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Russia Deploys Massive Unmanned Ground Vehicle on Battlefield—A Giant Robot Hard to Miss
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russian forces have deployed the heavy unmanned ground vehicle “Chelnok” in the Kharkiv direction, marking its first recorded use on the battlefield, according to Defence Blog on April 8.
This is the first confirmed appearance of the system since it was publicly unveiled in April 2024. At the time, the platform was presented as an engineering vehicle designed for mine clearance, including configurations equipped with the UR-83P demining system.
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The vehicle is built on a wheeled chassis typical of amphibious all-terrain platforms, using ultra-low-pressure tires that allow it to traverse soft ground and water obstacles. This configuration not only improves mobility across difficult terrain but also reduces the risk of triggering anti-tank mines.
Thanks to its design, the platform is capable of overcoming trenches, craters, rough terrain, and water barriers with relative ease.
A giant Russian robotic system known as Chelnok has been spotted supporting logistics operations in dangerous sections of the front line.https://t.co/uI5DYSZmLC pic.twitter.com/ySB9iduXUb
— Dylan Malyasov | 🧐 (@DylanMalyasov) April 8, 2026
The Chelnok is powered by a 100 kW electric motor and uses lithium iron phosphate batteries, providing an operational endurance of up to six hours.
In terms of size, the platform measures approximately 3.8 meters in length, 2.5 meters in width, and 3.4 meters in height, with an empty weight of around 1,350 kilograms. It can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour on land and around 5 kilometers per hour in water.
However, its large dimensions may also present a significant drawback. The vehicle is highly visible and comparable in size to a small car, making concealment in terrain features or wooded areas more difficult.
There are also questions about its practicality in logistics roles, as cargo placement at roughly chest height could complicate loading and unloading operations in field conditions.
Earlier, reports emerged that Russian forces were fielding an improvised multiple-launch rocket system mounted on a tracked ground robotic vehicle.
The system, reportedly named “Kultivator,” is said to be operated by the separate unmanned systems regiment Burevestnik. The Kultivator system consists of a tracked unmanned ground vehicle equipped with two UB-16-57 aviation rocket pods. Each pod contains 16 launch tubes for S-5 unguided rockets, allowing for a total salvo of 32 rockets.
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-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
