Ukraine Clears Russian Position Near Kupiansk Using Only Robots, Video

Ukrainian National Guard units carried out a fully robotized operation to destroy a Russian fortified position near the frontline city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, eliminating personnel and ammunition without deploying troops directly on the battlefield.

According to Ukraine’s National Guard 2nd Corps “Khartiia,” the operation was conducted by the “Lava” regiment using a combination of aerial drones and ground-based robotic systems. The unit reported that around 10 Russian soldiers were killed and the position was cleared.

“No personnel were deployed on the battlefield during the operation, but it is important to remember that behind these images are dozens of Khartiia servicemen—planners, reconnaissance personnel, operators, engineers, mechanics, and communications specialists.”

The assault involved multiple types of unmanned systems, including strike drones equipped with grenade launchers, explosive-laden attack drones, and unmanned ground vehicles. Some platforms were also equipped with thermobaric munitions, including TOR-800 systems, used to destroy fortifications and ammunition depots.

The “Lava” unit, which began as a battalion of unmanned systems in September 2025 and was expanded to a regiment in April 2026, specializes in integrating drones and robotic platforms into coordinated combat operations. The unit is also developing artificial intelligence-assisted control systems and adapting unmanned platforms for both combat and logistics roles.

Footage released by “Khartiia” shows coordinated strikes on the Russian position carried out entirely by unmanned systems.

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Ukraine has also reported a similar milestone in the use of unmanned systems. According to the Office of the President on April 13, Ukrainian forces captured a Russian position using only drones and ground-based robots, without deploying infantry or sustaining losses.

“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms—UGVs and drones,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He added that such systems have carried out more than 22,000 missions in recent months, helping reduce risks to personnel.

Ukraine is also scaling up the use of ground-based robotic systems. According to Zelenskyy on April 27, the country plans to contract at least 50,000 unmanned ground vehicles in 2026, describing them as the next step after drones in modern warfare, as their role continues to expand across frontline operations.

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