Ukraine rapidly expands UAV units to stay ahead of Russian drone forces
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported significant battlefield success achieved through systematic efforts to expand unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
During a monthly meeting on UAV operations and development, held with combat unit commanders, he stated:
“In May alone, drones of various types destroyed over 89,000 enemy targets. Every drone is a destroyed enemy, and thus a life saved.”
Technological rivalry: Russian imitation vs Ukrainian innovation
Military intelligence reported that the Russian army is actively forming dedicated drone forces, copying Ukraine’s approach and expanding its own unmanned units with new UAVs and robotic platforms.
In response, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are continuously increasing the number of UAV crews and formations while prioritizing the elimination of enemy drone operators and their control centers to disrupt Russian operations.
Focus on ground robotic systems
The meeting also addressed the growing role of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield. These systems are now used for:
- evacuating the wounded,
- delivering frontline logistics,
- remotely placing mines,
- operating as armed robotic modules.
Compared to 2024, the supply of UGVs to military units has increased several times over, as has the training of UGV specialists.