Russia deploys mysterious unmanned 'Zubilo' vehicle in Ukraine

After a series of tests, Russia has decided to deploy a new unmanned vehicle in Ukraine—the Zubilo. Although information about it has circulated for several months, this vehicle's precise specifications and capabilities remain somewhat shrouded in mystery.

Reports from the BulgarianMilitary portal highlighted the addition of Zubilo to the Russian forces engaged in Ukraine. According to the site, Zubilo doesn't fit the mold of traditional military vehicles. It's not a standard armored transporter, but also not quite an advanced robot capable of full autonomy. It appears to occupy a unique space between these two categories.

From what we know, the standard version of Zubilo comes equipped with a 350 hp engine, enabling it to reach speeds up to 62 mph. Despite weighing around 35,274 pounds, it can maneuver over certain terrain obstacles, including 30-degree slopes. Its frontal armor is reportedly strong enough to withstand 30 mm caliber gunfire.

Zubilo was significantly impacted during its reveal at the Army 2023 trade show. Łukasz Michalik, a journalist from Virtual Poland, highlighted a critical concern regarding the vehicle's unmanned design - its apparent lack of sensors. Zubilo seemed to offer limited combat utility without cameras or optoelectronic heads, potentially forcing the remote operator to manage a vehicle with imprecise control.