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Ukraine’s drone forces aim to reach 5% of total military — for full front coverage

Par :Yuri Zoria

ukraine’s drone forces aim reach 5% total military — full front coverage maj robert madyar brovdi commander ukraine's unmanned systems vechirniy kyiv magyar drones statistics show responsible over 21000 out

Ukraine’s drone command wants to scale up to cover the full frontline. That means growing from 2.2% to 5% of Ukraine’s total military personnel. The Unmanned Systems Forces detailed this goal — and their progress — in a 100-day report published by commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi.

Three and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones dominate the battlefield. They have made armored assaults nearly impossible and devastated logistics on both sides. Unmanned systems now play a critical role in deep strategic strikes, naval attacks, and frontline ground operations. In 2025, Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate drone branch within its armed forces. Alongside this new branch, other military formations also continue to operate their own drone units.

Madyar presents 100-day report on Ukraine’s drone command

In a detailed report published by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), commander Major Robert “Madyar” Brovdi reviewed his first 100 days in charge. He revealed that the SBS Grouping, formed on 11 June 2025 by merging 12 units, has since grown to play a significant role across the front. The report emphasized transparency and operational metrics without hype.

On 1 July 2025, the force launched a unified reporting system and introduced an electronic Combat Log (eCL). A public results dashboard now provides live data on drone missions and effectiveness. According to the report, over 402,000 sorties have been carried out by the Unmanned Systems Forces over this period — nearly half of them strike missions. Reconnaissance flights made up the rest, Brovdi reported.

A total of 76,859 Russian targets were either destroyed or damaged — an 804.7% increase compared to the previous 100 days of 2025. Enemy personnel losses attributed to the force include 10,746 killed and 7,755 wounded — a 423.5% rise. The USF’s verified share of total enemy targets hit by all Ukrainian defense forces rose from 21.22% in May to 36.3% in July, according to the force’s own figures.

Scaling drone capabilities and logistics without state funds

The Unmanned Systems Forces operate with only 2.2% of the total personnel of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Still, six of its units currently rank among the top 13 out of 500 units nationwide. The command claims the force now operates across all battlefield layers — tactical, operational, and strategic.

A central logistics warehouse was established for supplying all 12 Grouping units with equipment and drone peripherals — excluding the drones themselves. This hub holds over 1,039,870 units across 1,600+ item types. Notably, none of this supply chain is funded by the state. The stock includes 335 ATVs, 200 pickups, 460 logistics and freight vehicles, 180 motorcycles, and 900 mobile electronic warfare systems. It also includes radio systems, Starlink units, ELINT tools, batteries, and more.

Since March, the force has run without public fundraisers. The state now provides drones in sufficient numbers, while customization is handled internally, according to Brovdi. Many drones are acquired through a system of earned e-bonuses.

Domestic drone munitions production ramps up

The SBS’s in-house project dubbed the “Sugar Factory” has launched domestic production of 51 types of drone ammunition. So far, over 50,000 munitions have been produced. The Grouping plans to scale monthly production to 120,000 units to fully meet its operational needs.

Clear goals, no recruitment campaign yet

Madyar stated that the SBS has not yet launched a recruitment campaign. But the goal is clear: reach 5% of the total personnel of the Defense Forces. Only at that point will the drone forces be able to provide full front coverage at all three layers — tactical, operational, and strategic — and exceed 50% of all verified enemy targets hit. Otherwise, Madyar stated, he will resign and return to his brigade — “even if just as the bathhouse operator.”

The report also clarified that the USF Grouping does not oversee all drones used by Ukrainian forces. It neither procures nor distributes drones army-wide. Still, it called on other units to join the unified reporting system to allow for better coordination and needs assessment.

Strategic targets inside Russia are being hit daily, the commander said, although details remain undisclosed.

“We’re scaling up — quietly,” Brovdi added.

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