Operation Vivaldi reportedly deploys ground robots by air and for mine clearance

Airdrops behind the front and mine clearance ahead

According to the report, the Ukrainian Third Army Corps air-dropped explosive wheeled ground robots more than six miles behind Russian front lines on September 21, 2026, where they targeted rear supply lines. In a separate use, ground robots reportedly cleared antipersonnel mines from more than 18 miles of routes. The report says these actions supported Operation Vivaldi, which had reclaimed up to 96 square miles and defeated Russian forces forming the northern part of a pincer movement.

Ukraine had previously used heavy drones to deliver ground robots closer to intended targets, but the report describes this airborne assault as its most ambitious robotic operation of this kind to date.

The report describes ground robots being air-dropped behind Russian lines to attack supply routes and separately clearing antipersonnel mines along more than 18 miles of routes during Operation Vivaldi.

The reported operations extend robotic roles from delivery and other risky tasks to an airborne rear-area attack and route clearance ahead of infantry. The account also links those uses to a wider Ukrainian counterattack, though the operational results remain unverified.