Latest news with #UnmannedSystemsForces
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces replaced
Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi has been dismissed from his position as commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), according to a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 3. Sukharevskyi will be replaced by Major Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of the elite drone unit "Birds of Magyar." The Unmanned Systems Forces were established as a separate branch of Ukraine's military in June 2024. The USF works to improve Ukraine's drone operations, creating drone-specific units, ramping up training, increasing drone production, and pushing innovation. The USF has also carried out hundreds of operations deep within Russian territory. "I am proud to have had the honor of leading the USF during its first and most difficult year of formation," Sukharevskyi said in a post commenting on his dismissal. "This year, although incomplete, has been spent productively. We have formed and immediately put into practice the principles on which this unique force operates. ... At the same time, at this stage, our vision for the further development of the USF differs from that of the leadership. I believe that the honest and professional decision in this situation is to end my term as commander of the USF. I am leaving my position with deep faith in everyone who continues to carry this idea forward." Read also: As Ukraine's fate hangs in the balance, 'Soviet' command culture damages war effort Sukharevskyi, previously deputy commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, was named the first commander of the newly-created USF on June 10, 2024. According to military personnel who spoke anonymously to the Ukrainian news outlet Suspilne, Sukharevskyi's relationship with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was tense from the beginning of the USF's formation. Sukharevskyi's appointment was a decision from the president, not Syrskyi, sources said. People close to both Syrskyi and Sukharevskyi also claimed the two men avoided face-to-face interactions. According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Sukharevskyi has now been appointed deputy commander of Ukraine's Eastern Operational Command, where he is expected to implement reforms and lead modernization efforts. Regarding the decision to appoint Brovdi as the new USF commander, Umerov said that Brovdi's "experience with one of the best units should be expanded to the entire command." Along with Sukharevskyi's dismissal and replacement, Ukraine's leadership announced a number of military personnel decisions on June 3, including the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander of the Joint Forces. Drapatyi previously resigned from his position as Ground Forces Commander on June 1 following a deadly Russian missile strike that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast that day. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy appoints new commanders of Air Assault Forces and Unmanned Systems Forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced the commanders of the Unmanned Systems Forces and Air Assault Forces of Ukraine on the evening of 3 June. Robert "Madyar" Brovdi is now the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and Oleh Apostol is the new commander of the Air Assault Forces. Source: Zelenskyy in a video address; presidential decrees on the website; Unmanned Systems Forces Quote from Zelenskyy: "The appointment of Oleh Apostol as commander of the Air Assault Forces and Robert Brovdi as commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces has been approved. This also marks a greater focus on combat issues, as the successful experience of the best brigades must be scaled up." Details: Vadym Sukharevskyi, who previously headed the Unmanned Systems Forces, has been appointed deputy commander of Operational Command Skhid (East). Zelenskyy said that Sukharevskyi's task would be to modernise this command. Ihor Skybiuk, the previous commander of the Air Assault Forces, has been appointed deputy chief of the General Staff. After one year in office, Sukharevskyi wrote in a social media post that he was proud to have headed the Unmanned Systems Forces during its first and most challenging year of formation. However, he added that at this stage, his vision for the future development of the Unmanned Systems Forces differed from that of the leadership: "I consider it an honest and professional decision in this situation to end my term as commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces. I am leaving my position with deep faith in everyone who continues to carry this idea forward." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's Air Force says light aircraft not effective against Shahed drones at night
Light aircraft cannot currently be used to shoot down Shahed drones during night-time attacks, although the Ukrainian command is looking for ways to use them in the future, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat has said. Source: Ihnat during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "The defence forces use all available methods to shoot [drones] down. As I've already noted, fighter jets, helicopters, mobile fire groups and electronic warfare were all employed [last night], and Unmanned Systems Forces have been strengthening our drone air defence capabilities. Many experts have drawn attention to light aircraft. We've actually been using them for a while. Yak-52 planes are quite effective when the weather and visibility allow it – mainly against reconnaissance UAVs. But we shouldn't rely on light aircraft in this context, especially given that the Shahed's warhead has now been increased to up to 90 kg. Light aircraft simply cannot operate at night." Details: Ihnat stressed, however, that Ukraine is actively seeking ways to adapt light aircraft so that they can intercept Shahed drones. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's General Staff confirms strike on sanctioned defence industry plant in Russia's Oryol Oblast
Units from Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, in cooperation with other components of the defence forces, struck the Bolkhov Semiconductor Device Plant operated by the Russian defence industry in Oryol Oblast on the night of 20-21 May. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "Ten UAVs are confirmed to have reached the target area. A fire was recorded. Detailed information on the damage caused to the facility by the strike is being gathered." Details: The Ukrainian military reported that despite international sanctions, the plant produces almost 3 million devices annually and employs about 700 people. The General Staff noted that the facility is one of Russia's leading companies in developing and producing semiconductor devices and components. Its main lines of activity are the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, microelectronics, power electronics, diodes and diode assemblies, chips for switching power supplies, optoelectronic switches and servo drives. The company supplies products to at least 19 companies in Russia's military-industrial complex, particularly those producing Sukhoi aircraft and Iskander and Kinzhal missiles. Background: Earlier, Andrei Klichkov, the governor of Oryol Oblast, said that a drone attack on the town of Bolkhov had damaged "several residential buildings and the premises of the Bolkhov Semiconductor Plant". Radio Liberty journalist Mark Krutov geolocated the fire near the main building of the plant. The extent of the damage is still unknown. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Commander of Ukraine's 59th Brigade replaced, media reports
Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Shevchuk was dismissed as the commander of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces and replaced by Colonel Oleksandr Sak, Ukrainska Pravda reported on May 18, citing its sources in the brigade. The 59th Brigade, deployed in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast, underwent the emergency leadership change between May 15 and 16 on the order of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, one military source told the news outlet. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. The brigade's new reported commander, Sak, previously led the 53rd Mechanized Brigade fighting in the Kreminna area. The reasons behind the move have not been disclosed, though Ukrainska Pravda's sources suggested it could be linked to the worsening situation in the Pokrovsk sector. The mining town has been the epicenter of some of the heaviest battles in Donetsk Oblast as Russian forces have been trying to capture the strategically important settlement for months. Syrskyi claimed earlier in May that Ukraine has managed to stabilize the situation in the sector and seize the initiative in some areas. The 59th Brigade, previously named the 59th Motorized Rifle Brigade, came under Syrskyi's scrutiny in July 2024 after Azovstal defender and medic Kateryna Polishchuk, known under the nickname Ptashka ("bird"), called for an investigation into the unit over Shevchuk's alleged misconduct. The unit was reorganized into an assault brigade under the Unmanned Systems Forces in January 2025, but retained its commander at the time. Read also: Ukrainian drones destroy Russian radar, supply depots on Black Sea gas platforms, SBU says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
