Russia has announced the creation of a new branch of service, the unmanned systems troops. The move was first described by Colonel Sergei Ishtuganov, deputy head of the branch, in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda, and was later confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry. According to Ishtuganov, regiments, battalions and other units have already been formed, the organizational structure has been defined, a commander has been appointed, and military control bodies have been set up across the country.
Officials say specialists are being trained at Defense Ministry universities, training centers at civilian universities, military ranges and manufacturing sites, and that a separate higher military school is also being planned. The ministry says the role of drones in the war has grown sharply: they are used for reconnaissance, strikes, transport missions, communications and networked information exchange.
Russian authorities have been publicly discussing a separate drone branch since late 2024. On December 16, 2024, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said the structure was expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. In June 2025, Vladimir Putin formally said such troops should be developed quickly, adding that drone operators account for up to 50% of damaged or destroyed enemy equipment and facilities.
Experts interviewed by Novaya-Europe say the step is logical and largely shaped by Ukraine’s experience, where an аналогous branch has existed since February 2024. In their view, the new command will mainly oversee training, logistics, development, deployment and strategic planning, while tactical drone units will likely remain inside existing formations.
At the same time, pro-war bloggers and analysts point to weaknesses in the Russian model: slow decision-making, the possible assignment of personnel through personal connections, reliance on outdated procurement mechanisms and a shortage of heavy strike platforms. Experts also warn that centralized supply could increase bureaucracy and create corruption risks, because purchases of expensive drones and imported components make it difficult to track real prices and supply chains.