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414th Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade
Ukrainian Ground Forces unit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 414th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Strike Aviation Systems “Birds of Madyar” (Ukrainian: 414-та окрема бригада безпілотних авіаційних систем «Птахи Мадяра») is a brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces in Ukraine.[1]
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History
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Formation and Early Combat (2022–2023)
The "Birds of Magyar" unit originated in the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.[2] It was founded by Ukrainian businessman and volunteer fighter Robert Brovdi, known by his call sign "Magyar."[2] He joined the Territorial Defense Forces on February 7, 2022, and initially served as a platoon leader in combat.[2] In April 2022, during operations in the Kherson direction, Brovdi began using drones for aerial reconnaissance.[2] Recognizing their growing importance, he formed a specialized drone unit called "Birds of Magyar," which operated as a company-tactical group within the 59th Motorized Brigade.[3] It played a key role in the Battle of Bakhmut, where it held defensive positions for 110 days before being ordered to withdraw in March 2023.[4] Over the following months, the "Birds of Magyar" fought across multiple critical sectors, including Kherson, Krynky, Soledar, Avdiivka, Marinka, and Urozhaine in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[3] By January 16, 2024, Brovdi reported that the unit had accumulated 692 days of continuous combat.[3] Sixteen of its soldiers had been awarded the Order for Courage for their actions.[3]
Transition to Marine Corps and Growth (2024)
On that same date, January 16, 2024, the unit was officially separated from the 59th Motorized Brigade and transferred to the Ukrainian Marine Corps as the 414th Marine UAV Strike Unmanned Systems Battalion.[1] This made it the first dedicated drone strike battalion in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[5] The unit specialized in attack drones, signals intelligence, electronic warfare, remote mining, surveillance, and fire correction using drones, becoming a leader in Ukraine’s rapidly evolving unmanned warfare capabilities.[6] By the end of June 2024, the battalion was upgraded to a regiment.[6] It was reorganized to include new units: one dedicated to intercepting and destroying enemy drones, another focused on experimental unmanned systems, and a third responsible for developing and implementing new technologies.[6] The regiment also began planning its own drone operator training program and domestic production facilities.[6] In July 2024, the first group of 100 newly mobilized recruits started basic military training at the National Training Center.[7] Recruitment efforts expanded internationally, with new initiatives launched in Poland, Germany, and other EU countries to attract skilled volunteers.[7] In August 2024, the regiment was deployed to the Pokrovsk front during a major Russian offensive.[8] In the second week of the month alone, its drone units destroyed 232 enemy air targets.[8] On November 16, 2024, the regiment achieved a significant tactical success by destroying a Russian Borisoglebsk-2 electronic warfare complex near Pokrovsk using a Vampire long-range attack drone.[9] In January 2025, the regiment was expanded to a brigade.[1]
Integration into the Unmanned Systems Forces (September 2025)
On September 2, 2025, the brigade was transferred to the Unmanned Systems Forces.[10]
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Structure
As of 2025, the brigade's structure was as following:[1]
- 414th Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade
- Brigade Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- Tactical Group Adam
- 1st Unmanned Systems Battalion
- 2nd Unmanned Systems Battalion
- 3rd Unmanned Systems Battalion
- 4th Unmanned Systems Battalion
- 5th Unmanned Systems Battalion
- 6th Unmanned Systems Battalion
- 7th Unmanned Systems Battaliom
References
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