to keep soldiers away from increasingly dangerous frontline zones.Ukraine's Defence Ministry says ground robotic systems are being used for logistics, ammunition delivery, casualty evacuation and other missions without putting personnel directly into strike zones.Reuters reported earlier this month that Ukrainian units are increasingly deploying UGVs to carry explosives, transport supplies and evacuate wounded troops, with commanders viewing them as a way to reduce human casualties while increasing operational flexibility.Nato's research identifies reducing casualties, lowering manpower requirements and improving operational effectiveness among the main drivers behind the adoption of robotic and autonomous systems. The US Army is also expanding the use of unmanned systems, saying they can increase lethality while reducing risk to soldiers