We Joined a Secret Ukrainian Robot Mission to the Front Line

[00:00:01][music] Yesterday we had to go out during the day to evacuate a wounded soldier.

[00:00:12]>> We mainly transport ammunition. Today we are transporting provisions because they have run out.

[00:00:19]>> Everything is ready for the vehicles.

[00:00:22][music] My favorite mission was when we delivered 100 kg of explosives to the enemy and detonated them.

[00:00:36][music] Hello everyone, my name is Katina Zahinka and I'm a journalist with K post. Right now we in common post of heartier brigades ground robotic system.

[00:00:52]Today we will follow secret mission to deliver food and ammunition to Ukrainian troops on the front line. This unnamed ground robotic systems uh help keep soldiers out of dangers. They can carry food, ammunition, any essential supplies to Ukrainian uh position where every trip can be deadly.

[00:01:15][music] >> [music] >> UGVs are unmanned ground vehicles. We use them primarily for logistics missions, transporting provisions and ammunition depending on the unit we are working for. They are also used to evacuate the wounded, recover the fallen soldiers, and retrieve other drones.

[00:01:46]>> [music] [music] >> We carry out pre-eparture maintenance, meaning [music] we check whether towing equipment for evacuation is available if needed. We check whether the cameras, [music] lights, and communications are working properly. Do our speakers work?

[00:02:07]That means that if we are carrying out an evacuation, we can talk to them. So, it is a pre-eparture check.

[00:02:14]And can you see this through an app?

[00:02:15][music] >> Yes, it is through an app. We can see everything and we also control it through the app. [music] >> So [music] if you step away now, we can easily control it from the tablet. In the same way we control it from a computer using a controller.

[00:02:42]Yesterday there was a difficult situation. We very rarely operate during the day, but yesterday we had to go out during the day to evacuate a wounded soldier. He was seriously wounded. Thank God everything is all right. The rain helped us. The bad weather helped. We evacuated the guy. He stepped on a mine.

[00:02:59]While moving out, the guy stepped on a mine, so we had to evacuate him urgently.

[00:03:11]Many people are afraid. They are afraid to get onto a UGV. But when the injury is very serious and there is no other option, they get on and we evacuate them without any problems. [music] >> Can you talk to the wounded person through the drone and will they be able to hear you?

[00:03:26]>> Yes, of course, we can talk and we can hear them. When we evacuate wounded soldiers, it helps a lot because we can constantly check their condition.

[00:03:34][music] If we understand that their condition is deteriorating, we can drive to our nearest position or call in the guys there, reconnaissance personnel [music] or someone else, so that they can check the wounded person's condition and provide first aid.

[00:03:53]>> If you look at the drone from behind, you can see that it is riddled with holes. That was caused by an FPV drone.

[00:03:59]The drone hit it and the UGV was torn to pieces. But the connection picked up again and we managed to drive it back.

[00:04:07]Each drone has its own name. This one is called Erdogan and it really does have a Turkish character of steel. It has carried out two evacuations. It hit a mine while we were evacuating wounded soldiers. Since it could still move, the decision was made to continue evacuating the guys. It drove over a mine and its wheel was torn apart, but it still made it back.

[00:04:39]The drone is basically ready. We are only waiting for transport and then we will [music] pick it up. The guys will come collect it and take it away.

[00:04:48][music] >> Everything is ready for the vehicles.

[00:04:56][music] >> [music] >> There is canned food, military rations, and treats here because even on the front line, you still want something tasty, something sweet.

[00:05:23]Sweets are a must at the position. That is what you crave most. And something like this is perfect for a snack. Here is a box of biscuits. These are governmentissued biscuits. They are also going to the position [music] and the guys will have them with tea.

[00:05:39][music] Sometimes there are borch kits for making borch. The state provides all of this, but sometimes we buy some things ourselves.

[00:05:52]There are currently three people in the position. All of this is for three people. No, [music] not for one day.

[00:05:57]This is enough for at least a week.

[00:06:03]We mainly transport ammunition. It accounts for around 80% of what we carry. Today, we are transporting provisions because they have run out. I sent a message to the command asking for permission to retrieve the drones. They will either give us permission now or ask us to wait.

[00:06:24]>> [music] >> Go.

[00:06:43]It can travel between 40 and 50 km at a speed of approximately 10 to 12 km hour.

[00:06:48]There have been cases when a drone had problems with its camera, for example, and we could not see through it. We would drive another drone up to it and use the video feed from the [music] second drone. That is how we guided the first drone. There have been all kinds of situations.

[00:07:03][music] [music] Well, I'm already on my way back. The total distance is approximately 28 [music] km. I probably have about 12 km left. It takes a little longer because the road is [music] becoming overgrown.

[00:07:30]The journey there took longer. The return trip will be faster. The total distance is approximately 30 km. [music] It takes around 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours, although it depends on the route.

[00:07:41][music] The longest I've ever spent operating the controller was around 12 to 14 hours. [music] My favorite mission was when we delivered 100 kg of explosives to [music] the enemy and detonated them.

[00:07:57]That was my favorite one. It was a 12-hour mission. During that long mission, I waited for the drone that was escorting me [music] to arrive. While I was waiting, I could go to the bathroom or have something to eat. We have water and tea, but I usually do not eat anything during [music] a mission.

[00:08:20]>> Russian [music] Mavic drones can spot us and track us. Then they send strike FPV drones and try to hit me. Whether they succeed depends on whether I see them first or they [music] see me first.

[00:08:35]>> [music] >> There was a mission to evacuate wounded soldiers. They were near the front line.

[00:08:45]There was a separate tree line where a dugout had collapsed and there was no communication with the guys. We drove the drone up to the dugouts, but they did not respond. We thought they would hear us, but they did not come out. Then the decision was made to drive to a position on the front line. We picked up two soldiers there and brought them back to the wounded men. They dug them out, placed the wounded soldiers onto the drones, and we evacuated them once or twice a month. We also carry out missions to help civilians because there are still civilians living in settlements near the combat zone and the evacuation area. We deliver provisions, water, and gasoline to them.

[00:09:41]The drones cost approximately 400,000 Rhivas, $9,000. But the price can reach 1 million Rivas, $22,500, or even [music] 2 million Rhivas, $45,000.

[00:10:01]>> [music]