Robots instead of infantry on the Ukrainian front. They are mostly used in defense. Offensively, tactics are evolving
Amidst the threat of enemy FPV drones, the delivery of equipment and ammunition to positions has become increasingly dangerous. To protect soldiers, the Ukrainian military has started using ground robots – called NKRs – for logistics and evacuating the wounded.
Fighting robot/PHOTO:X
In many units it has already been possible to create functional systems for managing NKR, but the real challenge remains integrating them into combat alongside the infantry. The goal is ambitious: for robotic platforms to partially replace soldiers equipped with machine guns or grenade launchers, capable of occupying positions, detecting the enemy and executing targets on command. This innovation is all the more important in the context of the chronic shortage of infantry.
From skepticism to necessity
Initially, skepticism towards NKR was high. Many of the operators of these robots were ridiculed by their comrades for the low speed of the platforms, which were surpassed by conventional pickups on the roads. Iuri Porițki, CEO of DevDroid, the company that develops NKR and combat modules, tells “Oboronka”: “With the entry of robots in the direction of Rubicon, there were three to four pickups burned before, and the operators continued on their platforms. Now everyone wants NKR – no one wants to carry ammunition in the pickup that will be the next FPV target.”
For the large-scale use of NKR, however, not only technology is needed, but also specialized structures within the army. In 2024, the Ukrainian army created units dedicated to the NKR, and from 2025 massive purchases began: almost 15,000 platforms, which partially covered logistical needs and allowed for tactical training.
Robots on duty
Today, the NKR transports equipment and ammunition, evacuates the wounded, and conducts reconnaissance. But the main goal remains to replace the infantry soldier in the trenches, a complex technical challenge.
The advantages are obvious: the speed of deployment and the protection of people's lives. For example, handling a Mk19 grenade launcher is slow and dangerous, while the robot can carry and use the weapon without risk to soldiers. Platforms also enable rapid response to attacks, keeping people safe.
Integrated weapons and technologies used
The most common weapons on the NKR are large-caliber machine guns such as the Browning M2 (.50 BMG), but also 7.62 mm machine guns or automatic grenade launchers (AGS). Weapon integration involves maintaining the standard design, using mounts and mounts for stabilization and accurate firing.
Artificial intelligence modules recognize the target by movement and thermal signature, but the decision to open fire remains with the operator. The AI serves as support for patrolling, signaling, and trajectory calculation, including adjusting for range, wind, and ammunition type.
The main technological problems are related to communications and mechanics. The signal can be unstable, and ammunition jamming can render the platform unusable without human intervention. Some models already have remote reload functions, and engineers are working on stabilization for shooting on the move and reducing vibrations that can damage equipment.
Tactics and use on the front
NKRs are mostly used in defense, where they replace or supplement infantry, allowing positions to be held with fewer men and providing a dense, hard-to-penetrate field of fire. Large platforms usually operate on the second and third lines, monitoring and attacking the enemy from a distance, under the control of a single operator.
Offensively, tactics are still in development. The most effective use remains combat reconnaissance, provoking the enemy to open fire and supporting assault groups with automatic fire, including kamikaze or grenade launchers. The experience of some experimental units shows that robots can effectively support shock, destroy fortifications and neutralize live force up to direct contact.
The future of NKR: from infantry to heavy platforms
Manufacturers are now developing larger platforms capable of carrying more ammunition and heavy modules, such as the Protector (700 kg), T-700 Browning (700 kg) and VATAG (2 tons), with large-caliber weapons or even 25 mm guns similar to those on BMDs.
For 2026, command and relay platforms, mother robots for kamikaze drones and new weapon carriers are being prepared: anti-tank missiles, man-portable anti-aircraft systems, automatic cannons and reactive launchers. The development of AI will increase the autonomy and efficiency of these platforms.
“We don't have enough people. As the Russians send their people as cannon fodder, we use metal robots. We lose them in attacks, but this way we save lives and resources”concludes Iuri Poritski.
