Ukrainian forces deploy combat robots behind Russian lines, reclaim 125 sq km

Ukraine announced that its Third Army Corps conducted a novel operation called Vivaldi, using aerial drones to transport and release terrestrial combat robots more than 10 kilometres behind Russian lines near Liman. According to commander Andriy Bilețki, the strike enabled Ukrainian forces to regain control of several villages and a total of 125 square kilometres, of which 50 square kilometres were reclaimed from Russian occupation.

The operation struck Russian command centres, communication nodes, logistical facilities and river-crossing points. Ukrainian air-defence and electronic-war units established a protective “shield” that, officials say, prevented Russian forces from detecting the mission. Bilețki added that the Third Army Corps was the first in the world to employ aerial deployment of ground robots, marking a global first in combat tactics.