Lyubart Brigade

Lyubart Brigade is a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard.

The formation originated as a special-purpose unit that was part of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. The unit was formed by Azov veterans and members of the Centuria movement from Volyn Oblast as Volunteer Unit Lyubart during the first hours of the full-scale invasion.

In May 2022, the unit became the Lyubart Special Operations Detachment under Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, taking part in reconnaissance and counter-offensives. That summer, it operated in southern Donetsk Oblast around Neskuchne and Velyka Novosilka.

In the winter of 2022 to early 2023, Lyubart fought in one of the hottest directions, around the city of Bakhmut, despite the high intensity of artillery and aviation, alongside harsh weather conditions, the unit held defensive positions and conducted counterattacks.

After heavy fighting in the city of Bakhmut in the spring of 2023, the unit underwent an advanced combat training course in Poland under the American Ranger training program, including specialized training for both command and enlisted personnel.

During the summer of 2023, Lyubart conducted special operations in the Kherson area, including raids and sabotage on the Dnieper’s left bank near Kozachi Laheri, Krynki, Poyma, and Korsunka, as well as the river mouth islands. In August, operations continued but resulted in heavy losses among their most experienced fighters.

In October 2023, it was redeployed to Zaporizhzhia Onlast, participating in assault operations near Verbovye and Novopokrovka, being targets within the broader counteroffensive that same year towards Melitopol.

In November 2023, the unit was again transferred to Kherson Oblast, where the landing of Ukrainian marines and attempts to seize and hold a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper River continued, performing reconnaissance missions on the Dnieper islands and in the floodplains, probing enemy positions south of Krynkyi.

On February 12, 2024, the unit was transferred and reformed as a linear battalion within the Azov Brigade and became known as the 5th Special Purpose Battalion “Lyubart”. The unit was then deployed to the vicinity of New York and saw heavy fighting alongside the rest of the brigade.

Following its integration within the Azov Brigade in February 2024, the battalion, alongside other units, was redeployed to the Kreminna direction, fighting in the Serebryansky Forest since April 2024. Throughout the summer of the same year, they fought intense battles, gradually pushing out Russian troops from a number of fortified positions and pushing the frontline forward.

In autumn 2024, the battalion fought in the Toretsk and New York areas of Donetsk Oblast. After Russian forces broke through in September and reached Toretsk’s outskirts, it was deployed to help stabilize the front.

In April 2025, the battalion was reformed into a separate formation, the 20th Brigade of Operational Assignment “Lyubart”.

After completing combat missions in the Toretsk direction, from October 2025 to the present, the Lyubart brigade has been participating in combat operations in the Pokrovsky direction, while simultaneously working on the development and strengthening of the unit.

Insignia

The insignia is a pointed chevron in a subdued, dark green and beige colour. The central symbol of the insignia is a hollow skull with profound details and a crown above its head. The insignia is an echo back to the original one used by the unit since it was formed following the full-scale invasion, as well as its heritage to the legendary Azov Unit.