By John Varga
Newsbreak
Nov 7, 2025
A Ukrainian commander, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, made a bold claim that his unit annihilated over 20,000 Russian troops. Appointed by President Zelensky in June to lead Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Brovdi’s unit was established last year as the world’s first military branch dedicated to drone warfare, both aerial and maritime.
These drones have revolutionized modern warfare and are crucial to Ukraine’s efforts to counteract the Russian advance. They allow the Ukrainian army to compensate for its lack of manpower on the battlefield and are frequently used to bolster Kyiv’s defenses.
Prior to his current role, Brovdi led an aerial reconnaissance unit known as the Birds of the Madyar, hence his nickname. Originally from Zakarpattia, he was a businessman before the full-scale war erupted.
In a video interview, the commander claimed his unit had inflicted severe casualties on the Russians. “We’ve lost 27 of our own. In return, we destroyed 24,895 Russian troops and 76,950 targets,” he stated.
Since launching its ill-fated full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia’s army has suffered devastating losses. According to estimates from Ukraine’s General Staff, Russian casualties, including both dead and injured, number 1,148,910.
The relentless demand to fill army vacancies has compelled Putin to overhaul Russia’s conscription regulations.
On Tuesday, the Russian President approved fresh legislation enabling continuous, year-round military recruitment, departing from the traditional twice-yearly seasonal draft framework.
Brovdi also vowed additional attacks on Russia’s energy facilities, which have been consistently hit by Kyiv.
He called on young Ukrainians to enlist in his drone unit, declaring: “We need people who will use drones to relentlessly crush the worms from a distance.”