War without people: the Armed Forces of Ukraine predict battles between robots as early as 2026
Фото: Телеграф
In 2026, not only infantry, tanks, and FPV drones will converge in the combat zone at the front, but also ground robotic systems (GRS).
This was told to “Telegraph” by the commander of the first Ukrainian unit of ground attack robots of the 3rd assault brigade, Mykola “Makar” Zinkevich.
According to him, ground drones are already carrying out logistics, evacuation, storming enemy positions, and sometimes even taking Russian occupiers prisoner. Ukrainian drones win the competition in technology due to their cheapness, maneuverability, and unmanned format, which saves the lives of fighters.
According to Mykola Zinkevich, the NRC have been participating in battles for a year and a half, mostly in logistical and evacuation areas. For the first time, he saw two fighters evacuate a wounded “three hundredth” with the help of a robot, without risking their lives.
“If it weren’t for the NRC, four soldiers would have had to be removed from their positions and dragged under fire. And so, only iron is at risk,” says Makar.
After that, the unit began to actively develop the direction. First, a platoon, then a separate NRC company in the brigade.
Currently, four types of ground-based drones are used on the front:
tow trucks and logistics platforms,
mining robots,
turret robots,
kamikaze robots.
Zinkevich described how the NRK of his unit conducted a full-scale assault on an enemy position without involving infantry. After preliminary artillery preparation, four ground “kamikazes” with explosives set off for the fortified Russian position.
One of the enemy fighters, instead of resisting, surrendered, writing “I surrender” on cardboard and showing it to the robot camera. Instead of detonating, the NRC took the prisoner to the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“For the first time, we conducted an assault operation without infantry at all. And we took a prisoner. This is a psychological shock for the enemy,” says Makar.
Ukrainian ground drones are already partially replacing traditional equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, at least in logistics and evacuation. One medium-capacity UAV is capable of transporting 800 kg of cargo per day, which is equivalent to the work of 41 infantrymen, Zinkevich says.
“Our unit transports about 300 thousand kilograms of cargo per year. And this without risking people’s lives,” he adds.
The cost of one NRC is from $5 to $15 thousand, which is several times cheaper than classic equipment.
Despite the effectiveness of ground-based drones, not all units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are implementing NRC. The reasons are not a shortage of equipment, but outdated command approaches, explains Makar.
“There are units that still live by Soviet statutes. And there are those that are actively implementing the NRC and are scaling up to companies and battalions,” he says.
Among the leaders are the 3rd Assault, 92nd, 93rd, “Charter”, “K2”.
According to Zinkevich, the enemy also uses ground-based drones, but the scale of their use is still small — or carefully concealed. However, as with FPV drones, the Armed Forces of Ukraine expect a sharp increase in Russian activity in this direction in 2026.
“Soon we will see battles not only between infantry, but also between robots. As is now in the sky, drones destroy drones. It will be the same on the ground,” says Makar.
Zinkevich emphasizes: domestic NRCs have no analogues. They are developed for front-line realities, often without unnecessary functions that burden expensive Western models.
“Our developments have feedback from the military, they adapt quickly. And that is why they are effective,” says the commander.
Each NRC in the unit has a call sign. They are not just exploited – they are treated like brothers.
“They carry provisions, rescue the wounded, and haul weapons. This is no longer just equipment — it is part of the unit,” adds Makar.
As reported, the Ukrainian company Fulltime Robotics is creating a portable SlimBeam laser to combat enemy FPV drones .
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