‘Army of Robots’: Ukraine turns to machines for its most dangerous missions
After the peak, new reports halved every 5 hours so far - this story is still being covered, so the figure moves as reports arrive.
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How it spread - 44 original reports
Sat, 26 September 2026
1 report- Index.hr (Croatia)22:09first to report
UKRAJINSKI tehnološki poduzetnik i bivši ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov pokrenuo je novi projekt pod nazivom "Army of Robots", odnosno "Vojska robota", kojim želi ubrzati robotizaciju rata i dio najopasnijih zadaća s vojnika prebaciti na strojeve. Projekt je predstavio danas na konferenciji IT Arena 2026. u Lavovu.
Sun, 27 September 2026
4 reports- Times of India03:12
In a bold move to boost military efficiency, Ukraine is unveiling the 'Army of Robots' initiative, focusing on automation for the battlefield. This program is set to enhance the use of robotic systems in various military operations. Particularly, unmanned ground vehicles are being adopted for logistics, evacuation, and combat support. The initiative aims to minimize human casualties while maximizing operational effectiveness, marking a pivotal shift in Ukraine's defense strategy.
- Vecernji list (Croatia)05:44
Prema ukrajinskim medijima koji su pratili njegovo izlaganje na konferenciji, Fedorov je rekao da je cilj da humanoidni robot u idućih šest mjeseci prvi put ubije neprijateljskog vojnika
- tportal (Croatia)05:44
Bivši ukrajinski ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov predstavio je 'Vojsku robota' kojoj je postavio ambiciozne ciljeve. Za šest mjeseci bi humanoidnii roboti trebali ubiti čovjeka, a za godinu dana bi besposadni sustavi samostalno trebali izvesti napad na neprijateljski položaj
- 24sata (Croatia)09:13
Bivši ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov službeno je najavio pokretanje inicijative kojom se želi stvoriti vojska robota, a glavni je cilj smanjiti ljudsku prisutnost u najsmrtonosnijim zonama sukoba te spasiti živote
Mon, 5 October 2026
2 reports- France Info (France)15:58
Des journalistes ont vu à Kiev ces nouveaux matériels, qui combinent une mitrailleuse et une tourelle automatique bardée de capteurs.
- Channel News Asia19:27
Ukraine has already installed 12 automated turrets that use cameras and AI-controlled machine guns to detect and destroy Russian drones.
Tue, 6 October 2026
4 reports- RMF24 (Poland)06:37
Sztuczna inteligencja kontra rosyjskie drony odrzutowe. Ukraina znalazła sposób
- iDNES (Czechia)09:12
Ukrajina při obraně před ruskými drony s proudovým pohonem začala používat robotické střelecké věže, které k zaměřování cílů využívají prvky umělé inteligence (AI), uvedl mluvčí ukrajinského letectva Jurij Ihnat. Prezident Volodymyr Zelenskyj o den dříve sdělil, že v Kyjevě úřady instalovaly nejméně 12 střeleckých věží a dalších osm bude v Kyjevské oblasti.
- France Info (France)16:44
Kiev a annoncé s'être équipé de nouvelles armes capables d'intercepter des drones russes à réaction avec des mitrailleuses lourdes montées sur des tourelles guidées par intelligence artificielle. Précisions avec un spécialiste défense.
- Kyiv Post (Ukraine)18:14
Ukraine’s Air Force expects Russia could increase the speed of its jet-powered attack drones to 800-900 kilometers per hour, although such speeds have not yet been observed. Moscow is also expected to expand its use of jet drones, forcing Kyiv to accelerate interceptor production and rely heavily on F-16 fighters.
Wed, 7 October 2026
4 reports- Ukrinform (Ukraine)01:29
The speed of Russian jet drones could eventually reach 800–900 km/h, although such speeds have not yet been recorded.
- Kyiv Post (Ukraine)14:09
The spokesperson of Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched close to 3,500 jet-powered drones in September, up from the 2,850 documented in August. The numbers also mark a 10-fold spike from the 350 documented in June, with an estimated 1,600 launched in the last week of September alone. For now, Ukraine’s answers are F-16s and AI gun turrets.
- Kyiv Post (Ukraine)16:49
A Ukrainian presidential advisor noted that the newly introduced AI-assisted automatic AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) turret-mounted machine guns around Kyiv – numbering 12 at present with another eight planned – should be seen as the last layer of defense, with their limited range unable to provide protection for the whole city. That said, the Ukrainian Air Force also touted the turrets’ success in downing the jet-powered drones plaguing Kyiv.
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)22:25
The Russian army used nearly 3,500 jet-powered drones against Ukraine in September.
Thu, 8 October 2026
1 report- aol.com04:03
A shortage of combat-ready troops has plagued Ukraine ever since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022
Fri, 9 October 2026
3 reports- Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy)05:55
La guerra nei cieli dell’Ucraina ha cambiato velocità. Gli ordigni usati da Mosca sono sempre più rapidi e tecnologicamente avanzati, spingendo i tradizionali sistemi di difesa aerea a ripensare uomini, armi e modalità di intercettazione. A descrivere questa trasformazione è il colonnello Yuriy Cherevashenko, vice comandante delle Forze Aeree ucraine per il settore della difesa […] L'articolo Droni russi a 900 km/h, Kiev si difende con “torrette automatizzate”: così l’AI sta cambiando la guerra...
- Kyiv Post (Ukraine)15:57
Ground robots operated by Ukraine’s Artan intelligence unit evacuated 45 Ukrainian soldiers from under enemy fire during the summer campaign. The platforms traversed a combined 4,258 kilometers (2,646 miles), delivered more than 41 tons of supplies and transported captured Russian troops. Zelensky previously set a target to procure 50,000 ground drones for the military in 2026.
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)22:25
Russian occupation forces have recently been increasing the proportion of jet-powered drones used in attacks across Ukraine. The geographic scope of their use is also expanding.
Sun, 11 October 2026
4 reports- Ukrinform (Ukraine)04:00
Russia is spending huge sums on producing the jet-powered drones it uses to strike Ukraine, which are quite expensive.
- theguardian.com11:00
Russia’s latest weapons have left Ukraine’s civilian air defence teams frantically trying to adapt as winter approaches
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)17:37
Ukraine already has Bars interceptor drones capable of countering jet-powered Shahed drones, which have demonstrated a 100% success rate against enemy drones. Production is now being scaled up.
- tportal (Croatia)19:35
Rusija posljednjih mjeseci sve češće koristi brže mlazne dronove kamikaze Geran-3, Geran-4 i Geran-5, a oni ukrajinskoj protuzračnoj obrani predstavljaju znatno veći izazov od dosadašnjih Šahida 136. Kako Kijev pokušava zaustaviti novu generaciju ruskih jurišnih dronova?
Mon, 12 October 2026
3 reports- Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)07:27
- Kyiv Post (Ukraine)16:57
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense says Russia is deploying small groups of jet-powered drones across different regions, prompting Kyiv to develop new ways to intercept them. Their numbers have surged this year, while their speed leaves Ukrainian forces with less time to react. Ukraine is turning to F-16 cannons, AI-powered turrets and small missiles, but scaling up production remains a challenge.
- tportal (Croatia)19:21
Rusija posljednjih mjeseci sve intenzivnije napada Kijev novom generacijom jurišnih dronova na mlazni pogon, koji lete brzinom do 600 kilometara na sat i na visinama do deset kilometara. Ukrajinska protuzračna obrana teško ih presreće, a dobrovoljačke postrojbe koje su godinama uspješno rušile ruske dronove sada se suočavaju s oružjem koje je izvan dosega njihovih strojnica
Tue, 13 October 2026
3 reports- Ukrinform (Ukraine)09:27
Russian troops may be deploying about 200 jet-powered drones per day to carry out attacks on Ukraine.
- bne IntelliNews13:48
Credit: bne IntelliNews Ukraine builds drones by the million but can still count its missile programmes on two hands. Russia builds both in quantity, is far ahead on missiles, and over the past year has taken the technological lead in long-range drones as well, by...
