Sep 24, 2026
Ukrainian ground robots cleared 30 kilometers of routes in the Shandryholove sector in two nights during Operation Vivaldi, Militarnyi reported on September 24.
The Third Army Corps told Militarnyi that unmanned ground systems completed the difficult demining task entirely on their own.
The corps estimated that two sapper companies would have needed about a week to complete the same work, whereas using robotic systems resulted in no sapper losses.
Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, said the corps sends unmanned systems ahead of infantry during assault operations.
“During assault operations, UAVs and ground robotic systems always go ahead of the infantry,” Biletskyi stated, according to Militarnyi.
Militarnyi reported that robotic systems now neutralize about 60% of anti-personnel mines in the corps’ area of responsibility.
The outlet added that the platforms also support assault operations, replacing servicemen on some of the most dangerous sections of the front.
According to Militarnyi, the corps also uses the systems for several other tasks:
- remote mining of routes used by Russian forces to advance, with one crew able to lay mines across up to 200 meters of terrain per day;
- frontline logistics, including evacuating wounded troops and delivering food, construction materials, and other equipment.
The demining effort follows the recapture of Shandryholove and Derylove and the establishment of full control over Drobysheve during the second phase of Operation Vivaldi.
The Third Army Corps says more than 125 square kilometers have come under Ukrainian control since the offensive began in the northern Donetsk region.
Days earlier, heavy bomber drones flown by the Third Assault Brigade delivered attack ground robots more than 10 kilometers behind Russian lines, in what was billed as a world first.
This is the future of warfare. Not spending billions on overpriced missiles and weapons.
Or 6000 bucks for aircraft toilet seats.