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Ukraine’s New UNEX UGV Amphibious Robot Crosses Water, Swamps, and Minefields With Precision

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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Ukraine’s New UNEX UGV Amphibious Robot Crosses Water, Swamps, and Minefields With Precision
UNEX UGV, a Ukrainian domestically designed remotely operated amphibious armored platform. (Source: UNEX)

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has officially codified and approved the domestically produced UNEX UGV, a remotely operated, amphibious armored platform, for deployment across the country’s Defense Forces, officials announced on April 17.

Developed on a specialized chassis, the self-driving platform is designed for maximum mobility across some of the most extreme environments. The UNEX UGV can navigate water, swamps, bogs, mud, sand, rough terrain, and even ice with ease.

Its weight distribution and wide tires exert less ground pressure than a soldier’s footstep — allowing it to move across terrain littered with anti-vehicle mines without triggering them. In a demonstration, the vehicle drove over a ceramic plate and a full coffee cup without breaking either.

The platform is capable of crossing rivers, scaling embankments, clearing debris, and hauling itself from water onto ice. It remains operational in harsh weather and across a wide temperature range.

Built to resist electronic warfare, the UNEX UGV is equipped with a secure radio control system, programmable autopilot, and powerful onboard batteries. It can be manufactured in various configurations — including armed combat variants, electronic warfare units, and specialized platforms for logistics, evacuation, or mine clearance.

“Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Defense Ministry has codified and approved nearly 80 domestically produced ground robotic systems for use by the Defense Forces — with about 15 of them cleared in 2025 alone,” said Deputy Defense Minister Valerii Churkin.

“These platforms are already carrying out a wide range of missions: offensive and defensive combat, reconnaissance, mining and demining, surveillance, logistics, and evacuation. Our Defense Forces already have operational experience conducting combat missions, including repelling assaults, with the help of ground robots and aerial drones.”

Earlier, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense officially codified and approved the use of the domestically developed D-21-12R robotic ground system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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