BOTS GO TO BATTLE
Dramatic footage emerges of world’s first all-ROBOT battle force assaulting Russian positions on Ukraine frontline
Watch a robot dodge a rocket and shoot at Russian troops
DRAMATIC footage has emerged of the world's first all-robot battle force as Ukrainian bots assault a Russian trench.
Kyiv launched a wave of the remote controlled machines across the snowy ground of the war's frontline to attack Vladimir Putin's troops.
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Footage released by the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine shows the robots fighting in Kharkiv.
The unit uses a number of different types of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) including robots for mining and demining, kamikaze drones, and mobile turrets.
The robots, of varying sizes and speed, move across no man's land towards the Russians as they do their jobs.
One craft appears to be quite large and has a machine gun mounted to it and large four-wheel drive tires.
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It shoots from its machine gun turret and then dodges a Russian rocket in the next cut.
A small robot zips across the snow to a treeline where it gets stuck next to a bush.
The suicide craft then explodes causing snow to fall from the trees.
The robots' pilots sit in gamer chairs and wear headsets as they control the devices from control centres miles away.
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Other pilots can be seen in underground bunkers piloting the craft with screens on handheld controllers.
UAVs of various types, including heavy multi-rotor "bombers", surveillance drones, and first person vehicles support the ground forces.
Ukraine deploys all-ROBOT battleforce for the first time as deadly tech is launched at Putin’s troops in Kharkiv assault
Colonel Maksym Golubok, Chief of Staff of the Charter Brigade, said: "Our goal is to save the life of a soldier by replacing him on the battlefield, where possible, with a robotic or unmanned system.
"This requires detailed planning, a constant search for new engineering solutions and creating a culture of innovation in the brigade."
Ukraine now can use drones on land, in the air, and in the sea.
Earlier this month Kyiv's “Sea Baby” marine drones were seen pounding Putin's helicopters and Su-30SM warplanes in a battle in Kerch Bay.
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The drones also used on board machine guns in Ukraine's December attack close to the Crimean Bridge.
Another powerful weapon in Ukraine's robot arsenal is the deadly dragon drone.
Terrifying footage from last week shows the craft spewing lethal thermite across a trench and into the entrance of a Russian bunker.
Anyone caught underneath the iron oxide and aluminium combination would be burned to death.
Earlier this year Ukraine also used the "Honey Badger" to blow up a bridge to prevent Russian troops from advancing.
Footage shows the kamikaze land drone, approaching the bridge before spectacularly exploding and tearing the bridge apart.
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Previously Ukraine was set to unleash robotic dogs in the war to replace soldiers in dangerous missions on the frontline.
A demonstration in an undisclosed location showed the bots, known as BAD One, following commands from operators including standing up, crouching, running, and jumping.
The robots sit low to the ground, making them difficult to detect, and have a battery life of up to two hours.
They can carry up to 7kg of ammunition or medical supplies.
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The use of military technology has rapidly evolved throughout the war.
Earlier this month a senior government minister said Ukraine will need thousands of uncrewed robotic ground vehicles next year to shuttle ammunition and supplies to infantry in the trenches and evacuate wounded soldiers.
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