Remote reconnaissance, battlefield surveillance, fire support, and the destruction of enemy infantry and armored vehicles — the Ministry of Defence has codified and authorized for operational use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine the reconnaissance-and-strike UGV Zmiy Mini Strike (Udarnyi).
This is a new development by a Ukrainian manufacturer with several years of experience in producing unmanned ground vehicles. Some of its successful models are already in use by the Defence Forces.
The ground drone was designed together with engineers from one of the most effective combat brigades of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. It was built drawing on more than four years of wartime experience and an analysis of how UGVs are used in combat on the battlefield.
The engineers implemented a range of design solutions that make the platform highly effective at carrying out its missions.
Advantages of the Zmiy Mini Strike UGV
During testing and combat use, the Zmiy Mini Strike UGV proved it meets its stated tactical and technical specifications and mission capabilities.
This ground drone has the following advantages:
- a high-speed wheeled chassis with enhanced off-road capability;
- a silent, high-performance electric motor;
- short deployment and stowing times;
- long autonomous operating time;
- a considerable range;
- daytime and thermal-imaging surveillance cameras;
- compact dimensions;
- low weight.
In addition, the Zmiy Mini Strike ground robot is versatile in use.
The Zmiy Mini Strike UGV — a versatile iron warrior
The Zmiy Mini Strike fits into the trunk of a minibus, a car trailer, or the bed of a pickup truck.
Transporting the platform requires no additional equipment.
The platform carries a combat module with an MK19 grenade launcher, notable for its high-kinetic-energy munitions, its versatile range of rounds, and its ability to deliver accurate fire from concealed positions.
At the same time, any other combat module with infantry weapons can be mounted on the UGV.
More UGVs for the front
The Ministry of Defence is strengthening the supply of unmanned ground vehicles to the Defence Forces and accelerating their delivery to the troops. This is one of the ways of securing a technological edge, an important component of Ukraine’s defense strategy.
The Defence Procurement Agency DOT has already contracted more than 22,000 UGVs for the Defence Forces in 2026. That is almost twice as many as in all of last year.
In addition, since the beginning of 2026, the defence ministry has codified and authorized for operational use in Ukraine’s Defence Forces 72 new UGVs, all of them Ukrainian-made. That is already 20% more than during all of 2025.
Ground drones continue to play an increasingly important role on the battlefield, replacing service members in the most difficult sectors of the front. In June 2026, units of Ukraine’s Defence Forces used unmanned ground vehicles to carry out more than 16,600 logistics and evacuation missions.