"Robots Don't Bleed." How the Third Assault Brigade's Innovations Wreaked Chaos in the Russian Army During Operation Vivaldi

Innovation despite skepticism

For a long time, the military community believed that these bulky vehicles were capable of effectively performing only basic logistical tasks: quietly delivering ammunition under fire or evacuating a wounded man from a red zone. The very idea of ​​using them with heavy fire modules for direct assaults on enemy positions seemed unjustified, expensive and too risky to many commanders. However, the reality on the battlefield, in particular during the large-scale Operation Vivaldi, radically overturned these ideas, proving the exact opposite.

As our friend Makar, commander of the NC13 ground attack complex unit within the Third Separate Assault Brigade of the Third Army Corps, told dev.ua, when they were just starting to develop this direction, there was a lot of distrust from their counterparts. However, the engineering approach allowed them to successfully implement the NRC in real, dirty combat work.

"When, by order of the commander of the Third Army Corps, Andriy Biletsky, a separate company of shock NRCs was created, not everyone believed that the robots would be able to effectively perform combat missions on the battlefield. However, over nine months of combat work, we have proven that shock NRCs are no longer an experiment. Today, they conduct full-fledged assault and sabotage operations deep behind enemy lines, provide fire support to infantry, help hold positions and lines, and also take the enemy prisoner," said Makar.

Iron does not bleed

For the NC13 unit, combat effectiveness is measured not only by the number of enemy armored vehicles burned or kilometers of Ukrainian land recaptured. As our friend Makar, who himself was a former infantryman, says, for him personally and for his comrades, the most important indicator is the preservation of our own personnel.

That is why today a new concept of combat is being implemented in the ranks of the brigade - the use of robots directly on the battlefield to hold positions, carry out assaults and sabotage, capture and destroy enemy shelters in their rear - thus, removing from the infantry the burden and risks that robots are capable of taking. The machines are the first to take bullets, the first to detect hidden ambushes and the first to begin to push through enemy fortifications. Meanwhile, qualified NRC operators carry out precise remote control of these iron monsters, being in reliable concrete shelters dozens of kilometers from the epicenter of the battle.

"During the nine months of combat work of our unit , thanks to the use of NRC, we saved the lives of about 6,000 infantrymen - this is exactly the number of servicemen who would have had to be involved in the tasks that robots would have performed instead. And for us, this is the main argument, because human life is priceless, and robots do not bleed," said the head of NC13.

The Griffon Tactics and the Retreat of the Elite Rubicon

One of the most significant and successful episodes of Operation Vivaldi, which the commander shared with dev.ua, was the defeat of the elite Russian drone unit Rubicon. During these intense events, the forces of the Third Army Corps were able to methodically destroy the take-off points of enemy drones, which forced the occupiers to withdraw their elite from this direction.

Engineers and fighters of NC13 have developed a unique tactic codenamed “Griffon”. It consists in the fact that ground-based kamikaze robots are delivered to the affected area not by their own power through minefields, but by air using heavy aviation drones-bombers. This solution allows you to drop IRCs 15-20 kilometers behind the front line, right on the heads of the Russians, who considered their rear completely protected. It was possible to achieve this success at the tactical level precisely thanks to the symbiosis of air and ground systems.

As the military rightly notes, over the years of full-scale war, the enemy has really learned to counter classic threats from the sky quite well, deploying powerful electronic warfare systems and echeloned air defense. However, thanks to the Gryphon, Ukrainian forces are creating a completely new, asymmetric threat for the Russians directly on the ground. The robots appear out of nowhere exactly where the occupiers do not expect them at all. The purpose of such daring raids is not only the physical elimination of priority targets. Much more strategic, as Makar explains in a conversation with dev.ua, is the systematic destruction of the enemy's sense of security. The occupiers are forced to constantly look around, rewrite logistical routes, stop supplies and spend critical resources on protecting their deep rear.

"This is an example of how non-standard use of technology allows you to outsmart the enemy, even when it comes to units that are considered elite," the military officer added.

During the first deep missions, two drones were sent behind enemy lines at the same time. My friend Makar explained that usually kamikaze drones on the ground operate in groups of two or three vehicles, depending on the complexity of the mission.

“When planning operations deep behind enemy lines, we decided to land two IRCs at once. At that time, we did not always have clearly defined goals and an understanding of which targets we would be able to “hunt,” so we needed to have more opportunities to work. In addition, there is always a risk that one of the robots could be detected and destroyed or that something would go wrong,” Makar shared the nuances of the operation.

The presence of several machines at the same time gave the scouts much more options for maneuver and guaranteed the result. In the conditions of tough Russian electronic warfare and patrols, there is always a high risk of losing one of the robots. During operations, the control of the machines is usually entrusted exclusively to a separate reconnaissance platoon - in practice it looks like the work of a well-coordinated orchestra: the robot operators sit side by side in front of the monitors, working as a single crew, while an experienced navigator continuously analyzes the map, coordinates their movement, draws safe routes and helps to navigate in the forests and landings of the enemy rear.

