Ukraine marks first Unmanned Systems Forces Day
The Armed Forces of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces celebrate their first professional holiday on June 11, 2026 (Photo: Unmanned Systems Forces / Facebook)
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi congratulated service members on the first-ever Unmanned Systems Forces Day, celebrated on June 11 following the introduction of the new military holiday by presidential decree.
Syrskyi described the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) as the youngest but one of the most effective branches of Ukraine’s military, noting that Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate military service dedicated to unmanned systems in 2024.
“From the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, unmanned systems operators have demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in detecting the enemy, conducting reconnaissance, adjusting fire, striking critical targets and supporting combat operations across all sectors,” Syrskyi said.
According to the commander-in-chief, drone operators have played a key role in bringing the war onto Russian territory by striking military-industrial facilities hundreds and sometimes thousands of kilometers from the front line.
He added that the Unmanned Systems Forces have become effective not only in the air but also on land and at sea.
“Evacuating wounded personnel from the battlefield, delivering ammunition, food and technical equipment to frontline positions, and carrying out hundreds of logistical missions every day have become an integral part of unmanned systems operations,” Syrskyi said.
The commander thanked personnel for their effectiveness and honored service members who were killed in action.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on June 10 establishing Unmanned Systems Forces Day as an annual military observance on June 11.
The date coincides with the first anniversary of the creation of Ukraine’s first separate Unmanned Systems Forces grouping, officially established on June 11, 2025.
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