In a stark demonstration of the future of combat, a single Ukrainian robotic vehicle successfully defended a forward position on the eastern front for an astonishing 45 days, repelling repeated Russian attacks without a single soldier present.
The Unseen Defender: A Robot on the Front Line
Russian troops, attempting to advance under the cover of fog, rain, and snow in small groups, were met with relentless and precise machine gun fire. Believing they were facing multiple entrenched Ukrainian fighters, they were repeatedly pinned down and forced back. The reality, however, was that the resistance came from a solitary unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) deployed by Ukraine's Third Army Corps.
The machine, identified as the DevDroid TW 12.7, is roughly the size of a ride-on lawnmower but carries a formidable .50-calibre M2 Browning heavy machine gun. Commanded by soldiers from the NC-13 Strike Company, a unit specialising in UGVs, the robot can be operated remotely from up to 15 miles away or navigate using its own artificial intelligence.
Maintaining the Automated Sentry
Mykola 'Makar' Zinkevych, commander of the NC-13 Strike Company, confirmed the robot's pivotal role. 'The enemy conducted daily offensive pressure on forward positions,' he stated, adding that 'until the very end, the enemy was unable to determine that an unmanned ground vehicle with a combat module was present.'
The drone's endurance was maintained by a rigorous support routine. Every two days, it would briefly leave its post for a four-hour maintenance session conducted by a crew stationed approximately 2.4 miles from the front line. This involved:
- Servicing the weapon system.
- Restocking ammunition.
- Recharging the vehicle's battery.
Cdr Zinkevych emphasised that the machine defended positions that would typically require up to six soldiers, thereby keeping Ukrainian personnel out of direct harm's way. 'Robots do not bleed,' he noted, highlighting the grim calculus of modern warfare.
The Expanding Role of Robotic Warfare in Ukraine
This successful 45-day deployment underscores the rapidly growing significance of robotic systems in the Ukraine conflict. The NC-13 Strike Company, founded in September 2025, is now focused on the 'maximum involvement' and broader deployment of UGVs in both defensive and offensive operations.
The success of the DevDroid has paved the way for other models, with two new versions equipped with grenade launchers recently approved for frontline use. 'The demand for these systems is high,' Cdr Zinkevych confirmed.
This incident follows a landmark event in March of the previous year, where Ukraine executed an all-robot offensive against a Russian position north of Kharkiv. That five-hour attack, involving around 50 unmanned aerial vehicles, destroyed the enemy position without deploying a single Ukrainian soldier on the ground, setting a precedent that other units are now planning to replicate.
The persistent defence by a single machine over 45 days marks a significant evolution in battlefield tactics, demonstrating how unmanned systems can persistently hold critical terrain while conserving the most valuable asset of all: human life.
