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"This innovation represents our future threat," warns a defense consultant, who recently obtained a newly intercepted Russian unmanned aerial vehicle.

This proved to be no ordinary drone either, it was revealed. Powered by AI, this unmanned aerial vehicle is able to find and strike targets on its own.

Beskrestnov has examined many drones in his capacity as Ukrainian military advisor.

In contrast to previous versions, the drone did not transmit or accept communications, so be impossible to disrupted.

Russian and Ukrainian militaries are experimenting with AI in the conflict, and for certain tasks are now deploying it, to assist in finding targets, intelligence collection and clearing mines.

And for the Ukrainian army, AI is now essential.

"Our armed forces gets more than 50,000 video streams [from the battlefield] monthly that get analysed by artificial intelligence," states the defense official.

"It enables them rapidly handle this massive data, identify targets and place them on a map."

AI-Empowered Tech as a Critical Tool

AI-enhanced technology is seen as a instrument that improves strategic planning, optimize assets and in the end save lives.

However regarding unmanned weapons systems, it is also revolutionizing the warzone.

Ukrainian troops currently employ AI-powered systems enabling drones lock on a target and then fly autonomously for the last few hundred metres till the mission is over.

Jamming cannot be done and shooting down such small flying object is not easy.

Ultimately these systems are expected to evolve into fully autonomous weapons that can detect and destroy targets on their own.

An operator must do is press a icon on a mobile application, explains a tech executive, chief executive of a local developer.

The drone handles the rest, he says, locating the objective, dropping explosives, assessing the damage and then returning to base.

"And it would not even require piloting skills from the user," he continues.

Defensive Systems and Future Advancements

Defensive unmanned craft with that kind of automation could significantly enhance defensive systems against Russian long-range attack drones, such as the notorious certain models.

"A computer-guided self-operating unit can be better than a person in numerous aspects," says the executive. "It can be more perceptive. It can see the target sooner than a person. It can be quicker."

The deputy defence minister indicates such a technology is not yet available, but he suggests Ukraine is close to finishing its development. "They've partly implemented it in some devices," says the representative.

It's possible there will be thousands of these technologies in place by the end of 2026, claims Azhnyuk.

Concerns and Dangers of Full Independence

But Local developers are cautious about fully making use of military technologies that depend solely on AI, without any operator input. The risk is that AI may fail to differentiate a friendly soldier from a Russian combatant, since both could be wearing the same uniform, notes Vadym, who declined to give his surname.

His company makes remotely controlled automatic weapons, that employ artificial intelligence to automatically detect people and track them. Because of concerns over accidental attacks, he says they avoid including an automatic shooting option.

"It can be activated, but we need to get more experience and more feedback from the ground forces in order to determine the safe conditions to employ this capability."

Moral Concerns and Global Rules

Additionally, there are concerns that automated systems could breach the laws of armed conflict. How will they prevent injuring civilians, or tell apart personnel who want to surrender?

According to the official, the final decision in such circumstances should rest with a person, although AI could make it "simpler to choose". But it's not certain that states or armed groups will adhere to international humanitarian norms.

Therefore neutralizing these systems becomes even more important.

How do you halt a "mass of unmanned craft" when electronic warfare or using aircraft, tanks or rockets is rendered ineffective?

The nation's very effective "Web" mission, when 100 drones targeted enemy air bases last June, is believed to be assisted by AI tools.

Many in Ukraine fear that Moscow will copy this approach, not just on the battlefront but further afield too.

The country's leader cautioned the UN recently that AI was fueling "the most destructive arms race in history."

He called for international regulations for the use of AI in armaments, and said the matter was "equally pressing as preventing the proliferation of atomic arms."