Ukraine launches 'Army of Robots' to accelerate battlefield robotisation

Ukraine announced the launch of an "Army of Robots" initiative on Saturday, led by former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, to accelerate the robotisation of warfare and reduce human casualties on the frontlines. The project, announced on X, builds on the success of the 2022 "Army of Drones" programme, which now accounts for over 95% of battlefield strikes. Fedorov said the initiative will function as an ecosystem, investing in defence tech companies and scaling successful technologies. The initiative aims for robots to handle dangerous missions like evacuation, reconnaissance, and demining, with goals including the first enemy soldier killed by a humanoid robot within six months. Ukraine's UGV missions have increased 3.3 times since early 2026.