President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced Tuesday night that he signed a “strategic” decree to create a separate drone corps in the Ukrainian army, as Kyiv increasingly relies on the technology in its defensive war against Russia. The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, General Valery Zaluzhny, who has clashed with the president and whose dismissal is said to be imminent, in turn, in an article published by CNN last week, pleaded for an increase in the fleet of domestically produced drones, with which Kiev managed to deliver several spectacular strikes as in the Crimea, as well as in the depths of the Russian territory.

“This is a strategic issue. We have just signed a decree that launches the creation of a separate type of force in our defense forces – the Force for Unmanned Systems,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in his address to the nation on Tuesday evening, News.ro reported.

He wanted to emphasize that this new force “is not a matter of the future,” but “is something that should give a very concrete result in the near future.”

The Kyiv leader echoed the idea outlined in a speech last night, saying this year “should be decisive” in the war “from many points of view and obviously on the battlefield.”

“Drones – unmanned aerial systems – have proven their effectiveness in ground, air and sea battles. Ukraine really changed the unmanned situation in the Black Sea thanks to drones. Repelling ground assaults is mostly the work of drones. Large-scale destruction of the occupiers and their equipment is also the work of drones,” Zelenskyy said.

He noted that now, having created a special unit dedicated to drones, special positions will be created for personnel who work with drones, there will be special units that will benefit from effective training and systematization of experience. In addition, the production of drones will be constantly increased, the “best ideas” will be taken into account and the best specialists in this field will be involved.

“This is a task for the army, the Ministry of Defense, and the government as a whole,” Zelenskyi said.

“And in order to ensure the necessary coordination within the defense forces, to ensure the appropriate level of planning and the quality of logistical support, a Force for unmanned systems on board will be created within the Armed Forces. Relevant proposals will be submitted to the NSDC for consideration,” the Ukrainian president said.

“We continue to restart the state system – those elements that are necessary for Ukraine to achieve its goals, very correct goals. Ukraine can win. He must win. And we have to do everything for this,” Zelensky concluded.

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