Moscow has reportedly offered a $20 million reward for information about Ukrainian drone commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, according to a Wall Street Journal report
Russia has reportedly placed a $20 million bounty on Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper reported that the Kremlin has sent the offer through criminal networks in former Soviet countries, seeking information about Brovdi’s whereabouts.
Brovdi has led Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces since June 2025.
Why Is Russia Targeting Madyar?
Brovdi, known by the call sign “Madyar” or “Magyar,” leads the Ukrainian military branch responsible for drone operations.
According to Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone operations has made Brovdi a major Russian target.
Brovdi told the Wall Street Journal that his forces represent about 2.5% of Ukraine’s armed forces but have been responsible for roughly one-third of Russian casualties over the past year.
Russian courts have also convicted Brovdi in absentia on terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to lengthy prison terms. Ukrainian officials have rejected the charges as fabricated.
Heavy Security Around the Commander
The reported threat has resulted in strict security measures around Brovdi and his team.
According to the Wall Street Journal, reporter Jillian Kay Melchior was asked to turn off location services and put her phone in airplane mode before meeting Brovdi. Her phone was then placed inside a Faraday bag to block wireless signals.
She was also driven to meeting locations in southeastern Ukraine in a vehicle with blacked-out windows so she could not identify the route.
Brovdi and his team reportedly follow similar security procedures.
Losses Within the Unit
Brovdi told the newspaper that Russian forces have killed 79 members of his “Madyar’s Birds” unit since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Their names are reportedly engraved on a wall near the entrance to the unit’s command post.
Brovdi also said that, according to his calculations, Ukrainian drone forces have killed or wounded 656 Russian troops for every member of his unit killed.
He said he does not consider that ratio sufficient.
Who Is Robert Brovdi?
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Brovdi worked as an international grain trader.
He joined Ukraine’s military after the war began and moved through territorial defense and infantry units before becoming the commander of the “Madyar’s Birds” strike-drone battalion.
He later became commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
In his interview with the Wall Street Journal, Brovdi argued that modern warfare has changed significantly and that Western militaries need to adapt.
He also said Ukraine has been able to use civilian expertise to develop new military capabilities despite Russia having more troops and a larger economy.
What the Reported Bounty Signals
The reported bounty highlights the growing importance of drone warfare in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Wall Street Journal’s report suggests that efforts to locate Brovdi may involve covert networks rather than a publicly announced Russian government operation.
However, the $20 million bounty has not been independently confirmed beyond the account of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Article by: Burhan Arbi