First UAV strike companies established in Armed Forces

Three first strike companies of unmanned aerial vehicles have already been established in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation, voiced this on social media.

“Today, the first three UAV strike companies are ready for battle. Together with partners, they were fully staffed. Pick-ups, attack drones and Starlinks were handed over,” the minister wrote.

Fedorov noted that the project to create a strike company of unmanned aerial vehicles was established with the participation of the General Staff, the State Special Forces, the Ministry of Defense and the UNITED24 foundation.

According to him, all the UAVs transferred to the unit are Ukrainian-made. The equipment for the strike companies was purchased by private donors.

“The drones will perform reconnaissance and strike missions. UAVs will aim artillery, help soldiers to be as effective as possible during urban battles and save lives. Pickups will be needed for raids of mobile groups behind enemy lines, delivery of goods and evacuation of the wounded. Starlinks [help to maintain] uninterrupted communication on the battlefield. All this is our competitive advantage over the Russians,” Fedorov said.

Previously, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that Ukrainian army is creating strike companies of unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the military, such units are being created for the first time in the world.

It is reported that the creation of UAV strike companies as part of the Defense Forces was approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Their creation is taking place within the “Army of Drones” project.

The project is distinguished by a completely new approach to the management, training and doctrine of the use of drones.

The military noted that the most professional servicemen who will lead the strike companies have already been selected. Each of them is to receive drones and ammunition, as well as Starlink for communications and other necessary equipment, they said.

The General Staff reported that the main partner for the training of assault troops will be the Boryviter military school.

The military command does not specify which drones these units will be equipped with. These may be kamikaze drones of different classes with different warheads and flight ranges, so the combat tasks can be performed at different distances.