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Zelensky Declares June 11 as Ukraine's Day of the Forces of Unmanned Systems

Formalizing a new military tradition, the decree highlights Kyiv's focus on using drones and robotic systems to reshape combat operations.

Overview

  • The presidential decree signed on June 10, 2026 took effect on publication and makes June 11 the first annual Day of the Forces of Unmanned Systems.
  • Ukraine created the Forces of Unmanned Systems on June 11, 2025 to unify air, ground and surface drone units under a single command led by Robert “Madiar” Brovdi.
  • The presidency and the SBS have released official performance claims for the unit's first year, including nearly $40 billion in struck target value and a claim of 100,000 enemy personnel struck, and those figures are presented as government assertions rather than independently verified counts.
  • SBS statements also say the unit conducts over 35% of Ukraine's verified strikes and that recent drone control reduced Russian military cargo traffic to Crimea by 71% over a two‑week period, claims used to illustrate tactical effects on logistics.
  • The decree institutionalizes the SBS as a symbol of military modernization, supports recruitment for roughly 15,000 advertised roles, and signals Kyiv's intent to further expand drone-led capabilities and publicize their operational role.