Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces: the history of the new holiday, the role of drones in war and interesting facts

Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Unmanned Systems Forces for the first time - a new professional holiday for military personnel working with unmanned technologies. Find out why this date was introduced, how the day of celebration was chosen, and what role the Unmanned Systems Forces play in modern warfare

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On June 11, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the first time. The new professional military holiday was officially introduced by the decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy No. 485/2026 dated June 10, 2026.

The appearance of this day on the calendar is a symbolic recognition of the contribution of the military, engineers, drone operators and all specialists who daily ensure Ukraine's superiority on the battlefield using unmanned technologies.

We have collected everything you need to know about the Day of Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this article.

Why was the Day of Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine introduced in Ukraine?

Today, it is difficult to imagine modern warfare without drones. Drones have become one of the main factors that have changed the nature of combat operations. Ukraine not only effectively uses such technologies, but also actually creates new standards of warfare that are studied by armies of many countries around the world.

From now on, the Day of Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be celebrated annually on June 11 to honor the courage and professionalism of the Unmanned Systems Forces servicemen, as well as to promote the development of modern military traditions.

In addition, this day emphasizes the contribution of thousands of Ukrainian engineers, inventors and manufacturers who help strengthen the defense capability of the state. The appearance of the Day of Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the calendar emphasizes how important unmanned technologies have become for the defense of the state and the protection of its independence.

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Ukraine and the world: how the development of unmanned technologies is celebrated

Ukraine became one of the first countries in the world that not only created a separate branch of the military dedicated to unmanned technologies, but also launched its own professional holiday for it. This emphasizes the special role of drones in the country's modern defense system.

Along with the Day of Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there is also International Drone Day in the world, which is celebrated every year on the first Saturday of May. On this day, many countries hold exhibitions, demonstration flights and educational events dedicated to the civilian use of drones - from aerial photography and cargo delivery to search and rescue operations.

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How was the date chosen for the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

The choice of date is not accidental. The Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were created in 2024, but it was on June 11, 2025 that the first separate Unmanned Systems Forces group was formed, which became an important stage in the development of the new branch of the armed forces. The Unmanned Systems Forces group was then led by Major Robert Brovdi "Magyar" - commander of the "Birds of the Magyar" unit.

What is the Unmanned Systems Forces?

The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) are a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, created to develop and use unmanned technologies. The main tasks of the Unmanned Systems Forces include:

- aerial reconnaissance;

- target detection and tracking;

- artillery fire correction;

- use of strike drones;

- use of naval drones;

- work with ground robotic complexes;

- implementation of new technologies and tactics of combat operations.

The USF brings together not only military personnel, but also specialists in programming, communications, analytics and engineering, who are working on creating new solutions for the defense of the state.

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What role do Unmanned Systems Forces play in modern warfare?

The full-scale war has become an impetus for the rapid development of Ukrainian unmanned technologies. Today, drones are used in almost all directions of the front and perform a wide range of tasks.

Unmanned Systems Forces help to detect enemy positions, control the movement of equipment, adjust artillery strikes and carry out pinpoint strikes on important military targets.

A separate direction has become maritime unmanned systems, which have proven their effectiveness during operations in the Black Sea. Thanks to their use, Ukraine has managed to significantly strengthen its capabilities in the maritime direction and change the balance of power in the region.

At the same time, the development of drones has stimulated the formation of an entire technological ecosystem. Ukrainian companies, volunteer initiatives and defense enterprises are constantly working to improve unmanned platforms, communication means and control systems.

Today, Ukrainian experience in using drones is being carefully studied by military experts and defense agencies of many countries around the world.

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Interesting facts about the Unmanned Systems Forces

- Ukraine became the first country in the world to create a separate branch of the military specializing in unmanned systems.

- The Unmanned Systems Forces includes not only aerial drones, but also marine and ground robotic complexes.

- Ukrainian naval drones have become one of the factors changing the security situation in the Black Sea.

- Many Ukrainian unmanned developments are created in cooperation between military and civilian engineers.

- Ukrainian experience in using drones has already become a subject of study in military academies around the world.

The Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a new holiday in the Ukrainian calendar, symbolizing the technological transformation of the modern army. It is dedicated to people who work with advanced developments every day, create new opportunities for the country's defense and help Ukraine maintain its leadership position in the field of military innovations.

Congratulations to the military personnel, drone operators, engineers, developers and everyone involved in the development of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine.

Thank you for your service, professionalism and contribution to the security of the state!

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