Ukraine’s ground drones work like Lego, with soldiers putting parts together to perform different missions

Ukraine is using ground robots “like Lego,” putting them together differently to use for different missions, from evacuations to attacks, a Ukrainian robot operator told Business Insider.

Oleksandr Yabchanka, head of the robotic systems for Ukraine’s Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told BI that his unit doesn’t have different robot types. Instead, they equip and put them together based on specific needs.

They might use a rigid capsule so it can carry a wounded soldier, but later, if they need to destroy a Russian position, they attach a bomb to it and “turn that system into a kamikaze one,” he said.

Yabchanka described ground drones as being adaptable systems that soldiers can put together themselves on the field.

“We all remember Lego. We were growing up together with those kits,” he said.

He also described it as a positive development for Ukraine: In a war where tactics and technology are constantly changing, helping soldiers be nimble could be key.

Adaptable robots

Vadym Yunyk, the CEO of FRDM Group, which makes the D-21 robotic ground logistics complex, told BI that “the adaptability of the D-21 is one of its key advantages.”

The robot can be used for transporting provisions like ammunition, as well as for the emergency evacuation of wounded, or even as a platform for mounting weapons.

Yunyk said this adaptability means that units can “quickly integrate the platform into their own tactics.”

The company has also adapted the system further: In response to requests, it attached a combat module to the D-21, making the D-21-12R, a robot that can fire while moving between different positions, Yunyk said.

And they’re working on adding a grenade launcher, too.

“This opens the way to even more flexible applications for the D-21 and D-21-12R,” he said. “In other words, we are not just offering a product — we are providing a tool that adapts to the real needs of the front lines.”

Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, describes its THeMIS robot, which is being used in Ukraine, as “an advanced multi-role defence platform designed for various operational tasks.”

The company says its “modular and versatile design allows customization according to the customer’s needs” and that its robots can gather intelligence, dispose of ordnance, and evacuate troops. They can also be fitted with a variety of weapons depending on what soldiers have available and want to achieve.

Kuldar Väärsi, the founder and CEO of Milrem Robots, told BI that innovation on the battlefield goes even further.

He said that soldiers have been using the tech in ways the company wasn’t even expecting.

“Ukrainian troops are really creative, and they really find very simple ways how to get even more out of the equipment,” he said.

A new type of warfare

Ground robots are not new to warfare, but the scale of their use in Ukraine, the different types of usage, and the number of companies quickly bringing them to the battlefield stand out.

They also have the potential to be a key tool for Ukraine, as it has far fewer troops than Russia, which is a much larger country. Russia is also working on its own versions.

The speed of innovation is notable, too, with countries rapidly deploying AI and new tech to make them more autonomous and more powerful.

Yabchanka said soldiers are playing a key role in that development.

He said his troops often tweak, refine, and upgrade the ground robots themselves while on video calls with manufacturers.

It’s a similar dynamic to the one that drone operators have described to BI. One operator said he often texts and FaceTime manufacturers to give them feedback and get updates.

FRDM Group’s Yunyk said his robots also have to constantly be updated based on feedback and how soldiers are using them.

“The product lifecycle in this war is extremely short,” he said. “What worked a month ago may already be outdated today. Therefore, developers do not have the luxury of working according to old templates.”

He said that if companies spend two years developing a product, “there is a high risk that it will become irrelevant even before development is complete.”

“This is a new reality in which those who adapt faster, not those who plan longer, win,” he added.

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