The 20th Operational Brigade "Lubart"
The 20th Operational Brigade "Lubart" is a Ukrainian National Guard formation within the 1st Corps "Azov".
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The 20th Operational Brigade "Lubart" is a Ukrainian military formation of the National Guard of Ukraine. It is part of the National Guard's 1st Corps "Azov" and traces its institutional development to a volunteer defense unit formed in Volyn during the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The formation's name refers to Liubartas, the medieval Lithuanian prince associated with Volhynia and Galicia; Lubart is the Ukrainian form of his given name. The unit's official founding date is 26 February 2022. Its initial nucleus consisted of veterans of the Azov Separate Special Forces Detachment, former participants in Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Operation, and volunteers from Volyn and Galicia. Members of patriotic organizations and the ultras movement later joined the experienced personnel. The volunteers gathered near Lutsk Castle, also known as Lubart's Castle, while premises of the Holy Archangel Men's Castle Monastery in Lutsk were used as an early headquarters and barracks. During its first phase as a volunteer territorial-defense formation, the unit helped identify and detain suspected Russian sabotage groups and agents in Volyn. It guarded strategic facilities around Lutsk, protected Lutsk Airport, and performed border duties along Ukraine's frontier with Belarus in March 2022. Its personnel simultaneously undertook intensive military training. In April 2022, the formation moved to recently liberated areas of Kyiv Oblast, where it conducted clearance operations and supported sapper teams working in Borodianka and nearby settlements. In May 2022, the formation was reorganized as a special-operations detachment. During 2022 and 2023 it conducted reconnaissance, defense, assault, and other special missions in several sectors of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Its activities included operations in southern Donetsk Oblast around Neskuchne and Velyka Novosilka, fighting and reconnaissance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and combat in southeastern Bakhmut during the winter of 2022–2023. In spring 2023, members completed an advanced course in Poland based on the U.S. Army Ranger training program. Later that year, the detachment operated around the Dnipro River delta, including areas near Kozachi Laheri, Krynky, Poima, and Korsunka, before returning to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions. On 12 February 2024, the detachment joined the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov" as its 5th Special Forces Battalion. In this form it participated in operations in the Serebrianskyi Forest in Luhansk Oblast, around the Siverskyi Donets River, and in the Toretsk–New York direction of Donetsk Oblast. On 15 April 2025, the battalion was expanded into the 20th Operational Brigade and joined the 1st National Guard Corps "Azov". The brigade is not a commercial product brand. Its public identity is expressed through its name, insignia, battle flag, support organizations, military-culture work, and fundraising platform. Its insignia uses dark green, black, and beige tones and centers on a crowned skull. The skull represents defiance of death in European military symbolism, while the crown invokes Prince Lubart. Earlier patches used the phrase “The dead do not fear death” and later adopted the Latin motto “Amat victoria curam,” commonly rendered as “Victory loves preparation.” The present sleeve insignia has a pentagonal form described as the “Shield of the Nation.” The brigade's support and identity infrastructure includes Lubart Suprovid, which assists wounded and ill personnel and their families; the Signifer Service, which works on military culture, historical memory, internal communication, and public outreach; and the Lubart Foundation, which publishes fundraising and assistance information. Publicly described support needs include drones, vehicles, generators, communications equipment, ground robotic systems, and reconnaissance equipment. As an active combat formation, detailed personnel strength, equipment inventories, locations, and operational capabilities are not comprehensively public.
