Which UGVs helped the 3rd Assault Brigade capture Russian troops: a comment from NC13 unit commander

On 9 July, the 3rd Assault Brigade announced a historic first: capturing enemy soldiers using unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The operation was carried out by NC13, a unit of the brigade’s 2nd Assault Battalion. In an exclusive comment to Defender Media, NC13 commander, callsign “Makar”, revealed that Ukrainian-made Targan UGVs were used during the mission.

According to “Makar”, the operation began with an FPV drone strike on enemy positions. Following a powerful explosion, Targan UGVs moved in towards the dugout. At that point, the Russian soldiers chose to surrender. The surviving occupiers were guided out of their positions using drones and taken prisoner in accordance with regulations.

“Makar” says his unit works closely with the manufacturer of the Targan UGVs and uses the full range of these platforms. According to him, the system has proven to be a reliable and versatile solution that can be adapted to current operations and the specific needs of the unit.

At the same time, “Makar” emphasizes that the success of the operation is primarily due to the skilled and coordinated work of the drone operators; otherwise, no UGV could have handled the challenging tasks faced on the front line.

“Targans” have a wide range of applications — from logistics and evacuation of the wounded to the combat defeat of the enemy using automatic fire modules or when deployed as kamikaze systems. The operation to take the Russians prisoner involved “Targan 1K” — UGV with a kamikaze or cargo transport function, a maximum radio control range of up to 2,000 metres, and a standby time of up to 48 hours.

The UGVs have already been codified and approved for operation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.