1st Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces

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1st Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces (2025)
14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Systems Regiment (2023-2025)
1-й окремий Центр безпілотних авіаційних комплексів
former emblem
Active2023-present
Country Ukraine
Branch Unmanned Systems Forces
TypeBrigade
RoleUAV deep-strike operations
Part of Armed Forces of Ukraine
EngagementsRusso-Ukrainian War
Websitehttps://14reg.army/en/#mainscreen
Commanders
Current commanderCallsign "Charlie" (2023-)[1]
Insignia
original insignia

The 1st Center of Unmanned Systems Forces is a major unit of the Unmanned Systems Forces in Ukraine.

It was originally established in 2022 as the 14th (Separate) Regiment of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It saw combat following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including combat operations on Russian territory.

Around March 2025, the 14th Regiment was accounting for an estimated 30-40% of deep strikes conducted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. [2]

History

[edit]
2022

The origins of the 14th Regiment lie in August 2022, when commander “Fidel” proposed to Valerii Zaluzhnyi (Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) a plan to create a deep-strike battalion. By September, the 14th Regiment had been formed, with “Fidel” in charge.[2] The unit became operational in October 2022, at first as a combat unit of the 190th Training Center.

2023

On 22 August 2023, the unit was officially recognized as a separate regiment specialized in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The individual units of the 14th Regiment then carried out reconnaissance and strike operations in numerous sectors, along the entire front line.

In November 2023, the regiment fought in the Zaporizhia Oblast as part of the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive,[3] and struck multiple Russian positions in Oleshky.[4]

The regiment supported combat operations in Robotyne and on November 3, 2023, a soldier of the regiment (Taras Dmytrovych Davidyuk) was killed near Robotyne.[5][6] Then it was involved in the battle of Avdiivka with a soldier (Mykhailo Ughryniuk Mytnyk) being killed on 23 November 2023.[7]

2024

In February 2024, the regiment engaged in combat operations alongside the 46th Aeromobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.[8]

In June 2024, aerial reconnaissance of the 14th Regiment, in coordination with M142 HIMARS artillery, destroyed the Russian high-value Buk missile system in the Donetsk sector [9]

On July 22, 2024, soon after the establishment of Unmanned Systems Forces, the regiment was transferred to the new command.[10][11]

Units of the 14th Regiment provided combat support for various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine involved in the August 2024 Kursk Oblast incursion.[12][13][14]

In December 2024, the regiment - in coordination with 412th UAV regiment - destroyed a 9A331M2 Russian Tor-M2 air defense system worth $27 million in Zaporizhia Oblast.[15][16]

2025

During the night of 28/29 January 2025, the 14th Regiment launched a strike on a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline along the Russian-Belarusian border in Bryansk Oblast. The unit was reportedly using drones which could drop bombs on the targets:[17] according to Defense Express, these drones carry a FAB-250 M-54 high-explosive bomb attached to their underbellies and feature an optical sighting system for precision strikes.[18] On 31 January 2025, the Unmanned System Forces confirmed the use of drones carrying 250 kg (550 lb) aerial bombs. According to the USF Command, these drones are capable of "reaching up to 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) with the possibility of return. This is a unique development that changes the rules of the game on the battlefield."[19]

In March 2025 the 14th UAS Regiment launched salvos of the Ukrainian-made Liutyi (Fierce) strike drone against Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, airfields and ammunition warehouses.[2]

On 25 September 2025, the unit struck three gas distribution stations in: Shchastia, Severodonetsk and Novopskov (all located in Luhansk Oblast).[20]

In October 2025, the 14th Regiment was renamed: the 1st Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces.[21]

On 13 October 2025, the New York Times reported another Liutyi strike against the Saratov refinery, including the fact that the strike commander's call sign was “Casper”.[22] Call sign “Casper” is used by the Commander of the 1st Battalion.[23]

On 31 October 2025, the Associated Press reported another Liutyi strike against Russian targets, including the fact that the strike commander's call sign was “Fidel”.[24] Call sign “Fidel” is used by the Co-Founder of the 1st Center.[23]

