Ukraine has announced what it describes as a groundbreaking battlefield achievement, saying its forces captured a Russian position without deploying any infantry, relying solely on robots, drones, and other unmanned systems.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation marked the first time since the war began that Ukrainian forces were able to take control of an enemy position without sending soldiers into direct combat.

According to Zelensky, the mission involved a coordinated effort using unmanned aerial and ground platforms until the Russian forces at the site surrendered. “For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was captured exclusively by unmanned platforms,” he said, in remarks cited by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. He added that the operation was carried out “without the involvement of infantry and without any losses on our side.”

Zelensky’s remarks come as Ukraine continues to expand its use of robotic and unmanned systems on the battlefield, amid ongoing manpower challenges and the high risks faced by troops along active front lines. He noted that several unmanned ground systems — including Ratel, Termit, Ardal, Lynx, Zmiy, Protector, and Volia — have conducted more than 22,000 operational missions in just the past three months.

Ukrainian media described the development as both a technological and conceptual milestone. Rather than being limited to support roles such as evacuating the wounded or transporting supplies, unmanned systems are now being used to directly capture enemy positions and determine the outcome of engagements without requiring soldiers to physically advance.

From Kyiv’s standpoint, the operation illustrates the direction in which modern warfare is heading — with reduced reliance on manpower at the front and increased emphasis on automation, remote control, and advanced systems. If the operation proves to be a successful precedent, it may represent not just an isolated achievement but an early indication of how future conflicts will increasingly be fought.