Kathrine Frich
Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine has become a grinding fight of endurance, with waves of Russian troops thrown into battle and cities reduced to ruins.
As the invasion drags on into another year, Ukraine has been forced to find new ways to survive against a larger enemy.
Now, Ukrainian commanders say a terrifying new weapon helped turn the tide, an AI-powered robot soldier that held off Russian attacks for weeks without ever sleeping.
A machine at war
A cutting-edge unmanned ground vehicle helped Ukraine defend frontline positions for nearly six weeks, according to Ukrainian commanders cited by The Telegraph and other media.
The robot, deployed during fighting around the eastern city of Kupiansk, withstood daily Russian assaults.
The system, known as the DevDroid TW 12.7, is an AI-enabled mini-tank armed with a .50-calibre M2 Browning machine gun.
It can be remotely operated from distances of up to 15 miles and navigate difficult terrain at low speed.
Ukrainian forces used the robot under poor weather conditions, exploiting fog and low visibility to ambush advancing Russian troops.
A new battlefield
The unmanned vehicle was operated by Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, including the NC-13 Strike Company, which specialises in robotic warfare. Its commander described the deployment as part of a broader transformation in how wars are fought.
“Every day of combat operations is, in essence, a daily renewal of warfare,” the commander said.
“The war currently under way in our country is the first and only modern, technological war in history.”
Another commander, Mykola “Makar” Zinkevych, said such systems could replace soldiers in the most dangerous positions.
“Machines like these are what will change the course of combat operations,” he said.
Six weeks under fire
According to Ukrainian accounts, the robot was repositioned multiple times during a 45-day battle at an undisclosed location.
It was withdrawn briefly every two days for maintenance and reloading.
Russian forces reportedly believed they were facing a manned defensive unit. “No electronic intelligence intercepts on this matter were recorded and the UGV itself was never hit,” Zinkevych said.
The system allowed Ukraine to defend positions that would normally require several soldiers, reducing exposure to enemy fire.
Stark losses
The robotic deployment coincided with heavy Russian losses during the battle for Kupiansk.
An intelligence report cited by British media said Ukrainian forces achieved a kill ratio of roughly 27 Russian soldiers for every Ukrainian casualty.
Kupiansk had been close to falling into Russian hands, but Ukrainian units pushed back advancing forces in recent weeks.
Soldiers were later seen raising Ukraine’s flag in parts of the city, according to Reuters and the Financial Times.
Sources: The Sun, The Telegraph, Reuters, Financial Times
