ROBOTIC dogs of war are being lined up to go into combat in Ukraine.
The hounds are set to replace soldiers in dangerous front-line missions against the Russians.
Commanders say they can be used to spy on enemy forces and sniff out mines and other explosives.
A demonstration in an undisclosed location showed the bots, known as BAD One, following commands from operators including standing up, crouching, running, and jumping.
A more advanced model, known as BAD Two, could not be shown at the demo for security reasons.
The robots sit low to the ground, making them difficult to detect, and have a battery life of up to two hours.
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They can carry up to 7kg of ammunition or medical supplies.
In-built thermal imaging technology allows them to see enemy trenches or the inside of buildings.
And if captured their data can be wiped out remotely.
Operator Yuri, who works for a British military equipment supplier, said: “This dog limits the risk for soldiers and increases operational capabilities.
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"This is the core function of the dog. It will have a significant impact on the operations and increase the safety of soldiers.”
Ukraine has been at the forefront of new battlefield technology, using marine drones and first-person view drones with built-in cameras.