The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) are a branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, created for centralized management of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and their combat employment. Since June 3, 2025, the commander of the USF is Major Robert Brovdi (callsign "Madyar").
The creation of a separate branch of the armed forces for unmanned systems was recognition of the critical role of drones in modern warfare. Ukraine became one of the first countries in the world to separate drone units into a distinct command structure.
Main tasks of the USF:
On February 9, 2025, the 414th Separate USF Brigade "Madyar's Birds" officially joined the "Drone Line" project.
"Drone Line" — an initiative aimed at uniting the most effective unmanned systems units of Ukraine's Defense Forces to scale up and coordinate UAV deployment at the front.
The project includes:
Tasks of the "Drone Line":
On June 11, 2025, the Unmanned Systems Forces Grouping was created, uniting the "Drone Line" units and the Unmanned Systems Forces.
On July 1, 2025, a unified system for accounting and verification of combat missions was introduced in the USF Grouping, covering all units, as well as an electronic combat log.
On July 2, 2025, the first public monthly report of the USF Grouping on combat performance results was released.
Pioneer unit founded by Brovdi in May-June 2022. Evolution:
Achievements:
Commander — Oleh "Khasan" Huita (Deputy Commander of USF from March 31, 2026).
One of the leading units of the "Drone Line".
Part of the USF Grouping.
Unit of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Commander — Dmytro "Zemlyak" Oleksyuk (acting deputy commander of the USF grouping from March 31, 2026).
After his appointment, Robert Brovdi released an action plan for the first 100 days:
1. Transparent results: 6-7 USF units will enter the TOP-10 effectiveness rating.
2. Unified system: all USF units will operate within a unified electronic system for planning, analysis, coordination, management, and online reporting.
3. 12 layers of USF impact: EW, REW, radar, enemy UAV hunters, remote mining, echeloned anti-Shahed measures, anti-pilot groups, etc.
4. "Candy = Results": scaling up own ammunition production.
5. Unified stock of critical components: package of 50 critical assets (StarLink, batteries, EW, FPV and bomber components).
6. GRC-logistics: ground robotic complexes as the main logistics means.
7. OS replenishment: unified recruiting campaign, network of FPV, bomber, wing, EW, REW schools.
8. "Pilots fly, everyone else works to support the process": optimization of combat formations, crew requalification.
9. "Count-Plan-Receive-Fight": unified analysis of capabilities and results.
In September 2025, a multi-level model of USF employment was implemented, providing for 15 layers of impact on the enemy within tactical, operational, and strategic depth.
On September 4, 2025, Robert Brovdi announced the introduction of the USF online board "PIDRAKHUYKA", designed to display verified combat activity results of units in real time.
System characteristics:
Website: https://sbs-group.army/
On December 25, 2025, at the initiative of the USF Commander, the USF Deep Strike Center (DSC) was established — a coordination body for planning and executing strikes on targets at operational and strategic depth.
USF DSC results (December 24, 2025 – April 20, 2026):
113 air defense assets hit:
By periods:
By Brovdi's order, the number of hit air defense assets must be constantly increased to reduce the effectiveness of detection and interception systems.
Results for 100 days (June–September 2025):
Size vs results:
Results for 10 months (3 June 2025 – 20 April 2026):
The Unmanned Systems Forces Group includes — apart from the "Drone Line" units above — the following subordinate units (source: official online dashboard sbs-group.army and public mentions):
Path from battalion → regiment → brigade: formed November 2022, regiment — December 2024, brigade — 9 March 2026. Combat operations in Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Sources: ArmiyaInform · Militarnyi · Wikipedia
The only assault brigade in the Unmanned Systems Forces — own infantry (2 assault battalions) alongside 3 unmanned, tanks, and artillery. Reorganized from motorized infantry brigade 3 January 2025.
Sources: official page of 59th Separate Assault Brigade · Wikipedia
Formed "from scratch" autumn 2024 (5 people at start) in defense of Kyiv. Claims over 1,000 combat sorties and 750+ targets struck in first year (per USF claims).
Source: ArmiyaInform
Unit for deep raids and strike operations deep into enemy territory.
Source: sbs-group.army
Grew from TDF battalion "Vinnytsia" (2014), reorganized as brigade 27 January 2025. Includes Ukraine's first all-female drone unit "Harpies" and "Caucasian Legion."
Sources: ArmiyaInform · Suspilne · Hromadske Radio
Consolidated Group of Unmanned Systems of the State Special Transport Service — not an Armed Forces unit. No public details on formation or date of inclusion.
⚠ In the project dashboard cache, the same entry is labeled "7 CUS SSTS" — name discrepancy not resolved from open sources. Source: sbs-group.army
Land-based Anti-Tank Battalion (from 15.04.2022) — non-organic unit of the USF; since January 2025 in cooperation with the 414th "Madyar's Birds" Brigade on the Pokrovsk axis. Marked "archive" on the grouping board (reformed).
Sources: Wikipedia · Militaryland
On 3 June 2026, "Birds" pilots of the 1st Operational Center reported hitting and setting fire to the corvette "Boykiy" — a guided-missile carrier — in the Kronstadt area.
Source: "MADYAR" Telegram channel
Separate strike USF battalion; for 2023-2025 claims over 25,000 strikes and 50,000+ detected targets (per USF claims), including destruction of the 2S43 "Malva" SPG on the Kursk axis (12.2024).
⚠ Claimed connection "joined the 414th Brigade" is not independently confirmed — Ukrainian Wikipedia and board cache show the unit as a separate entry. Sources: Wikipedia · Unit's Telegram channel
Composition per official online board sbs-group.army as of 02.08.2026; where separate public details are unavailable — only type, name, and board link indicated.
On 30 October 2025, a recruiting campaign was announced — over 15,000 vacancies.
As of 25 November 2025:
15 May 2026 — 4,010 cumulative enemy losses for May (source: "MADYAR" Telegram channel).
Robert "Madyar" Brovdi received the title of Hero of Ukraine on 8 May 2025, meaning USF command now includes at least three persons awarded the highest state honor.
Legally, the USF emerged as a separate service branch in 2024 (decrees №382/2024 and law signed 16.09.2024); the first commander was Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi (2024 – 3 June 2025). 11 June was subsequently established as Unmanned Systems Forces Day. The USF is described as the world's first separate unmanned forces branch within a national army.
Per official retrospective report for the Grouping's anniversary (ArmyInform, 11.06.2026), in its first year the USF claims ~$40 billion in destroyed Russian assets, ~1.65 million combat sorties, 350,000+ targets hit, 100,000+ enemy personnel losses, 7,600+ intercepted "Shaheds," 26,000+ logistics units. In 2026, the USF conducted a campaign of deep strikes on Russian oil refining and a campaign to isolate Crimea. In July 2025, Brovdi addressed NATO officers at the LANDEURO conference in Wiesbaden, warning of unpreparedness for mass drone strikes.
Sources: ArmyInform, 11.06.2026 · Militarnyi (Wiesbaden)
Metrics — publicly claimed results per USF command.