Ukraine Forges Ahead with Military Robots Powered by Artificial Intelligence, Undeterred by Defence Minister's Sacking

Ukrainian engineer Eduard Trotsenko navigates his garage workshop, where robots, weapons, and computers converge, as he enthusiastically showcases his latest prototypes and envisions futuristic concepts inspired by science fiction, including "mechanical birds" that can recharge on high-voltage power lines and "robot dogs" designed for battle.

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Trotsenko's ideas are driven by a desire to save human lives, particularly soldiers, through the use of robots, a sentiment he expressed to AFP, highlighting the importance of autonomous weapons in the ongoing war with Russia, where aerial drones are utilized for reconnaissance and explosive drops, and ground robots support logistics operations.

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Ukraine has rapidly developed a thriving drone industry from scratch, with President Volodymyr Zelensky praising it as the best in the world, but the recent dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a strong advocate for drones, has raised concerns about the sector's future.

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Trotsenko, founder and CEO of robot manufacturer Temerland, expressed confusion over Fedorov's removal, stating "I don’t understand why they sacked Fedorov," but noted that industry players and military personnel are committed to continuing the development of drones.

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Despite Fedorov's departure, those involved in the industry and military personnel AFP spoke to believe that the progress made so far is irreversible, with Trotsenko asserting "The young people there won’t let it go, there’ll definitely be drones."

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When Russia invaded, 55-year-old Trotsenko, who was born in Soviet Kazakhstan, shifted his focus from making car charging stations to producing military robots, specializing in ground drones that can navigate the "kill zone," a dangerous area where Russian and Ukrainian drones pose a constant threat.

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Currently, these ground drones are used to evacuate wounded soldiers and transport supplies, reducing the need to send more personnel into the kill zone, but Trotsenko is working on combat prototypes, including one equipped with an RPG rocket launcher and another with a heavy machine gun, both controlled by onboard artificial intelligence (AI).

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These prototypes are being tested in some brigades, awaiting approval from the General Staff for further deployment, as Trotsenko continues to push the boundaries of military technology.

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Fedorov played a crucial role in driving Ukraine's army towards technological advancement, establishing the Defence AI Center A1, a hub focused on integrating AI into the military and using front-line feedback to accelerate the deployment of new technologies.

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Fedorov also promoted the involvement of private companies in the military system, fostering competition and innovation, as Trotsenko explained, "In a private company, you can take risks more quickly," allowing small companies to adapt and modify their products rapidly to secure contracts.

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A 45-year-old military commander, known by the call sign "Jason," recently returned from a mission and highlighted the benefits of using ground drones, stating "You can afford to lose a drone, but not a person, the probability of human losses there is reduced."

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This approach aligns with Fedorov's mantra of utilizing drones to save lives, which was a key aspect of his reform drive at the defence ministry.

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Following Fedorov's dismissal, protestors forced out the Soviet-style commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, who had clashed with Fedorov over the use of drones and the handling of soldiers' lives.

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Jason downplayed concerns that Fedorov's removal could hinder Ukraine's drone development, saying "It’s not that simple … the technological initiative was not flowing from the top down, it wasn’t a government order," and instead emphasized the explosion of bottom-up initiative that occurred after Russia's invasion.

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Young engineers began creating new products, which they presented to the military, and this led to the development of new technologies, with programmers, telecoms specialists, and engineers now fully integrated into the army.

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According to Jason, the biggest challenge he faces is "the shortage of professionally trained people," as the military continues to adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of modern warfare.

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In Trotsenko's workshop, his engineers are working to redefine the technological and geographical limits of war, with Trotsenko sketching out his vision for the future on a whiteboard, featuring "humanoid robots" controlled by operators in another country or wounded soldiers in hospital beds.

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Confidently, Trotsenko asserted "Things have really taken off," as he envisions a future where technology continues to shape the nature of conflict.