Ukraine Deploys Explosive-Laden 'Zombie Cars' in Major Counter-Offensive

Ukraine has employed unmanned "zombie cars" packed with explosives in a significant counter-offensive, a tactic that led to the capture of 250 Russian troops and the reclamation of 68 square miles of land north of Lyman.

Brig. Gen. Andriy Biletsky, commander of the 3rd Army Corps, stated that Operation Vivaldi involved repurposing old Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carriers into remotely piloted vehicles. These "zombie cars" were used to attack heavily fortified Russian positions, leading to the surrender of entire units, including drone pilots, artillerymen, and officers.

The capture of 250 Russian prisoners of war marks one of the highest totals for a single military operation and adds to an estimated 2,000 Russian casualties during the offensive.

This new application of technology allows vehicles to be steered towards targets as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) without a driver, acting as remote-controlled kamikaze devices. Ukrainian engineers reprogram old vehicles, enabling them to drive with capabilities similar to human-operated ones, packed with explosives for use against enemy fortifications.

Operation Vivaldi was a carefully planned effort to regain the initiative in the Donetsk region. The operation was kept secret for months, with commanders dubbing the initial announcement the "third season" of a four-part series. Ukraine's government aims to demonstrate to allies, including figures like Donald Trump, that Russian advances are not inevitable and that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot simply outlast Ukrainian defenses or Western resolve.

The operation combined drones, armor, artillery, and infantry against Russian forces attempting to take control of Lyman, a key defensive city. The success of this counterattack, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine’s State National Institute for Strategic Studies, undermines Moscow's strategy of projecting inevitable victory in the Donetsk region.

In a related development last week, Ukrainian bomber drones reportedly dropped ground robots behind Russian lines in a "safari" mission targeting up to 3,000 enemy troops. These unmanned ground vehicles, described as "Gryphons," were deployed more than six miles behind enemy lines, with cameras capturing the surprise operation. The commander of the NC13 ground robotic systems unit stated that this tactic preserves Ukrainian lives while destroying enemy manpower and resources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the "important results" from his troops in the Lyman sector, where Ukrainian forces are understood to have encircled Russian troops. Russian military bloggers reportedly attributed Moscow's slow response to internal issues like lying up the chain of command.

The "zombie cars" offer several advantages over smaller UGVs. According to a Ukrainian engineer involved in their development, these converted vehicles can travel faster, up to 31 mph even when loaded with explosives, and carry larger payloads over longer distances. The systems can be integrated into readily available, inexpensive cars. Controlled via satellite internet like Starlink or the 4G mobile network, they offer alternative data links if one connection is jammed.

In addition to the push north of Lyman, Ukrainian forces have also reportedly advanced near Sloviansk. While the Lyman counter-offensive appears to have helped straighten the front line, overall movement remains slow. Ukraine continues to face escalating strikes from Russian drones and missiles, with recent attacks in Kyiv causing casualties and damage.