▲ A Ukrainian military evacuation procedure using an unmanned ground vehicle is being demonstrated.
Ukraine, currently at war with Russia, has successfully launched an operation deploying a large number of unmanned robots and drones on the eastern Donbas front, recapturing significant territory previously seized by Russia, CNBC reported on October 4 (local time).
This operation is evaluated as showcasing a paradigm of modern warfare where robots are put on the front lines instead of humans, achieving military objectives while minimizing casualties.
According to the report, Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade launched a massive offensive through "Operation Vivaldi," which began last May in the area of Lyman in northern Donetsk Oblast.
It was reported that Ukrainian forces secured air superiority around Lyman to limit Russian drone operations, and taking advantage of that gap, Ukrainian drones dropped unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) behind Russian lines to attack Russian forces.
As a result, Ukrainian forces succeeded in breaking through Russian defense lines and reclaiming territory.
"In the third phase of Operation Vivaldi, we additionally recaptured 51 square kilometers, bringing the total recovered territory to 176 square kilometers," said Ukrainian Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky. "In recent battles alone, we inflicted losses on over 2,000 Russian troops and captured about 250 prisoners of war."
While drawing the line by stating that this operation does not signify a decisive turning point on the front lines, security experts emphasize that it is true it delivered a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambition to occupy Donbas.
Patrick Bolder, a defense expert at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), assessed, "After securing the skies over the Lyman region through meticulous diversionary tactics and months of aerial operations, Ukrainian forces deployed ground-based unmanned robots behind Russian lines to attack the enemy without troop casualties," adding, "It has dealt a critical blow to achieving Putin's war goals."
Serhii Kuzan, head of the Ukrainian Center for Security Cooperation (USCC), a Kyiv-based think tank close to the Ukrainian government, explained, "Remote-controlled platforms are being deployed for missions that previously required dozens or hundreds of soldiers. Operation Vivaldi has made it possible to complete missions with minimal human casualties by replacing human resources with robots."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also recently wrote on social media, "Replacing soldiers with ground robotic systems wherever possible is a very promising direction," adding, "We will significantly expand support so that drones and robots, rather than humans, perform the most dangerous missions."
Meanwhile, according to Ukrainian intelligence authorities, the Russian leadership initially sought to occupy the entirety of Donetsk Oblast by the end of this year, but having suffered extreme losses amounting to 70 to 80 percent of total casualties in key areas here, they have postponed the goal achievement deadline to March of next year.
(Photo: Getty Images)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.