The Ukrainian military claims it has conducted an unprecedented operation using only robots and drones. With over 150,000 successful combat missions since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, UFORCE, a Ukrainian-British start-up, boasts of its expanding role in modern warfare.

Robotics are not just for sci-fi anymore; they're already at war. The debate about their future impact is intensifying, with analysts predicting that unmanned systems could outnumber human soldiers on the battlefield. Russia has also joined the fray by deploying robots designed to deliver explosives into Ukrainian positions.

The U.S. and China are actively integrating AI technology into military systems. In January 2023, the US Defence Secretary called for an 'AI-first warfighting force,' while China is ramping up its use of AI-enabled weapons.

However, with greater autonomy comes ethical concerns about accountability. Human rights groups warn that delegating life-and-death decisions to machines could pose serious risks. Manufacturers argue keeping a human in the loop addresses these issues but admit that computers can reduce errors across the kill chain.