Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces found themselves in an unusual position on Wednesday, explaining the law of armed conflict to several thousand very enthusiastic strangers on the internet.
The catalyst was Andrew Tate, a British-American kickboxer-turned-influencer, convicted sex trafficker, one of the internet’s most prominent exporters of misogyny, and a recent attendee of Russia’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he and his brother Tristan posed on a Russian tank for social media content.
The visit generated a wave of tags directed at the USF’s official X account, with users requesting — in terms ranging from joking to earnest — that Ukraine’s drone branch intervene.
“Being a shitty person doesn’t make someone a legitimate military target under international law. Climbing on a tank for internet clout isn’t enough to become a combatant,” the USF responded. International humanitarian law prohibits targeting civilians — however odious — unless they take direct part in hostilities.
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Incidentally, June 11 marks the second anniversary of the USF’s founding — and earlier Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree establishing it as Ukraine’s official Day of Unmanned Systems Forces, calling the branch “a model for many other armies.”
Over the past year, USF units inflicted an estimated $40 billion in damage to Russian military assets and struck 174 air defense systems in 2026 alone.
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Zelensky has described Ukraine’s capabilities as “a unique system that exists today only in Ukraine because of this terrible war” — and the demand is real. Since March, Ukraine has signed drone defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, all three facing the same Iranian Shahed drones that Russia has been launching at Ukrainian cities for years. Canada formalised its own deal in May, creating a joint venture to manufacture Ukrainian battlefield drones on Canadian soil. Nearly 20 countries are now engaged with Kyiv on drone partnerships at various stages.
The Tates’ Russia visit drew attention of its own. Russian state media featured Andrew and Tristan prominently at SPIEF alongside Candace Owens, Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, and official delegations from China and Saudi Arabia — guests Moscow used to project an image of global relevance despite Western sanctions.
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One Response
As another member of the good house Andrew, I must wish Andrew Tate good luck on his mission to do all he can to become a valid combatant, even for just a moment. One minute, even.