- tportal (Croatia)19:32
Ukrajinska vojska uspjela je stabilizirati bojišnicu i zaustaviti rusko napredovanje zahvaljujući velikim gubicima koje je nanijela protivničkim snagama, tvrdi bivši vrhovni zapovjednik ukrajinske vojske Oleksandr Sirski. U prvom intervjuu nakon smjene govorio je za BBC o sukobu s ukrajinskim političkim vrhom, optužbama za nepotrebne gubitke vojnika i budućnosti rata u kojem će dronovi, roboti i umjetna inteligencija imati sve važniju ulogu
Wed, 14 October 2026
4 reports- The Guardian World04:00
Faced with deadlier threats, demining groups are coming up with new ways of working using drones and AI Crouched over on her hands and knees in a field of weeds, Olena Kabanova is digging into the ground. With a shovel and a steady hand, the 58-year-old digs out a neat square around the spot where a mine detector has sensed a suspicious object. Four years ago, this field in eastern Ukraine was occupied by Russian soldiers. Now back under Ukrainian control, it is littered with landmines....
- Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)06:32
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)08:37
The interception rate for jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has risen to 76%, up from approximately 60% last month.
- iDNES (Czechia)20:00
Ukrajina čelí kritickému výpadku schopnosti dálkových úderů. Zatímco americké vedení omezilo síť Starshield pro její vojenské drony s okamžitou platností, domácí raketová náhrada bude masivně připravena až za několik měsíců. Kyjev proto narychlo hledá nouzové řešení: drony s vlastním zrakem a umělou inteligencí. Jde však o slabou náplast.
Thu, 15 October 2026
11 reports- Ukrinform (Ukraine)03:37
A demonstration test of the Frodo unmanned ground robotic system, equipped with a combat module capable of firing different types of weapons, was conducted for personnel of the Pomsta border brigade.
- tportal (Croatia)04:51
Ukrajina je razvila novi presretački dron namijenjen obaranju najbržih ruskih bespilotnih letjelica, koji je tijekom testiranja iznad Kijeva već uništio dva ruska drona Geran-5, sposobna letjeti brzinom većom od 600 kilometara na sat
- N1 Info (Croatia)05:18
Mihajlo Fedorov, bivši ukrajinski ministar obrane koji se zalagao za brze inovacije u ratnoj tehnologiji, predstavio je novi dron presretač namijenjen
- Index.hr (Croatia)05:53
BIVŠI ukrajinski ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov predstavio je novi dron presretač za uništavanje brzih ruskih dronova. Planira ga automatizirati pomoću AI i masovno proizvoditi do kraja godine.
- NYT World09:03
Ukrainian engineers are rushing to perfect A.I.-guided, jet-driven interceptors. Their goal: to stop a fast Russian threat in the latest round of a deadly tech duel.
- Google News - Top Stories09:03
The Race to Defend Kyiv Against Terrifying New Jet-Powered Drones The New York Times Russia targets Ukraine with 'massive' aerial attack, including hundreds of drones, Zelenskyy says ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos Ukraine races to field faster interceptors as Russia hammers its energy grid Defense News ‘A life-or-death race’: the volunteers protecting Kyiv’s skies from new jet-powered drones The Guardian Russia attacks Ukraine with two missiles and 580 drones: 536 drones...
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)09:50
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 850 Shahed drones against Ukraine from the start of the previous day through Thursday morning, “when the speed of our defensive capabilities was artificially restricted.”
- Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)11:30
- Kyiv Post (Ukraine)12:27
Of around100 companies that have joined Ukraine’s private air defense project, six have already established 50 operational groups with the rest preparing their teams. According to the Defense Ministry around 60 Russian air targets have been destroyed.
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)15:37
Russia has nearly completed construction of a large base for launching jet-powered drones, erecting its main structures in just six weeks near the border with Ukraine.
- Ukrinform (Ukraine)20:03
Ukraine has used its domestically developed FP-7 ballistic missile against targets on Russian territory for the first time. The strike was successful, as Russian S-400 systems failed to intercept the missile.