Palantir says that neither the company nor the US government has a "kill switch" for its Maven platform that NATO uses, after Ukraine's Starlink disruptions (Andrew Gray/Reuters)

Ukraine's Ground Forces have unveiled a ground robotic vehicle from the 16th Separate Support Brigade that lays wire obstacles in open terrain, removing combat engineers from the hazardous kill zone. Stringing wire in the open poses significant risks due to exposure to Russian drones and artillery, so automating the task with a machine takes soldiers out of harm's way.

The vehicle features a sloped frame with a heavy coil of wire that unrolls itself while the operator remotely drives it from a safe distance. The Ground Forces explained that laying obstacles in open terrain always entails dangers for combat engineers, but now it's being done remotely by these ground drones. This wire-laying robot is just one of many jobs in Ukraine's rapidly expanding fleet of military robots.

Over 100,000 missions have been completed by Ukrainian ground robots in the first eight months of 2026, with the number of missions logged monthly surging from 7,511 in January to nearly 20,000 in July. Kyiv has procured over 22,000 of these machines since January, nearly double the total for all of 2025. The fleet's capabilities include hauling supplies, evacuating wounded, and conducting strikes.

Now, Ukraine's robots are increasingly venturing into the most dangerous areas of the conflict. For the first time in the war, Ukraine dropped kamikaze ground robots over 10 kilometers behind Russian lines during Operation Vivaldi near Lyman. These robots, equipped with two Bullspike grenade launchers, targeted Russian positions before detonating.

Additionally, ground robots have been used in assaults, with two units fitted with Bullspike grenade launchers attacking Russian positions and exploding inside their shelters. Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency has also begun a tender for logistics and strike ground robots, with no manufacturer allowed to secure more than half of the order.