Drones and Robots: How Technology is Changing the War in Ukraine | EUROtoday

As of: April 20, 2026 • 3:35 a.m

According to Ukraine, solely robots are stated to have taken a Russian place for the primary time. The assertion can’t be verified independently. But one factor is definite: know-how has lengthy since modified warfare.

Artur Bulygin is organizing a robotic competitors in Kyiv. To be extra exact, unmanned land autos compete right here – remotely managed by troopers who wish to compete by way of pace, ability and precision. Bulygin needs to carry collectively the most effective pilots in Ukraine with the most effective producers within the nation, he explains.

“A whole industry has emerged in Ukraine.” If you examine Ukrainian and worldwide producers, “in my opinion, the Ukrainian ones are several steps ahead.”

Short distances, much less Production prices

The Ukrainian authorities has additionally acknowledged this. It is making an attempt to make use of the nation’s quickly growing arms business diplomatically. President Volodymyr Zelensky has concluded a number of arms agreements with numerous European companions in current weeks.

“Our soldiers know how to best use these systems and have a short route to the manufacturers,” explains Bulygin. If one thing must be modified, the knowledge could be handed on shortly and the system could be adjusted shortly. “Production costs also play an important role. Ukrainian manufacturers produce 10 to 20 times cheaper than European ones.”

Drones at the moment are monitoring a kilometer-wide so-called dying zone from the air in Ukraine. Anyone who stays right here could be attacked at any time. Because the route by way of the zone is so harmful, troopers on the entrance line usually have to remain of their positions for months. They are provided with drones and unmanned autos.

Ground drones for totally different functions

“The war has changed radically,” says Artem. He is a technician within the Ukrainian military. “In 2022, the Russians still had the upper hand in artillery. We were under a lot of pressure. Now everyone is relying on drones and robots.”

In a small workshop within the east of the nation, Artem repairs unmanned land autos. They are of various sizes and carry out totally different duties: provide, evacuation, reconnaissance, laying mines or barbed wire – in some circumstances even fight missions. The Ukrainian president claims that it was not too long ago even doable to take a Russian place utilizing solely robots. This can’t be confirmed – however it’s inside the realm of chance.

“You don’t have to have studied for it,” says Artem. The wheels on the automobile he’s presently engaged on are from an e-scooter, he explains. “I just put the rubber tires on it because of the mud. It’s all very simple: a battery, a controller, a motor – connected to a control board.” A connection is established through radio or Starlink.

Mistakes can value lives

During the competitors in Kiev, 26-year-old soldier Andrij Savchuk obtained caught on a root together with his unmanned automobile. Now his floor drone is mendacity on its again, the digicam is filming into the sky. Sawtschuk is aware of that an accident like this might value his comrades their lives throughout deployment.

He additionally speaks of a significant change within the warfare. “Technology is playing an increasingly important role. You can no longer just drive to the positions.” The unmanned techniques thus protected the lives of the troopers. Sawtschuk was as soon as in a position to evacuate 5 comrades 30 kilometers by way of the dying zone together with his remote-controlled automobile, he reviews.

Unmanned land autos, drones or robots are usually not a brand new invention. But their fast technological growth, the number of techniques and their mass use in Ukraine have to this point been unseen. It is a technological cat-and-mouse sport to which the military and the protection business have responded.