Forces of unmanned systems of Ukraine

2024: Creation of unmanned troops

On June 26, 2024, it became known that new Forces of Unmanned Systems were created in Ukraine as a separate branch of the military. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree providing for the organization and integration of unmanned and robotic systems into the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

According to the decree, the decision to create a new kind of troops was made by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. These troops will work with unmanned and robotic air, sea and ground systems. The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to submit relevant proposals for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada. Zelensky noted at the end of June 2024 that the creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces should give concrete results in the near future.

Bloomberg

"Drones and unmanned systems have proven their effectiveness in battles on the ground, in the sky and at sea," the President of Ukraine said.

In February 2024, he instructed the government and the General Staff to work out the issue of creating these forces and make proposals to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov appointed Colonel Vadim Sukharevsky commander of the unmanned systems forces. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine plan to systematize the experience of working with drones, create training programs for specialists and staff special units.

Earlier in 2024, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal announced the country's readiness to produce a million drones. According to him, the industry of Ukraine is ready to implement Zelensky's statement.

"We plan to spend 50% of all funds for the purchase of weapons in Ukraine. We concentrate on drones of electronic warfare systems in order to win the technology war, "the Ukrainian prime minister said.

He also announced cooperation with world leaders in the production of UAVs.^[1]

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