Russia Launches New Drone Warfare Branch to Boost Unmanned Forces

Russia has officially established a new branch of its armed forces dedicated to unmanned systems, marking the first formal recognition of drones as a separate component of its military structure.

According to Russian news outlet ASTRA, the newly formed “Unmanned Systems Forces” includes fully organized regiments, units, and a designated command structure.

Colonel Sergey Ishtuganov, deputy head of the new branch, said the leadership and operational framework had already been appointed.

“The buildup of existing formations and the creation of new units of the Unmanned Systems Forces continue,” Ishtuganov stated.

“Operators, engineers, technicians, and other specialists are being assigned to these units.”

He did not clarify whether the personnel are being transferred from other branches or recruited separately.

The decision follows a directive by Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin, who in December 2024 ordered the Ministry of Defense to establish a dedicated branch for drone warfare.

Defense Minister Andrey Belousov at the time promised that the new Unmanned Systems Forces would be fully operational by the third quarter of 2025.

The creation of a separate command highlights Moscow’s growing reliance on drones in its war against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s parliament, the Verhovna Rada, approved the creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces back in September 2024. This branch has proven itself one of the most effective on the front lines.

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