Ukrainian troops have carried out an unconventional special operation on the Kharkiv front — evacuating a cat from near the line of contact using a ground robotic vehicle.
The unusual mission, conducted by the “Khartia” Brigade, highlights the growing use of unmanned ground systems (UGVs) in Ukraine not only for combat tasks but also for logistics, evacuation, and humanitarian roles on the battlefield.
According to a report from Oboronka, soldiers from the brigade’s operational company successfully completed a mission to transport the cat — affectionately nicknamed “Prapor” (“Flag”) — away from front-line positions where he had lived alongside troops for months.
“For a long time, the cat stayed with the Khartia fighters at positions near the line of contact north of Kharkiv, sharing with them the daily routine and harsh realities of war. He became a true comrade to the soldiers, received the call sign ‘Prapor,’ and, as the servicemen say, is fully worthy of the status of a combat participant,” the brigade said in a statement.
The troops decided it was time for Prapor to leave the front and return to a more peaceful life. To achieve this, they turned to technology. A ground-based robotic vehicle was used to carry out the operation, first performing a logistics mission by delivering supplies to the forward positions. After completing its primary task, the UGV returned carrying a transport container with the cat inside.
“The evacuation mission lasted three hours. ‘Prapor’ was delivered to the final destination safe and unharmed. He is now at the company’s base and is gradually adapting to a new stage of his life,” the brigade added.
While the mission was unique in purpose, it underscores a broader trend in Ukrainian military operations: the expanding role of ground robotics on the battlefield. Initially designed for logistics, reconnaissance, and casualty evacuation, UGVs are now being used for a variety of missions — from delivering ammunition under fire to saving lives, both human and animal.