Ukraine claims it killed around 3,000 Russian soldiers in a secret operation that included dropping bomb-carrying robots behind enemy lines by drone.
The Telegraph reports that the mission, known as Operation Vivaldi, was carried out by Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps over several months.
The unit also claims it retook 48 square miles of Russian-occupied land.
According to the report, a large drone carries a small robot on wheels, loaded with explosives, 10 miles or more into Russian territory in the Donetsk region before releasing it.
Operators then drive the robot, which is known as Gryphon, by remote control toward Russian troops preparing to ambush Ukrainian forces and detonate it.
The unit’s commander claimed Ukraine is the first country to use the tactic.
The drones needed to carry the robots are large enough that it is easy for Russian troops to spot and shoot down.
To get them through, Ukrainian forces jam Russian surveillance drones, hit enemy positions with artillery and drones to keep troops pinned down and fly only at night.
Some of the robots have reached as far as 12 miles behind Russian lines.
Once the robots strike, Ukrainian infantry move in on foot to capture the ground, then wait for drones and artillery to hit the next target.
