Ukraine using robots as it faces shortage of soldiers

Amidst a battlefield saturated with deadly Russian drones, Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly deploying agile, remote-controlled armoured vehicles to undertake critical tasks and safeguard personnel from hazardous operations. The Ukrainian army is particularly keen to utilise these “robots on wheels,” which resemble miniature tanks, as it grapples with a soldier shortage in a conflict now spanning over three and a half years.

These versatile machines are capable of ferrying essential supplies, clearing dangerous mines, and evacuating both the wounded and the deceased. “It cannot fully replace people,” said the commander of a platoon of the 20th Lyubart Brigade who goes by the call sign Miami and spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military rules. “I would put it this way: A person can go in there, but for a human it’s (sometimes) far too dangerous.”

The robotic vehicles are mostly made by Ukrainian companies and range in cost from about $1,000 to as much as $64,000, depending on their size and capabilities. While they have become vital to Ukrainian troops along the 1,000 kilometer (620 mile) front line, such vehicles are not new to warfare.

The German army used a remote-controlled miniature tank — tethered by a wire — called the Goliath in World War II. In recent decades, the US, Israel, Britain and China have developed modern versions used for combat engineering and other battlefield roles, according to Ben Barry, a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. But Ukraine’s extensive deployment of these vehicles is noteworthy and could lead to advances, Barry said. The Russian army also uses remote-controlled vehicles. Miami joined the army on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. He served as an infantryman and later a drone operator before his latest assignment. His path reflects how the war itself has evolved.

“I couldn’t even imagine that I would become a (drone) pilot,” he said. “But war is progress, and we cannot stand aside.” The robotic vehicles his team deploys are armoured and mounted on either wheels or tracks. Painted in military colours, they crawl slowly over rubble or dirt roads, easily navigating terrain that would be difficult — or too dangerous — for soldiers.

“They arrive in one condition, and we improve them,” Miami said. “We adapt the controls to work better (in the face of Russia’s) electronic warfare so the connection doesn’t cut off.” Miami’s 10-man team is just starting to incorporate the machines into their missions, mostly using them to deliver food and ammunition to soldiers near the front. Just like remote-controlled, or first-person view, drones, the use of these vehicles will only grow, said a soldier in Miami’s unit who goes by the call sign Akim and spoke on condition of anonymity. “When FPV drones first appeared, they weren’t popular, but those who pioneered them, (now) show (the best) results,” said Akim.

Before sending a remote-controlled vehicle forward, Akim flies a drone along the planned route to check for obstacles or mines. Operating from a cramped basement near Kostiantynivka, less than 10 kilometres from the front, Akim can hear the muffled thuds of aerial bombs, the sharp cracks of artillery and the buzzing of drones. Kostiantynivka, once home to 67,000 people, is a largely deserted city on a shrinking patch of Ukrainian-held territory just west of Bakhmut. It is nearly encircled on three sides by Russian forces. Apartment blocks are scarred by strikes, smoke still rises from recent bombings, and the roads leading toward nearby Pokrovsk are littered with burned-out cars.

The aerial drone allows Akim to scout the city and routes without risking his life. “Every time a drone or a robot does something, it means one of our fighters doesn’t have to,” Akim said. On top of that, “the machine doesn’t get tired. It can carry as much as needed.” Akim works in tandem with another soldier operating the robotic vehicle with a joystick. The vehicle has no camera; instead, Akim’s drone feed provides its “eyes.” On one recent mission, the team loaded it with 200 kilogrammes (440 pounds) of supplies — ammunition, fuel, water and food — and sent it several kilometres to drone operators closer to the front. The machine moved forward at about six kilometres per hour, delivered its cargo into a well-hidden position in the forest, and returned to base.