Ukraine deploying robotic systems and drones in rapid battlefield innovation

Ukraine is now using robotic combat systems and advanced drones in what a Danish defence expert calls a “spectacular” wave of battlefield innovation, according to a report by DR.

Flemming Splidsboel, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), described the pace of technological adaptation in the war as remarkably fast, with both Russia and Ukraine introducing new capabilities. “It’s moving quickly, and what’s happening is very spectacular,” he said.

Ukraine, in particular, has demonstrated agility in developing and deploying new systems within weeks, Splidsboel noted. Among the latest advancements are robotic ground systems—recently observed in combat—that can engage and even capture Russian soldiers. “Just this week, we’ve seen Ukrainians using these robotic systems on the battlefield to neutralise Russian troops,” he explained.

The conflict has also seen rapid evolution in drone warfare, with aerial, sea, and land drones playing expanded roles. Earlier reports highlighted vulnerabilities in Ukrainian body armour against newer Russian projectiles, prompting a Danish firm to develop reinforced protective plates as a countermeasure.

Despite over four years of war and its toll on society, Splidsboel assessed that Ukrainian forces remain optimistic, believing their technological edge could ultimately secure victory. While Russia holds advantages in manpower and defence scale, Ukraine’s use of advanced systems—such as robotics—allows it to slow Russian advances while minimising its own casualties. “With these new robotic systems, they might even avoid losses entirely,” he said.

The war’s intensity persists amid broader geopolitical shifts. On Thursday, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 injured in Russia’s deadliest strike in Ukraine this year, while a Russian governor reported two fatalities from Ukrainian attacks. In March, Ukraine escalated strikes on Russian oil and gas infrastructure in the ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk.

Most combat deaths in the conflict stem from drone strikes and artillery, underscoring the central role of technology in modern warfare.