Ukraine creates the world’s first ground drone battalion - NV correspondent
Ground robotic vehicles handle various tasks, replacing manpower on the battlefield (Photo: Serhii Okunev / NV)
In a global military first, Ukraine has formed the world’s first full-scale ground drone battalion, transforming frontline logistics, medevac operations, and direct combat, NV journalist Serhii Okunev wrote in his exclusive article on Aug. 4.
He visited the battalion's (part of the 20th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems, known as K-2, under the command of Colonel Kyrylo Veres) operational hub and witnessed the future of warfare in action.
From skepticism to revolution: how ground drones are reshaping Ukraine’s war
Ground drones first appeared on the battlefield in the early phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014. But by 2025, the development of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) has exceeded all expectations.
In July 2025, Ukraine officially established the first UGV battalion within the K-2 regiment. Just a few months earlier, in February, Colonel Kyrylo Veres — one of Ukraine’s most prominent commanders — had criticized the lack of progress in ground drone development. Today, he calls it “the future of warfare.”
By June, Veres had already showcased real-world UGV missions saving lives on the frontlines. The demonstrations triggered a surge of interest from both Ukrainian and international media.
Not just remote-control cars: how UGVs save lives and rebuild logistics
When NV met the soldiers of K-2, they joked about their sudden media fame. But the summer nights in Donbas are short, and as soon as the sun sets, drone crews begin working.
By 2025, delivering supplies like ammunition or food using vehicles had become incredibly dangerous. While drones once monitored areas within 2–5 km of the front line, enemy FPV drones now patrol zones up to 15 km deep. And with many new drones connected by fiber-optics, electronic warfare (EW) jamming offers no protection.
The breakdown in logistics is what sparked the UGV boom in 2025.
“We use different drones for different jobs,” explains senior operator with a Bintik callsign.
“Today we’re sending the RATEL H — it’s a large one, more visible, but it can carry up to 600 kilograms. The load’s headed to a unit we call the ‘vampire squad.’ Since they’re not right on the front line, we can use a bigger drone here.”
Even night missions aren’t safe. Russian FPV drones now operate after dark as well. So K-2 has developed tactics to conceal the UGV’s operators, who are far more valuable targets than the machines themselves.
“People always ask: ‘Isn’t it hard to drive a drone?’” operator with Sayka callsign said.
“Actually, piloting is the smallest part. You need to understand the platform, comms, logistics. Which drone to use, what route to take, when to launch, how to change paths. If you just drive from A to B and back the same way every day, it’ll stop working after three days.”
Three soldiers, one mission: how a ground drone pulled off a daring rescue
Beyond logistics, the K-2 crew has pulled off more complex operations — like evacuating wounded soldiers.
In June, Kyrylo Veres shared footage of UGVs rescuing three wounded soldiers from the front line in three days. Though the rescued men weren’t from K-2, the regiment stepped in.
“I remember our first evac mission,” operator with Chippolino callsign said.
“Veres approached our crew and said, ‘This is our last hope—we have to try.’ We couldn’t just roll out the UGV in five minutes. It took serious planning.”
One major concern was whether the injured soldier could even climb onto the platform attached to the drone. They feared he might lose consciousness before they reached him — or lack the strength to mount the rescue platform at all.
“We got there and were just one meter away,” Chippolino recalled.
“And somehow — miraculously — he pulled himself onto the platform. I still don’t understand how, with those injuries.”
A matter of life and death: the emotional toll of drone evacuations
All three soldiers rescued by UGVs are undergoing treatment. Doctors believe their lives are no longer at risk.
For the K-2 team, these missions are emotionally draining. Sayka recalled how his attitude toward UGVs shifted from playful skepticism to awe.
“I used to think of them as toy cars. Not anymore,” he explained.
“Evacuations are nothing like bombing a target. The pressure is enormous. You’re responsible for someone’s life, and if the signal drops or something breaks, you can’t just fix it — it’s kilometers away.”
Chippolino added that, in one evacuation, Russian forces tracked the movement of the wounded and attempted to strike the drone. Luckily, none of the enemy’s aerial munitions hit the target.
“That was one of the hardest operations we’ve performed,” he said.
