Ukraine to Bolster Robot Army
Ukraine is planning a major shift toward automation on the battlefield, with officials announcing the deployment of 15,000 uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) in 2025, The Gaze reports citing Forbes. The move comes in response to personnel shortages and growing battlefield demands.
Contracts for UGVs surged from $2.5 million in late 2024 to $150 million in early 2025, reflecting a dramatic investment in robotic systems. These machines range from logistics carriers and mine-clearers to weaponized robots capable of assault missions.
Yet, only a fraction of approved models are currently in active service due to cost, logistical challenges, and operational complexity.
“It’s no secret that Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of personnel,” said Kateryna Bondar of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). “This creates an urgent, existential need to substitute human roles with robotic systems.”
“The future is all about autonomy and AI,” Bondar noted.
Ukraine has already conducted a fully remote-controlled assault using drones and UGVs, aiming to gather tactical knowledge and reduce human exposure. Defensive robotic systems—such as automated turrets—are also increasingly common.
Despite future ambitions involving humanoid robots, current technology struggles with terrain, mobility, and power limitations.
For now, UGVs will serve a supporting role alongside human forces, helping reduce risk and casualties in Ukraine’s high-tech war effort.
Read more on The Gaze: Inside Ukraine’s “Techno-Army”: How Startups Are Rewriting Rules of Warfare