On 13/5, Forbes magazine analyzed a video released by Ukraine's 100th Independent Mechanized Brigade, which depicted a Ukrainian drone performing reconnaissance over Kostiantynivka, a city in Donetsk province currently under Kyiv's control.

The drone observed an abandoned building, suspected to be a hiding place for eight Russian reconnaissance soldiers. However, no visual evidence confirmed the presence of Russian troops in the area.

The 100th Brigade opted for a ground drone attack, determining that their on-site forces lacked the personnel to safely secure the position. Three drones were deployed, with one serving as a decoy to attract enemy fire.

A Ukrainian ground drone explodes inside a building suspected of housing Russian soldiers in Kostiantynivka, as seen in a video posted on 12/5. Video: Ukraine's 100th Brigade.

One ground drone approached the building from the rear and detonated a 300 kg explosive charge, causing a section of the roof to collapse. The 100th Brigade reported that the Russian soldiers sought refuge in an elevator shaft just before the blast but were subsequently trapped.

Ukrainian soldiers then surrounded the building. They deployed the third drone to drop an anti-tank mine onto the suspected enemy position, triggering another large explosion. "They were offered a surrender option but returned fire, leaving us no other choice," the 100th Brigade stated.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the video.

"With the proliferation of aerial drones and escalating personnel shortages, both Russia and Ukraine are experimenting with deploying heavy-payload robotic systems into fortified defensive positions and urban combat zones," commentator David Kirichenko wrote in Forbes.

For many Ukrainian units, employing ground drones in an offensive capacity is not a primary focus. According to "El Greco," a Ukrainian serviceman with the 3rd Assault Brigade, ground drones are primarily utilized for logistics and evacuation, followed by engineering tasks such as mine clearance, and only then for offensive operations.

Ukraine's Droid TW 12.7 ground drone. *DevDroid*.

Kostiantynivka, known as Konstantinovka by Russia, is an industrial city situated on the Kryvyi Torets river in Donetsk province. During the Soviet era, it served as a key center for iron, steel, zinc, and glass production. Before the current conflict, the city had a population of over 67.000.

The city serves as a gateway within a strategic "fortress belt" of Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk province. According to open-source data compiled by the US-based Institute for the Study of War on 14/5, Russia is establishing two pincer movements around Kostiantynivka while deploying detachments to gradually secure the central area.

Ukrainian analysts indicate that Russian assault detachments frequently move between abandoned buildings and conceal themselves in basements, compelling Ukrainian forces to conduct sweep operations. This task is challenging given the complex urban environment and the ongoing personnel shortages within the Ukrainian military.

Kirichenko suggests that this urban landscape is ideal for ground drones carrying explosives to target fortified defensive positions, thereby reducing risk for Ukrainian soldiers. "Unlike smaller aerial drones, ground drones can carry a significantly larger explosive payload," he noted.

By Pham Giang (Forbes, Militarnyi)