Russian forces test ground robots but communication problems limit combat use
Updated
Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · May 4
Russian forces test ground robots but communication problems limit combat use
6 articles · Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · May 4
Internal military documents say Starlink access was blocked in February, forcing Russian units back to shorter-range radio links vulnerable to terrain and Ukrainian electronic warfare.
Russia uses robots for logistics, evacuation, mine warfare and some assaults, but faults in Kurier and Bogomol systems, plus camera and battery failures, keep most operations in rear areas.
At least 20 Russian companies produce 29 robot types, yet use remains experimental compared with Ukraine's 22,000 missions in three months and plans to robotise all frontline logistics this year.
Can Russia's new satellite network close the ground robot capability gap with Ukraine?
With soldiers now surrendering to robots, is the era of human infantry coming to an end?
As AI robots make battlefield decisions, who is held accountable when things go wrong?
From Starlink Shutdown to Rassvet Delays: The Struggle of Russian Military Robotics in Ukraine
Overview
In early February 2026, SpaceX and Ukraine cut off Starlink satellite internet access to Russian forces in Ukraine, causing them to lose real-time control over drones and ground robots. This forced Russian operators to move closer to the front lines, increasing personnel risk and leaving their forces partly blind and deaf due to lost situational awareness. The disruption sharply reduced Russian offensive capacity, enabling Ukrainian counter-offensives and targeted attacks on abandoned Starlink terminals. This event exposed Russia's heavy reliance on foreign technology. In response, Russia launched the Rassvet satellite constellation and deployed interim communication solutions, but these remain vulnerable to Ukrainian electronic warfare and have yet to restore reliable control over robotic systems.