A new form of warfare is being used by Ukrainian forces in Donetsk, transforming old vehicles into remote-controlled "zombie cars" that can carry explosives and strike Russian positions without a human at the wheel.
The technology is being used as part of "Operation Vivaldi," the major Ukrainian operation in the region where Kiev claims to have recaptured significant territory and thwarted Russian efforts to advance into the so-called "stronghold" of Donetsk.
The Ukrainian side announced that during the third phase of the operation, another 51 square kilometers were recaptured, while the total territory that has been returned to Ukrainian control since the start of Operation "Vivaldi" reaches 176 square kilometers, according to the Ukrainian military.
At the heart of the new tactic are old vehicles, including those of Soviet production, which are converted into unmanned platforms. According to the footage, an old armored personnel carrier moves autonomously or remotely through difficult terrain before reaching its target and exploding.
The main difference from previous vehicle-bomb attacks is that there is no longer a need for a soldier to be inside the vehicle to direct it towards the Russian position.
Ukrainian unmanned systems teams have developed technologies that allow for the remote movement of ground vehicles. The use of such systems has expanded on the Ukrainian front, from transporting materials and laying mines to missions in areas where the presence of humans is considered particularly dangerous.
Operation Vivaldi is a major operation by the Ukrainian 3rd Army Corps in the northern Donetsk region. According to the Corps commander, Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, Ukrainian forces liberated the villages of Novye, Rydkodub and Katerynivka in the final blows, while regaining control of Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. The Ukrainian side also reports that more than 250 Russian soldiers were captured during this phase.
Reuters, citing Biletsky, confirms the announcement of the recapture of 51 square kilometers in the final phase and a total of 176 square kilometers since the start of the operation. The area around Liman is considered critical for the defense of the northern side of Donetsk, as the city is located at a key point against Russian pressure towards eastern Ukraine.
The use of “zombie machines” is not an isolated technological experiment. In recent days, the 3rd Army Corps announced that Ukrainian heavy bomber drones were used to transport unmanned ground vehicles more than 10 kilometers behind Russian lines. These ground robots, known as “Hryphons,” were developed by the NC13 unit and were used in a mission that, according to the Ukrainian side, caught Russian forces by surprise.
At the same time, unmanned ground and aerial systems are being used in the same operation to lay minefields. The 3rd Corps claims that the drones can complete tasks in about two nights, which would take about two weeks for human teams.
“Vivaldi” thus highlights a broader change in the way operations are conducted in Ukraine, with an increasing participation of unmanned systems. Aerial drones, ground robots, artillery, armored forces and infantry operate in combination, with the aim of reconnaissance and assaulting positions and creating corridors for units operating on the ground. ©LAPSI.al
