Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has launched a new “Army of Robots” initiative, aimed at developing machines that can take over some of the most dangerous battlefield missions — evacuating wounded soldiers, carrying ammunition, reconnaissance, mine-clearing, defending positions and eventually attacking enemy forces.
The project will operate as a defence-tech ecosystem rather than a new official military branch, investing in companies, developing new technology and testing it directly with Ukrainian forces. Fedorov has even spoken about developing humanoid robots, with an ambitious goal of having one kill an enemy soldier within six months and later carry out an assault without infantry entering the position.
The idea of using robots to save soldiers’ lives makes sense — but this is also where things get dangerous.
A robot carrying ammunition or evacuating wounded troops is one thing. Machines increasingly being trusted to identify, pursue and kill humans is something completely different.
The biggest question is no longer whether this technology is possible. It’s how much control humans are willing to hand over before warfare becomes increasingly automated.
And if these systems prove effective in Ukraine, you can be sure other militaries will be watching very closely.