A new military holiday has officially been established in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 485/2026, instituting the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the document, this date will be celebrated annually on June 11. The decision to create this new holiday was made to form new military traditions and consolidate the status of this unique branch of the armed forces.
A Unique Branch of the Armed Forces and the Scale of Damage
In his address, the head of state emphasized that Ukraine has become the first country in the world to create a separate branch of forces specializing in unmanned systems. Zelenskyy noted that this type of armed force is in a stage of active development and is already demonstrating high efficiency.
The President cited specific figures confirming the effectiveness of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF). According to him, within just one year of the group's creation, Ukrainian drones inflicted damage on Russian targets of various levels estimated at nearly $40 billion. Zelenskyy emphasized that the variety of strike types allows for the preservation of the lives of Ukrainian servicemen.
"The USF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a model for many other armies," declared the President, noting that this branch of the armed forces has become a benchmark for other countries.
Key Operations and Strategic Strikes
The effectiveness of the Unmanned Systems Forces is confirmed by a number of recent successful operations that have had strategic significance for the country's defense.
One of the significant actions was the blocking of a key logistical artery of the enemy in the south in early June. As a result of drone strikes, Russian occupiers were forced to ban the movement of military cargo on the highway connecting Mariupol and Simferopol. Traffic on this route dropped by more than 70%.
Another historic operation was the establishment of Ukrainian fire superiority over Donetsk Airport. The enemy used this facility as a military-logistics hub and a launch site for "Shahed" kamikaze drones. During the operation, USF fighters completely destroyed the launchers and enemy infrastructure located directly on the runway.
Successes at Sea and in Crimea
The demonstration of drone capabilities is not limited to land operations. The USF forces are also operating effectively in the waters of the Black Sea. Recently, Ukrainian drones carried out a successful operation in temporarily occupied Crimea.
In the settlement of Yurkino, a Russian ship of the "Svetlyak" class (Project 10410) was attacked. This warship provided port control and performed tactical air defense tasks for the enemy.
The President's decree on the new holiday enters into force on the day of its official publication, consolidating the status of the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces as an important date in the calendar of military holidays in Ukraine.