The robotic ground war is heating up in Ukraine with companies are sending hundreds of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) to the battlefield. In fact, Ukrainian officials have said the country plans to procure 25,000 ground robots in the first half of 2026 as part of a broader effort to automate frontline support functions.
“UGVs perform important logistics and evacuation tasks on the front line,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote in a post on April 18. “In March alone, the military carried out more than 9,000 missions using them.”
“Our goal — 100% of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” he said.
ARX Robotics, for example, said it expanding its presence in Ukraine after securing a new contract for several hundred additional GEREON uncrewed ground vehicles, a move that will increase the company’s deployed fleet in the country “to five times the initial fleet,” according to a release. The deal comes as Ukraine accelerates its shift toward unmanned frontline logistics and support operations.
The robotic systems will be used for logistics, casualty evacuation, resupply missions, and other operations in contested areas where moving personnel remains dangerous.
ARX Robotics says it now has hundreds of vehicles either operating in Ukraine or contracted for delivery, making it one of the largest Western suppliers of uncrewed ground systems to the country. The company’s GEREON platform is designed as a modular medium-sized UGV that can be adapted for different mission profiles and payloads.
“Unmanned ground vehicles are reshaping today’s battlefield, delivering a clear operational edge for modern forces navigating contested environments. This contract goes beyond delivery – it marks a decisive step in scaling an end-to-end capability built alongside Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Our close collaboration allows us to act on frontline feedback at speed, continuously refining and evolving our systems to meet real-world demands. At the same time, we are strengthening our field training – ensuring every soldier can fully leverage these capabilities with confidence, while minimizing risk to personnel,” said Igor Kornilov, CEO of ARX Robotics Ukraine.
The company said it is increasing manufacturing capacity across multiple sites and working with local supply partners to accelerate deliveries and maintain supply chain stability. The company will also expand field support operations, including training and technical assistance for Ukrainian military units using the systems.
The growing role of unmanned logistics systems reflects a wider change on the battlefield. Ground robots are increasingly being used to move ammunition, evacuate wounded soldiers, and transport supplies in areas exposed to artillery, drones, and surveillance systems. The shift reduces the need for troops to travel exposed routes and allows forces to sustain operations with lower personnel risk. Russia, for its part, is using repurposed golf carts to send supplies and systems onto the battlefield remotely. The Chinese-made carts are controlled remotely via fiber optic cable.
The expansion highlights how Ukraine continues to serve as a proving ground for rapid development of autonomous land systems. Companies supplying the conflict are increasingly using battlefield feedback to shorten development cycles and refine autonomous capabilities in near real-time.
