# Unmanned Systems Forces

The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) (Ukrainian: Сили безпілотних систем (СБС), romanized: Syly bezpilotnykh system (SBS)) is a branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that specializes in drone warfare and the use of unmanned military robots on land, sea, and air. The USF was created in the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and was formally established on 11 June 2024. Ukraine is the first (and currently only) country to have a branch of its military dedicated to unmanned systems.

## History
### Formation

On 6 February 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a decree instructing the Government of Ukraine and the General Staff to create a separate branch of the Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems, after which the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine would consider the issue.
On 10 February, it was announced that Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky had become deputy of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and would be responsible for the implementation of unmanned systems. Since the start of the fullscale Russian invasion, Sukharevsky was a commander of 59th Motorized Brigade.
   Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi – his focus is on unmanned systems and the development of utilization of drones by our soldiers, and Colonel Andriy Lebedenko – his focus is on innovation, specifically the technology component of the army and combat systems – have been appointed deputies of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Clear practice with new technologies is needed. There are more than enough theories; everything must work in practice for the sake of Ukrainian goals and the maximum preservation of the lives of our soldiers.
On 7 May, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported a draft decree developed by the Ministry of Defense and General Staff to formally establish the Unmanned Systems Forces.
On 10 June, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced that Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky was appointed commander of the UAV Forces.
On 11 June, the force was formally established. The main mission of the USF according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is centered around "gathering experience, disseminating knowledge, and formalizing these insights into statutes and tactical and operational guidelines" for the Armed Forces.
On 23 October 2024, the chief of staff of the forces, Roman Hladkyi, was dismissed from his position.
According to the CSIS, the USF maintains close contact with 90% of the domestic drone manufacturers, testing new systems and providing feedback to the developers while training drone operators for combat. The CSIS also reported that as of November 2024, the USF integrated more than 170 different unmanned systems.
The 59th Motorized Brigade was reformed as the 59th Separate Assault Brigade and transferred to the Unmanned Systems Forces in January 2025. On 5 January 2025, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi stated that the USF began deploying fiber-optic controlled drones in response to the Russians making use of them. Syrskyi also mentioned an increase in the number of brigades equipped with enhanced drones and that the Armed Forces were on the final stages of organizing a dedicated unmanned systems brigade.

## Operations

The Unmanned Systems Forces has claimed to have better quality drones than the Russian Armed Forces, despite Russia having six times the quantity.
As of June 2024, around 3,000 soldiers were reported to be in the USF.
On 14 January 2025, Ukraine attacked Russian chemical factories and energy infrastructure in the Bryansk, Saratov, and Tula regions and the Republic of Tatarstan with missiles. The USF claimed that "drones successfully distracted Russian air defences, paving the way for missiles that hit the main targets."
In the late night of 28 January or the early morning of 29 January 2025, the 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment launched a strike on a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline along the Russian-Belarusian border in Bryansk Oblast reportedly using drones capable of dropping bombs on their targets. According to Defense Express, these drones carry a FAB-250 M-54 high-explosive bomb on their underbellies and feature an optical sighting system for precision strikes. On 31 January 2025, the Unmanned System Forces confirmed the use of drones carrying 250 kg (550 lb) aerial bombs. According to the USF Command, these drones are capable of "reaching up to 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) with the possibility of return. This is a unique development that changes the rules of the game on the battlefield."

## Structure

As of February 2025, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), estimated that the Unmanned Systems Forces had 5,000 personnel with one dedicated regiment, and six battalions, with an additional battalion being formed. The IISS also stated that the USF operates Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, as well several different kinds of loitering munitions weighing less than 20 kg (44 lb).
* 9th Unmanned Systems Brigade
* 14th UAV Regiment
* 59th Separate Assault Brigade
* 412th UAV Regiment
* 413th UAS Battalion
* 423rd UAV Battalion
* 424th UAV Battalion
* "Flying Skull" Battalion
* 93rd Support Battalion
* 190th Training Center [uk]
There are other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that specialize in drone warfare, but structurally are not part of the Unmanned Systems Forces:
* 383rd UAV Brigade
* 385th USV Brigade
* 414th Strike UAV Brigade
* 419th UAV Battalion
* 420th UAV Battalion
* 425th UAV Regiment
* 426th UAV Battalion