KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day with a military display featuring ground, naval and aerial unmanned systems. Organizers described it as the world’s first military parade made up entirely of unmanned platforms rather than traditional formations of troops and manned vehicles.
Dozens of ground robotic systems moved along Khreshchatyk Street, including the Rys Pro and TerMIT platforms. The systems are designed for frontline tasks such as logistics, reconnaissance and combat, with some displayed configurations equipped with machine guns and multiple rocket-launch systems. Ukrainian forces also use robotic platforms for supply transport, medical evacuation and fire support.
#WATCH On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, Ukrainian ground robotic complexes drove down Khreshchatyk, maritime drones sailed down the Dnipro, and military aircraft and combat UAVs flew across the sky — along with many other drones. pic.twitter.com/RwqCU7PTAV
— August 24, 2026
The display continued on the Dnipro River, where unmanned surface vessels including Magura and Sea Baby were shown. The lineup included kamikaze, reconnaissance and vessels equipped with anti-aircraft missiles. Magura and Sea Baby systems have been used in operations against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
In the air, Ukraine displayed interceptor drones designed to counter incoming aerial threats, along with reconnaissance and strike drones. French Mirage 2000s and F-16 fighter aircraft also appeared during the aerial demonstration.
The event was shown during an online broadcast of Independence Day ceremonies, according to the Office of the President. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s domestic unmanned-systems capabilities, saying the country has the technology and resources needed to defend its independence. He also pointed to maritime drones’ role in attacks against Russian military targets and ships and said Ukraine could become a security partner for allies by sharing experience and technology developed during the war.
The parade follows Ukraine’s creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces as a dedicated military branch. Zelenskyy ordered work on establishing the branch in February 2024 and formally established it as a separate type of force in June 2024. Ukrainian officials have described Ukraine as the first country to create a military branch focused specifically on unmanned systems across air, land and sea domains. A grouping of the forces was formed on June 11, 2025, and in June 2026 Zelenskyy designated June 11 as the annual Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces.
Independence Day commemorates Ukraine’s declaration of independence adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in 1991. The 2026 observance was the fifth since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022 and the 12th since Russian operations began in Crimea and Donbas in 2014.
Ukraine has not held a conventional military parade on Independence Day since 2021. In the years following the full-scale invasion, Khreshchatyk Street was instead used to display destroyed Russian military equipment. This year’s event focused on Ukrainian-developed and operated unmanned systems already being used by the Defense Forces for combat, reconnaissance, logistics and evacuation missions.
The systems displayed came from platforms already in active use on the front line and at sea, while the aerial demonstration also included certain foreign aircraft. On Independence Day, Unmanned Systems Forces commander Major Robert Brovdi also reported that Ukrainian drone units had struck 66 military and logistical targets deep inside Russian territory overnight.
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