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20th Unmanned Systems Brigade
Ukrainian Ground Forces unit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 20th Unmanned Systems Brigade ('K-2') (Ukrainian: 20 окрема бригада безпілотних систем К-2) is a brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces in Ukraine.[1]
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History
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- Insurgency
The unit began in February 2017 as a small reconnaissance group within the 92nd Assault Brigade. It was led by Kyrylo Veres.[2] With only about a dozen soldiers, the unit operated in high-risk areas near Marinka and Krasnohorivka, conducting ambushes, raids, and missions behind enemy lines.[2] From the start, it used DJI Phantom drones for aerial reconnaissance, becoming one of the first Ukrainian units to do so.[2] In January 2018, the group was moved to the 54th Mechanized Brigade and began using more advanced drones like the DJI Mavic.[2] It took part in combat near Troitske and Popasna.[2] Later in 2020, the unit was deployed to Avdiivka as part of the 54th Brigade’s second mechanized battalion, holding positions in the industrial zone and at the Zenit plant.[2] Kyrylo Veres became deputy commander of the battalion during this time.[2] In 2021, the unit returned to the Marinka-Krasnohorivka area, where it began using DJI Mavic and Autel drones more systematically for reconnaissance and started testing heavy bomber drones like the "Kazhan," "Vampire," and "Baba Yaga."[3] These drones were used to drop TM-62 anti-tank mines from the air.[3][2]
- Invasion
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, K-2 had grown into a full battalion.[1] During the Battle of Marinka in March 2022, it stopped a Russian armored advance by destroying two tanks and two infantry fighting vehicles. To reduce losses, Major Kyrylo Veres ordered a tactical retreat to a second defense line.[2] The next day, Ukrainian forces retook the lost positions. For his leadership, Veres was officially named commander of K-2 in April 2022.[2]From July 2022, K-2 took part in the Battle of Siversk, defending a 12-kilometer front line east of Verkhnyokamyanske.[4] It resisted repeated attacks by the Wagner Group and prevented major Russian advances over two and a half years.[4] The unit gained public attention by posting combat videos online, including one showing the destruction of a stranded Russian tank after it failed to retake the “T-shape” salient.[4][5] In the summer of 2023, during the Battle of Soledar, K-2’s FPV drone pilots killed dozens of Russian soldiers, allowing other Ukrainian units to launch a successful counterattack with few casualties.[6] By fall 2023, the battalion had grown to about 1,000 personnel.[6]
- Expansion
On December 8, 2024, K-2 was officially expanded into a regiment as part of Ukraine’s Drone Line project, a national effort to strengthen drone warfare capabilities.[7][8] Along with four other elite units, K-2 became a central part of this initiative.[7] The announcement led to a surge in interest: 7,000 people applied to join within a month, and that number grew to over 11,000 by April 2025.[7][9] In September 2025, the regiment was expanded to a brigade.[10]
- Ground Drones
During 2025, the unit appeared to switch from Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGV), or: ground-drones. It appears to be one of - if not the - leading Ukrainian units in the development of Unmanned Ground Systems.
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Structure
As of 2025, the brigade's structure was as following:[1]
- 20th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems K-2
- Brigade Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- Unmanned Ground Systems Battalion
Equipment
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References
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