The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has approved the “Dodger” unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for use in the military.
The robot is designed by local Ukrainian weapons specialists who modeled the system after lessons learned from the ongoing conflict with Russia.
It features a wheeled chassis to carry up to 250 kilograms (551 pounds) of cargo, optimizing logistical operations across the battlefield.
Alongside moving munitions and tactical equipment, the platform can be modified to transport wounded personnel.
The Dodger is built with armor plating to protect it from small arms and debris. This capability allows the drone to be deployed for other combat support tasks, including minesweeping missions.
Other UGVs in Service
Kyiv said in May that the Ukrainian Armed Forces adopted more than two dozen new UGVs into service earlier in the year.
In the second half of 2025, more ground drones will be added to the military’s inventory, enhancing autonomous combat and support capabilities for warfighters. Currently, the Ukrainian defense agency has codified and fielded over 80 unmanned robots.
This month, Kyiv greenlit deployment of the “Termit” system, which can move up to 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of payload, as well as the “Shablia” mounted with a 40-millimeter automatic grenade launcher.
In the second quarter of this year, the military started fielding the “Krampus” mobile flamethrower, the “Spider” engineering and logistics UGV, and the “Donkey,” which can pull vehicles the size of an SUV.
