Why Ukraine’s robot victory over Russia signals a new era of warfare | The Global Story

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:25:27 +0000

For the first time in history a country has apparently won a battle using only robots, without a soldier on the ground put at risk.

Ukraine claims to have recently taken over a Russian position – forcing Russian soldiers to surrender – using robotic systems alone.

President Zelensky has been asking the world for help to fight Russia since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

But in the years since, Ukraine has revolutionised the technology of warfare with battlefield robots and drones, and now other countries are turning to it for its technology and expertise.

We speak to the journalist and defence expert Mark Urban about how Ukraine went from needy to needed.

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00:00 Introduction
01:30 Ukraine's robot war revolution
03:02 How has the Ukraine war evolved technologically?
07:50 Can the Russian's keep up with Ukraine's innovation?
15:08 What happens if drones get more powerful?
19:08 Is Ukraine leading America with its war technology?
21:08 Could future battles be fought by robots only?