Machines instead of people: UGVs have carried out over 66,300 missions since the start of the year

The Defence Forces of Ukraine are rapidly scaling up their use of unmanned ground vehicles. Since the start of 2026 alone, UGVs have carried out 66,300 missions, taking on the riskiest logistics and evacuation tasks.

On these missions, UGVs carry 200 to 300 kg loads under fire, standing in for people where the danger is greatest. This directly helps save the lives of Ukrainian defenders.

Demand for UGVs is growing rapidly

Demand for unmanned ground vehicles keeps rising. In 2026 alone, troops have already ordered almost UAH 1.9 billion worth of UGVs through the ePoints programme on the Brave1 Market marketplace.

This year the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has significantly increased UGV requirements and procurement in order to scale up their use at the front. Since the start of the year, over 22,000 unmanned ground vehicles have been contracted, nearly double the total for all of last year.

Refining UGVs systematically to meet front-line needs

Expanding the use of UGVs goes hand in hand with constant quality checks. The Brave1 defence technology cluster tests them in conditions as close as possible to real combat.

This allows developers to assess how well their solutions perform, identify weak points, gather feedback from troops and refine their technology to match front-line needs.

The Ministry of Defence meets the needs of the Defence Forces, while Brave1 helps developers bring their technology up to the required military standards. Working together, they make the path from innovation to the front line fast and systematic.

Trained operators are another systemic need. The first operator schools were certified as early as last year, and relevant vacancies in the military are listed at army.gov.ua.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and Brave1 are working together to make sure Ukrainian innovation develops as fast as possible, because in war the speed of decision-making has a direct bearing on how many soldiers’ lives are saved.

Earlier, The Ministry of Defence reported that in June troops ordered more than UAH 5 billion worth of UAVs, UGVs and electronic warfare systems on Brave1 Market. That was the largest monthly total since the ePoints programme began.