Ukraine deploys remote-controlled armored vehicles to shield soldiers from dangerous missions

DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — On a battlefield swarming with deadly Russian drones, Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly turning to nimble, remote-controlled armored vehicles that can perform an array of tasks and spare troops from potentially life-threatening missions.

The vehicles, described by soldiers as “robots on wheels,” can ferry supplies, clear mines and evacuate the wounded or dead. A platoon commander known as Miami, who serves in the 20th Lyubart Brigade and spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military policy, said: “It cannot fully replace people. It is a, I would put it this way: A person can go in there, but for a human it’s (sometimes) far too dangerous.” The robotic vehicles are mostly Ukrainian-made and range in cost from about $1,000 to as much as $64,000, depending on size and capabilities.

While they have become vital to Ukrainian troops along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, such devices are not new to warfare. The German army used a tethered remote-controlled miniature tank called the Goliath in World War II. In recent decades, the United States, Israel, Britain and China have developed modern versions for combat engineering and other battlefield roles, according to Ben Barry, a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. But Ukraine’s extensive deployment of these vehicles is noteworthy and could influence future developments, Barry said.

The Russian army also uses remote-controlled vehicles. Miami joined the army on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. He began as an infantryman and later became a drone operator before his current assignment. His path reflects how the war has evolved. “I couldn’t even imagine that I would become a (drone) pilot,” he said. “But war is progress, and we cannot stand aside.”

The robotic vehicles his team uses are armored and mounted on either wheels or tracks. Painted in military colors, they crawl slowly over rubble or dirt roads, navigating terrain that would be difficult—or too dangerous—for soldiers. “They arrive in one condition, and we improve them,” Miami said. “We adapt the controls to work better (in the face of Russia's) electronic warfare so the connection doesn’t cut off.”

Miami’s 10-man team is just starting to incorporate the machines into their missions, primarily to deliver food and ammunition to soldiers near the front. Just like remote-controlled, or FPV drones, the use of these vehicles is likely to expand, said a soldier in Miami’s unit who goes by the call sign Akim and spoke on condition of anonymity. “When FPV drones first appeared, they weren’t popular, but those who pioneered them now show the best results,” Akim said.

Before sending a remote-controlled vehicle forward, Akim flies a drone along the planned route to check for obstacles or mines. Operating from a cramped basement near Kostiantynivka, less than 10 kilometers from the front, Akim can hear the muffled thuds of aerial bombs, the sharp cracks of artillery and the buzzing of drones. Kostiantynivka, once home to 67,000 people, is a largely deserted city on a shrinking patch of Ukrainian-held territory just west of Bakhmut. The aerial drone allows Akim to scout the city and routes without risking his life. “Every time a drone or a robot does something, it means one of our fighters doesn’t have to,” Akim said. On one recent mission, the team loaded it with 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of supplies — ammunition, fuel, water and food — and sent it several kilometers to drone operators closer to the front. The machine moved forward at about six kilometers per hour, delivered its cargo into a well-hidden position in the forest, and returned to base.

Because robotic vehicles move more slowly than cars or trucks, and usually across open ground, they are an easy target—and this is one factor slowing their adoption. “That’s why we haven’t evacuated many wounded (on these vehicles),” said Miami. “Some refuse to leave because it’s dangerous.” There are also cost considerations, with the vehicles his platoon uses averaging roughly 400,000 hryvnias ($9,700). “That’s not too expensive, but when three or four get destroyed in a week, the total adds up,” Miami said.

To make them less vulnerable, Miami and his soldiers have tried welding grill-like cages onto the machines or attaching metallic rollers in front to detect mines. The war provides real-time feedback that is incorporated into newer models being built.