20th Unmanned Systems Brigade

20th Brigade of Unmanned Systems K-2
20 бригада безпілотних систем К-2
Insignia of the brigade
Active2018 – present
Country Ukraine
Branch Unmanned Systems Forces
RoleUnmanned Systems
Size1,500 - 10,000
MottoTheir Deaths Are Our Lives
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial Website
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt. Col. Kyrylo Veres

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]

History

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.

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

Name Photo Origin Notes
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Ukrspecsystems Shark Ukraine [11]
Vampire [2]
Kazhan [2]
Wild Hornets [12]
DARTS [13]
DJI Mavic China [2]
Autel [2]
Vehicles
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Japan [14]
Mitsubishi Triton [15]
Renault Duster France [14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "20th Brigade of Unmanned Systems". MilitaryLand.net. 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Про K-2". k-2.army (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  3. ^ a b "«Всі пілоти з мене сміялися у 2023 році, а тепер це основний засіб ураження». Кирило Верес про бойовий досвід Лінії дронів". New Voice (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  4. ^ a b c К-2 (2023-04-03). Повернення “Т-образки”. ЧАСТИНА 2. Страшний фінал для окупантів. Соледар-Сіверськ. Бат К2. Retrieved 2025-06-24 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Воїни групи К2 розповіли про важкі бої на околицях Сіверська". armyinform.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  6. ^ a b Ремовська, Олена (2023-11-23). "Командир К-2 Верес — про фронт, дрони та запас міцності людей у війську". Суспільне | Новини (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  7. ^ a b c "Батальйон К-2 перетворили на 20 окремий полк безпілотних систем". Мілітарний. Чесні новини про армію, війну та оборону. (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  8. ^ "K-2 battalion becomes a regiment". MilitaryLand.net. 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  9. ^ "У Краснодарському краї заявили про атаку дронів на залізницю, рух поїздів призупинили". New Voice (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  10. ^ "K-2 and Birds of Madyar Transferred to Unmanned Systems Forces". MilitaryLand.net. 2025-09-02. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  11. ^ "MINI SHARKs for the Legendary K2 Battalion of the 54th Mechanized Brigade | UKRSPECSYSTEMS - UAV/UAS and payloads development". ukrspecsystems.com. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  12. ^ "Wild Hornets – FPV Drones. Ukrainian UAV Manufacturer, Wild Hornets". Дикі Шершні. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  13. ^ "K-2 unit tests new Ukrainian drone with double the warhead". New Voice. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  14. ^ a b "Державні закупівлі Військова частина А4118, тендери в системі Prozorro". tender.uub.com.ua. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  15. ^ "Переобладнання пікапу в мобільну майстерню для 20 окремого батальйону спец призначення". ТВІЙ КРОК (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-09-05.
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