Madyar (Commander of the USF) at the symposium LANDEURO

Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, was invited to LANDEURO – the official symposium and exhibition of land forces, held for the first time on July 16–17, 2025, in Wiesbaden, Germany. This symposium LANDEURO brought together military experts and innovators from across Europe.

The Unmanned Systems Forces led by Madyar make up only 2% of the total size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – a statistical error. But this statistical error is lethal for the khrobaks (worms, as Madyar calls the Muscovites) and their equipment. Pilots of the Unmanned Systems Forces destroy one-third of the khrobaks and one-third of the targets in the war.

Madyar’s path is impressive – from platoon commander of the assault company of the 206th separate territorial defense battalion in February 2022 to commander of a branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Interestingly, as a skilled businessman and manager, Madyar used business management models and his considerable experience to create the most efficient khrobaks (worms) disposal machine.

Madyar speaks and writes rarely. That’s why it’s worth listening to him and learning.

NATO Countries’ Security Doctrines Require Review

Madyar`s presentation at the symposium LANDEURO:

In the Ukrainian army, I’m called Madyar. I command the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Putin’s propaganda says that I am considered one of Russia’s most wanted enemies, so I cannot promise a repeat meeting, but I will tell you things in absolute black and white.

Today I unite 12 pilot units. 95% of them were civilians before the war – businessmen, athletes, lawyers, singers, anyone but military professionals. Our total number is 2% of the entire Ukrainian army. We destroy one out of every three enemy personnel and one out of every three enemy targets. Putin, who promised to capture us in three days, in three and a half years taught us to defend our homeland, our children, our land.

It is absolutely clear that we see no end to the war tomorrow, next month, or likely even this year. Therefore, we pragmatically calculate our future and identify the biggest threats, which, if this war does not stop, will involve many countries being dragged further into it.

The first threat is that Putin sends more infantry to the war than we can destroy monthly. This is the first and main challenge.

Second, Putin found a very convenient, cheap, and effective weapon to terrorize Ukraine’s civilian population and destroy our infrastructure. Its name is Shahed.

Third, everyone who wanted to fight in Ukraine is already fighting. So we do not expect manna from heaven, but we know what to do and do it based on our own experience, our own blood, and with the support of partners.

There is no tank in the world that can withstand being hit by a drone costing $300–400. No tank exists. I am ready to take any bet: no tank, however protected, can survive a drone made from Ukrainian components. That is why I assert that Ukrainian drones are currently the best in the world.

Today, drones create a kill zone of approximately 20 km around the front line in Ukraine. The next challenge is replacing Ukrainian infantry with ground robotic systems that will handle all logistics related to the front line.

Third, a multi-layered, echeloned wall, much taller than the Great Wall of China, will stop in the air everything flying toward us from attack and reconnaissance drones. And this wall we are building today.

Also, when Putin launched 100 Shaheds at Ukraine, he promised 500. At first, we did not take this threat seriously. Today, it is no longer funny, as we have already crossed the 400 mark. Our experience will be invaluable to the entire sane world, because any country could face such a scenario. I do not know which NATO member country is capable of defending any particular city, taking 200–300 Shaheds seven days a week nonstop.

Therefore, your national security requires prompt review.

I rarely travel abroad. This is my second visit. And tomorrow at this time I will already be at the front. But a year ago, I visited a military base of one NATO member country in Europe. I was shown a highly organized military facility with plenty of equipment of the right color and quality. They asked me what I thought about what I saw. My answer did not please them much. Not approaching closer than 10 km, four Ukrainian pilot teams could have turned that place into Pearl Harbor in 15 minutes.

I say this not to scare anyone. I say that these technologies are so accessible and cheap that if they fall into the hands of terrorists, 100 terrorists could overturn the system of any country. Therefore, our fight with you, our joint struggle with partners, is in our common interest today. At the cost of our lives, and your cost being the gain of our experience, which we will pass on to the sensible countries of the world that willingly support Ukraine.