# 9th Unmanned Systems Brigade (Ukraine)

The 9th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade (MUN A2896, MM:B2248) is a military formation of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the strength of a brigade. In 2014, after the start of the War in Donbass, it was established as the 9th Vinnytsia Territorial Defense Battalion and was reorganized into a separate motorized infantry battalion in October 2014. In 2025, it was expanded to an Unmanned Systems Brigade.

## History

In April 2014, the 9th zone of the Territorial Defense Directorate was deployed in Vinnytsia Oblast with the primary task of establishment of the Vinnytsia Territorial Defense Battalion with 3 million 692 thousand hryvnias being reserved for the battalion:
   Starting from May 4 of this year, in accordance with the directive of the commander of the ground group "North" in Vinnytsia region, we began to form a territorial defense battalion. Currently, preparatory measures are being taken for the full deployment of the special forces unit. The needs are calculated at minimum rates. In addition, this amount also includes funds that will be transferred to the Military Medical Center of the Air Force of Ukraine for medical support of the battalion during the implementation of the tasks assigned to it, which the fighters will begin from May 31.
The 9th battalion was recruited in May 2014, as a contact conscription battalion based on the Law of Ukraine dated March 25, 1992 No. 2232-ХІІ "On Military Duty and Military Service", "Regulations on Military Service by Citizens in the Armed Forces of Ukraine", and the Order of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine "On Approval of the Instructions on Organizing the Implementation of the Regulations on Military Service by Citizens of Ukraine in the Armed Forces of Ukraine". Initially, the battalion was composed of 383 soldiers and sergeants, and 40 officers with its backbone being composed of ex-servicemen from Vinnytsia. A temporary camp for the battalion was established in Berdychiv. On 19 May 2014, the battalion's servicemen received small arms. Later, regional enterprises repaired and donated six BRDM-2 vehicles to the battalion. Civilian donors donated three vehicles and 142 portable Trunked radio systems for the amount of 318.6 thousand UAH along with three thousand items of clothing for the amount of 336.0 thousand UAH and 423 pairs of shoes worth 68.7 thousand UAH. Additionally, 2 million 600 thousand UAH were donated directly to the battalion. In early June, the General Staff decided to send the 9th Armored Combat Battalion to the ATO zone to strengthen the protection of the state border. On June 12, the personnel began performing operations in Novoazovsk Raion in sector M. After arriving in eastern Ukraine, the soldiers had problems organizing their daily lives so they requested civilian assistance from Vinnytsia on 17 June 2014. On 20 June 2014, the soldiers' relatives learned that the personnel didn't have adequate armor, despite the fact that they were in the ATO zone.
   When the battalion was sent to the eastern border, they promised full support. At first, they generally said that the battalion was being created to defend the region. But that’s true, by the way. Mykola’s mother and I asked him if we could buy a bulletproof vest ourselves, but he kept saying that we shouldn’t, because the authorities assure us that everything will be given to them centrally, and now what? We have two small children – an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. My husband left them and was not afraid to stand up for the state, but why won’t the state protect him?
The regional military registration and enlistment office replied that the funds had been allocated, but that it would take time, which forced the battalion personnel to appeal to the people of Vinnytsia with a collective request for assistance. On 2 July 2014, the battalion suffered casualties of one killed and five wounded, during the shelling of the 16th checkpoint and the Novoazovsk checkpoint. During the mortar shelling of the checkpoint near the village of Samiylove, a soldier of the battalion Andriy Anatoliyovych Brovinsky died while saving his brother Oleksandr Brovinsky, who was also a soldier of the battalion, four more were wounded. On the night of 21–22 July 2014, the positions of the 9th Battalion at the 16th checkpoint were again shelled, this time by BM-21 Grad MLRS damaging equipment and machinery. On 26 July 2014, soldiers of the 9th battalion and Donetsk Border Detachment were attacked at the 16th checkpoint with Grad missiles wounding three soldiers. In August 2014, the battalion was provided with individual protective equipment, including 220 bulletproof vests. On 12 August 2014, a soldier of the battalion, Prytyka Oleksandr Andriyovych died from wounds sustained in the Battle of Mariupol. In mid-August, 15 servicemen of the 9th Territorial Defense Battalion were accused of attempting to assassinate an officer and were taken into custody in Mariupol but they claimed to have aimed at a drone. On 24 August 2014, soldiers