Russia Considers Unmanned T-72 Tank Units to Support Future Assaults in Ukraine

Russian officials are considering dedicated units of remotely controlled T-72-derived assault vehicles after trials of unmanned armour during the Tsentr-2026 exercise. Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov discussed the possibility of using such vehicles to support attacking troops while keeping human crews away from the most exposed positions. Demonstrated concepts include modified tank chassis with remote driving, camera-based observation and weapon-control equipment, with configurations intended for direct fire or assault support. No formal decision, unit establishment date or deployment plan has been announced, and remote operation should not be confused with autonomous target selection.