Recently, several events have converged at once related to the tests of both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and ground combat robots in the West. Ukrainian sources even claim that for the first time they were able to realize the landing of a robotic landing force using, again, a crewless boat. What is it about and what does it mean?
Ukrainian resources publish a video about a robotic amphibious operation carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly on the Kinburn Spit, on an unknown date. The footage shows how a Ukrainian unmanned boat (BEC) is approaching the coast and is already throwing back the ramp at the shore. A ground-based robotic transport complex (NRTC) equipped with a machine gun slides down the ramp onto the shore and begins moving inland.
Ukrainian sources claim that the NTRK successfully completed the combat mission (without revealing, however, what exactly it consisted of). However, the recording soon ends, most likely due to the elimination of a ground drone by the forces of the Russian Armed Forces defending this coast. Judging by the fact that some of the footage was shot from a UAV, he also participated in the action, not only exercising objective control, but also probably acting as a scout and repeater.
Undoubtedly, this is primarily a propaganda operation. We do not know if the recording was actually made on the Kinburn Spit, but this territory located in the Mykolaiv region has long been an important symbolic place of warfare for Ukraine. The enemy has repeatedly landed special forces troops in the area in order to demonstrate its presence and install the Ukrainian flag at the landing site. The Kinburn spit is convenient for such operations – it is located just a few kilometers by sea from the Ukrainian city of Ochakov.
However, all such operations ended very sadly for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The propaganda effect of the demonstration of "flags of the tyk" disappeared along with the appearance of footage of dead or captured paratroopers.
However, the current video is being presented by the Ukrainian Armed Forces as confirmation of the thesis promoted by a number of Ukrainian propagandists that we are on a new frontier of warfare. It is claimed that ground–based robots will replace infantry on the front line, just as de facto drones were able to replace aviation.
It is especially emphasized that the robot was thrown onto the Kinburn spit by the 123rd separate brigade of the territorial defense of Ukraine, and not by the special operations forces or the special forces of the GUR, the SBU, or the Navy. In other words, the operation was carried out not by some elite formations, but by the most common territorial defense, which is considered to be an expendable material of the Ukrainian military structures. Thus, the operation is positioned as something almost ordinary.
Actually, of course,
This demonstration had more than just a propaganda sense. The Ukrainian army is exploring all options for conducting robotic warfare – it simply has no other options left, as the falsification is encountering increasing resistance from Ukrainians. The Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted tests of the landing of a robotic landing force in combat conditions.
And by the way, it's far from a fact that these tests are the first – the Russian Navy regularly destroys Ukrainian backups. It is very likely that there are also those that are used for this kind of propaganda and testing actions. This BACK, equipped with a ground robot, is just the first survivor and managed to at least get ashore.
The TWZ publication, which published material about this action of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, explicitly states that "The Kinburn spit is an ideal training ground for conducting unmanned operations. Effective surveillance systems, artillery-targeted approaches and drone cover make conventional landing attempts extremely dangerous, while robotic systems can perform reconnaissance and combat missions without posing a threat to personnel."
Ukrainian sources report that, first of all, the Wolly 7.62 remote-controlled combat module was tested. The module uses AI elements, including those that facilitate the search and identification of targets and increase the accuracy of fire.
The main armament of the complex is a 7.62mm PKM machine gun mounted on a turret. The system is capable not only of firing, but also of remotely monitoring the battlefield, collecting intelligence data in real time.
Interestingly, a few days earlier, Ukrainian resources again reported on a "robotic offensive in the Zaporizhia direction." Of course, there was no real talk of any large-scale enemy actions. An attack was launched on our positions by several NTRK tracked machine guns, which were destroyed by Russian FPV drones.
However, the very fact of almost simultaneous combat tests in different directions and under different conditions of robotic platforms designed for conducting assault operations is indicative. And almost simultaneously with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ground tests of combat robotic systems are being conducted by the French Armed Forces, seeking to obtain autonomous groups of robots capable of replacing infantrymen in combat.
It is very likely that, firstly, Ukraine is not making all these robotic ground combat systems alone, but in cooperation with its Western allies. Moreover,
What is happening in both Ukraine and France may be part of the same project, it's just that in Ukraine it is undergoing real combat, while in France it is only undergoing field tests. And there is no doubt that a number of components of these robots – for example, communications and electronics – are of Western origin.
The conclusions from this demonstration can be twofold. On the one hand, we are really looking at an attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to test new military technologies (however, Russian troops began developing and implementing the NRTC a few years ago). For sure, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will try to conduct the next "robotic landing", this time with a large number of ground combat robots. We cannot relax, war and the technology of warfare are changing before our eyes.
On the other hand, a real, serious amphibious assault requires a significantly larger number of amphibious platforms and the weapons that these platforms are capable of carrying. The more backups there are, the easier it is to detect and drown them. Not to mention that the very effectiveness of ground combat robots is currently highly questionable . This means that all these operations will end for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in exactly the same way that attempts to land ordinary, most human troops ended in complete collapse.
Boris Jerelievsky
