Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has upended traditional warfare. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are routinely used for reconnaissance missions, and kamikaze drones strike with deadly precision. On the water, the warring parties are increasingly relying on unmanned systems as well. And on the ground domain, drones are becoming ever more important. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) can secure supply routes and retrieve wounded soldiers.

The next evolutionary stage of future warfare begins in a small cottage not far from Kramatorsk, heading east, toward the front. A small settlement in eastern Ukraine, like countless others.

Single-story, mostly abandoned houses line a muddy road. Beside them stands a small outbuilding, a workshop, or a shed for storage. In the overgrown gardens behind, the branches of bare trees reach into the gray sky, beyond which lie fields uncultivated for a long time. 

Frontline deployment 

Between the workshop and the house, Andriy and his comrades have draped camouflage nets. They billow slightly. Below them are several unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). These are sometimes also referred to as land drones or transport robots. Some roll like tanks on tracks, while others are on hefty wheels. All are visibly dirty. The dried mud tells the tale of their last deployment in the combat zone. 

Andriy is preparing l…