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Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine

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Unmanned Systems Forces
Сили безпілотних систем
Founded6 February 2024
Country Ukraine
TypeMilitary branch
RoleDrone warfare
Size40,000 – 80,000
Part of Armed Forces of Ukraine
HeadquartersKyiv
Anniversaries11 June, Day of the USF
EquipmentUGV, UAV and USV
Engagements
Websiteusforces.army
Commanders
Current
commander		Major Robert Brovdi[1]
Notable
commanders		Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky (6 February 2024 – 3 June 2025) [2]
Insignia
Flag
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Beret insignia

The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF; Ukrainian: Сили безпілотних систем, СБС, romanized: Syly bezpilotnykh system, SBS, lit. '"Pilotless Systems Forces"') is a branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukraine is the first country to have a separate branch of its military dedicated to unmanned systems.[3][4] The USF was formally established on 11 June 2024, in the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5]

The USF conducts drone warfare using unmanned military robots on land, sea, and air.[6][7] The USF does not command or control all Ukrainian drones. The Navy, the Marine Corps and the Air Force control their own drone units, as do most of the brigades and units in the various land-based forces (Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, National Guard, Special Operation Forces, Communications and Cybersecurity Troops, etc) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[8][9]

History

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Formation

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On 6 February 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a decree instructing the Government of Ukraine and the General Staff to create a separate branch of the Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems, after which the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine would consider the issue.[10][11]

USF serviceman at a military training event

On 10 February, it was announced that Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky had become deputy of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and would be responsible for the implementation of unmanned systems.[12] Since the start of the fullscale Russian invasion, Sukharevsky was a commander of 59th Motorized Brigade.

Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi – his focus is on unmanned systems and the development of utilization of drones by our soldiers, and Colonel Andriy Lebedenko – his focus is on innovation, specifically the technology component of the army and combat systems – have been appointed deputies of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Clear practice with new technologies is needed. There are more than enough theories; everything must work in practice for the sake of Ukrainian goals and the maximum preservation of the lives of our soldiers.

On 7 May, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported a draft decree developed by the Ministry of Defense and General Staff to formally establish the Unmanned Systems Forces.[13]

On 10 June, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced that Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky was appointed commander of the UAV Forces.[14]

Development

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The 429th Unmanned Systems Brigade “Achilles” receives its battle flag by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

On 11 June 2024, the force was formally established.[5] The main mission of the USF according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is centered around "gathering experience, disseminating knowledge, and formalizing these insights into statutes and tactical and operational guidelines" for the Armed Forces.[15]

On 23 October 2024, the chief of staff of the forces, Roman Hladkyi, was dismissed from his position.[16]

According to the CSIS, the USF maintains close contact with 90% of the domestic drone manufacturers, testing new systems and providing feedback to the developers while training drone operators for combat. The CSIS also reported that as of November 2024, the USF integrated more than 170 different unmanned systems.[15]

The 59th Motorized Brigade was reformed as the 59th Separate Assault Brigade and transferred to the Unmanned Systems Forces in January 2025.[17] On 5 January 2025, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi stated that the USF began deploying fiber-optic controlled drones in response to the Russians making use of them. Syrskyi also mentioned an increase in the number of brigades equipped with enhanced drones and that the Armed Forces were on the final stages of organizing a dedicated unmanned systems brigade.[18]

On 3 June 2025, Robert Brovdi was appointed Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[19]

On 10 June 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced, that the 11 of June would become the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces.[20]

Operations

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2024

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USF member testing a "Vampire" UCAV

In mid-2024, the Unmanned Systems Forces claimed to have better quality drones than the Russian Armed Forces, despite Russia having six times the quantity.[21]

As of June 2024, around 3,000 soldiers were reported to be in the USF.[22]

2025

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On 14 January 2025, Ukraine attacked Russian chemical factories and energy infrastructure in Bryansk, Saratov, and Tula Oblasts and the Republic of Tatarstan with missiles. The USF claimed that "drones successfully distracted Russian air defences, paving the way for missiles that hit the main targets."[23]

