The Ukrainian front is experiencing another wave of interest in ground robotic complexes (GRCs). After a period of some disappointment and the disbandment of specialized units, the real combat experience of advanced brigades has proven the irreplaceability of the machines in logistics and evacuation.
The Ukrainian front is experiencing another wave of interest in ground robotic complexes (GRCs). After a period of some disappointment and the disbandment of specialized units, the real combat experience of advanced brigades has proven the irreplaceability of the machines in logistics and evacuation.
This forced the military leadership and developers to reconsider strategic approaches to the robotization of the army in 2026, said Serhiy «Flash» Beskrestnov, an expert in military radio technologies and advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, in an interview with «ArmyInform».
According to the expert, the industry has overcome a deep internal crisis, which almost led to a complete halt in promising developments. For some time, the topic of NRC was in decline: manufacturers massively stopped work, and army structures did not see any real practical benefit in bulky robot machines. The main reasons for this «rollback» were the lack of systematic training of personnel, misunderstanding of application tactics and critical problems with technical support directly in the combat zone.
«A robot is, first of all, a complex machine. And any machine breaks down, requires regular scheduled maintenance and professional repair. Manufacturers at the initial stages often ignored the issue of „support“, not creating mobile service groups. When even minor malfunctions occurred, the equipment was simply abandoned, because there were neither spare parts nor trained technicians in the teams,» explains Serhiy Flesh.
The situation has changed radically thanks to the successful cases of individual units, in particular the Charter Corps and the Third Assault Brigade. These formations independently developed training programs, created internal schools for operators, and demonstrated in practice how NRCs can effectively replace infantry in the most dangerous «zero» areas. The robots have been most successfully integrated into logistics chains: they are able to run for hours under fire, delivering provisions, batteries, and ammunition to places where the risk to the life of a pickup truck or truck driver is critically high.
The expert emphasizes that the Ukrainian military-industrial complex deliberately does not waste resources on creating complex humanoid androids in the style of Boston Dynamics, focusing on the most functional wheeled and tracked platforms. Such vehicles have higher cross-country ability and greater carrying capacity, which is critical for evacuating the wounded.
At the same time, the role of humans is not disappearing, but rather transforming — even in the «robot war» of the future, qualified personnel are needed for remote control, programming, and maintaining the viability of technical infrastructure.
«But we are trying to make sure that robots take the first blow and work where it is most dangerous. Thanks to this, people will be able to be somewhere remote, „on the sidelines“ and, accordingly, in greater safety. But we understand that someone needs to manage the NRC, someone to maintain them, someone to repair them,» the minister’s advisor emphasized.
Recall that in January 2026 , Sergey «Flash» Beskrestnov, who is one of the leading practical experts in the field of drones, electronic warfare (EW), and analysis of enemy decisions, joined the team of advisors to Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov.
In April, his home was attacked by a Shahed guided missile, destroying the house. The advisor himself miraculously survived.
