Robert Brovdi, better known by his military call sign “Magyar”, has become one of the best-known commanders in Ukraine’s drone war against Russia. In recent weeks, his unit—known as Magyar’s Birds—has claimed a series of unprecedented strikes against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, disrupting fuel deliveries to occupied Crimea and drawing growing international attention.
Why is he called “Magyar”?
Before becoming one of Ukraine’s most prominent military commanders, Robert Brovdi was a businessman. He was born in Ukraine into the country’s Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia), a region bordering Hungary that has long been home to a sizeable ethnic Hungarian community. His Hungarian heritage earned him the call sign “Magyar”—the Hungarian word for “Hungarian”—which he has carried throughout his military service, 24.hu said.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Brovdi volunteered for military service and quickly became one of the pioneers of Ukraine’s drone warfare. What started as a small volunteer drone team evolved into Magyar’s Birds, one of Ukraine’s most effective unmanned aerial units. He now commands Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, overseeing increasingly sophisticated long-range drone operations.
How did Magyar’s Birds become famous?
Initially, the unit gained attention for using inexpensive commercial drones to destroy Russian tanks, artillery systems and troop positions with remarkable precision.
Over time, the force expanded into a highly specialised drone formation capable of coordinating large-scale operations involving reconnaissance drones, first-person-view (FPV) attack drones and long-range strike systems.
The unit regularly publishes combat footage that has attracted millions of views online and helped establish Magyar as one of the public faces of Ukraine’s rapidly evolving drone warfare.
The campaign against Russia’s shadow fleet
The latest operation has brought Brovdi’s unit into the international spotlight.
According to Ukrainian military statements, Magyar’s Birds have participated in coordinated attacks against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet—a network of ageing tankers and cargo vessels used to transport Russian oil despite Western sanctions.
💥 Seven Russian shadow fleet vessels hit overnight in the Black and Azov Seas
According to Robert Brovdi ("Madyar"), commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, three oil tankers and four cargo ships were targeted overnight.
In total, 183 vessels have been hit in July as… pic.twitter.com/xpHHvdSmdl
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 20, 2026
According to Reuters, between early and mid-July, Ukrainian officials said the operation disabled more than 150 vessels in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Rather than sinking ships outright, the drones reportedly targeted propulsion and steering systems, leaving vessels unable to operate while avoiding major oil spills. Reuters reported that the objective was to paralyse maritime logistics supplying occupied Crimea rather than destroy ships outright.
If you missed it: Suspected Russian operatives held at Hungarian border ‘may have been plotting bombing in Germany’ — authorities tight-lipped
Why does the shadow fleet matter?
Russia’s shadow fleet has become a crucial tool for maintaining oil exports despite sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
Many of the vessels operate under opaque ownership structures, frequently changing names, flags and insurers to evade restrictions. Disrupting these shipping routes can complicate fuel deliveries to Crimea and increase Russia’s dependence on road and rail logistics, which are themselves vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes, Reuters said.
A symbol of Ukraine’s drone warfare
Whether viewed as a military innovator or simply one of Ukraine’s most recognisable commanders, Robert “Magyar” Brovdi has become closely associated with the country’s transformation into a global leader in drone warfare.
His operations illustrate how relatively low-cost unmanned systems can threaten infrastructure and logistics once thought to be beyond the reach of conventional battlefield tactics, making “Magyar’s Birds” one of the most closely watched military units in the war today.
As we wrote earlier, why Hungary could be the unexpected winner in the Trump, Ukraine and Europe’s defence race.
Read Hungary’s most important news in English every evening in one place: sign up for the daily newsletter
Robert Brovdi is the greatest Hungarian hero. He has done more to stop the Russian aggressors than anyone else. Ukraine is the greatest drone power in the world. Ukraine is now an indispensible partner for NATO to transform European military forces to operate under drone warfare. Together with Ukraine we will protect Europe from Putin’s ambitions in the Baltics and Poland. Hungary itself is a nobody country and has spent the last 16 years working as a Russian agent doing everything it can to undermine European security. At least with Tisza Hungary will stay out of the way so the rest of Europe can get on with the job of defending itself. Half of Hungarians have been brainwashed with years of Kremlin propaganda and unfortunately are untrustworthy until proven otherwise.
when will YOU go to the battle front you scumbag keyboard warrior? Do you think you will be safe from Russian nukes?? What a pussy little girl you are together with the Nagy who writes this crap and the retarded Magyar being used by western warmongers in puppet ukraine
Post some more. You really are a great comedian. Russia has lost in Ukraine. Everyone knows Russia is a shit-hole country and the people that follow war criminal Putin and his lackey Orban really need to get a better grasp of reality. No one wants to live in Russia do they but they all want to live in the West and the hypocritical Russians and Hungarian followers take their money out of their own shit countries and keep it in the West and send their children to the West to be educated. Europe proudly defends itself from war mongering Russia.
I see how Russians fear so much hero Magyar that puppet ukraine is losing territory day by day. Sissy Tamas Nagy and his hero retarded Magyar will end up being radioactive ashes. Just wait for it, hehehehe
Bongo you must de-stress yourself. Are you a bongo player? Play some bongos. In the meantime think about the 500,000 Russians Putin sent to their deaths so far in Ukraine. Hundreds more Russians die every day in Ukraine and for what? It’s for Russian stupidity that they die.
Bongo did you know that the average lifespan of a Russian soldier when sent to fight on the front line is estimated to be 25-30 minutes?
stop watching CNN, they are lying to you baby girl. If you really want information which is clear you don’t want, you will see that ukraine is losing the war with more than 2 million deaths in the frontline. Russia is already taking Kramatorsk even with all nato logistics and armament and mercenaries they are still losing. Russia already took all the Dombass, Lugansk and even they will take more till ukraine disappear unless they surrender. ukraine without nato wouldn’t resist a day and drone operator Magyar will go back to poor countryside to feed porks because that is what he knows better. Drones without nato starlink and coordinates provided by nato can do shit
You are a lunatic. Where is “Mighty Russia” now after four and a half years? It’s stuck in the Donbas and its bleeding itself out. I take it that you are Russian. Be more productive and figure out where to fill up your car. Oh and better not order anything from Wildberries. Their merchandise is extra crispy.