Two years ago, Ukrainian forces reportedly used fully autonomous drones to kill Russian soldiers during a test operation. The incident highlights rapid advancements in military technology, raising questions about the future of conflict.

The revelation came from Alexander Kokhanovskyy, CEO of Aero Center, who described how preprogrammed quadcopters operated in 'Terminator mode,' seeking out and engaging targets without human intervention. Despite the lack of video evidence, human-piloted drones found a couple of dead Russian soldiers, indicating successful autonomous strikes.

Ukraine’s government maintains strict controls on AI usage, with Defence Company representatives stating that humans must always make critical decisions in target interception. A Ukrainian military commander reiterated their commitment to ‘international humanitarian law,’ emphasizing the cautious approach taken by human operators to prevent civilian casualties.

The one-time nature of this experiment reflects practical concerns and legal restrictions surrounding fully autonomous weapons. The risks of 'friendly fire' incidents or attacks on non-combatants are significant, while the effectiveness of these drones in target selection remains uncertain compared to human pilots.