Vedmedi Expands to Unmanned Systems Battalion

The Vedmedi volunteer unit, which fought alongside Ukrainian forces during the defense of Mariupol, has been reformed. The news was revealed by the Recruiter_UA Instagram account, which supports recruitment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A battalion of unmanned systems has now been established on the unit’s foundation, and it has also received a new insignia.

About the unit

Vedmedi’s history dates back to 2014 and the formation of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps of the Right Sector. After the split in 2015, the group followed Dmytro Yarosh to the newly founded Ukrainian Volunteer Army. In February 2022, the unit was stationed in Mariupol, where its members fought alongside the Azov Regiment until the city’s final days. It was initially believed that all members had died during the defense, until September 2022, when several Vedmedi fighters — including their commander, Oleksandr Kravtsov — were released in a prisoner exchange and returned home.

Over time, the unit’s combat capability was restored, and Vedmedi was integrated into the 36th Marine Brigade. In early 2025, the unit had joined the 39th Coastal Defense Brigade. Some members of the group remain in captivity to this day.