“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 on its own.
Beskrestnov, a consultant for Ukraine’s defence forces, has analysed many drones since the conflict began. This one stands apart. It neither sends nor receives signals, making it impossible to jam or detect.
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces now test AI on the battlefield. They use it to locate enemy positions, analyse intelligence, and clear mines faster than ever before.
AI becomes Ukraine’s strategic advantage
Artificial intelligence has become a critical tool for Ukraine’s army. “Our forces receive more than 50,000 video streams from the front each month,” says Deputy Defence Minister Yuriy Myronenko. “AI analyses them, identifies threats, and maps them for commanders.”
The technology allows rapid decision-making, optimises resources, and reduces casualties. Its most profound effect appears in unmanned systems. Ukrainian troops now operate drones that lock onto targets and fly autonomously for the final stage of attacks.
These drones are nearly impossible to jam and extremely difficult to shoot down. Experts predict they will evolve into fully autonomous weapons capable of finding and destroying targets without human control.
Drones that fight independently
“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 finds its target, drops explosives, assesses the damage, and returns to base. No piloting skills are required.”
Azhnyuk believes these drones could greatly strengthen Ukraine’s air defences against Russian long-range attack drones like the Shaheds. “A computer-guided system can outperform humans,” he explains. “It reacts faster, sees better, and moves more precisely.”
Myronenko admits fully autonomous systems are still in development but says Ukraine is close. “We have already integrated parts of the technology into some devices,” he says. Azhnyuk predicts thousands of these drones could be operational by the end of 2026.
Progress comes with serious risks
Full automation carries serious dangers. “AI might not distinguish a Ukrainian soldier from a Russian one,” warns Vadym, a defence engineer who requested anonymity. “They often wear identical uniforms.”
Vadym’s company, DevDroid, produces 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 field feedback before trusting it completely.”
Ethical and legal concerns remain. Can AI follow the laws of war? Will it recognise civilians or soldiers who surrender? Myronenko stresses that humans must make the final decision, even if AI assists. Yet he warns that not all forces will act responsibly.
A new global arms race
AI is driving a new kind of arms race. Traditional defences—jamming, missiles, or tanks—struggle against swarms of intelligent drones.
Ukraine’s “Spider Web” operation last June, when 100 drones attacked Russian air bases, reportedly used AI coordination. Many fear Moscow could replicate the tactic, both on the front lines and deeper 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.”
