Behind the killer robots of Ukraine's new warfare 'revolution'

Ukraine is expanding unmanned ground vehicles across the 1,200-kilometre front for explosive attack, logistics, casualty evacuation, firefighting and direct-fire support. Reuters observed the Third Army Corps' NC13 unit operating wheeled and tracked systems, including 20-kilogram explosive-laden Hyenas, while Ukraine's defence ministry recorded more than 50,000 UGV logistics and evacuation missions this year. Corps commander Andrii Biletskyi wants robots to replace about one-third of frontline personnel by year-end as ubiquitous aerial surveillance makes movement increasingly dangerous. Operators still cite obstacles, limited production and the inability to clear buildings or trenches as constraints, leaving UGVs complementary to infantry rather than substitutes.