{"id":83167,"date":"2026-04-21T21:24:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?post_type=commander&p=83167"},"modified":"2026-04-21T21:31:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:31:41","slug":"stepan-vitkovskyi","status":"publish","type":"commander","link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/commanders\/stepan-vitkovskyi\/","title":{"rendered":"Stepan Vitkovskyi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Known by the callsign \u201cBudya,\u201d he graduated from the Lviv State University of Life Safety in 2014 as a firefighter-rescuer and later worked in his profession before moving abroad, where he was employed in agriculture. Following the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he returned to the country and enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, beginning his service in the 55-\u0439 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0456\u043b\u0435\u0446\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0431\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d<\/a>, where he carried out guard and defensive tasks before transferring to a reconnaissance role under the 54-\u0430 \u043c\u0435\u0445\u0430\u043d\u0456\u0437\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/a>, eventually advancing to the position of squad leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this period, he independently acquired unmanned aerial vehicle piloting and reconnaissance skills, becoming one of the earliest drone operators within his unit. In April 2023, he transferred to the \u0411\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430 \u0410\u0437\u043e\u0432<\/a>, \u0432 \u0440\u0430\u043c\u043a\u0430\u0445 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0435\u043a\u0442\u0443 1-\u0439 \u0431\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d \u0441\u043f\u0435\u0446\u0456\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f<\/a>, following its expansion as part of the Offensive Guard, where his experience with unmanned systems quickly distinguished him, and he played a key role in developing aerial reconnaissance capabilities while training personnel and participating in combat operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By late 2023, he was appointed commander of an aerial reconnaissance team, and in early 2024, he became commander of an unmanned systems platoon as a Junior Lieutenant, expanding the unit\u2019s drone capabilities in support of infantry operations. In September 2024, he was promoted to command an unmanned aerial vehicle company, and in May 2025, he was appointed acting commander of the brigade\u2019s Unmanned Systems Battalion.<\/p>\n\n\n