Ukraine's Third Army Corps has deployed a novel military tactic during Operation Vivaldi, using heavy bomber drones to drop unmanned ground robots—called Gryphons—more than 10 kilometres behind Russian lines. According to Ukrainian commanders, the groundbreaking "safari" mission has resulted in approximately 3,000 Russian soldiers being killed or wounded, with cameras mounted on the robots capturing footage of the surprise operation. The unconventional deep-strike tactic represents a significant tactical innovation and is assisting Ukraine in regaining control of territory in the Donetsk region.

The broader context reveals that Ukraine has become a global leader in military drone technology since Russia's 2014 invasion, impressing governments and defence manufacturers worldwide. The conflict has evolved into an escalating duel of long-range aerial strikes along the approximately 1,250-kilometre front line, with both sides conducting intensive bombing campaigns; Russian attacks killed five Ukrainian civilians and wounded 11 overnight, whilst Ukraine targeted Russian refineries and reportedly struck military facilities. President Zelensky reported that eight Ukrainian regions came under attack, including strikes on Kyiv's capital that killed at least five people, whilst Moscow reported casualties from Ukrainian strikes.