Ukrainian forces have claimed they captured Russian soldiers without using any human troops on the battlefield. Instead, they relied completely on drones and robotic systems to carry out what could be the world’s first fully unmanned offensive operation.
The operation reportedly happened in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine and was led by Ukraine’s elite 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. According to their official statement, the brigade used a mix of first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones and ground robotic platforms to launch the attack on heavily fortified Russian positions.
According to Global Times, the brigade said their robots targeted and destroyed Russian bunkers. When another ground robot approached a damaged Russian position, the remaining soldiers decided to surrender rather than face further attacks. “As the next robot approached a destroyed bunker, the enemy, to avoid being blown up, announced their surrender,” the brigade said in a Telegram post.
The captured soldiers were then guided out of the combat zone by aerial drones. These drones, referred to as “birds” by the brigade, provided live video feeds to help remotely escort the Russian troops back into Ukrainian-controlled territory.
“This is the first confirmed successful assault in modern warfare conducted exclusively by unmanned platforms,” the brigade added. They showed how their robots were able to reclaim positions “that had twice resisted adjacent units” thanks to their precisely planned robotic assault.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that unmanned systems like drones and robots can cause extreme psychological stress for soldiers on the battlefield.
“When troops see robots advancing, even after they destroy some units, more just keep coming. The robots don’t stop, they don’t fear death, and this relentless advance can make soldiers think surrender is their only option,” Fu explained.
This Ukrainian mission stands out because unmanned systems were not just supporting human soldiers—they led the entire offensive operation. While drones and robots have been used in past wars for reconnaissance, logistics, and bomb disposal, this is the first reported case where they replaced human troops in direct combat.
Ukraine’s experimental “DEUS EX MACHINA” drone company designed and executed the mission. The operation was seen as a success both tactically and symbolically. Ukraine has not shared the number of Russian troops captured or the exact location of the engagement, but the mission’s impact goes beyond numbers.
Ukraine has been rapidly developing its drone and robotics programs. Facing disadvantages in manpower and heavy weaponry, Kyiv has turned to low-cost FPV drones, autonomous ground vehicles, and AI-guided systems to level the playing field. These technologies have already proven effective for reconnaissance and disrupting supply lines, and now they are being used in direct assaults.
“This mission shows what the future of warfare might look like,” said a defense analyst. “The ability to send robots into danger zones changes the game completely.”
So far, Russian authorities have not commented on Ukraine’s claims. Only a few Western media outlets, including the UK’s Daily Express and Germany’s DW, have reported on the operation. The Ukrainian brigade has also released a video allegedly showing parts of the mission, but independent verification is still pending.
