For the first time, Ukrainian forces have captured a Russian position using only drones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), President Volodymyr Zelensky said, describing the operation as a milestone in the evolution of modern warfare.
"For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms—UGVs and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and this operation was carried out without the participation of infantry and without losses on our side," Zelensky said in a video statement [8] released April 13. The video showed Zelensky speaking in a room full of various drones and UGVs. He did not give a precise location for the territory taken in the operation.
The president said various robotic systems, including the Ratel, Termit, Ardal, Lynx, Snake, Protector and Volya, have carried out more than 22,000 missions over the past three months, aimed at reducing risks to personnel in high-danger areas.
"Lives were saved more than 22,000 times—a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a soldier. This is about high technologies in defense of the highest value—human life," Zelensky said.
Earlier this month, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reported a sharp increase in the use of ground robots on the front lines, with more than 9,000 missions completed [10] in March alone. This marks a sharp rise from roughly 2,900 operations in November 2025. (SOFX [11])
