Unmanned Systems Forces

The Unmanned Systems Forces (Сили безпілотних систем), abbreviated to USF, is a branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which involves air, sea, and ground unmanned and robotic systems.

As of June 2024, around 3,000 soldiers are reported to be in the USF. There are reports of soldiers from the Ukrainian General Staff’s Main Directorate of Unmanned Systems being reassigned to the USF.

History
On February 6, 2024, a President of Ukraine of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was published, instructing the Government of Ukraine and the General Staff to consider and work out the creation of the appropriate type of troops, after which the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will consider the issue.

On February 10, 2024 it was announced that colonel Vadym Sukharevsky have become deputy of recently appointed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and will be responsible for 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 May 7, 2024 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the draft Decree of the President of Ukraine, developed by the Ministry of Defense together with the General Staff, on creating a separate type of troop within the Armed Forces: the Unmanned Systems Forces.

On June 10, 2024 Ministry of Defence announced that colonel Vadym Sukharevsky was appointed commander of the UAV Forces. On June 11, the force was formally established.