Ukraine First "Captures Position Using Only Unmanned Systems," Russia "Downs" 2,411 Ukrainian Drones in a Week

Reference News Network reported on April 18 According to the German magazine Der Spiegel's website on April 15, a video released by Ukrainian President Zelensky on the 14th has sparked strong reactions. Although the 9-minute video is nominally aimed at thanking the personnel of Ukraine's military industry, it can also be seen as an advertisement for Ukraine's military industry.

The report states that the president showcased the latest military technology equipment "made in Ukraine" in the video, including drones, unmanned boats, and ground combat robots.

In the 4th minute of the video, Zelensky made a truly sensational announcement. He stated that during combat, the Ukrainian military had, for the first time, captured enemy positions using only unmanned systems, namely ground combat robots and drones. Zelensky said, "The occupiers surrendered, and this operation did not involve infantry; we had no casualties."

He did not disclose further details. The time, location, and process of that operation, as well as the significance of the reportedly liberated position, remain unknown.

Zelensky then introduced some models of ground combat robots used by the Ukrainian army, claiming that these weapon systems had executed over 22,000 missions on the front lines within three months. Zelensky described this as "using high technology to protect the most precious asset—human life."

Ukraine has been using unmanned weapon systems such as drones, unmanned boats, and ground combat robots to perform various tasks on the front lines for some time.

The claim that the Ukrainian military captured Russian positions using unmanned weapon systems could not be independently verified immediately. The news has elicited mixed reactions. Many, including former U.S. Secretary of State and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo, have expressed appreciation, affirming Ukraine's capabilities and leadership in developing modern combat technology.

Other commentators pointed out that ground warfare without human involvement still poses dangers. In their view, if political figures no longer need to consider their own personnel casualties when launching military strikes, the threshold for decisions on violent conflict will be lowered.

Before Zelensky released that video, Russian observers had already noted that Ukraine was increasingly using ground combat robot systems in defensive operations. Last week, a Russian "Telegram" channel reported that from late March to early April this year, the frequency of the Ukrainian military's use of such systems had increased several times. Russian commentators pointed out that this indicates the Ukrainian military's tactics are further modernizing, "the enemy is trying to compensate for the lack of frontline troops by actively using robotic systems."

Only a few Russian commentators believe that Zelensky is bluffing. After he released the video, several popular Russian "Telegram" channels coincidentally published videos about new developments in Russian robotic technology. For example, the "Telegram" channel of famous Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov reported on the morning of the 15th that the Russian Lobaev Robotics Company "has completed the development of a unique robotic-assisted sniper system called 'Decoy' and has begun mass production."

According to a report from the Russian "Tsargrad" television website on April 14, Konstantin Sivkov, vice president of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, stated that President Zelensky's claim about the Ukrainian military using drones and robotic soldiers to capture Russian positions is a "fairy tale."

The report states that Sivkov said Ukrainians may indeed use unmanned systems to attack Russian positions, but unmanned systems can never capture territory. Only human soldiers can occupy territory, and the Ukrainian military did not send infantry to participate in the attack.

According to a report from the Russian Sputnik News Agency on April 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that "from 8 AM to 8 PM Moscow time on April 14, the duty air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 11 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, the Republic of Crimea, and the Black Sea region."

The report states that previously, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had shot down a total of 2,411 Ukrainian drones, 54 guided aerial bombs, 6 Neptune guided missiles, and 4 HIMARS multiple rocket system shells in the past week. (Translated by Wang Qiang and Liu Yang)