Overview
- A mission by Ukraine’s 123rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade on Monday, July 13, 2026, used an unmanned surface vessel to ferry and unload an armed unmanned ground vehicle onto Russian-held Kinburn Spit, the brigade announced and released video of the operation.
- The brigade framed the operation as the world’s first known combat mission that pairs a naval drone as a delivery platform with an armed ground robot, with oversight credited to Colonel Oleh Makukha and coordination by Major Denys Hipik.
- Video released with the announcement shows the ground robot disembarking from the sea drone and later firing a mounted weapon, but the footage and official statements do not report any confirmed hits, damage or casualties.
- Analysts identifying features in the footage say the vehicle appears to be a Ukrainian-made Rys unmanned ground vehicle fitted with a PKT 7.62mm machine gun, a system normally used for logistics or fire-support roles when weaponized.
- The mission fits into a rapid expansion of robotic operations across Ukrainian forces, with the Defense Ministry reporting more than 16,600 ground-robot logistics and evacuation missions in June, and it signals new coastal tactics that reduce direct risk to personnel.