united24media.com
Ukraine Makes World-First Airborne Robot Assault Behind Russian Lines During Counteroffensive
Ukraine deployed attack ground robots from heavy bomber drones more than 10 kilometers behind Russian lines during a counteroffensive in northern Donetsk region—a tactic the Third Army Corps described as a world first. According to Ukraine’s Third Army Corps on September 21, the airborne deployment was carried out during the second phase of Operation Vivaldi, with heavy drones operated by the Third Assault Brigade carrying unmanned ground vehicles, or UGVs, deep into the Russian rear. The operation effectively turned the ground robots into payloads for larger aerial drones. Instead of traveling across kilometers of contested terrain to reach Russian positions, the UGVs were flown over the front and deployed closer to their targets. Third Army Corps commander Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi said Ukrainian forces were the first in the world to deploy ground robotic systems in this way, with the attack UGVs transported more than 10 kilometers behind enemy lines. “Wars are won by infantry, but we protect our infantry. That is why robots go to the enemy first,” the Third Army Corps said. The robot deployment formed part of a broader operation designed to disrupt Russian defenses before Ukrainian troops advanced. The Corps said Ukrainian air defense and electronic...
