The toy is delivered, a Ukrainian soldier whispers into the radio. In the dead of night, he and his partner move quickly to roll out their cargo from a van. Speed is crucial as they are within the range of deadly Russian drones. The fifth brigade's new toy is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a robot that provides a lifeline for Ukrainian troops at the front in Pokrovsk and Myrnograd, a strategic hub in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces are relentlessly trying to cut off Ukraine's supply routes in the area. Without fresh food and ammunition, Ukraine's frontline soldiers would face a choice of either surrender or a costly retreat.
Kyiv has sent special forces, elite assault units, and drone groups to reinforce its troops in and around Pokrovsk, but Russia's grip on routes into the city means going in with armored vehicles would bring almost certain death. Transporting heavy supplies on foot would be just as dangerous. This is where the robot, also known as a land drone, comes in place of traditional troop deployments.
The battle of Pokrovsk will probably go down in history as the first in which unmanned ground vehicles were used on a mass scale, largely to deliver supplies and evacuate wounded. The robot is small enough to squeeze into a bicycle lane and looks like a mini tank without a turret. UGVs are difficult to spot, they are harder to jam than an aerial drone, and, most importantly, soldiers can operate them remotely from a safer location. They save soldiers' lives and are the future of the army, according to Ihor, the head of unmanned systems for the 7th Corps of the Ukrainian army. About 90% of all supplies for Pokrovsk frontline are now delivered by UGVs, he says.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are trying to capture the city by choking the supply chains and relentlessly launching remote-controlled drones to target anything that moves in what is widely called the kill-zone. This 30km-wide stretch of territory along the frontline is within reach of drones from both sides. Constant aerial reconnaissance means any movement in the kill-zone is quickly detected and attacked, by drones as well as conventional weapons such as artillery, mortar rounds, and aerial bombs.
Thanks to those first-person view drones, Russian troops are close to cutting off all routes leading to Pokrovsk. They claim to have surrounded the entire area, but Kyiv has repeatedly denied that. The head of Ukraine's HUR intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, has told local media the situation in Pokrovsk is extremely difficult but Ukraine is still holding on there. As a result, soldiers remain in frontline positions for weeks, sometimes even months.
Supplies are loaded on a land drone called Termit, capable of carrying about 200kg. The operator drives it by remote control into the back of a van which takes it closer to the frontline to preserve its battery. Machines like Termit have been used by some Ukrainian brigades since last year but they have become increasingly popular in recent months.
Despite the growing reliance on UGVs, the ongoing threat from aerial attacks remains a significant concern, highlighting the precariousness of the situation for Ukrainian forces in the ongoing conflict.
Kyiv has sent special forces, elite assault units, and drone groups to reinforce its troops in and around Pokrovsk, but Russia's grip on routes into the city means going in with armored vehicles would bring almost certain death. Transporting heavy supplies on foot would be just as dangerous. This is where the robot, also known as a land drone, comes in place of traditional troop deployments.
The battle of Pokrovsk will probably go down in history as the first in which unmanned ground vehicles were used on a mass scale, largely to deliver supplies and evacuate wounded. The robot is small enough to squeeze into a bicycle lane and looks like a mini tank without a turret. UGVs are difficult to spot, they are harder to jam than an aerial drone, and, most importantly, soldiers can operate them remotely from a safer location. They save soldiers' lives and are the future of the army, according to Ihor, the head of unmanned systems for the 7th Corps of the Ukrainian army. About 90% of all supplies for Pokrovsk frontline are now delivered by UGVs, he says.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are trying to capture the city by choking the supply chains and relentlessly launching remote-controlled drones to target anything that moves in what is widely called the kill-zone. This 30km-wide stretch of territory along the frontline is within reach of drones from both sides. Constant aerial reconnaissance means any movement in the kill-zone is quickly detected and attacked, by drones as well as conventional weapons such as artillery, mortar rounds, and aerial bombs.
Thanks to those first-person view drones, Russian troops are close to cutting off all routes leading to Pokrovsk. They claim to have surrounded the entire area, but Kyiv has repeatedly denied that. The head of Ukraine's HUR intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, has told local media the situation in Pokrovsk is extremely difficult but Ukraine is still holding on there. As a result, soldiers remain in frontline positions for weeks, sometimes even months.
Supplies are loaded on a land drone called Termit, capable of carrying about 200kg. The operator drives it by remote control into the back of a van which takes it closer to the frontline to preserve its battery. Machines like Termit have been used by some Ukrainian brigades since last year but they have become increasingly popular in recent months.
Despite the growing reliance on UGVs, the ongoing threat from aerial attacks remains a significant concern, highlighting the precariousness of the situation for Ukrainian forces in the ongoing conflict.
