1st In History: Ukraine Ground Drones Take Russian Kharkiv Position, Capture Troops

For the first time in modern warfare, an attack by Ukrainian ground drones and one FPV aerial drone let to the capture of a fortified Russian dugout in Kharkiv oblast and the surrender of soldiers only to drones. The attack was initiated by the FPV, and followed by a ground drone carrying three antitank mines, which exploded at the dugout entrance. When a second ground drone advanced, the surviving Russians surrendered. 

No Ukrainian infantry fired a shot, nor were any wounded or killed. They did not even advance to the dugout, until the Russians had surrendered. This is another astounding Ukrainian forces' innovation which is creating the future of war. JL 

Yuri Zoria reports in Euromaidan Press:

Ukrainian drones of the 3rd Assault Brigade seized a Russian fortified position and captured prisoners-of-war in Kharkiv Oblast. It was the first battlefield surrender to robotic platforms - and without any Ukrainian infantry engagement or losses. They entered only after Russian forces surrendered. The robotic strike involved an FPV drone and a kamikaze ground drone carrying three antitank mines. The FPV and the first ground drone’s blast hit a Russian dugout. "The explosion of the three antitank mines was a very powerful blast." As another land robot moved in for a second strike, two surviving Russian soldiers waved a sign reading “We want to surrender” in Russian. "We took over the dugout in 15 minutes with not a shot fired." This was the first time unmanned systems alone captured enemy positions and took prisoners in modern warfare.

Ukrainian drones seized a Russian fortified position and captured prisoners-of-war in Kharkiv Oblast. The 3rd Assault Brigade calls it the first battlefield capitulation to robotic platforms. Ukrainian infantry didn’t engage in combat. They entered only after Russian forces surrendered and the treeline was clear.

 

The use of FPV drones and ground-based kamikaze robots has become increasingly common on the front lines of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. But this operation stands out as a first: a fortified position in a treeline previously unreachable by infantry was seized without gunfire, and enemy soldiers were taken alive through drone-only engagement.

Ukrainian drones seize fortified position, force surrender

On 9 July, Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade announced that its drone and ground robot operators forced Russian troops to surrender in Kharkiv Oblast — without any infantry engagement or Ukrainian losses.

 

The brigade said this was the first time unmanned systems alone captured enemy positions and took prisoners in modern warfare.

According to the Brigade, the robotic strike involved both an FPV drone and a kamikaze ground drone carrying three antitank mines — a total of 21-22.5 kg of TNT. The FPV and the first ground drone’s blast hit a dugout entrance in the Russian position. As another land robot moved in for a second strike, two surviving Russian soldiers waved a cardboard sign reading “We want to surrender” in Russian.

“The explosion with the three antitank mines — that was a very powerful blast. The dugout wasn’t fully destroyed, so we got the order to hit it again. We moved in, and they realized we were going to blow it up again. […] ..and they very quickly put the sign out,” one of the Ukrainian soldiers said.

Ukrainian drone operators from the 3rd Assault Brigade describe the first battlefield surrender to unmanned systems during a recorded interview. Source: 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces

Drone footage shows moment of surrender and remote-led capture

The 3rd Assault Brigade’s Telegram post includes a video file timestamped 8 July, featuring aerial footage of the engagement and the enemy’s surrender. Additionally, Ukrainian drone operators narrate the footage and recount the operation. However, the exact date of the robotic engagement itself is not explicitly stated.

A Ukrainian ground kamikaze drone advances toward Russian-held positions during the drone-led assault in Kharkiv Oblast. Source: 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces

The video shows an aerial FPV drone strike, a powerful explosion of an “NRK”—a remotely controlled “ground robotic complex”—at the entrance to the dugout, and the Russian soldiers displaying the sign.

A massive explosion erupts as a Ukrainian kamikaze land drone detonates at the entrance to a Russian fortification. Source: 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces

As recounted by the NC13 unit of the DEUS EX MACHINA drone company, a small reconnaissance UAV was used to guide the surrendering soldiers safely to Ukrainian lines.

“Then the major flew down the Mavic (a Chinese drone, widely used for reconnaissance by both sides, – Ed.), we showed them with the drone — like, come here. [..] They followed the Mavic precisely and lay down in the ‘dolphin pose’ on the ground,” the military said.

A Russian soldier holds up a handwritten sign reading “We want to surrender” in Russian, seen from a Ukrainian UAV above the dugout. Source: 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces

After the Russian surrender, Ukrainian infantry moved in quickly and secured the position. The brigade noted that previous Ukrainian attempts to storm the area had failed. This time, however, the assault team held back while drones led the operation.

Surrendering Russian soldiers lie on the ground after following a Ukrainian drone’s instructions to reach the designated point. Source: 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces

Ukrainian drones seize fortified position in 15 minutes without losses

Once the Russian troops were taken prisoner, the planned infantry clearing operation began — but was largely symbolic. The drone operator noted in the interview:

“A clearing operation was planned there — we were supposed to carry out the strike, and they were supposed to clear the area. But it turned out that… that unit took over the dugout’s treeline in just 15 minutes. The entire strip was already ours — literally, and without any losses. You could say, not a single shot was fired.”

He said the drone-led engagement proved that robotic platforms “make operations significantly easier.” In some cases, they “even free the infantry from the task entirely.”

“Our example proved that with robotic platforms, it’s possible not only to storm positions but also to take prisoners,” another drone operator emphasized.

The attack, executed entirely by the NC13 ground drone unit from the 2nd Assault Battalion, marks the first publicly confirmed battlefield victory achieved by unmanned platforms alone — including the capture of enemy personnel.