Structure

[edit]
  • 1st UAV Battalion[25]
  • 2nd UAV Battalion [25]
  • 3rd UAV Battalion [25]

Commanders

[edit]
  • Callsign “Fidel” (2022-2023)[2]
  • Callsign "Charlie" (2023-)[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ukraine gambled on an incursion deep into Russian territory. The bold move changed the battlefield". Associated Press News. 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Romaniuk, Roman (2025-03-17). "They set targets deep inside Russia on fire: the untold story of the 14th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment". Ukrainian Pravda. Archived from the original on 2025-09-20. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  3. ^ https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/smertelniy-virok-rosiyan-k-biytsi-14-go-polku-1699888357.html
  4. ^ "Оператори ударних БпЛА 14-го окремого полку ЗСУ знищують ворожу бронетехніку на лівому березі Дніпра в т.о. Олешках, відео". Український погляд (in Ukrainian). 2023-11-22. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  5. ^ "На Рівненщині відзначають День Державного Прапора України". Рівненська обласна рада. 2021-08-21. Archived from the original on 2024-09-08.
  6. ^ ""Наші серця розбиті". На війні з Росією загинув відомий журналіст". РБК-Украина (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  7. ^ ""Приклад для кожного з нас". Під Авдіївкою поліг воїн, уродженець Івано-Франківщини Михайло Угринюк".
  8. ^ "Українські дрони влаштували пекло окупантам: з'явилося відео, як бійці 14-го окремого полку БпАК нищать ворога". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2024-02-17. Archived from the original on 2024-08-05. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  9. ^ "Russian Buk-M2 air defense system was hit with HIMARS".
  10. ^ "14-й полк перейшов під командуванням Сил безпілотних систем ЗСУ: що змінилося". ФОКУС (in Ukrainian). 2024-08-02. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  11. ^ "Ukraine Launches Unmanned Systems Force as New Military Branch".
  12. ^ "Курський напрямок: півсотні російських військових здалися в полон у Суджі. ВІДЕО". novynarnia.com (in Ukrainian). 2024-08-08. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  13. ^ Walker, Shaun (13 September 2024). "'The game continues': Evacuating casualties and bombing bridges in Kursk". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "The phantom drone squad key to Ukraine's Russian incursion". The Times. 26 August 2024.
  15. ^ "На Запоріжжі дрон NEMESIS знищив ЗРК "Тор"". Мілітарний. Чесні новини про армію, війну та оборону. (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  16. ^ "В Запорожской области Силы обороны уничтожили российский ЗРК "Тор-М2" стоимостью $25 млн". Regionews.UA (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  17. ^ Axe, David (30 January 2025). "A New Kind Of Ukrainian Drone May Have Blown Up A Major Russian Oil Pipeline". Forbes. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  18. ^ Syngaivska, Sofiia. "Ukrainian Forces Use UAVs with Full-Size FAB-250 Bombs in Precision Strikes on russian Targets (Photo)". Defense Express. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  19. ^ Axe, David (31 January 2025). "Ukraine's New Drone Bomber Flies 1,200 Miles With A 550-Pound Bomb—And Returns To Base". Forbes. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  20. ^ DARYNA VIALKO (2025-09-25). "Ukrainian drones strike gas distribution stations in temporarily occupied Luhansk region". militarnyi. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  21. ^ Shumlianskyi, Dmytro (2025-11-02). "Nemesis Brigade From Unmanned Systems Forces to Receive Naval Drones". Militarnyi. Archived from the original on 2025-11-02.
  22. ^ Varenikova, Maria (2025-10-13). "To Inflict Pain on Russians, Ukraine's Drones Zero In on Oil Refineries". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  23. ^ a b "14th UAS Regiment". Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  24. ^ Gatopouloa, Derek; Yurchuk, Volodymyr (2025-10-31). "Built in the shadows and launched at night, Ukraine's long-range drones are rattling Russia". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2025-11-01. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  25. ^ a b c "14th UAS Regiment".