In the late night of 28 January or the early morning of 29 January 2025, the 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment launched a strike on a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline along the Russian-Belarusian border in Bryansk Oblast reportedly using drones capable of dropping bombs on their targets.[24] According to Defense Express, these drones carry a FAB-250 M-54 high-explosive bomb on their underbellies and feature an optical sighting system for precision strikes.[25] On 31 January 2025, the Unmanned System Forces confirmed the use of drones carrying 250 kg (550 lb) aerial bombs. According to the USF Command, these drones are capable of "reaching up to 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) with the possibility of return. This is a unique development that changes the rules of the game on the battlefield."[26]

ISF commemorative coin: "Our weapon is our intellect" (September 2025)

First announced in December 2024, on 13 April 2025, the Unmanned Systems Forces released the first footage of a laser weapon system, called “Tryzub”, in use destroying a fibre optic FPV drone.[27]

On 9 July 2025, Ukrainian C-in-C Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that the Unmanned Systems Forces had struck 19,600 targets (one-third of all targets hit) and destroyed 5,024[a] in June 2025 alone. He also claimed that the USF had killed or wounded 4,500 on Russian forces, of whom 2,548 had been killed.[28]

On 8 August 2025, Syrskyi claimed that the Unmanned Systems Forces' drones hit 23,400 Russian targets and killed 5,134 enemy personnel in July 2025.[29]

As of December 2025, USF drone operators were flying 100,000 to 120,000 sorties a month and had launched combined drone attacks against Russian energy-related targets at least 225 times, effectively reducing Russian national oil processing capacity by about 20%.[30]

2026

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On 6 January 2026, Ukrainian CinC General Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that in December 2025, Ukrainian drones killed 33,000 Russian soldiers. He also claimed this was the first month Russian losses exceeded Russian recruitment. He further claimed that the “figure includes only cases confirmed by video footage, while actual losses are likely higher.” Currently the USF comprises just “2.2%” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with plans of expansion. General Syrskyi claimed Russian drone forces numbered at “80,000 personnel, with plans to expand them to 165,500 in 2026 and nearly 210,000 by 2030.[31]

On the night from 29 to 30 May USF units struck two Tupolev Tu-142 and a 9K720 Iskander ballistic missile launcher near Taganrog according to Robert Brovdi and supported by footage of the 1st Center.[32]

Starting in July 2026, the USF initiated Operation "Crimean Switch Off" targeting substations throughout Crimea, aiming to disrupt power supplies in the region. According to Robert Brovdi from July 1 to July 20 the USF has struck 104 substations and power facilities.[33]

From July 6 through August, aerial and sea drones of the USF together with those of the Ukrainian Navy have conducted a chain of attacks against Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, striking approximately 116 ships according to a statement from Robert Brovdi.[34] Among those vessels, at least 57 were stated to be tankers allegedly part of the Russian shadow fleet, used to deliver fuel to occupied Crimea. As a direct consequence of such repeated attacks, on July 10 Russia's border guard has announced the temporary halting of shipping through the Volga-Don Canal. This move also impacted the national export of grain, of which around one-quarter of Russia wheat exports passed through said channel.[35]

2026 Combined Resolve exercise
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During the 2026 Combined Resolve exercise in Germany, operators from the 412th Unmanned Systems Brigade, served as part of the opposing force against United States troops. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ukrainian drone operators quickly located U.S. vehicles and simulated attacks, using reconnaissance, FPV, and drone dropped munitions, prompting the American force to adjust its dispersal, camouflage and electronic warfare.[36] This isn't the first time Ukrainian forces demonstrated such superiority, according to reports U.S. forces developed new training programs following a 2023 exercise with Ukrainian forces.[37]

Drone line

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In 2025 a new command-within-a-command was formed, when five of the most effective, of the then twelve main combat units, were grouped together as the Drone Line. Four of these units were: 20th UAV Brigade ('K-2'), 414th UAV Brigade ('Ptahi Madyara' - Birds of Madyar), 427th UAV Brigade ('Rarog') and 429th UAV Bde ('Achilles'). The fifth unit is described as a unit of the State Border Guard Service (DPS), the DPS UAV Regiment ('Feniks' - Phoenix), but which is otherwise presented as a regular component of the autonomous Unmanned Systems Command. Several of the remaining units are engaged in specialist developments, or in offensive operations, which preclude them - entirely or partially - from general air defense duties.

