Ukrainian forces have used a sea drone to transport a gun-equipped robot for the first time during a mission into territory controlled by Russia in southern Ukraine. This information comes from soldiers engaged in the conflict.

A video lasting 57 seconds, shared by the drone experts of Ukraine’s 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade, shows a ground robot stationed on a floating platform. The footage reveals the robot making its way to a narrow coastline before moving off the sea drone and onto the shore. The drone then retreats to the water, followed by footage of the robot targeting and firing at a distant objective.

The video has not been independently authenticated by Newsweek. However, it highlights the rapid advancement and upgrading of drones in the conflict zones of Ukraine. Global military forces closely monitor these developments as Russia and Ukraine utilize and test futuristic drones.

While Ukraine’s aerial drones and explosive boats have gained notoriety, the less-publicized and yet increasingly vital fleet of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) from Kyiv is becoming crucial in battles. These robots offer both Russia and Ukraine a means to execute various missions, ranging from soldier evacuations to mine deployment, while minimizing human exposure to danger.

Back in April, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces used only robots to reclaim land from Russian control for the first time. According to the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade’s 1st Unmanned Systems Battalion, this represents an innovative strategy in warfare.

Targeting Strategic Russian Position

An animation in the video illustrates the deployment of drones from Ukrainian-controlled regions along the southern coast to the northern part of the Kinburn Spit. This stretch, approximately 6 miles long, commands the mouth of the Dnieper River and regulates vessels entering or leaving the Ukrainian port of Mykolaiv. Experts suggest that Russian forces have been using the spit as an artillery launch point against Ukrainian territories.

Russia claimed the area shortly after its extensive invasion in February 2022 and has held onto it despite Ukrainian offensive operations. In late June, Ukrainian forces in the south reported hoisting the national flag on the Kinburn Spit, following strategic operations that compelled Russian forces to retreat.

Nevertheless, a Ukrainian navy spokesperson moderated these claims, indicating that although Russian troops had been forced back, they had not completely pulled out from the spit. Earlier this month, one of Russia’s military bloggers noted that Ukrainian forces had disrupted Russian logistics in the Kinburn Spit, complicating Russia’s activities there.

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