Robots replace soldiers in Ukraine's first drone parade

It was not soldiers marching down Kyiv's main street to mark 35 years of Ukrainian independence, but robots designed to take their place on the frontline.

On the city's stretch of Dnipro River travelled a fleet of nine unmanned surface vessels, also known as drone boats, while the skies overhead were filled with bomber drones and aerial-target interceptors.

The display of military might was all part of Ukraine's "first-ever" aerial, ground and naval drone parade, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Over the years of war, Ukraine has built an almost entirely new defense industry. Modern. Technological. An industry that meets the challenges of war," he said in a social media post.

One of the main technologies on display at the Independence Day celebrations on Monday, local time, was 30 unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) trundling in formation along Khreshchatyk, one of the city's main historical avenues.

The Ukrainian President's Office said the UGVs, some equipped with heavy machine guns, "conduct reconnaissance, lay and clear mines, deliver ammunition, provisions and equipment, and evacuate the wounded".

It said UGVs had carried out more than 66,000 missions this year alone, as the war between Russia and Ukraine drags through its fifth year.

Also this year, Ukraine's defence forces have contracted more than 22,000 UGVs to be produced domestically, according to the office.

The military's aerial and naval unmanned weaponry have similar capabilities to its ground vehicles, creating an "ecosystem" of modern warfare according to Oleksandra Molloy, an expert in Ukraine's drone technology.

"These are quite capable systems that are dominating the battlefield today," Dr Molloy, a senior lecturer in aviation at the University of New South Wales, said.

"It's a demonstration of an emerging, multi-domain uncrewed force … [showing] Ukraine's military transformation over the last four-and-a-half years.

"It also gives the message to its allied partners that Ukraine is an invaluable partner to them in terms of knowledge, experience and technology developed during the war."

Featuring nearly 100 pieces of Ukrainian weaponry, the military parade was the country's first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion into Ukraine in early 2022.

It comes after Ukraine became the first country in the world to create a separate branch of its military dedicated to drone warfare, when its Unmanned Systems Forces was established in 2024.

"The most important part of the parade that used to be there is missing; no traditional formations of soldiers, armour or conventional tanks," Dr Molloy said.

"We do often think about whether [drones are] a weapon of the future or the future of warfare. I would say it's a glimpse, seeing how rapidly the systems and ecosystem are developing.

"But this is how modern warfare is being fought right now … the uncrewed and autonomous systems are present and will continue being in the mix."

European leaders joined Mr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's break from the Soviet Union.

At a meeting of allies, the leaders of Britain and France pledged to provide Ukraine with stronger military support and keep pressure on Russia.

US-led talks aimed at ending the war fell apart earlier this year as Ukraine refused Russian demands to cede more territory.

While fighting continues along a 1,200-kilometre frontline, Ukraine has succeeded in bringing Russian advances to a virtual halt this year.

Ukraine has increased its long-range attacks on Russian refineries and logistics infrastructure, aimed at undermining Moscow's war effort.