Russian Forces Cleared From Positions By Ukrainian Ground Drone

Russian troops who infiltrated the Kharkiv oblast village of Novoplatonivka were driven out - and the village cleared - by Ukraine's 115th Mechanized Brigade, which used a ground drone for the task. 

Such UGVs have now assaulted entrenched Russian units, captured Russian soldiers and defended Ukrainian positions - all without infantry being exposed. There have not, so far, been any reports of the Russians having similar success. JL

Vlad Litnaroych reports in Untied 24 and Valentyna Romanenko reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Ukrainian troops from the 115th Mechanized Brigade used a ground drone to clear Russian troops from Novoplatonivka in Kharkiv oblast. The operation came after Russian sources had claimed the “capture” of Novoplatonivka. Those reports collapsed once again under battlefield reality and new military technology. To clear the area of infiltrated Russian forces, a strike-and-search group from the 115th Brigade first tested the combat module of the ground-based robotic system at a training ground. "The mopping-up of the settlement was carried out in a precise, coordinated manner. The ground-based robotic system provided reliable fire support, allowing the group to successfully complete the mission."

Ukrainian troops used a ground robotic system to help clear Russian infantry from Novoplatonivka in the Kharkiv region after Moscow’s forces had claimed they had captured the village, according to the 115th Mechanized Brigade, part of Ukraine’s 10th Army Corps.

The brigade released footage of the operation on June 1. According to the brigade, Russian infantry had infiltrated the settlement and was later eliminated by a Ukrainian assault-and-search group.  

To clear the area of infiltrated Russian forces, a strike-and-search group from the 115th Brigade set out on the mission after first testing the combat module of the ground-based robotic system at a training ground.

The mopping-up of the settlement was carried out in a precise and coordinated manner. The ground-based robotic system provided reliable fire support, allowing the group to successfully complete the mission.

The operation came after Russian sources had loudly claimed the “capture” of Novoplatonivka. Ukraine said those reports collapsed once again under battlefield reality and new military technology.

Before the mission, the 115th Brigade tested the combat module of the ground robotic system at a training range. The system was then deployed to support the assault group during the clearing operation.

“The clearing of the settlement was carried out clearly and smoothly. The ground robotic system provided reliable fire cover, allowing the group to successfully complete the task,” the 115th Brigade said.

“Novoplatonivka is under the control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine,” the brigade added.

The use of a ground robotic platform highlights Ukraine’s expanding battlefield use of unmanned systems not only in the air and at sea, but also in direct infantry operations. In this case, the robot served as mobile fire support, helping Ukrainian troops reduce risk while clearing Russian forces from the village.

Ukraine plans to roughly double its procurement of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in 2026, with the machines now carrying electronic warfare suites, radar, missiles, and mortars in addition to traditional logistics and demining roles.