Ukraine claims it killed around 3,000 Russian soldiers in a secret operation that included dropping bomb-carrying robots behind enemy lines by drone.

The Telegraph reports that the mission, known as Operation Vivaldi, was carried out by Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps over several months.

The unit also claims it retook 48 square miles of Russian-occupied land.

According to the report, a large drone carries a small robot on wheels, loaded with explosives, 10 miles or more into Russian territory in the Donetsk region before releasing it.

The unit’s commander told The Telegraph that no other army had air-dropped ground robots behind enemy lines until now.

The feat – part of a top secret offensive known as Operation Vivaldi – had helped Ukraine kill 3,000 Russians in a matter of months, recovering 48 square miles… pic.twitter.com/G1A2JsO68O

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 26, 2026

Operators then drive the robot, which is known as Gryphon, by remote control toward Russian troops preparing to ambush Ukrainian forces and detonate it.

The unit’s commander claimed Ukraine is the first country to use the tactic.

The drones needed to carry the robots are large enough that it is easy for Russian troops to spot and shoot down.

To get them through, Ukrainian forces jam Russian surveillance drones, hit enemy positions with artillery and drones to keep troops pinned down and fly only at night.

Some of the robots have reached as far as 12 miles behind Russian lines.

Once the robots strike, Ukrainian infantry move in on foot to capture the ground, then wait for drones and artillery to hit the next target.

Ukraine is redefining warfare: robots over humans.
Less soldiers in the line of fire. More machines on it.
Every autonomous system Ukraine deploys is a life potentially saved.

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 20, 2026

Since Russia invaded the country in 2022, Ukraine has made heavy use of drones and unmanned ground vehicles. Both sides now rely on them, and they have changed how the war is fought.

Ukraine has developed its own drone industry and says it produces them in large numbers.

Its forces use small drones for reconnaissance and strikes, sea drones against Russian naval targets and ground robots to carry supplies and evacuate wounded soldiers.

We’re launching the Army of Robots.

In 2022, we launched the Army of Drones. Today, drones account for over 95% of battlefield strikes, and Ukraine has more than 700 UAV manufacturers.

Now we need the next technological breakthrough: the robotization of warfare.

The goal is… pic.twitter.com/UtaDuV4LXT

— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) September 26, 2026

Russia has also ramped up its own drone use, ushering in a new age of technological warfare.

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