By July 2025, K-2 evacuated 10 wounded soldiers using UGVs and recovered the bodies of seven fallen troops for return to their families.
Ukrainian-made machines: affordability, scale, and battlefield testing
One common myth about UGVs is their high cost — a notion rooted in 2022–2023, when Ukraine tried to buy foreign-made systems.
The well-known Estonian-made Themis UGV cost about $300k+ per unit. The newer Type-X costs several times more.
But Ukraine’s 2025 UGV boom is powered by domestic models developed with support from the BRAVE1 military tech cluster. The cluster’s website lets anyone browse UGVs like in an online store.
For example:
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TerMIT, which helped save lives, costs ₴510,000 (about $12,000).
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Ratel H, which carries 600 kg, costs ₴2 million (about $48,000).
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Combat UGVs with weapons or mining systems range from ₴200,000 to ₴1 million ($5,000 - $24,000).
Combat UGVs with weapons or mining systems range from ₴200,000 to ₴1 million ($5,000 - $24,000).
Over 90 types of UGVs are already available via BRAVE1, with more in testing.
Human resources is a biger obstacle now. Operators, logistics crews, engineers, and officers are all in short supply.
K-2 is unique: most of its UGV crew are soldiers returning after long-term leave. The regiment has successfully reintegrated many who previously stepped away from active duty.
Inside Ukraine’s first robotic battalion: scale, ambition, and recruitment
The newly created UGV battalion is the first of its kind in the world — and its full structure is classified. But NV has confirmed it will involve hundreds of soldiers.
By contrast, even Ukraine’s most drone-savvy brigades only have a few dozen people working with UGVs.
K-2 is aiming much higher.
In February 2025, Veres revealed that K-2 avoids relying on general mobilization. Instead, they recruit directly.
Over 13,000 applications poured in within weeks — from volunteers, veterans, and active-duty soldiers eager to transfer in.
One newcomer with a Kit callsign is a former assault battalion commander who joined K-2 in winter 2025. He says he once doubted the ground drones usefullness — until he realized their full logistical impact.
“If I’d had just one UGV crew back in Kursk Oblast, we would’ve still held that line,” he said.
‘If we had ground drones, we’d still hold that line’: voices from the front
Another front-line commander — serving near Pokrovske — tells a similar story. He asked to remain anonymous.
“Six months ago, I heard a neighboring brigade was using UGVs to deliver supplies. I didn’t take it seriously… until I made some calls.”
The data shocked him:
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That unit delivered 500 kg every two days.
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His brigade struggled to deliver that much once a week — with risk to human life.
“I called our UAV team and said: I don’t care how long it takes or what it costs — get us these drones.”
The next wave: from logistics to frontline firepower
In July, NV attended a closed demonstration outside Kyiv, where the military unveiled the latest UGVs.
Some were mine-laying drones like Gnom model, capable of deploying anti-tank mines and self-destructing if captured. Its larger sibling can lay dozens of mines in hours — something that would take a human team days.
But the star of the show was Lyut (Fury) — a combat UGV armed with a machine gun and remote targeting system. It can sneak close to enemy positions and open fire, confusing enemy forces who often can’t tell who’s shooting or from where.
“Just like FPV drones exploded in popularity, combat UGVs are next,” Ruf, an instructor at Ukraine’s UGV training school, said.
The Defense Ministry plans to deploy 15,000 ground drones in 2025. Programs like Drone Army and Drone Line now include UGV funding.
Training the robot army: from Playstation to certification
Learning to operate a ground drone doesn’t take long.
“If someone plays video games, especially on PlayStation, they pick it up fast,” instructor with Naruto callsign said.
In May, the Defense Ministry launched an online UGV training course in the Army+ app. By July:
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4,000 troops enrolled
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1,500 completed the course and received certificates
The biggest challenge remains training enough people quickly—especially for large-scale operations.
A shift in military culture: volunteers and commanders demand more UGVs
Volunteer groups are also adapting. While UGVs were rare in 2024, today donation campaigns for them are everywhere.
NV spoke to multiple volunteer leaders who confirmed the spike in requests for UGVs — and a quick search of social media shows dozens of fundraisers are active.
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