The omnipresence of drones in the war between Russia and Ukraine reveals new combat strategies. Recently, the Ukrainian army reportedly carried out its first offensive using ground combat drones.
Some might call it “attack of the robots”. The spokesperson for the Khartiia Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard announced on December 20 that Ukrainian forces carried out an offensive using only robotic systems, without the use of infantry. These words were reported by the ISW, the institute for the study of war.
The operation took place in the Kharkiv sector, near the town of Lyptsi, in the east of the country. According to the military official, Ukrainian forces have deployed several dozen robotic systems, including mini tanks equipped with machine guns, as well as drones designed to plant and clear mines on enemy positions.
This unprecedented attack would have disrupted Russian positions in the region. Aerial FPV drones, almost classic in this war, accompanied their terrestrial counterparts.
Ground drones finally find use on the front in Ukraine
ISW analysts point out that this operation illustrates how Ukraine exploits technological innovations to compensate for personnel shortages.
The models used by the military have not been revealed. Land drones have multiplied on the front this year, with experimental missions launched by each side. Thus, these mini tanks were regularly used to lay mines or bring equipment. In some cases, these drones have been the cause of explosions in strategic areas.
Both camps continue to innovate in drone tactics, recently deploying models with fiber optic cables to avoid jamming.
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