Ukrainian troops carried out a rare combat operation using only drones and robotic systems to storm and capture Russian positions in the Kharkiv region, according to Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the brigade said the attack was completed “without infantry and without losses.”

The unit cleared Russian trenches and took enemy soldiers prisoner using FPV drones and ground-based robotic systems.

After one Russian bunker was destroyed, another drone approached, and the remaining soldiers signaled their intent to surrender, the brigade said.

“The occupiers who survived were guided to our lines by drones and captured according to protocol,” the statement added.

“Positions that had resisted other units were retaken thanks to precise, well-planned strikes. The cleared fortifications and forest strip are now under our control.”

This appears to be the first time Russian troops have surrendered directly to Ukrainian drones during combat.

According to the attached video, Ukrainian forces used a homegrown ground robot called the “Spider” during a recent operation. It was created by Ukrainian engineers based on real combat experience and can be used for different tasks, depending on how it’s set up.

There are several versions of the Spider made for specific missions, like carrying supplies or doing engineering work. Based on feedback from soldiers, the developers improved the system so it can now be controlled from a greater distance.

The Spider is a small and mobile robot, weighing just over 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Two of them can fit in the back of a military pickup truck. Each robot can carry up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cargo. It runs on four electric motors and is built to handle tough battlefield conditions.

Its main strengths are its mobility, easy-to-use controls, and ability to keep working even when enemy forces try to block signals. It can move through tight spaces, climb steep hills, and run for several hours on a single battery charge.

In April, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it plans to send 15,000 robots like the Spider to the battlefield in 2025 – a big increase from last year.

Back in December, Forbes reported a similar operation carried out by Ukraine’s National Guard using both ground and aerial drones. That mission involved surveillance drones, mining equipment, and robotic ground weapons to clear Russian trenches.

While drone-based tactics have helped Ukraine strike with fewer casualties, military analysts and reports have warned that holding ground remains difficult due to Ukraine’s shortage of infantry.