Russians Deploy Varyag Brigade to Counter 3rd Army Corps’ Offensive

Russian command has redeployed part of the 50th Varyag Unmanned Systems Brigade to the Lyman area.

The redeployment was analyzed by X user @moklasen based on a Russian propaganda video.

The footage shows a Russian drone attacking a UGV operated by Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps in the area of responsibility of Russia’s 20th Guards Combined Arms Army.

The Russian command hopes that deploying this unit will help stabilize the frontline in response to Ukrainian offensive operations.

Previously, the Russian command deployed the Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies ‘Rubicon’ on the Lyman–Borova axis. The unit specializes in operating strike and reconnaissance UAVs.

In September 2026, Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps said that Ukrainian troops had inflicted significant losses on the Rubicon Center during Operation Vivaldi.

According to the corps, Ukrainian troops destroyed the unit’s logistics facilities, ammunition depots, drone launch sites, and command elements.

The Russian command later withdrew the Rubicon Center from the Lyman–Borova axis to restore its combat capability.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Russian unit’s losses were attributed to several factors, including personnel shortages and declining training quality.

By expanding its Unmanned Systems Forces, which numbered 87,000 personnel at the end of 2025 and are expected to grow to 165,000 by the end of 2026, Russia is facing a shortage of military personnel.

In addition, the Rubicon Center is competing with the 50th Varyag Brigade for specialists.

Due to the overall personnel shortage in the Russian army, the center continues to recruit specialists from frontline brigades.