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"This technology constitutes the coming danger," cautions a defense consultant, who recently acquired a recently captured enemy drone.

This proved to be no ordinary device as well, it was revealed. Assisted by AI, the unmanned aerial vehicle can locate and attack objectives on its own.

Beskrestnov has examined many unmanned systems in his role as Ukrainian defence forces consultant.

Unlike other models, it did not transmit or accept any signals, so could not be jammed.

Both sides' militaries are experimenting with AI in the conflict, and for certain tasks they are already deploying it, to assist in finding targets, intelligence collection and clearing mines.

For the Ukrainian army, AI has become essential.

"Our armed forces gets over 50,000 footage feeds [from the front line] monthly that get processed by artificial intelligence," states the deputy defence minister.

"It enables us quickly handle this massive data, identify targets and place them on a digital chart."

AI-Driven Technology as a Strategic Tool

AI-empowered tech is seen as a instrument that can enhance strategic planning, make the most of resources and in the end protect personnel.

But when it comes to autonomous armaments, it's transforming the warzone.

Ukrainian troops currently employ AI-powered systems so that unmanned aircraft lock on a target and then operate independently for the final segment till the mission concludes.

Jamming is impossible and destroying such small flying object is not easy.

In the future these systems are expected to evolve into fully autonomous armaments that can find and destroy objectives by themselves.

An operator will need to do is press a icon on a smartphone app, explains Yaroslav Azhnyuk, chief executive of a local tech company.

The drone will do the rest, he says, locating the objective, releasing munitions, evaluating the impact and then coming back to headquarters.

"And it would not even require flight experience from the user," he adds.

Defensive Drones and Future Developments

Interceptor unmanned craft with such autonomous capability could significantly enhance air defences against Russian long-range attack drones, such as the notorious certain models.

"A computer-guided self-operating unit is better than a human in so many ways," says Azhnyuk. "It is more perceptive. It detects the target sooner than a human can. It is quicker."

The deputy defence minister says that kind of system does not exist yet, but he suggests Ukraine is nearing finishing its creation. "We have partly implemented it in some devices," states the representative.

It's possible there will be thousands of such systems deployed by the year 2026, predicts Azhnyuk.

Concerns and Risks of Full Autonomy

However Local creators are cautious about fully making use of military technologies that rely entirely on AI, without any human involvement. The danger is that AI might not distinguish a Ukrainian soldier from a Russian one, since both could be using the same uniform, says Vadym, who asked to remain anonymous.

The firm produces remotely controlled automatic weapons, that employ artificial intelligence to automatically detect individuals and follow them. Due to concerns over accidental attacks, he states they avoid including an auto-fire option.

"It can be activated, but we must get more experience and more feedback from the ground forces to determine when it is safe to employ this capability."

Moral Concerns and Global Regulations

Additionally, there are concerns that automated systems will violate the rules of war. How will they avoid injuring civilians, or distinguish soldiers who wish to yield?

For the deputy defence minister, the final decision in such circumstances must be made by a human, although AI would make it "simpler to choose". But it's not certain that states or armed groups will follow international humanitarian norms.

So counteracting such technologies is increasingly critical.

How can one halt a "mass of unmanned craft" when electronic warfare or employing jets, tanks or rockets proves useless?

Ukraine's very effective "Spider Web" operation, when 100 drones targeted Russian military airports last June, was probably assisted by artificial intelligence.

Numerous locals worry that the adversary will copy that tactic, not just on the battlefront but beyond it too.

The country's leader cautioned the United Nations recently that AI was contributing to "the most destructive arms race in human history."

He urged global rules for the use of AI in armaments, and said the issue was "equally pressing as stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons."