The Unmanned Systems Forces has claimed to have better quality drones than the
Russian Armed Forces, despite Russia having six times the quantity. As of June 2024, around 3,000 soldiers were reported to be in the USF. On 14 January 2025, Ukraine attacked Russian chemical factories and energy infrastructure in
Bryansk,
Saratov, and
Tula Oblasts and the
Republic of Tatarstan with missiles. The USF claimed that "drones successfully distracted Russian air defences, paving the way for missiles that hit the main targets." In the late night of 28 January or the early morning of 29 January 2025, the 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment launched a strike on a pumping station on the
Druzhba pipeline along the Russian-Belarusian border in Bryansk Oblast reportedly using drones capable of dropping bombs on their targets. According to
Defense Express, these drones carry a
FAB-250 M-54 high-explosive bomb on their underbellies and feature an optical sighting system for precision strikes. On 31 January 2025, the Unmanned System Forces confirmed the use of drones carrying aerial bombs. According to the USF Command, these drones are capable of "reaching up to with the possibility of return. This is a unique development that changes the rules of the game on the battlefield." First announced in December 2024, on 13 April 2025, the Unmanned Systems Forces released the first footage of a laser weapon system, called “Tryzub”, in use destroying a fibre optic FPV drone. On 9 July 2025, Ukrainian C-in-C
Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that the Unmanned Systems Forces had struck 19,600 targets (one-third of all targets hit) and destroyed 5,024 in June 2025 alone. He also claimed that the USF had killed or wounded 4,500 on Russian forces, of whom 2,548 had been killed. On 8 August 2025, Syrskyi claimed that the Unmanned Systems Forces' drones hit 23,400 Russian targets and killed 5,134 enemy personnel in July 2025. As of December 2025, USF drone operators were flying 100,000 to 120,000 sorties a month and had launched combined drone attacks against Russian energy-related targets at least 225 times, effectively reducing Russian national oil processing capacity by about 20%. On 6 January 2026, Ukrainian CinC General
Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that in December 2025, Ukrainian drones killed 33,000 Russian soldiers. He also claimed this was the first month Russian losses exceeded Russian recruitment. He further claimed that the “figure includes only cases confirmed by video footage, while actual losses are likely higher.” Currently the USF comprises just “2.2%” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with plans of expansion. General Syrskyi claimed Russian drone forces numbered at “80,000 personnel, with plans to expand them to 165,500 in 2026 and nearly 210,000 by 2030. ;Drone Line In 2025 a new command-within-a-command was formed, when five of the most effective, of the then twelve main combat units, were grouped together as the Drone Line. Four of these units were: 20th UAV Brigade ('K-2'), 414th UAV Brigade ('Ptahi Madyara' - Birds of Madyar), 427th UAV Brigade ('Rarog') and 429th UAV Bde ('Achilles'). The fifth unit is described as a unit of the State Border Guard Service (DPS), the DPS UAV Regiment ('Feniks' - Phoenix), but which is otherwise presented as a regular component of the autonomous Unmanned Systems Command. Several of the remaining units are engaged in specialist developments, or in offensive operations, which preclude them - entirely or partially - from general air defense duties. ;Female soldiers The Ukrainian Armed Forces are notably conservative regarding female soldiers, reflecting the views of the wider society. However, the innovative field of drone warfare appeals to many female volunteers, and the USF Command is notably supportive of this interest. A wholly - or largely - female unit ('Garpii' - the Harpies) exists with the 9th UAV Brigade, and many more female soldiers serve as individuals in other units in both the central USF command and in the brigade or corps-level UAV units. == Structure ==