Russian Troops Hit By Machine Gun Realized Too Late It Was A Ground Drone

For the Russians, confusing, demoralizing - and lethal.

For the Ukrainians, effective. JL

Vlad Litnarovych reports in United 24:

Ukraine's 33rd Assault Regiment carried out a combat assault using armed ground robots and drones, destroying a Russian position without sending Ukrainian infantry into the assault zone on July 17. The operation combined two Droid TW-12.7 unmanned ground vehicles with reconnaissance and strike UAVs. According to intercepted Russian communications cited in the report, troops at the position told their commanders they were taking machine-gun fire but could not identify the shooter. The fire was coming from the remotely operated ground vehicles. All Russian troops at the site were eliminated. No Ukrainian personnel entered the assault zone. 

Ukraine’s 33rd Separate Assault Regiment carried out a combat assault using armed ground robots and drones, destroying a Russian position without sending Ukrainian infantry into the assault zone, according to a DevDroid press release published on July 17.

The operation combined two Droid TW-12.7 unmanned ground vehicles with reconnaissance and strike UAVs. A specialized technical team was deployed to plan and execute the mission. 

Ukrainian reconnaissance drones first surveyed the area, located Russian troops inside a group of buildings, and identified an approach route with limited enemy activity. Operators also checked the path for possible Russian FPV drone ambushes.

Two Droid TW-12.7 platforms then advanced toward the position. Each vehicle carried a Wolly 12.7 remote weapon station fitted with an M2 Browning .50-caliber heavy machine gun. 

The robots reached the target and opened suppressive fire while remaining under remote control from a safe distance.

According to intercepted Russian communications cited in the report, troops at the position told their commanders they were taking machine-gun fire but could not identify the shooter. There was no human gunner at the site—the fire was coming from the remotely operated ground vehicles. 

After the robots struck the first building, one Russian soldier reportedly attempted to escape into a neighboring structure. A heavy bomber drone hit him before he reached it.

Strike drones then carried out precision attacks against the remaining position. The regiment reported that the buildings were destroyed and all Russian troops at the site were eliminated.

No Ukrainian personnel entered the assault zone. 

The Droid TW-12.7 is a tracked reconnaissance-and-strike UGV combining the Wolly 12.7 weapon station with DevDroid’s universal Droid Box control system. The entire platform can be operated remotely, allowing troops to engage enemy positions without exposing themselves directly to fire.

The regiment said the next mission is already being planned with broader use of unmanned platforms.

Previously, an armed Ukrainian ground robot was carried across the water by an uncrewed maritime platform, landed on the Russian-held Kinburn Spit, and sent into combat—an operation the military described as the first known mission of its kind anywhere in the world.