根據日本媒體2025年7月28日的報導，俄烏戰爭已進入第三年，戰場形態正經歷前所未有的轉變。除雙方持續進行傳統的堑壕戰與突擊戰之外，如今在空中與地面，都出現了越來越多無人化、自動化的作戰裝備。自戰爭初期無人機投入偵察與攻擊任務以來，如今雙方正加速將地面作戰機器人與支援機器人投放至前線，這標誌著人類戰爭史首次出現大量地面機器人參戰的現象，象徵著軍事科技與戰爭形態的根本變革。

而在烏克蘭方面，軍隊目前大量部署由愛沙尼亞「米爾雷姆機器人公司（Milrem Robotics）」所研發的地面無人平台「忒彌斯（THeMIS）」機器人，此外也開始使用本國開發的D-21系列戰術地面機器人。這些地面機器人用途廣泛，除了負責偵察、搬運彈藥、運輸物資、處理爆炸物之外，還能擔任戰場救援角色，協助撤離傷員，進而大幅減少人員傷亡。

更具顛覆性的是，這些機器人並非僅限於後勤支援用途，亦可加裝武器直接參與戰鬥。例如，忒彌斯與D-21可安裝機槍、榴彈發射器等火力裝備，成為遠程操控的攻擊平台。據稱，部分地面機器人甚至會被改裝成「自爆單位」，裝載炸藥後直接衝入敵方陣地，引爆自身以摧毀目標。

根據米爾雷姆公司提供的資料，忒彌斯機器人長約250公分、寬200公分、高120公分，最大行進速度可達每小時20公里。機體可搭載多種感測器與攝影鏡頭，最大載重能力達1200公斤，能靈活執行各類前線任務。它的模組化設計使其可根據不同戰術需求快速更換功能模塊，從純後勤轉為戰鬥單位只需數分鐘。

至於烏克蘭本土開發的D-21系列機器人，則以其在惡劣地形下的穩定性能為一大特色。即使在崎嶇不平的道路、森林或戰場瓦礫間，D-21仍可穩定行駛15至20公里，靈活穿梭於前線與後方之間。根據烏克蘭政府資助的「聯合24」武器開發平台介紹，若依照傳統戰場救援方式，營救一名受傷士兵至少需3至6名士兵參與，且救援過程極易暴露目標，遭敵方無人機攻擊。然而透過D-21，只需派出1台機器人即可完成整個撤離任務，不僅效率更高，也顯著降低救援風險。

此外，相對於空中無人機受限於視角與遮蔽，難以發現藏匿於森林或掩體中的敵軍，地面機器人如D-21則能更貼近地表、穿越複雜地形，發揮更細緻的偵察與反制功能。

從整體戰略觀察，地面機器人的投入已不再只是戰術支援的輔助角色，而正在轉化為未來戰爭的主力之一。這類無人作戰平台的擴大應用，預示著軍事科技將徹底重塑戰爭模式，不僅降低人員風險，更可能改變指揮體系、作戰節奏與軍事倫理的基本架構。從這個意義上看，俄烏戰爭不僅是一場區域衝突，更是全球軍事技術革新的「試驗場」。

According to a report by Japanese media on July 28, 2025, the Russia–Ukraine war has now entered its third year, and the nature of the battlefield is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. In addition to ongoing traditional trench warfare and assault operations, both sides are increasingly deploying unmanned and automated combat equipment in both the air and on the ground. Since the beginning of the conflict, drones have played a central role in reconnaissance and attack missions, but now both Russia and Ukraine are accelerating the deployment of ground combat and support robots to the front lines. This marks the first time in human military history that ground robots are being deployed at such a large scale, signaling a fundamental shift in both military technology and the conduct of warfare.

On the Ukrainian side, the military is now widely deploying the THeMIS unmanned ground platform, developed by Estonia’s Milrem Robotics, alongside Ukraine’s domestically developed D-21 series tactical ground robots. These robots serve a wide range of purposes—not only for reconnaissance, ammunition transport, supply delivery, and explosive ordnance disposal, but also for battlefield rescue missions, assisting in the evacuation of wounded soldiers and thereby significantly reducing casualties.

What makes this development even more groundbreaking is that these robots are not limited to logistical support—they can also be armed and directly engaged in combat. Both the THeMIS and D-21 platforms can be equipped with machine guns, grenade launchers, and other weaponry, effectively transforming them into remote-controlled assault units. In some cases, ground robots have even been modified into suicide units, loaded with explosives and sent directly into enemy positions to detonate and destroy their targets.

According to specifications provided by Milrem Robotics, the THeMIS robot measures approximately 250 cm in length, 200 cm in width, and 120 cm in height, and can reach a top speed of 20 km/h. It is equipped with various sensors and cameras, and is capable of carrying up to 1,200 kilograms of weapons or supplies. Its modular design allows it to quickly switch between support and combat roles, enabling field units to adapt the robot to different tactical needs within minutes.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s D-21 series robots are known for their high stability across rough terrain, making them particularly suited for battlefield conditions such as uneven roads, forests, and rubble-strewn war zones. According to Ukraine’s government-funded “United24” weapons development platform, the traditional method of rescuing a wounded soldier would typically require 3 to 6 soldiers, often exposing them to drone attacks during the rescue. In contrast, the D-21 robot can complete the entire evacuation mission with just one unit, significantly improving both efficiency and safety.

Additionally, unlike aerial drones—which are limited by camera angles and visual obstructions and often fail to detect enemy troops hiding in forests or behind cover—ground robots like the D-21 can remain close to the terrain, navigate through complex environments, and provide more detailed surveillance and counter-reconnaissance capabilities.

From a broader strategic perspective, the deployment of ground robots is no longer just a form of auxiliary tactical support; rather, these platforms are becoming a core component of modern warfare. The growing application of unmanned combat systems suggests that military technology is on the verge of redefining the structure of warfare, with potential implications for command systems, combat tempo, and even the ethics of war itself. In this sense, the Russia–Ukraine conflict is not merely a regional war—it has become a testing ground for global military innovation.