On the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which will now be marked annually on June 11, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Ukrainian warriors, congratulated them on the occasion, presented state awards, and handed over combat flags to USF units.
“Today, for the first time, Ukraine is marking the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the level of our entire state. This is one of our greatest achievements – Ukraine’s achievements – the Unmanned Systems Forces – proof of Ukrainian leadership in technology and in saving lives through technology,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The President thanked Ukrainian warriors and noted that the use of drones to protect our positions, starting in 2022, while large-scale, was still in a supporting role. However, thanks to the persistence and professionalism of Ukrainian warriors, unmanned systems have not only become one of the main means of conducting combat operations but have evolved into a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – the Unmanned Systems Forces – which strike Russian occupiers the hardest and most frequently.
“It is very important that Ukraine’s technological capability operates 24/7, without interruption, every day, every night, and continues to grow in effectiveness. And everyone in the world knows this and recognizes – and all our partners want to learn from Ukraine, to learn from you, to learn from Ukrainians,” the Head of State stressed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that victory in modern warfare depends on continuous technological development, and Ukraine is ready to share its experience with partners. The President believes that the security of Europe is impossible without Ukrainian experience.
“The number of Russian targets struck thanks to our Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine already reaches hundreds of thousands per year, and over just the past year – from June to June – it is more than 356,000 Russian targets struck,” the Head of State said.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, today, there are practically no targets left on the front or on Russian territory that Ukrainian drones cannot reach. Ukraine will continue to develop the unmanned component of its Defense Forces.
The President called for remembering the price paid for this experience. The memory of fallen warriors was honored with a minute of silence.
The Head of State presented the Order of the Golden Star to the family of fallen Hero of Ukraine, Junior Lieutenant Andrii Mykhnо. From July 2024 to March 2025, the strike drone crew under his command hit more than 800 enemy targets. Andrii Mykhnо assumed command of a company of unmanned aerial systems and expanded it to 14 crews, which went on to strike more than 960 targets. On July 2, 2025, during a combat mission in close proximity to the occupiers and under heavy fire, he ordered his subordinates to withdraw and remained to cover them from the air. Andrii Mykhnо saved the crew’s lives but was himself fatally wounded as a result of an enemy drone strike.
The President also awarded two Heroes of Ukraine with Orders of the Golden Star. The highest state honor was presented to:
Lieutenant Vitalii Smolnikov. He rose from UAV operator to commander of a strike unmanned aerial systems company. From October 2025 to April 2026, on the Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Dobropillia directions, the company under his command struck more than 8,300 enemy targets. In particular, the warriors wounded and eliminated around 4,100 occupiers. They also destroyed dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, and electronic warfare assets.
Junior Lieutenant Viktor Trunov. He took part in the defense of Kyiv and the evacuation of civilians from Irpin, carried out combat missions in the Kherson and Donetsk regions, and developed an effective system for using unmanned systems. In 2025, he was appointed commander of a battalion of unmanned systems. From October last year to April this year, units under his command struck around 18,000 enemy targets. Total enemy losses amounted to more than 10,000 personnel, including over 6,700 killed.
The President also awarded defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I and III class, “For Courage,” I and III class, and the Order of Danylo Halytskyi.
The Head of State presented combat flags to the 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade “RAROG” and the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade “ACHILLES.” The flags were received by brigade commanders Colonel Serhii Mazorchuk and Hero of Ukraine Major Yurii Fedorenko.
