“This technology is our future threat,” warns Serhiy Beskrestnov as he examines a recently captured Russian drone. Unlike conventional weapons, it uses artificial intelligence to locate and strike targets independently.
Beskrestnov, a consultant for Ukraine’s defence forces, has analysed countless drones since the war began. This model stands out. It neither sends nor receives signals, making it impossible to jam or detect.
Both Russia and Ukraine are experimenting with AI in combat. They use it to locate enemies, analyse intelligence, and clear mines faster than ever.
AI becomes a decisive battlefield tool
Artificial intelligence is now vital for Ukraine’s army. “Our forces receive more than 50,000 video streams from the front every month,” says Deputy Defence Minister Yuriy Myronenko. “AI analyses the footage, identifies threats, and maps them for commanders.”
The technology allows rapid decisions, optimises resources, and reduces casualties. Its biggest impact appears in unmanned systems. Ukrainian troops now operate drones that lock onto targets and fly autonomously in the final stage of attacks.
These drones are nearly impossible to jam and very hard to shoot down. Experts predict they will soon evolve into fully autonomous weapons capable of finding and destroying targets without human intervention.
Drones that act on their own
“All a soldier needs to do is press a button on a smartphone,” says Yaroslav Azhnyuk, CEO of Ukrainian tech company The Fourth Law. “The drone will locate its target, drop explosives, assess the damage, and return to base. Piloting skills are unnecessary.”
Azhnyuk believes these drones could strengthen Ukraine’s air defences against Russian long-range drones such as the Shaheds. “A computer-guided system can outperform humans,” he explains. “It reacts faster, sees more clearly, and moves more precisely.”
Myronenko admits that fully autonomous systems are still under development but says Ukraine is close. “We have already integrated parts of the technology into several devices,” he says. Azhnyuk predicts thousands of these systems could be operational by the end of 2026.
Balancing innovation with risk
Full automation carries serious dangers. “AI might not distinguish a Ukrainian soldier from a Russian one,” warns Vadym, a defence engineer who requested anonymity. “Their uniforms can look identical.”
Vadym’s company, DevDroid, makes remotely controlled machine guns that use AI to detect and track targets. Automatic firing is disabled to prevent friendly fire. “We could enable it,” he says, “but we need more experience and feedback from troops before trusting it fully.”
Ethical and legal questions remain. Can AI follow the laws of war? Will it recognise civilians or soldiers who surrender? Myronenko stresses that humans must make the final call, even if AI assists. Yet he warns that not all militaries will act responsibly.
The AI arms race goes global
The rise of AI has triggered a new arms race. Traditional defences—jamming, missiles, or tanks—struggle against swarms of intelligent drones.
Ukraine’s “Spider Web” operation last June, when 100 drones struck Russian air bases, reportedly relied on AI coordination. Many fear Moscow could copy the tactic, both at the front and deep inside Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told the United Nations that AI is fuelling “the most destructive arms race in human history.” He called for urgent global rules on AI weapons, stressing that the threat is “as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear arms.”