Women drone operators

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A USF female drone operator

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are notably conservative regarding female soldiers, reflecting the views of the wider society. However, the innovative field of drone warfare appeals to many female volunteers, and the USF Command is notably supportive of this interest.[38] A wholly - or largely - female unit (Harpii - the Harpies) exists with the 9th UAV Brigade, and many more female soldiers serve as individuals in other units in both the central USF command and in the brigade or corps-level UAV units.

Structure

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Command of Unmanned Systems Forces

Combat units

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Center
Brigades
Regiments
Battalions

Support units

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See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ↑ Specifically, 88 Russian tanks, 129 armoured combat vehicles, 427 artillery systems and 31 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) destroyed

References

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  1. ↑ Zelenskyy, Volodymyr. "DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE No. 386/2025". Official website of the President of Ukraine. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  2. ↑ Zelenskyy, Volodymyr. "DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE No. 383/2025". Official website of the President of Ukraine. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "As Ukraine focuses on drone warfare, its military creates new Unmanned Systems Forces branch". ABC News. 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  4. ↑ "Las nuevas Fuerzas de Sistemas No Tripulados de Ucrania están llamadas a cambiar la guerra con Rusia". 8 February 2024.
  5. 1 2 Alexander Khrebet (11 June 2024). "'We set a precedent.' Ukraine officially presents Unmanned Systems Forces". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "I signed a decree initiating the establishment of a separate branch of forces – the Unmanned Systems Forces – address by the President of Ukraine" (in Ukrainian). Official website of the President of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "Ukraine Announces Formalization of New Unmanned Systems Forces Branch of Military". Inside Unmanned Systems. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Mittal, Vikram. "Ukraine's Battlefield Defense Is Forcing Russia To Adapt Its Tactics". Forbes. Archived from the original on 30 March 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Yankovska, Dariia. "Ukrainian mine operations eliminate nearly 1,000 Russian troops in a month". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 12 April 2026 – via MSN.
  10. ↑ "Ukraine's Zelenskiy orders creation of separate military force for drones". Reuters. 6 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №51/2024 Про нарощування спроможностей сил оборони". Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  12. ↑ Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Combat commanders, brigades' real-life experience must be implemented for the Armed Forces' success". president.gov.ua. Official website of the President of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  13. ↑ Tetyana Oliynyk (7 June 2024). "Ukrainian government backs draft presidential decree creating Unmanned Systems Forces within Armed Forces". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  14. ↑ Opanasenko, Oleksandra (10 June 2024). "Vadym Sukharevsky was appointed commander of the UAV Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". Babel.ua. General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  15. 1 2 Bondar, Kateryna (19 November 2024). "Why Ukraine is Establishing Unmanned Forces Across Its Defense Sector and What the United States Can Learn from It". Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Controversial chief of staff for Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces dismissed months after appointment, Ukrainska Pravda reports". The Kyiv Independent. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  17. ↑ Печерський, Антон. "59-та бригада імені Якова Гандзюка: вражай окупантів з небес, як Архангел".
  18. ↑ "Unmanned Systems Forces begin using drones with fiber-optic control channels – CinC Syrskyi". Ukrinform. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  19. ↑ ""Мадяр" очолив Сили безпілотних систем ЗСУ". УНІАН (in Ukrainian).
