In September 2024, the third Ukrainian combat corps deployed small ground robots behind enemy lines as part of Operation Vivaldi near Lyman in the Russian-occupied Donbass region. This marked a significant step in the use of robotics in modern warfare. Since 2025, both Ukrainian and Russian forces have increasingly relied on ground robots, driven in part by the rise in FPV drones—drones that allow remote pilots to see live video from the drone’s perspective. These drones can carry kamikaze robots, which are designed to strike targets and are capable of reaching more than 10 km behind enemy lines. As part of Operation Vivaldi, the Ukrainian 3rd Corps used small ground robots to target Russian positions. The corps claimed this was a "world first" in battlefield robotics. According to Stéphane Audrand, an expert in international risk management, the Ukrainians had previously tested the use of larger Vampire drones to drop smaller FPV drones, which allows ground robots to conserve battery life and operate further into enemy territory. These robots can be used for reconnaissance, precision demining, and even setting up ambushes with mini-mines. Bruno Cruchant, director of public affairs at Shark Robotics, noted that drones and robots are increasingly working together on the Ukrainian front. Drones can act as radio relays or guide robots that might lose sight of their targets. In July 2025, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported ordering more than 22,000 unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) since the start of the year, doubling the number ordered in the previous year. In June 2025 alone, Ukrainian forces used over 16,600 robotic systems for logistical and evacuation tasks, a significant increase from earlier months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a goal of deploying at least 50,000 ground robots by 2026. Over 200 Ukrainian companies now produce robotic platforms, and the Brave1 program has tested hundreds of prototypes. In 2026, 67 new robotic models were certified for use in combat. However, Stéphane Audrand notes that while the use of robots has surged, the loss rate remains high. The challenge for Ukraine is to shift dangerous logistics and support tasks to robots, reducing the risk to human soldiers. One of the latest robotic models used on the front is the Varkhan, developed by the Ukrainian company Air3F. It can carry supplies, deliver medicine, and travel at 20 km/h with a 72-hour battery life and a 300 kg maximum load. On the Russian side, the Kurier robot has been frequently seen on the battlefield, noted by the military website Militarnyi. Though primarily used for logistics, the Kurier can also be armed with machine guns or grenade launchers. Cruchant explains that the rise in robotic use is closely tied to the increased deployment of FPV drones. Each mission performed by a robot saves a Ukrainian soldier, but the robot is still controlled by a human operator located dozens of kilometers behind the front. The push for greater autonomy in these robots is growing, with the goal of allowing a single human to control a swarm of robots. Cruchant mentioned partnerships with Ukrainian robotics firm Tencore, which has deployed thousands of robots on the front, aiming to innovate for Ukraine and other countries. In France, the Pendragon program by the Amiad (Ministerial Agency for Defense Artificial Intelligence) is developing algorithms to improve robot autonomy. Audrand suggests that the roles of these robots may shift increasingly toward combat. Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhailo Fedorov announced a robot army project in Lviv in September 2025, aiming to fund the development of a combat-ready humanoid robot made in Ukraine by 2027. At the start of 2026, two Phantom MK-1 humanoid robots from the American startup Foundation were sent to Ukraine for field testing, marking a first step in moving humans further away from the battlefield, though infantry remains essential for now.