The army forms Unmanned Systems Forces

The forces of unmanned systems area a new type of military, which includes air, sea, and ground unmanned systems. On February 6, 2024, the President of Ukraine signed a decree on increasing the capabilities of the defense forces, instructing the General Staff to create appropriate type of troops. The idea was supported by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and it was decided to create a separate type of troops within the army – Unmanned Systems Forces.

On June 11, 2024, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Col. Vadym Sukharevskyi, was appointed as the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces.

The structure will be tasked with providing units with drones, their technical support, recruiting and training specialists. The steel swallow, one of the most respected birds in Ukraine, became the symbol of this type of troops.

Sukharevskyi is a respected soldier, one of the most influential Ukrainian military man and the Hero of Ukraine. He was the first Ukrainian serviceman to open fire on unmarked Russian soldiers in 2014. He commanded the 503rd Marine Battalion from 2016 to 2021, served as chief of staff of the 35th Marine Brigade from 2021 to 2022, and led the 59th Motorized Brigade from 2022 to 2024.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Army previously had a unit dedicated to aerial intelligence, the Center of Aerial Intelligence, or commonly known as Aerorozvidka. This unit was disbanded in 2020, after Zelenskyy became the President of Ukraine. The decision to disband Aerorozvidka was reportedly made due to the excessive workload on its personnel.