"Operators always work side by side, and the navigator coordinates their movement, suggests routes, and helps them navigate. That is, the principle of crew interaction remains the same as in other operations — the conditions in which they have to work change," the military man noted.

Soviet scrap metal as a "Trojan Horse"

During Operation Vivaldi, the Third Army Corps turned old Soviet BTR-60 armored personnel carriers into giant ground-based kamikaze drones . My friend Makar said that this crazy but brilliant sabotage idea belonged to Commander Andrei Biletsky. It was necessary to ensure the destruction of the enemy's heavily fortified communications and control center, and instead of wasting expensive missiles, engineers turned the outdated Soviet armor into a ground-based guided torpedo.

The main advantage of this decision was the simply incredible power of the explosion, which is equal to the arrival of a heavy KAB-type aircraft bomb.

"To achieve such an effect with small NRC kamikazes, it would have been necessary to attract significantly more means, which, moreover, could be detected and destroyed on the way to the target. Instead, two old armored personnel carriers became a kind of Trojan horse - the enemy mistook them for reinforcements, and they reached the rear and destroyed an important communications and control node. This operation showed how unconventional thinking allows you to turn outdated equipment into an effective means of destruction. And the unexpectedness of such a maneuver became an additional factor in demoralizing the enemy," said Makar.

A broken enemy psyche and an ever-evolving workshop

The systematic use of such technologies breaks the psyche of the occupiers. In radio intercepts, Ukrainian operators constantly hear how the enemy panics, faced with threats that he does not understand. And such destabilization of the front is exactly what the Armed Forces of Ukraine need.

“Even if the enemy knows that we can use IRC deep in the rear, he does not know where exactly we will appear next time, what target we will choose and how far we will be able to go. This uncertainty in itself creates constant tension. We already know of cases when enemy infantry refused to move forward, because they did not understand what was happening and where the threat could come from. If such operations are scaled up, this effect can become even more noticeable,” said Makar.

To maintain this innovative advantage, Troika relies on its own unique workshop, which has become the heart of the unit. Here, engineers, welders and IT specialists quickly turn ideas from the trenches into weapons. For example, standard platforms are improved here - they reduce weight, improve fastening and re-solder communications. Moreover, the team has developed its own unified communication modules and proprietary software in order not to depend on contractors and instantly adapt to changes on the battlefield.

“It is important for us that this process does not stop. We exchange experience with manufacturers, help them improve their developments, and transfer knowledge to other units. If there is no ready-made solution for a specific task, we can develop a new one together with the manufacturer or with our own forces. The tool must be qualitatively assembled, tested, and work reliably in combat conditions. A malfunction a few meters from the target can nullify the entire operation. Therefore, our advantage is not only in the speed of development, but also in the ability to quickly adapt, prepare and bring the solution to real application,” noted the commander of NC13.

Although Russian troops are already trying to experiment with parachuting robots from airplanes, friend Makar assures that Ukrainian forces remain far ahead.

"Currently, we do not see the enemy actively using strike IRCs on the battlefield. At the same time, we monitor its social networks, study new developments, and see that the Russians are experimenting with robotic means and mastering the methods of their use. In particular, we recently came across material about a robotic complex with explosives, which the Russians parachuted from an airplane. That is, they are already looking for ways to deliver such means to the target from the air. Do they use such solutions in combat conditions - more likely no than yes. But, given how quickly these technologies are developing, we should not rule out that in the near future we will see such attempts on the battlefield," the military officer added.

With an eye on 2027, the NC13 unit plans to scale its successes, but emphasizes: for robots to become a standard for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this area needs to be developed at the state level.

“In order for NRCs to become a universal standard for the Ukrainian army, they need to be systematically introduced into the work of combat units: develop operator training, provide high-quality technical maintenance, and learn to effectively use robotic complexes for specific combat missions,” Makar concluded.

"Without technical specialists, the army begins to crumble." The head of unmanned systems of the Third Army Corps - why 3AK IT workers are needed and how to get there

On the topic

"Without technical specialists, the army begins to crumble." The head of unmanned systems of the Third Army Corps - why 3AK IT workers are needed and how to get there

The Third Army Corps was the first in the world to use NRK deminers during an offensive: the main result was no losses among sappers

On the topic

The Third Army Corps was the first in the world to use NRK deminers during an offensive: the main result was no losses among sappers

"Trojan APCs." The Third Army Corps converted BTR-60s into remote kamikaze robots to blow up Russian fortifications

On the topic

"Trojan APCs." The Third Army Corps converted BTR-60s into remote kamikaze robots to blow up Russian fortifications

Read the country's main IT news in our Telegram

On the topic

Read the country's main IT news in our Telegram