Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day on Aug. 24 with the first drone parade in its history, replacing the traditional military march with a showcase of nearly 100 unmanned systems in Kyiv. No soldiers, tanks, or heavy armor took part in the display, reflecting the country's shift toward robotic warfare since Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022.
Thirty ground robotic complexes, including the TerMIT and Ratel platforms, rolled along Khreshchatyk Street, while a fleet of nine unmanned naval vessels sped along the Dnipro River. Overhead, interceptor drones, bomber drones, and reconnaissance UAVs flew in formation. Unmanned ground systems alone have carried out more than 66,000 missions in 2026.
President Volodymyr Zelensky established the Unmanned Systems Forces in 2024, making Ukraine the first country to create a dedicated military branch centered on unmanned systems.