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Zelensky Declares Day for Unmanned Systems Forces and Says Drones Hit $40 Billion in Russian Targets

He presented the move as formal recognition of a new military branch that expands Ukraine’s strike reach through mid-range drone operations.

Overview

  • The president signed a decree establishing June 11 as the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces, marking the branch’s one-year anniversary.
  • Zelensky said the USF’s strikes have hit Russian targets worth nearly $40 billion since the force was created, a figure he presented as an official estimate rather than independent verification.
  • He credited mid-range drone attacks with making Russian logistics in occupied areas reachable and said the USF broadens options previously costly or out of reach for conventional arms.
  • The USF groups Ukraine’s elite drone units and thousands of operators, and the decree aims to cement the role of unmanned systems in military tradition and public messaging.
  • Analysts should watch for changes in Ukrainian tactics, increased investment in drone technologies, and the potential for those strikes to further strain Russian supply lines and rear-area infrastructure.