Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign “Madyar,” has been appointed as the new commander of the UAV Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The corresponding decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy No. 386 was published on June 3. Replacing Vadym Sukharevskyi in this position, Brovdi will lead a direction that is becoming strategically important for the country’s defense capability.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Key Personnel Changes in the Armed Forces
At the same time, the president signed decree No. 383, which relieved Vadym Sukharevskyi of his duties as commander of the UAV Forces. Sukharevskyi has been appointed as the deputy commander of the Operational Command “East” with the task of modernizing this unit and implementing innovative approaches. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov emphasized that Sukharevskyi faces an important task of reforming the command.
“Vadym Sukharevskyi has become the deputy commander of the Operational Command ‘East’ with an important task – to modernize this command by introducing new approaches and changes,” said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Vadym Sukharevskyi himself noted on social media that he is proud to have had the honor of leading the UAV Forces during their first, most challenging year of establishment. According to him, during this time, the basic principles of functioning for this unique type of force were established, innovative developments were made, successful combat operations were conducted, and a new recruitment model was implemented. Sukharevskyi also mentioned that at the current stage, his vision for the development of the UAV Forces diverged from the leadership, which is why he considers it a professional decision to conclude his term.
Other Appointments and Results of Drone Combat Operations
In addition to the changes in the UAV Forces, other personnel rotations have also taken place in the Armed Forces. Oleg Apostol has been appointed as the new commander of the Air Assault Forces, replacing Ihor Skibyuk. The latter has been appointed as the deputy chief of the General Staff. Alexander Bilous has also been relieved of his position as deputy commander of the National Guard.
It is worth noting that Vadym Sukharevskyi was the first commander of the UAV Forces as a separate branch of the military. In April, he reported on the presentation of the laser weapon “Trident” in Ukraine, capable of destroying drones and aviation equipment at a distance of up to 5000 meters. In May, Ukrainian military forces used various types of drones to hit and destroy over 89,000 targets of Russian forces. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, summarizing the results of the monthly meeting on the application and development of unmanned systems.