Ukrainian forces carry out over 30,000 drone missions in single month for first time
During October 2026, units of the Ukrainian defence forces carried out over 30,000 missions using unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in a single month for the first time.
Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence
Details: Over the month, soldiers completed 31,398 logistics and evacuation missions using UGVs, each of which was recorded and verified via the Delta combat system. The October figure represents a record high since the beginning of 2026. The ministry noted that the number of missions grew monthly throughout the year:
- January – 7,511
- February – 7,960
- March – 9,072
- April – 11,028
- May – 14,059
- June – 16,663
- July – 19,935
- August – 25,136
- September – 28,491
- October – 31,398.
Quote: "Over the first ten months of the year, the number of tasks performed by unmanned ground vehicles increased more than fourfold."
Details: The ministry also recalled that for verified missions, soldiers receive e-points, which can be exchanged for weaponry on the Brave1 Market military marketplace. [E-points are earned by Ukrainian units for confirmed strikes on Russian soldiers and equipment.]
Background:
- Ukrainska Pravda reported that in September 2026, soldiers of one of Ukraine's separate mechanised brigades carried out the first logistics mission using a Ukrainian-developed amphibious unmanned ground vehicle.
- On 28 September, soldiers from the NC13 unmanned ground systems strike unit modernised ground kamikaze drones and deployed a novel engagement tactic during the 3rd Army Corps' Operation Vivaldi.
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