Ukraine Plans To Deploy 15,000 Ground Drones (UGVs) By End Of 2025

The Ukrainian military has signed contracts worth $150 million in order to field 15,000 ground drones (unmanned ground vehicles or UGVs) by the end of this year. 

The objective is not only to reduce risks to human soldiers but to enhance Ukraine's technological capabilities in ways that enable deployment of superior firepower, surveillance and logistics to those available to Russian forces. JL

Tech Ukraine reports:

Ukraine aims to deploy 15,000 Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) by the end of 2025. This signals a strategic shift, seeking to replace human soldiers with machines in the frontline. Commanders recount dozens of lives saved by evacuation UGVs, tons of supplies delivered under enemy fire, and successful strikes on Russian positions, all achieved without risking personnel. The Ukrainian government signed contracts worth 6 billion UAH (~$150M USD) in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Mass adoption requires evolving tactics, training personnel, and organizational change. The fastest way to mature the technology is through widespread deployment. The more robots face real combat, the faster the feedback cycle, leading to more capable, reliable machines.

Forget sci-fi hypotheticals; the era of robotic warfare is rapidly unfolding on the battlefields of Ukraine. The nation is making a bold technological bet, aiming to deploy 15,000 Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) by the end of 2025. This ambitious target signals a strategic shift, seeking to replace human soldiers with machines in the most perilous frontline situations.

From Concept to Combat: The Unpaved Road to Innovation

While coordinated attacks involving dozens of ground and air drones, like a notable operation by the “Khartia” National Guard Brigade, offer glimpses into the future, the present reality is far messier. Integrating UGVs into active combat is fraught with challenges. Field reports detail robots getting bogged down in mud, crucial communication links dropping unexpectedly, and systems failing at critical moments. This is the unvarnished process of mastering nascent technology under the extreme pressures of war. Neither manufacturers nor the military have finalized blueprints for the ideal combat UGV or fully mapped its most effective applications.

Yet, despite these “teething problems,” tangible successes are emerging. Commanders recount dozens of lives saved by prototype evacuation UGVs, tons of supplies delivered under enemy fire, and successful strikes on Russian positions – all achieved without risking personnel. The core objective remains clear: leverage technology to minimize human casualties on the most dangerous front sectors.

The Multifaceted Metal Soldiers: UGV Roles & Capabilities

The potential applications for these ground robots are vast, limited primarily by engineering ingenuity and battlefield needs:

• Logistics: Currently one of the most mature applications. UGVs routinely haul tons of supplies monthly over distances up to 10 km, replacing vulnerable pickup trucks or armored vehicles constantly targeted by FPV drones. Key challenges remain: improving all-terrain mobility, reliability, and developing efficient remote cargo-release mechanisms.
• Fire Support: Weaponized UGVs equipped with turrets (e.g., machine guns) are visually striking but face hurdles. Unreliable connectivity and mobility currently limit their effectiveness for precise engagements. They serve more as suppression or reconnaissance-by-fire assets, often requiring a team of 4+ operators per unit. Accuracy and stabilization are active areas of development.
• Kamikaze & Mining: Platforms loaded with significant explosive payloads (25kg or more) have proven capable of destroying fortified positions. However, they suffer from the same connectivity and mobility issues as other UGVs. These platforms are also adapted for remotely deploying anti-tank mines.
• Demining: A critical need, but current UGV-based solutions lack the required reliability. Tests show inconsistent detonation rates for anti-personnel mines, making them unsafe for clearing paths for troops. Various designs, including roller systems, are being trialed.
• Medical Evacuation (Medevac): Hopes are high for UGVs to autonomously evacuate wounded soldiers, drastically reducing risks for rescue teams. While dozens have been saved using current prototypes, these are often deployed as a last resort (“foul of last hope”). Reliability, secure comms, smooth suspension (for patient stability), and potentially armored protection are paramount for viable medevac platforms.
• Specialized Equipment Carriers: UGVs are increasingly used as mobile bases for Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, signals intelligence (SIGINT) gear, observation sensors, communication relays, and even automated barbed wire dispensers, automating hazardous engineering tasks.

Battlefield R&D: Ukraine’s Unique Innovation Engine

How is Ukraine accelerating UGV development amidst conflict? The answer lies in a decentralized, frontline-driven R&D ecosystem. While hundreds of designs are registered via platforms like the Brave1 defense tech cluster, the real crucible is the network of “frontline workshops.” Here, military engineers and operators directly modify, test, and improve UGVs received from manufacturers, swapping out components (comms modules, motors, wheels, software) based on immediate combat experience.

This creates an incredibly tight feedback loop. Companies that actively engage with soldiers, listen to feedback, and rapidly iterate on their designs – like Tencore with its popular “TerMIT” UGV, which has undergone hundreds of changes based on field input – gain a significant advantage. Improving connectivity and all-terrain mobility remain the top priorities across the board.

Scaling Up: From Volunteer Efforts to State Contracts

For much of the past year, UGV development relied heavily on volunteer groups, private funding, and military units’ own initiative. This is changing dramatically. The Ukrainian government is now placing substantial orders. After contracting around 100 million UAH (~$2.5M USD) for UGVs in the latter half of 2024, the Ministry of Defense signed contracts worth 6 billion UAH (~$150M USD) in the first quarter of 2025 alone. The goal: procure 15,000 units this year, prioritizing domestic manufacturers who can adapt quickly to evolving battlefield requirements.

The Road Ahead: Training, Autonomy, and an Arms Race

Ukraine’s UGV journey mirrors the rapid evolution of its FPV drone programs – from ad-hoc beginnings to establishing dedicated training centers, developing doctrine, and building an industrial base. The first dedicated UGV operator training centers emerged in late 2024, with more planned. Units like the 3rd Assault Brigade are integrating UGVs deeply into their structure, complete with R&D labs and upcoming training facilities.

The technological race is on, as Russia is also actively developing its own UGV capabilities. Future advancements will likely focus on increased autonomy (reducing operator burden), AI-driven navigation and targeting, multi-robot control systems, and potentially adapting automated turrets for short-range air defense roles.

Mass adoption isn’t just about hardware; it requires evolving tactics, training personnel, and organizational change. However, Ukrainian commanders and engineers emphasize that the fastest way to mature the technology is through widespread deployment. The more robots face real combat, the faster the feedback cycle, leading to more capable and reliable machines. Ukraine is betting heavily that this frontline-forged innovation cycle will give it a critical edge in the future of ground warfare.