Ukraine's Khartiia Corps converts assault robots into frontline supply carriers
Ukraine's National Guard’s Khartiia 2nd Corps is using some of its unmanned ground vehicles, originally designed for assault missions, to carry out logistics tasks instead, unit commanders told Business Insider on Aug. 18.
The National Guard's Khartiia 2nd Corps in Ukraine is repurposing its assault robots for logistics tasks, according to unit commanders. This shift is necessary as Russian drones have made frontline logistics increasingly dangerous for soldiers. Supply runs are proving deadly, so uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) are being utilized more frequently.
However, finding enough robots for logistics tasks is the main challenge, with commanders noting a shortage. One unit commander explained that machine-gun-armed assault robots are being converted into logistics carriers to compensate for the shortfall, though this leaves fewer robots for fire support missions. The UGV unit in the Svoboda battalion of the Rubizh brigade echoed this sentiment, stating that all logistics tasks and wounded soldier evacuation in combat zones are carried out using ground robots.
Conversion from assault to logistics mode takes about two hours. Ukraine's Defense Ministry aims for robots to handle 100% of battlefield logistics, and Kyiv has signed contracts for over 22,000 ground robots since 2026, nearly double the number from last year. Despite this, units report a shortage of robots. The lifespan of logistics robots varies depending on the front line, with a robot in the Kupyansk sector capable of only three to four missions before needing replacement, compared to 15 to 20 missions in other areas.
President Zelenskyy has ordered an increase in the production and supply of unmanned ground vehicles, with plans to replace up to 30% of personnel in frontline sectors with robots by 2026.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
