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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has suffered nearly $40 billion in losses from strikes carried out by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) since the branch was established one year ago, UATV English informs.
Speaking in his evening address, Zelenskyy highlighted the growing role of unmanned technologies in Ukraine’s defense efforts and commented on his decision to designate June 11 as the official Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“In just one year since the creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces Grouping, Russian targets of various categories worth nearly $40 billion have been successfully struck. Most importantly, these operations have expanded our ability to save lives and achieve results that were previously difficult or impossible to accomplish,” the president said.
Zelenskyy noted that June 11 will now serve as a day to honor and recognize the contribution of the Unmanned Systems Forces and the personnel involved in developing and operating Ukraine’s growing fleet of unmanned systems.
According to the president, Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate military branch dedicated exclusively to unmanned systems.
“For the first time globally, such a military branch was created in Ukraine. We continue to develop the Unmanned Systems Forces to their maximum potential. Ukrainians have demonstrated that technology, innovation, and courage can fundamentally change the nature of warfare,” Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that drone technologies have enabled Ukraine to achieve military objectives that were previously beyond the reach of conventional weapons or required significantly greater resources and manpower.
The president paid particular tribute to the force’s recent medium-range strike operations, which have increasingly targeted Russian military logistics infrastructure across occupied Ukrainian territories.
According to Zelenskyy, these capabilities have expanded Ukraine’s ability to disrupt supply routes, strike military assets behind the front line, and impose growing costs on Russia’s war effort.
The remarks followed the signing of a presidential decree formally establishing June 11 as the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, recognizing the branch’s contribution to Ukraine’s defense and the evolution of modern warfare.
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