Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that Kyiv's forces successfully retook occupied territory in an operation using only unmanned machines, marking what he called a first in the history of the war. In an address on Monday, Zelensky said drones and ground robots were used to capture a Russian-held position in Kharkiv oblast last year, forcing the occupiers to surrender without any Ukrainian casualties.
The president stated that drones have conducted over 22,000 missions on the frontline in the past three months, highlighting a significant shift in modern warfare. He described the operation as a groundbreaking manoeuvre that protected human life. Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade said it used first-person view (FPV) drones and kamikaze ground platforms to attack fortified positions, taking an unspecified number of Russian soldiers prisoner.
The brigade added that Russian troops emerged from destroyed fortifications to surrender as a robot approached, preferring captivity to being blown up. Zelensky made the remarks on Defence Industry Worker Day, an annual holiday established in 2023, as Ukraine continues to develop new tactics and machines to gain an edge on the battlefield since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Looking to export its technology, Zelensky announced defence cooperation plans with Germany on Tuesday, including a deal on drone production that he said could become one of the largest of its kind in Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Ukraine's innovation, stating that the partnership would strengthen German and European defence capabilities. Berlin agreed to invest several hundred million euros in the project, which also includes deep strike capabilities.
Zelensky said teams from both countries are finalising the scope of the agreement, which builds on existing cooperation between German and Ukrainian firms. Germany, Europe's largest military aid provider to Kyiv, has delivered approximately €55 billion since the invasion and allocated €11.5 billion in the current budget.
