Ukraine’s Drone Force Destroys $40 Billion in Russian Assets in First Year, Zelenskyy Said

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian unmanned systems units have successfully struck Russian targets valued at approximately $40 billion during their first year of operation.

The President shared this milestone while officially designating June 11 as the annual Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, marking one year since the branch's establishment.

In his evening address, President Zelenskyy highlighted the unique role Ukraine has played in modernizing warfare through the rapid development and deployment of unmanned systems. He emphasized that the integration of these technologies has allowed Ukrainian forces to achieve strategic goals that previously required significantly more time and resources.

"It is Ukrainians who have proven that thanks to technological advancements, thanks to our creativity and courage, we can change the war – we can achieve such goals that were previously either completely unattainable for conventional weapons, or extremely difficult to achieve and required a crazy expenditure of resources," the President stated.

Zelenskyy noted that these successful operations involve various types of strikes, each contributing to the protection of Ukrainian lives.

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He praised the Unmanned Systems Forces as a model for other militaries, specifically noting the effectiveness of long-range strikes that have impacted Russian military logistics deep within occupied territories.

"The USF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is truly a model for many other armies, and in these months we are especially grateful for the mid-range strikes: Russian military logistics across the entire depth of the temporarily occupied territories are now accessible to Ukrainian drones. The Russian border regions are also feeling our impact. This is being felt by the enemy, and we will increase it. We will strengthen the USF even more," the President added.

During the first five months of 2026, Ukrainian unmanned systems units successfully struck 174 Russian air defense assets, including surface-to-air missile systems, radar stations, and electronic warfare equipment.

The Unmanned Systems Forces estimated that these operations resulted in over $5.4 billion in losses for Moscow, effectively weakening the enemy’s protective capabilities and creating new opportunities for Ukrainian forces to conduct strikes both on the front line and deep within the enemy’s rear.

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