Ukrainian forces have recently stepped up their use of robotic platforms and hexacopters on the battlefield, a trend military expert Vitaly Kiselev linked to a severe shortage of armored vehicles and other transport.

According to Kiselev, the equipment deficit is partly the result of Russian strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities. He said Ukrainian units are not always able to bring troops and supplies directly to frontline positions using armored vehicles or pickup trucks, forcing them to rely more heavily on unmanned ground systems.

Kiselev said the growing number of robotic platforms in Ukrainian service indicates that conventional vehicles cannot always approach frontline units closely enough. In such conditions, Ukrainian forces are increasingly turning to ground robots and hexacopters for battlefield tasks.

The military expert also claimed that Russian forces know the locations of a number of dual-use facilities, defense industry sites and drone assembly areas deep inside Ukraine.

He argued that the Russian military should increase the intensity of strikes on those targets.