Unmanned Systems – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has established an annual “special day” for the role of battle drones in the war against Russia, setting the remembrance date for June 11 each year. The day, signed into law as a new military tradition, commends the Unma
When the Ukrainian president signed a new military tradition into law on Wednesday, it wasn’t framed as a patriotic ceremony meant for the public calendar. Instead, Volodymyr Zelenskyy carved out a dedicated annual day for the troops behind the war’s most visible technological shift: drone warfare.
The occasion, dubbed the “Unmanned Systems Forces Day,” is tied directly to the country’s battle-drone branch announced in February 2024. Zelenskyy said the day of remembrance would be observed every year on June 11.
“A day of our respect, our gratitude to the UAS,” Zelenskyy said, referring to uncrewed aerial systems. In his remarks, he pointed to what he described as the branch’s real-world impact over the past year. He said the Unmanned Systems Forces had inflicted $40 billion worth of damage to Russia against “targets of various levels” in one year of operations.
That damage, Zelenskyy linked to the way Ukrainian drone warfare has been evolving. He highlighted the branch’s growing use of mid-range strike drones—typically fixed-wing systems that fly 30 to 300 km to attack Russian assets in the rear. “Russian military logistics throughout the entire depth of the temporarily occupied territories are now within reach of Ukrainian drones. ” he said. “Russia’s border regions are also feeling our impact.”.
The president also made clear that the day is meant to cover more than just the most elite formations. The Unmanned Systems Forces commands several of Ukraine’s most elite drone units focused on offensive strikes. including its secretive 1st Center and the Nemesis and Achilles brigades. It is led by Maj. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi. At the same time. Zelenskyy said Ukraine fields dozens of other drone units and thousands of operators attached to its regular fighting force. and he praised “all units and components” of its military.
Zelenskyy signed the Unmanned Systems Forces Day as a “new military tradition” to enter into force immediately. indicating it will function as a commemorative day for troops rather than a public holiday. Ukraine already has 11 national holidays. including one commemorating the country’s military and another marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Those holidays are not officially observed during martial law. The country also has remembrance dates to celebrate its navy, air force, marine corps, and military intelligence.
Drones, Zelenskyy reminded the country, have become a defining element of the war. In January, he said that 80% of every Ukrainian strike against Russia involved an uncrewed aerial system.
Ukraine Zelenskyy drones Unmanned Systems Forces Day June 11 martial law Maj. Robert Brovdi Nemesis brigades Achilles brigades 1st Center mid-range strike drones