Forbes: Drones And Robots Are Taking Russians Captive En Masse

Ukrainians are changing the nature of contact warfare.

Ukrainian drones and ground-based robotic systems are increasingly forcing Russian soldiers to lay down their weapons, and sometimes taking the enemy prisoner without live military personnel, Forbes writes.

Drones as a tool of surrender

The video, published on March 11 by journalist Andriy Tsaplienko, shows Russian paratroopers attacked by a DJI Matrice drone with a loudspeaker, obeying orders and following the drone to Ukrainian positions.

The drone operators broadcast instructions: "Raise your hands and follow us." Four soldiers complied with these orders and were taken into custody by Ukrainian troops. Such incidents were repeated.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov told X in March 2026:

"We are videotaping Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian drones. UAV operators escort them to our positions. Each such captive is an opportunity to bring our defenders home."

Ground robots on the battlefield

Besides drones, Ukrainian ground robots are also taking the enemy prisoner. In January 2026, three Russian soldiers surrendered to an armed unmanned ground vehicle near Liman.

Deborah Fairlamb, co-founder of Green Flag Ventures, explains, "Ground robots are already being used offensively with machine guns mounted, to resupply logistics and evacuate the wounded. They reduce the danger to people."

Minimizing human casualties

According to Luba Shipovich, CEO of the Dignitas Ukraine Foundation:

"We want to get people out of the trenches and off the front lines. Robots can do dirty and dangerous work. The idea that robots will completely replace infantry is wrong, but this is our strategic goal."

Colonel Konstantin Gumenyuk, chief surgeon of the Ukrainian Medical Forces, adds:

"Warfare has changed radically because of the proliferation of unmanned systems. Almost all injuries among our servicemen are now drone-related."

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