Russia Plans to Recruit 210,000 Troops by 2030 for Its Unmanned Systems Forces

Russia has established a new branch of its military, the Unmanned Systems Forces, with plans to recruit up to 210,000 service members by 2030, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated on February 6.

“Special attention was given to (our intelligence’s) J2 report on the enemy’s formation of a new branch of the Russian Armed Forces, the Unmanned Systems Forces,” Syrskyi wrote on his Telegram channel.

“We are aware of the enemy’s intentions and specific plans, which include 210,000 service members in 277 military units and subdivisions by 2030.”

During Moscow’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine, Russia, and their allies have significantly advanced and invested in drone technology, introducing combat capabilities unprecedented in modern warfare.

However, Syrskyi stated that in this war, Ukraine holds the initiative in the development and use of unmanned systems.

“The enemy acknowledges the high effectiveness of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces in combat and is adapting by learning from our advanced experience and scaling its operations. We face corresponding challenges, including asymmetric strategies,” Syrskyi said.

“Our focus is on growth, improvement, and expanding achievements in unmanned systems while emphasizing not just quantity, but skill and precision,” he added.

On January 14, 2025, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense introduced a new qualification system to enhance coordination and fully unlock the combat potential of unmanned systems in Ukraine’s defense efforts. The system includes four Basic Qualification Levels, each defining the capabilities and limitations of operators when handling different types of drones.