of the 9th battalion were shelled at the 16th checkpoint with Grad missiles forcing them to retreat to the crossroads near Sedovo and then to the Novoazovsk following shelling the next day, where they remained under shelling for four more days. On 26 August 2014, a group of soldiers from the 9th BTR left Novoazovsk, which they claimed to have defended for two days from separatist armored vehicles without heavy weaponry and then retreated without orders to Mariupol but their commander did not allow them to stay in Mariupol, and then 75 personnel decided to return home without official orders. Negotiations were held with the military commissariat, all the soldiers were re-enlisted.a d were given temporary leave, after which they were ordered to report to the military commissariats. and the battalion was reinforced with heavy armored vehicles. In early October, a civilian convoy of vehicles for the battalion set off east from Vinnytsia, carrying food, warm winter uniforms, heaters and firewood, materials for insulating tents, etc. for the battalion personnel. On 29 October 2014, a battalion soldier Bogdanov Oleg Nikolaevich was killed by mine fragments during shelling by Separatists at the battalion's position near Hranitne. On 22 October 2014, in Vinnytsia, families of battalion personnel blocked the road near the regional state administration and demanded that the battalion be temporarily withdrawn from ATO zone. On 30 October 2014, the 9th Vinnytsia Territorial Defense Battalion became the 9th separate motorized infantry battalion and became a part of the 30th mechanized brigade with headquarters being transferred to Zviahel. On 21 November 2014, a group of soldiers from the ninth battalion were redeployed to the ATO zone with 80 more soldiers being redeployed after two days. On the eve of the Armed Forces Day of Ukraine, 6 December 2014, Vinnytsia residents sent three tons of humanitarian aid to the battalion. On 22 April 2015, the battalion was transferred from the 30th to the structure of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. In 2016, its HQ was transferred to Kodyma. On 3 April 2016, a soldier of the battalion, Mikhalchenko Serhiy Nikolaevich died from natural causes at a combat post. On 3 August 2016, Captain Yuriy Petrovich Barashenko was killed in combat near Mariupol. On 10 August 2016, sergeant Oleksandr Mykolayovych Shelepun was killed in combat near Zolote. Since 28 May 2017, the battalion has been in the Mariupol in the defense line from Hnutove to Vodiane. On 29 June 2017, near Hnutove, while checking minefields in front of the trenches, a soldier of the battalion Tymoshchuk Oleksiy Vasylyovych came under fire from separatist grenade launchers and was severely wounded and died of his injuries on 9 July. On 27 July 2017, near the village of Vodiane, sergeant Nosach Ivan Petrovych was killed as a result of shelling. On 8 August 2017, soldier Roma Kostyantyn Serhiyovych of the battalion was killed during an assault on a battalion's stronghold near Vodiane. On 24 August 2017, soldier Popov Oleh Valeriyovych was killed during small arms attack on the battalion's position in Talakivka. On 8 December 2017, Sargent Tverdola Anatoliy Ivanovich died from gunshot wounds during an assault on multiple battalion positions near Vodiane. On 9 September 2018, soldier Valentyn Vitaliyovich Belinsky of the battalion was killed in combat near Stanytsia Luhanska. On 24 February 2022, the battalion advanced towards Crimea, where he reportedly engaging in battle with superior invading forces, restraining the Russian advance along the Crimea-Kherson highway. The 9th "Vinnytsia Scythians" Battalion was sent to cover Melitopol in the early hours of the invasion, and its commander, Serhii Kotenko, was later killed in action near Zaporizhzhia on 9 March 2022. In November 2022, units of the 9th Battalion raised the Ukrainian flag over the village of Blahodatne. In 2023, it took part in combat operations in Donetsk Oblast where a soldier of the battalion Pavlo Blatyan was killed in combat. On 27 January 2025, the battalion was reorganized into the 9th Independent Brigade and was transferred to the Unmanned Systems Forces.

## Commanders

* Colonel Valeriy Kutsenko (2014)
* Colonel Sergey Ivanov (2015-?)
* Colonel Kotenko Serhiy Leonidovych † (?-2022)

## Popular Culture

The fighters of the 9th Brigade have their own anthem. Composer and performer from Vinnytsia, Andriy Senchenko recorded an album titled "Vinnytsia Battalion" containing Ukrainian patriotic songs about the battalion.

## Sources

* Офіційні втрати Archived 2015-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
* «На війні не було страшно нікому, окрім тих 70 бійців із Вінниччини, які втекли з поля бою»
* Вінницький батальйон в зоні АТО on YouTube
* До Вінниці повернулась частина бійців 9-го батальйону територіальної оборони on YouTube
* Бійці 9-го БТРО "Вінниця" записали власну пісню on YouTube
* 9 батальйон - міфи і реальність on YouTube
* 9-й окремий мотопіхотний батальйон 59 бригади прибув із зони АТО на постійне місце дислокації до райцентру Кодима, що в Одеській області