Ukraine’s 3rd Brigade Uses Drones to Force Russian Surrender in Kharkiv

Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade says it has compelled Russian soldiers to surrender in Kharkiv Oblast using only first-person-view drones and unmanned ground vehicles, marking what the Ukrainian military calls the first capture of enemy troops without deploying infantry. Video released on 9 July shows drones striking Russian bunkers before robotic platforms advanced on the damaged positions. The surviving Russian soldiers reportedly laid down their arms and were guided to Ukrainian lines by the same remote-controlled systems. The brigade reported no Ukrainian casualties and said earlier attempts to seize the fortifications by conventional means had failed. The operation underscores Kyiv’s growing reliance on autonomous and remotely operated weapons to offset manpower constraints and reduce battlefield losses as the war with Russia enters its fourth year.