Ukrainian 9th Battalion Transitions to Drone Warfare Brigade

The 9th Separate Infantry Battalion of the 59th Separate Infantry Brigade named after Yakiv Handziuk has been reformatted into a brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces.

This is stated in the post of the newly created Brigade on Facebook.

“Over the 10 years and 8 months of the battalion’s existence, we have written new glorious pages on the battlefield against the Russian invaders with our heroic deeds, glorious names, and significant achievements. And we will continue to defend the independence of our Ukraine as part of the unmanned systems forces,” the statement reads.

The specific tasks of the newly formed 9th Brigade remain unknown; however, it is likely that they will be similar to those of the 59th Brigade.

It is also possible that a drone component was separated from the battalion and integrated into the brigade.

It is worth reminding that the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade was recently reorganized into an assault brigade of unmanned systems.

The Brigade is no longer part of the Ground Forces, but was transferred to the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the reorganization.

In addition to the 59th Brigade, the 414th Separate Regiment of Strike Unmanned Aircraft Systems “Birds of Magyars” was recently reorganized into a brigade.

Combat missions of the USF

According to reports, on January 14, the infrastructure of Russia’s Engels-2 airfield was repeatedly struck the previous day during a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This was a several-day complex operation to reduce the capabilities of Russian strategic aviation involved in missile strikes against Ukraine.

It was also reported that the external crew of a heavy bomber drone of the 412th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems NEMESIS of the Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed a 9A310M1-2 TELAR from the Buk-M1-2 air defense system composition.

Then a bomber drone hovered over the installation and dropped three rounds of ammunition on it: the first hit near the installation, the second pierced the protective “grill,” and the third caused the anti-aircraft missiles to detonate.