Ukrainian Drone Maker Claims First Autonomous AI-Controlled Drone Killing of Soldiers
A Ukrainian drone manufacturer stated that fully autonomous AI-controlled drones killed Russian soldiers in a one-off test two years ago during the Ukraine war, with no human oversight of targeting decisions. The test involved 10 quadcopter drones programmed to autonomously search for and engage targets in a designated area near Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar. This claim represents the first documented instance of human deaths caused solely by autonomous AI weapons, raising significant concerns about the future of warfare and international humanitarian law.
According to Alexander Kokhanovskyy, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, fully autonomous drones equipped with AI killed soldiers on the battlefield approximately two years ago in what he described as a test. The operation involved 10 quadcopter drones programmed to fly toward the front line, cover 3-5 kilometers, and then engage "Terminator mode," in which an AI model autonomously searches for and intercepts targets without any human control or visual feedback. The test, conducted by an unnamed military unit near Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, resulted in confirmed kills including "a couple of soldiers" and a truck, though Kokhanovskyy acknowledged there was no direct recording of the autonomous drones' attacks. Kokhanovskyy stated the test was never implemented more widely and that Ukraine's government currently bans AI use at the final targeting stage, though discussions are ongoing about relaxing these restrictions. The claim marks a significant escalation in autonomous weapons development, though it remains unconfirmed by Ukrainian military officials and the Ministry of Defence did not respond to inquiries.
What's missing
Independent verification of the claimed kills is absent—the article notes there is no recording of the autonomous drones attacking the targets, and confirmation was based only on post-test manual inspection by human-piloted drones. The identity of the military unit that conducted the test and the specific date remain undisclosed. Additionally, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence's official position on the test and the legality of the operation under Ukrainian law is not provided, as they declined to respond to inquiries.
What different sources said
- New ScientistCenter
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
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