President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a command meeting with combat commanders, during which they discussed the situation on the most intense fronts, the destruction of Russian forces and the needs of the units. The main topics were the large-scale supply of drones for operations deep behind enemy lines, the production of fibre-optic UAVs, the allocation of personnel among brigades, and prisoner exchanges.
Briefly about the main points
- At Headquarters, reports from the commanders on the situation at the front were heard.
- The President has identified the large-scale supply of drones for use in the operational depth as a priority.
- The production and procurement of fibre-optic UAVs were discussed separately.
- The programme to ensure the replenishment of combat brigades will continue.
- Zelenskyy announced a separate command post comprising corps commanders and manufacturers.
Who briefed the President?
The meeting was attended by the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi, commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine «Azov» Denis Prokopenko, commander of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine «Charter» Ihor Obolenskyi, Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces Andriy Tkachuk and acting commander of the 19th Army Corps of the «South» Operational Command of the Land Forces Valery Skred.
Pros. in words Zelensky, the commanders reported on the situation on the front line, the elimination of Russian forces and key supply issues. The President stated that Ukraine’s defence remains active and that the tasks assigned to each sector are being carried out.
Drones for operational depth and fibre-optic cables
The members of the High Command focused on the need to increase supply of drones, which are used at operational depths. They also discussed the production and supply of fibre-optic drones.
This issue has practical implications for the procurement system. The Ministry of Defence has reported that, in the first half of 2026, the State Defence Order Agency (AOZ DOT) awarded contracts worth 333.6 billion hryvnias for UAVs for the armed forces; the largest share of the contracts was accounted for by FPV. The agency has also launched the «Basic Level» project, which guarantees a minimum monthly supply of several types of drones to frontline units.
In April, the Ministry of Defence amended the procurement rules for fibre-optic drones so that contract values could be adjusted in line with the prices of fibre and components. The Ministry attributed this to fluctuations in global prices, which could have jeopardised the fulfilment of fixed-price contracts.
Reinforcing the teams and the experience of the «Charter»
Zelenskyy announced that the programme for the fair distribution of personnel among combat brigades, which has been in place since December last year, will be extended. At the previous High Command meeting on 1 June at the Office of the President, it was stated that around 160 military units already have a stable, guaranteed supply of reinforcements.
The President noted that the «Charter’s» experience in recruiting foreign volunteers should be rolled out to other units, and reported that the participants had discussed the steps required to achieve this. Ihor Obolenskyi, who has headed the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine since July 2025, was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine on 15 July, along with the «Golden Star».
Zelenskyy also thanked Denis Prokopenko for his attention to prisoner exchanges and the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and said that appropriate instructions would be issued following the discussion.
The next meeting will bring together commanders and manufacturers
The President announced a special meeting to be attended by corps commanders and the main manufacturers of the weapons and equipment required at the front. He did not specify the date or the list of participants.
The fact that issues relating to unmanned aerial vehicles, manning and supply were discussed at a single meeting indicates a desire to link the needs of specific units with production and procurement. According to the Ministry of Defence’s assessment, since the start of the year, unmanned systems units have struck over one million verified enemy targets, whilst UAVs account for around 90% of enemy strikes.
