- Ukraine shared images of experimental land drones it has been testing.
- The minister in charge of the project said it included exploding drones and ones with turrets.
Ukraine said it tested a new array of land-based drones meant to help its fight against Russia.
It said the experimental technology included a remote-controlled turret and also an exploding drone.
Images of the machines were shared by the government-backed media outlet United24 and by the Ukrainian minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose remit includes innovation and digital transformation.
Fedorov said the 25 drones ranged in function "from remote turrets to kamikaze robots." He didn't specify which image corresponded to which function.
The photos showed one mounted with a camera and what might be a turret and a feed for ammunition:
It was pictured next to another drone with different wheels and fewer clues as to a possible function.
Another was squat with larger wheels and appeared more heavily armored:
A fourth had two mortar shells strapped to it, possibly the exploding drone which Fedorov mentioned:
Another had tracks like a tank instead of wheels:
A final image shows what looked like an array of antennae, on top of a base which was not depicted:
In a post, Fedorov said that 25 drones had been tested, and shared images of four different types. They were produced as part of a project called Brave1, which Fedorov oversees.
Its work is inspired by the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit, per an earlier video on Brave1.
In an interview with Insider, Nataly Kushnerska, project lead at Brave1, said she couldn't disclose any information about the drones until they were deployed in battle. She said this could happen as soon as mid-September.
She said new technology would be the "only way" for Ukraine to ultimately prevail.
The prominence of drone warfare has been a hallmark of the fighting in Ukraine. Most visible have been the aerial drones which both Ukraine and Russia uses for reconnaissance, targeting, to drop bombs, and also exploding drones which detonate on impact.
More recently, Ukraine's efforts to use drones at sea have come to prominence after a slew of attacks on Russian warships and key infrastructure like the bridge between Russia and the occupied Crimea peninsula.
Land drones have received comparatively less attention, a situation which United24 and Fedorov seem to be trying to change.
Ukraine has made great strides in the drone market in recent months, with companies expanding their operations to land robots, the platform added.
August 31, 2023: This story has been updated to include additional comments from Brave1.