Ukrainian ‘Martian Drones’ Spark Alarm in Russian Ranks, Says Defence Analyst

Unconfirmed reports of advanced Ukrainian “Martian drones” using artificial intelligence are causing alarm among Russian forces, according to a leading Ukrainian defence analyst.

Olena Ganovska, a Ukrainian defence analyst specialising in drones and unmanned systems and founder of the Ukraine’s Arms Monitor publication, said Russian Telegram channels and media have reported on mysterious fixed-wing kamikaze drones allegedly deployed by Ukraine along the Donetsk and other front-line directions.

“Russians are very alarmed because Ukraine reportedly started using these drones … they are flying at very low altitudes and they are silent, so they do not produce a lot of sound,” Ganovska said. “That’s why it’s harder to detect them.”

She noted that Russian sources claim the drones may use artificial intelligence or elements of AI, possess high destructive power, and could be produced with Western assistance. However, she stressed: “There are no confirmed reports from the Ukrainian side about the use of these drones. Ukraine hasn’t released anything about the drones. And my own sources cannot confirm or deny these claims.”

Ganovska added that both Ukraine and Russia widely use AI-enabled technologies, including neural networks by Russian forces, but cautioned that full battlefield autonomy does not yet exist. She also warned that Russian forces tend to overestimate their own capabilities, and that much of the combat also takes place in the “informational space.”

‘Killing Zones’ Extend Up to 20 Kilometres

Describing the modern battlefield, Ganovska explained that the so-called “kill zone” now extends 10 to 15 kilometres, and sometimes up to 20 kilometres from the front line. “Everything that is detected within this range is going to be targeted and most likely destroyed,” she said, including military personnel, vehicles and ground robots.

Both sides increasingly use unmanned aerial technologies such as Mavic and FPV drones, as well as unmanned ground drones. Ukraine, facing a shortage of military personnel, is particularly focused on replacing infantry with ground robots to save lives.

Robot Rescue in Odesa Region

In a striking example of unmanned technology used for rescue, Ganovska highlighted a mission on Wednesday in Odesa Oblast, where drone operators from the Third Army Corps evacuated 77-year-old Antonina Herutsa. A note attached to the ground vehicle read: “Granny, get in.” The robot then transported the elderly woman for two to three hours to safety.

“The mission was successful,” Ganovska said. “Currently, medical evacuation and logistical tasks are the main purposes of the use of ground robots in Ukraine. Ukrainian commanders want to delegate 100% of those missions to ground robots.”

She added that ground drones are also being used in strike operations, with Russian soldiers reportedly laying down weapons in front of them.

Fibre-Optic Drones Pose New Challenge

Ganovska also addressed the growing use of fibre-optic FPV drones, which cannot be jammed by electronic warfare measures because they are controlled via a physical cable. Their range is limited to roughly 25–30 kilometres, though Russian reports claim a 50-kilometre reach.

“Russia was able to field thousands of these systems last year,” she said. Russia produces its own fibre-optic cable and also imports large quantities from China. “That’s one of the largest challenges on Ukraine’s battlefield because there is no countermeasure that would address these types of threats on a mass scale. So you need to deal with them one by one.”

Innovation vs. Scale

Asked whether Russia or Ukraine leads in defence technology, Ganovska said both have different advantages. “Ukraine is very innovative. The speed of iteration is unbelievable. One month is a typical time when a system becomes obsolete in Ukraine.”

Russia, however, leads in its ability to scale production, mass-producing proven systems such as Shahed loitering munitions and fibre-optic drones.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported “rather unusual activity” over the past 24 hours along Ukraine’s northern border with Belarus, without providing details, stating that Ukraine will act if matters escalate. At least two people were killed and seven injured in the southern city of Kherson after a Russian drone hit a minibus. Russian troops are also reported to be advancing toward the city of Kostiantynivka in the eastern Donetsk region, part of Ukraine’s fortified “fortress belt.”