Ground drones: Ukrainian Armed Forces open first school for UGV operators

For the first time, Ukraine has a dedicated military school for ground drones: the country's armed forces are training operators of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) there. The school was set up on the orders of General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; support came from the Victory Drones project.

According to official information, around ten different UGV types – including logistics, engineering and special-purpose vehicles – are available at the new site for training military personnel. Training of the first trainee operators has already begun. The aim is to improve training continuously, increase its effectiveness and provide modern training facilities, it said.

A clear programme for ground drone operators

Colonel Vitaliy Dobriansky, head of the Ukrainian military's department responsible for innovation, describes the process: “UGV operators are trained under a clearly defined programme leading to the corresponding military specialisation. Special software tools have been developed, and UGV training models are used to ensure an appropriate, high-quality level of training”.

He also stressed: “It is extremely important that future specialists have not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills. We must not wait for the future but move confidently towards it. One way to develop the Ukrainian Armed Forces further is to find and implement innovative solutions for training UGV operators.”

Between January and September this year, as part of its defence against Russia, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence codified and approved for service more than 140 domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 33 ground-based robotic systems (UGVs).