The Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have inflicted damage on the Russian side estimated at nearly $40 billion over the course of a year. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address, dedicated to the anniversary of the creation of this new branch of the military.
Technological breakthrough and economic blow
The head of state emphasized that it was in Ukraine that the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) were created for the first time in the world, which are now actively developing. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian military personnel have proven that thanks to technological advancement and courage, one can change the very nature of war. Now, targets that were previously unreachable for conventional weapons or required colossal resources to destroy are accessible.
"In just one year since the creation of the USF grouping, Russian targets of various levels worth nearly $40 billion have been struck," the president noted, announcing June 11 as the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces.
Strikes on the aggressor's logistics and economy
Zelenskyy focused on the fact that this involves various types of strikes, each of which helps save the lives of Ukrainian defenders. Separately, he mentioned the effectiveness of so-called "mid-strikes" (medium-range strikes). Over the past few months, these strikes have caused significant damage to the enemy's military logistics on occupied territories.
The president also stated that the impact of Ukrainian drones is felt in the Russian border regions, and these actions will be intensified. "The Russian border region is also experiencing our influence. The enemy feels this, and we will increase it," he emphasized.
Crisis in the Russian economy
The effectiveness of strikes on the enemy's rear is confirmed by statistics of losses in the civilian sector. It was previously reported that in just one month, Russia suffered losses in the oil sector of at least $2.3 billion due to long-range strikes. Last month, Zelenskyy noted that the aggressor lost about 10% of its oil refining capacity, which dealt a serious blow to the budget.
According to data, Russia loses tens of millions of dollars daily due to constant drone attacks. Experts note that this has pushed the aggressor's economy to the threshold of stagnation — a state of economic process standstill. The Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine, according to the president, have become a model for the armies of many countries around the world.