Ukrainian troops are buying war robots from their digital marketplace in record numbers
Ground robots are among the "fastest-growing categories" for Ukraine's state-backed innovation platform Brave1, an official said.
Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly purchasing ground robots through the nation's digital marketplace, reflecting a surge in the popularity of these combat machines on the battlefield. Brave1, the state-backed innovation platform, reported that the Ukrainian military has ordered more than 3,000 ground robots from the platform since its launch last year, marking a 680% increase compared to the average monthly purchase last year.
Ground robots and interceptor drones are among the fastest-growing categories being bought on the Brave1 Market in 2026, according to Yuliia Myrna, a product manager for the digital site.
Ukraine initiated the Brave1 Market in April 2025, providing soldiers access to an Amazon-style website where they can buy military technology from the defense industry. In October 2025, uncrewed ground vehicles became eligible for purchase using ePoints, which troops earn by verifying kills of Russian soldiers or military hardware and completing other battlefield tasks.
The military's acquisition of over 3,000 ground robots underscores Ukraine's strategy to replace troops with machines, particularly for high-risk tasks such as logistics and casualty evacuation.
The integration of ground robots into combat operations is being accelerated deliberately, with military units earning ePoints for successfully completing missions with robotic systems. This creates an incentive to replace personnel in dangerous roles, generating more operational feedback for manufacturers and leading to faster product improvements.
So far, only a few Ukrainian companies produced ground robots at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, but today, there are roughly 280 firms manufacturing hundreds of different products.
Ukrainian commanders emphasize that using robots for dangerous missions allows their units to perform critical tasks while keeping soldiers out of harm's way, preserving their experience, training, and leadership that cannot be easily replaced.
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