Ukraine Plans to Deploy 15,000 Combat Robots to the Frontline in 2025

Ukraine is setting its sights on deploying 15,000 combat robots to the battlefield in 2025, Ukrainian media Economichna Pravda reported on March 31, citing Hlib Kanevskyi, head of the Ministry of Defense’s procurement department.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency, in the second half of 2024, the Ministry of Defense signed six contracts for ground robots worth $2.5 million. In the first quarter of 2025, this number surged to 31 contracts totaling $150 million.

“Last year, we delivered hundreds of robots to the front. This year, we’re aiming for thousands,” said Maksym Vasylenko, director of the Ukrainian defense tech company Tencore.

Kanevskyi emphasized that nearly all of these robots will be produced domestically, as foreign models are significantly more expensive. Ukrainian defense companies have been tasked with continuously improving their designs throughout contract execution, given the rapid evolution of battlefield technology.

Earlier, Ukraine’s military approved the deployment of the domestically produced “Lyut” robot soldier, designed to strengthen frontline operations with surveillance and fire support capabilities.

The “Lyut” has undergone extensive testing in real combat conditions and is equipped with a 7.62-caliber machine gun, as well as additional technology that enables it to identify and engage targets both during the day and at night.