Operation Vivaldi Had a Secret Weapon—Ukraine Calls It “Griffin”

Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade has begun air-dropping armed ground robots from heavy drones as far as 10 kilometers behind Russian lines, using the machines to hunt command posts, drone crews, supply hubs, and assault groups deep in the rear.

The tactic, known as “Griffin,” was employed during Operation Vivaldi, NC-13 strike UGV unit commander Mykola Zinkevych told Suspilne on September 29.

During the operation, Ukrainian forces used robotic systems not only for direct strikes but also for deception, reinforcing vulnerable sectors, attacking command posts and warehouses, and intercepting Russian assault groups moving along logistics routes.

Robots also carried much of the operation’s less visible—but equally critical—work.

“80% of logistics during all stages of Operation Vivaldi were carried out by unmanned ground systems from other units of the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 3rd Army Corps. 90% of casualty evacuations were also carried out by unmanned ground systems from units of the 3rd Army Corps,” Zinkevych said.

The most unusual missions involved strike UGVs. Ukrainian troops equipped the robots with disposable grenade launchers, attached them beneath heavy bomber drones and flew them over Russian positions before releasing them deep in the rear.

Once on the ground, the machines continued toward their targets under their own power.

“We deploy the UGVs up to 10 kilometers behind enemy lines and then continue moving under their own power,” Zinkevych said.

The brigade calls the method the “Griffin” tactic, named after NC-13 serviceman Hryhorii Bach, call sign Griffin, who went missing near Andriivka in the Bakhmut sector in 2023.

Dropping the robots from the air allows Ukraine to bypass difficult terrain and frontline defenses while leaving Russian troops uncertain about where the machines may suddenly appear.

According to Zinkevych, the air-deployed UGVs have been used against operators from Russia’s Rubikon drone unit, command posts at company level and above, and Russian personnel moving along rear logistics routes.

In one case, their presence had an effect even before direct combat began. After a Ukrainian robot was dropped behind Russian lines, Russian troops reportedly canceled a planned mechanized assault because they believed a Ukrainian sabotage team had infiltrated the rear and was waiting to ambush their armored column.

The 3rd Assault Brigade also targeted Russian UAV operators and their launch sites during the opening phase of Vivaldi, combining strikes on Russia’s drone infrastructure with robotic missions deeper behind the line.

Previously, reports emerged that Ukrainian ground robots cleared 30 kilometers of routes in the Shandryholove sector in two nights during Operation Vivaldi.

The Third Army Corps stated that unmanned ground systems completed the difficult demining task entirely on their own.

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