Ukraine is preparing a new technological revolution for its forces: “We are replacing 30% of soldiers on the front this year alone”
Ukraine announces a new strategic plan aimed at protecting the lives of its soldiers and compensating for personnel shortages: it wants to replace a third of its frontline infantry with autonomous robotic systems. According to an announcement made by Ukrainian military officials, the technology could soon take over 30 percent of the military's direct duties on the contact line.
The commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Andrii Biletskyi, emphasized in an interview for TSN that the year 2026 represents a turning point for the Ukrainian infantry, according to Militarniy.com
“We can end up withdrawing even 80% of the soldiers from the front”
According to him, the massive integration of robots is not just an option, but a tactical necessity that will radically transform the way the war of attrition is conducted.
“If we follow the path of technological innovation, I am convinced that this year we can withdraw up to 30% of infantrymen from the contact line, and in the near future, this percentage could reach 80%,” said Biletskyi.
In this new military ecosystem, human infantry will not disappear, but will evolve into a “specialized elite force,” intervening only in complex scenarios that automated platforms cannot yet handle, the Ukrainian military says.
Droid TW-7.62 and “Termit”: The robots that capture prisoners and clear trenches
Ukraine has already been using various robotic platforms, land-based drones that are sent on missions to various hot spots, in the way of enemy fire, or areas heavily mined or monitored by drones.
Among the most outstanding platforms are Droid TW-7.62a ground-based robotic system that recently demonstrated its ability to capture enemy soldiers without putting any human operator at direct risk.
Ground drones can participate in assault missions, trench search or prisoner capture, logistics or evacuation missions, including under artillery fire.
One such robot is the system “thermite“one of the newest and most promising solutions of Ukrainian military technology (MilTech), being designed as a multifunctional “workhorse” for the front line, the Ukrainian publication writes.
In terms of armament, the Termit platform is based on a remote-controlled combat module, usually equipped with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun, assisted by advanced optical systems with thermal imaging.
The configuration allows the robot to perform precision fire on enemy infantry or lightly armored vehicles, benefiting from stabilization software that keeps the target fixed even while moving over rough terrain.
