Ukraine Invests in Combat Humanoid Robots... Real Combat Led by Wheeled Machines

Ukraine has committed national funds to develop combat humanoid robots, but in actual combat, wheeled and tracked ground robots remain the primary force, according to a report by IT media TechRadar on July 16. The initiative was announced at the Brave1 Advantage event in Kyiv on July 2, where Brave1 CEO Andriy Khrychevskyi revealed a grant competition for domestic two-legged combat humanoid robots. Selected designs could receive up to 1 billion hryvnia (approximately $24 million). Brave1, established in April 2023 by six ministries, now operates under the Ministry of Defense and serves as a key gateway connecting frontline demands to funded engineering projects. While Ukraine views humanoid robots as a long-term goal, current battlefield data shows wheeled/tracked robots have completed over 66,000 missions since 2026, compared to just one tested humanoid. The sole deployed Ukrainian humanoid, the Phantom MK-1 from US startup Foundation Future Industries, lacks waterproofing and has a 2-3 hour battery life, making it unsuitable for 8-24 hour infantry operations. Ukraine has successfully used drones and ground robots to defend key positions and capture Russian fortifications, indicating the humanoid investment focuses more on future battlefield preparedness than immediate combat needs.