Zelenskyy appoints new commanders of Air Assault Forces and Unmanned Systems Forces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced the commanders of the Unmanned Systems Forces and Air Assault Forces of Ukraine on the evening of 3 June. Robert "Magyar" Brovdi is now the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and Oleh Apostol is the new commander of the Air Assault Forces.

Source: Zelenskyy in a video address; presidential decrees on the website; Unmanned Systems Forces; Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umierov

Quote from Zelenskyy: "The appointment of Oleh Apostol as commander of the Air Assault Forces and Robert Brovdi as commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces has been approved. This also marks a greater focus on combat issues, as the successful experience of the best brigades must be scaled up."

Details: Vadym Sukharevskyi, who previously headed the Unmanned Systems Forces, has been appointed deputy commander of Operational Command Skhid (East). Zelenskyy said that Sukharevskyi’s task would be to modernise this command.

Ihor Skybiuk, the previous commander of the Air Assault Forces, has been appointed deputy chief of the General Staff.

After one year in office, Sukharevskyi wrote in a social media post that he was proud to have headed the Unmanned Systems Forces during its first and most challenging year of formation.

However, he added that at this stage, his vision for the future development of the Unmanned Systems Forces differed from that of the leadership: "I consider it an honest and professional decision in this situation to end my term as commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces. I am leaving my position with deep faith in everyone who continues to carry this idea forward."

Details: Defence Minister Rustem Umierov added that Robert "Magyar" Brovdi's experience with one of the best brigades must now be rolled out across the entire Unmanned Systems Forces command, while Vadym Sukharevskyi’s key task is to modernise Operational Command East through new approaches and reforms.

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Brovdi was a businessman involved in grain trading. His UAV unit evolved from a company-sized formation in 2022 to a full brigade by 2024. In 2025, Brovdi, founder of the strike drone unit "Magyar’s Birds", was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Colonel Oleh "Formoza" Apostol currently commands the 95th Separate Air Assault Polissia Brigade of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces. His brigade was among those involved in the Kursk operation. In 2024, Apostol was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

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