Background

Brovdi, call sign Madyar, commands Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), the dedicated drone service branch formally established in 2024. He became publicly known through drone operations along Ukraine's eastern front and has been a visible communicator of Ukrainian drone doctrine, emphasising massed coordinated strikes designed to overwhelm Russian air defences.

Madyar confirmed on 6 June 2026 that his forces had directed a 400-drone wave deep into Russia, striking Kronstadt — the Baltic Fleet's home base, roughly 1,000km from the Ukrainian border — and setting the missile corvette Boikyi on fire. The same wave hit the Petergofskaya oil depot, the Neste terminal at Lomonosov, and a naval arsenal at Bolshaya Izhora, marking the first confirmed Ukrainian naval strike in the Baltic Sea. The operation demonstrated long-range strike capability FAR beyond previous Ukrainian drone attacks and carried direct strategic messaging about the vulnerability of Russia's Baltic Fleet.

Common Questions

Who is Madyar and what did he do at Kronstadt?

Madyar is the call sign of Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces. On 6 June 2026 he confirmed that his forces sent over 400 drones to strike Kronstadt, setting the corvette Boikyi on fire in the first confirmed Ukrainian naval strike in the Baltic Sea.Source: Lowdown / Ukrainian military

How far is Kronstadt from Ukraine?

Kronstadt, the Baltic Fleet's home base outside St Petersburg, is approximately 1,000km from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine's 6 June 2026 drone strike reached it using a 400-drone wave coordinated by the Unmanned Systems Forces.Source: Lowdown

What is Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces?

The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) is a dedicated drone service branch of Ukraine's armed forces, established formally in 2024. Commanded by Brovdi (call sign Madyar), it operates massed drone waves for both battlefield attrition and long-range strategic strikes.

Was the Kronstadt Baltic Fleet strike the first Ukrainian attack in the Baltic Sea?

Yes. The 6 June 2026 drone strike that hit the corvette Boikyi at Kronstadt is the first confirmed Ukrainian naval strike in the Baltic Sea.Source: Lowdown / Ukrainian military

Source Material

Unmanned Systems Forces

How the World Sees Them

NATO

The Kronstadt strike prompted Baltic state concern about drone corridor use over international waters; allies are watching whether Russia escalates its response.

Russia

Moscow has not disputed the strike. State media minimised coverage. The ability to reach Kronstadt represents a strategic embarrassment for Baltic Fleet protection.

Ukraine

Madyar is a national figure in drone warfare, and the Kronstadt strike was widely publicised by Ukrainian officials as proof of long-range strike capability reaching Russia's naval heartland.

Baltic states

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania monitored the operation closely given that Ukrainian drone routes may have passed near their airspace or exclusive economic zones.