History
The formation originated in Volyn on 26 February 2022, shortly after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its first personnel included veterans of the Azov Separate Special Forces Detachment, former Anti-Terrorist Operation participants, and volunteers from Volyn and Galicia. The group assembled near Lutsk Castle, while a monastery in Lutsk served as an early base. Initially operating as a volunteer territorial-defense formation, it helped identify hostile agents and sabotage groups, guarded strategic sites near Lutsk, protected Lutsk Airport, and performed border duties near Belarus. In April 2022, the unit deployed to liberated areas of Kyiv Oblast. Its personnel conducted clearance missions and supported demining teams in Borodianka and neighboring settlements. In May, the formation was reorganized into a special-operations detachment. During 2022–2023, it carried out combat and reconnaissance missions in southern Donetsk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Bakhmut, and areas along the Dnipro River. It operated around Neskuchne and Velyka Novosilka, fought in southeastern Bakhmut, and later conducted missions near Kozachi Laheri, Krynky, Poima, Korsunka, and river islands. The detachment also completed an advanced training course in Poland based on the U.S. Army Ranger program. The unit moved between the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia directions during the second half of 2023, conducting reconnaissance and assault operations near Verbove and Novopokrovka and examining Russian defensive positions around the Dnipro floodplains. In February 2024 it became the 5th Special Forces Battalion of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov." The battalion subsequently fought in the Serebrianskyi Forest, near the Siverskyi Donets River, and in the Toretsk–New York sector of Donetsk Oblast. On 15 April 2025, the battalion was expanded into the 20th Operational Brigade and joined the 1st National Guard Corps "Azov." The modern brigade includes operational, unmanned-systems, artillery, mortar, reconnaissance, engineer-sapper, transport, support, medical, signifer, and welfare-related elements. Lubart Suprovid supports wounded and ill service members and their families. The Signifer Service works on morale, historical memory, military culture, internal education, and public communication. The Lubart Foundation acts as a public support and fundraising platform. The brigade's identity is rooted in Volyn history and Azov institutional traditions. Its visual system uses a crowned skull, subdued dark green, black, and beige colors, and a pentagonal sleeve insignia described as the Shield of the Nation. The formation's public record remains incomplete because operational details, personnel numbers, deployments, and capabilities are affected by wartime security considerations.
- 2025
Expanded into the 20th Operational Brigade
[1]On 15 April, the battalion became the 20th Operational Brigade and joined the 1st National Guard Corps "Azov."
- 2025
Battle flag presented
[1]The brigade received its battle flag on 1 October 2025 during Ukraine's Day of Defenders observances.
- 2024
Joined the Azov brigade
[1]On 12 February, the detachment became the 5th Special Forces Battalion of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov."
- 2023
Advanced training in Poland
[1]Personnel completed an advanced course based on the U.S. Army Ranger training program.
- 2022
Volunteer formation established in Volyn
[1]The official founding date of the volunteer unit "Lubart" was 26 February 2022.
- 2022
Initial territorial-defense operations
[1]The unit guarded facilities around Lutsk, covered Lutsk Airport, patrolled the Belarusian border, and later supported clearance and demining operations in Kyiv Oblast.
- 2022
Reorganized as a special-operations detachment
[1]The volunteer formation was reorganized into a special-operations detachment in May 2022.
Products and positioning
A Ukrainian National Guard combat formation emphasizing special-operations heritage, battlefield readiness, Volyn historical identity, military tradition, and community-supported defense.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Steel Word Military Culture Forum
Ukraine
The Signifer Service initiated a national military-culture project comprising a forum and affiliated clubs in cities including Kyiv, Poltava, Lutsk, Odesa, Rivne, Lviv, Dubno, Lubar, Kryvyi Rih, and Novovolynsk. The first three-day forum took place in Poltava on 21–23 November 2025 and included panels, roundtables, book presentations, and meetings at veteran institutions.
Outcome. The event connected service members, veterans, cultural workers, journalists, publishers, artists, and public authorities.
- Lubart Foundation fundraising
Ukraine · International donors
The Lubart Foundation serves as the brigade's public support platform and communicates fundraising needs for drones, vehicles, generators, communications equipment, ground robotic systems, and reconnaissance equipment.
Outcome. Publicly described assistance includes equipment and financial support, although campaign-by-campaign totals are not specified in the available material.
Brand decisions
2025
Expansion into an operational brigadeStrategyBackground
The battalion was expanded as part of the National Guard's corps-level reorganization.
Action taken
On 15 April 2025, it became the 20th Operational Brigade and joined the 1st National Guard Corps "Azov."
Aftermath
The formation gained a broader brigade structure incorporating combat, unmanned-systems, artillery, engineering, transport, medical, and support elements.
2024
Integration into the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov"M&ABackground
The established special-operations detachment was incorporated into the expanding Azov formation.
Action taken
On 12 February 2024, it became the 5th Special Forces Battalion of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov."
Aftermath
The battalion continued combat operations under the Azov brigade structure in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.
2022
Transition from volunteer defense unit to special-operations formationStrategyBackground
After the security situation on the Belarusian border stabilized, the unit's leadership sought to expand its operational role.
Action taken
The volunteer territorial-defense formation was reorganized into a special-operations detachment in May 2022.
Aftermath
The detachment took part in reconnaissance, defense, counteroffensive, and assault missions in multiple regions during 2022 and 2023.
Sources2 sources
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