Unmanned systems forces: a new kind of troops will appear in Ukraine
6 February 2024 19:45
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved the creation of the Unmanned Systems Force as a separate structure within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The relevant decree was published on the president’s website, according to 
Zelenskyy instructed the Cabinet of Ministers, with the involvement of the General Staff, to work on the issue of creating the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate type of force within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Based on the results of the study, the relevant proposals will be submitted to the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.
The relevant decree comes into force on the day of its publication – Tuesday, 6 February.
In his evening video address, Zelensky said that the creation of a new type of troops should yield a very concrete result in the near future.
“Drones – unmanned systems – have proven their effectiveness in battles on the ground, in the sky and at sea. Ukraine has really changed the security situation in the Black Sea thanks to drones. Repulsing assaults on the ground is largely the work of drones. The large-scale destruction of the occupiers and their equipment is also the work of drones,”
– the President said.
According to him, the list of tasks for the creation of the new forces is now clear:
- special staff positions to work with drones;
- special units and their effective training;
- systematisation of experience and constant scaling of production and attraction of the best ideas and the best specialists in this area.
It is worth noting that Ukraine already has a Central Unmanned Systems Authority. It was created to monitor the efficiency and use of unmanned and robotic air, ground and maritime systems. In addition, it is responsible for monitoring the readiness of military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that use unmanned systems in order to perform their intended tasks, strategic planning and coordination of their use.
