Robots conduct combat airdrops and clear mines as Ukraine rolls back Russian pincer in Operation Vivaldi

Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi counterattack, backed by ground robots, has crushed a Russian pincer and retaken dozens of square miles. On September 21, 2026, the Third Army Corps carried out a “world-first” drone air-drop of explosive robots more than six miles behind Russian lines inside occupied territory. Other robots cleared antipersonnel mines from over 18 miles of routes—a task that normally needs two sapper companies—without putting sappers at risk.