Overview

• Ukraine has significantly increased procurement of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), with spending rising from $2.5 million in late 2024 to $150 million in early 2025.
• Kyiv aims to deploy 15,000 combat robots this year, but terrain challenges and concealment limitations hinder their frontline effectiveness.
• Ukraine’s first all-robot assault in Kharkiv successfully utilized flying and ground-based drones, though broader adoption faces skepticism and technical hurdles.
• NATO allies, including Poland and the Baltic States, are advancing plans for a 'drone wall,' combining AI-enabled surveillance and physical barriers, with potential operational readiness within a year.
• Experts emphasize that drones and robots must complement, not replace, traditional artillery and combined-arms strategies to ensure battlefield success.