Frontline shortage: Ukraine turns to robots amid dire troop gaps
Ukrainians are raising the alarm that the lack of soldiers on some sections of the front has reached a critical level. Robots are increasingly helping to save lives; although they cannot replace soldiers, they can reduce human losses.
One Ukrainian commander told "Gazeta Wyborcza" that there is a shortage of personnel in all units, but in some, the situation is critical. "The lack of people is one of the main reasons for the instability of the front line," emphasized the newspaper's anonymous source.
The situation is worsened by the fact that soldiers fighting on the front are exhausted, and there is no one to replace them. In addition to combat losses, there is desertion, which has reached a concerning scale recently.
"In some periods, the number of those who left the unit was higher than the number of those killed and wounded. About 10% returned," explains the Ukrainian commander to "Gazeta Wyborcza".
They come to the front, not knowing what to do
Another serious problem that the Ukrainian army faces is the inadequate training of soldiers arriving at the front. Commanders admit that they usually train new colleagues on the ranges, but during intense fighting, there is no time for this.
The interviewee from "Gazeta Wyborcza" emphasizes that no training centre can fully prepare recruits for the challenges they will face at the front. That is why they should arrive at the unit when there are still enough experienced soldiers, not when there is a shortage of personnel. "Otherwise, new soldiers are 'overwhelmed by gunfire,' do not resist, and flee," says a military representative.
Robots replace people
Drones have been used in the war in Ukraine almost since the beginning of the conflict. In recent weeks, ground unmanned vehicles have joined marine and aerial drones. As military personnel admit, the greatest losses Ukrainians suffer are during movements and evacuations. Ground drones allow at least some reduction of these losses.
Robots can transport needed ammunition, food, water, and fuel to the so-called line. Tracked robots are also used for evacuating the wounded and deceased. Ground drones can be equipped with electronic warfare systems or machine gun modules.
"The needs are enormous because the front line in Ukraine is over 3,200 kilometres long, and intense combat operations take place on sections totaling over 960 kilometres. The heaviest fighting is in Donbas, where the Russian army attacks simultaneously in several directions," reminds "Gazeta Wyborcza".
Source: "Gazeta Wyborcza"
