DDAC 2026: Ukrainian commander says C-UAS UGV a possible ‘game changer'
Lehit UGV platforms, developed by specialists of the International Legion operating under the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, are pictured during a demonstration in Ukraine on 9 December 2025. (Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
An unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) will be a potential “game changer” for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Captain Oleksandr Yabchanka, commander of the Robotic Systems Service of the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion of the 59th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, told Janes on 5 February at the Danish Defence Annual Conference (DDAC) 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“What we're looking for is an anti-FPV [first-person view UAS] solution which is moving and has autonomy,” Capt Yabchanka said. He added, “We're interested in shooting down unmanned systems.” More than 70% of Ukraine's successfully launched assault missions on Russian forces are being carried out by unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), according to a representative of the AFU who was accompanying Capt Yabchanka. “A very small portion of those lethal attacks are conducted by ground robotics,” he added.
Capt Yabchanka said one-way attack UGVs have been known to carry out successful missions but “it's an insignificant fraction within that percentage [70%]”.
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