New Scientist reports that fully autonomous drones operating without human oversight have killed human soldiers for the first time, according to a senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry. The claim centers on a one-off test that took place about two years ago. The test involved around 10 AI-controlled quadcopter drones, described as “Terminator” drones, deployed near the front lines during the Ukraine war as part of a Ukrainian counteroffensive effort.
The drones were programmed to fly toward the front line, cover several kilometers over roughly ten minutes, and then enter “Terminator mode,” in which an AI model searches for and intercepts targets. The operator is described as having no live connection to the drone during the final phase: the system reportedly does not provide video or enable remote observation, meaning outcomes are not directly verifiable from the operator’s perspective.
After the autonomous drones completed their run, human-piloted drones were sent in to check results in the area. The test figure says the confirmed casualties included “a couple of soldiers” and one truck, though there is no recording of the autonomous drones’ actions. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence did not respond regarding the test or the current legal position on using fully autonomous weapons.