  20. ↑ "Zelensky Establishes New 'Day of Unmanned Systems Forces' to Honor Ukraine's Drone Troops". kyiv Post. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Vadym Sukharevsky, the man in charge of Ukraine's drones". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "У Києві презентували новітній рід військ ЗСУ — Сили безпілотних систем" (in Ukrainian). 11 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "Ukraine claims biggest aerial strike on Russian territory". France 24. AFP. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  24. ↑ Axe, David (30 January 2025). "A New Kind Of Ukrainian Drone May Have Blown Up A Major Russian Oil Pipeline". Forbes. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  25. ↑ Syngaivska, Sofiia (30 January 2025). "Ukrainian Forces Use UAVs with Full-Size FAB-250 Bombs in Precision Strikes on russian Targets (Photo)". Defense Express. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  26. ↑ Axe, David (31 January 2025). "Ukraine's New Drone Bomber Flies 1,200 Miles With A 550-Pound Bomb—And Returns To Base". Forbes. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  27. ↑ Dylan Malyasov. "Ukraine showcases Tryzub laser weapon". Defence Blog. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  28. ↑ "Ukraine's commander-in-chief: Unmanned Systems Forces hit one-third of Russian targets in June". Ukrainska Pravda. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  29. ↑ "Ukrainian drones hit over 23,000 Russian targets in July – CinC Syrskyi". Ukrinform. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  30. ↑ Korshak, Stefan (8 December 2025). "Russia Opens 'Terrorism' Case Against Ukraine's Top Drone Commander". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 8 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  31. ↑ BENJAMIN MURDOCH. "Syrskyi: Ukraine's drones now destroy Russian troops faster than Putin can replace them". euromaidanpress. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  32. ↑ "Ukrainian military destroy two Russian Tu-142 naval aircraft, Iskander missile system on Black Sea coast". Kyiv Independent. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Ukraine strikes 19 more Russian energy facilities in occupied territories". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Kyiv claims drone attacks on 11 Russian tankers in Sea of Azov". France 24. 14 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ↑ "Russia halts Don-Azov channel shipping, affecting grain trade, after Ukraine attacks | live". live.euronext.com. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  36. ↑ MacDonald, Alistair; Seligman, Lara; Michaels, Daniel (12 August 2026). "Exclusive | U.S. and Ukrainian Forces Went Head-to-Head in an Exercise. Ukraine's Drones Won". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "WSJ: Ukrainian drone operators defeat US unit during exercise in Germany". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  38. ↑ J; o; a; n; n; a; K; a; k (11 November 2025). "'No turning back': More and more Ukrainian women join the army to fight Russia". NPR. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "Про відбір кандидатів в 1 ОЦ | СБС" [On the selection of candidates for the 1st Center | SBS] – via www.youtube.com.
  40. ↑ "10 запитань командиру | Рустам Нургудін | 9 окрема бригада безпілотних систем | СБС" [10 questions to the commander | Rustam Nurgudin | 9th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade | SBS]. 25 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  41. ↑ "10 запитань командиру | Кирило Верес | 20-та окрема бригада К-2 | СБС" [10 questions to the commander | Kyrylo Veres | 20th Separate Brigade K-2 | SBS]. 26 November 2025 – via YouTube.
  42. ↑ "10 запитань командиру | Анатолій Меркотун | 412 бригада Nemesis | СБС" [10 questions to the commander | Anatolii Merkotun | 412th Brigade Nemesis | SBS]. 18 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  43. ↑ "Рарог — 427 окрема бригада безпілотних систем" [Rarog — 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade]. YouTube.
  44. ↑ "«АХІЛЛЕС» — тепер 429 окрема бригада безпілотних систем" ["ACHILLES" — now the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade]. 15 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  45. ↑ "10 запитань командиру | Євген Карась | 413 окремий полк Рейд | СБС" [10 questions to the commander | Yevhen Karas | 413th Separate Regiment Raid | SBS]. 20 November 2025 – via YouTube.
  46. ↑ "10 запитань командиру | «Жук» | 424 окремий батальйон SVAROG СБС" [10 questions to the commander | "Zhuk" | 424th Separate Battalion SVAROG SBS]. 12 November 2025 – via YouTube.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Sekirin, Illya (2026). Andrew Simms (ed.). Rise of the Machines. Drone Warfare in the Russia-Ukraine War – Tactics, Operations, Strategy. Helion & Company. ISBN 9781804519707.
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