(Kyiv) – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed an official decree appointing Robert “Magyar” Brovdi as the new Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The decree, published as No. 386/2025, marks a key step in Ukraine’s continued modernisation and expansion of its drone and unmanned warfare capabilities.
Robert Brovdi, widely known by his callsign “Magyar”, was born in Uzhhorod on 9 August 1975. A Ukrainian citizen of Hungarian origin, Brovdi earned his degree in Enterprise Economics from Uzhhorod National University in 1997. Before the war, he was a well known entrepreneur and art philanthropist, having founded the BrovdiArt Foundation to promote Ukrainian contemporary art internationally. Works from the foundation’s collection have been displayed in several European museums.
With the full scale Russian invasion in 2022, Brovdi joined the Territorial Defence Forces and took part in critical evacuation efforts in Bucha, Irpin, and Borodyanka. He later fought in key battles across eastern and southern Ukraine, including Soledar, Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
In May 2022, Brovdi formed a drone reconnaissance unit under the name “Magyar Birds”. What began as a battalion quickly expanded and evolved through various stages: the 414th separate battalion of strike unmanned aerial systems, later becoming a regiment, and by December 2024, the 414th separate brigade of unmanned forces. This reflects not only Brovdi’s leadership but also the growing strategic role of unmanned systems in Ukraine’s defence strategy against Russian aggression.
As commander of this specialised branch, Brovdi is expected to continue expanding Ukraine’s capabilities in aerial reconnaissance, drone strikes, and other unmanned warfare technologies. His appointment comes at a time when Ukraine is rapidly scaling up these technologies to counter Russia’s numerical advantage on the battlefield.
The promotion of “Magyar” reflects both the trust placed in him by the Ukrainian government and his field tested success against Russian forces. President Zelenskyy had previously awarded Brovdi the prestigious title of Hero of Ukraine on 8 May 2025, recognising his exceptional service.
