View source for Russian Airborne Forces

{{Short description|Russian Armed Forces airborne combat arm}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Russian Airborne Forces
| image                         = Medium emblem of the Воздушно-десантные войска Российской Федерации.svg
| image_size                    = 200px
| caption                       = Middle emblem of the Russian Airborne Forces
| start_date                    = 7 May 1992
| country                       = Russia
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = [[Russian Armed Forces]]
| type                          = [[Airborne forces]]
| role                          = {{ubl|[[Light infantry]]|[[Airborne forces|Airborne infantry]]|[[Air assault|Airmobile infantry]]|[[Mechanized infantry]]}}
| size                          = 60,000 (post-expansion 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 February 2023 |title=Russian Defense Ministry to build up strength of airborne assault divisions |url=https://tass.com/russia/811613 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=tass.com |publisher=[[TASS]]}}</ref>
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = 
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = Blue Berets, Winged Infantry, Troops of Uncle Vasya, Angels of Death
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = {{Lang|ru|Никто, кроме нас}}! (Nobody, but us!)
| colors                        = {{color box|#00BFFF}} [[Blue beret|Ultramarine]]
| colors_label                  = Color of Beret
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = {{unbulletedlist|[[First Chechen War]]|[[War in Dagestan]]|[[Second Chechen War]]|[[Incident at Pristina airport]]|[[Russo-Georgian War]]|[[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]]|[[Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017)|Operation Grand Dawn]] (allegedly)<ref>[https://www.vz.ru/news/2017/5/26/871986.html СМИ: Элитные отряды сирийской армии и российские морпехи переброшены на восток Хамы] [[Vzglyad (newspaper)]], 26 May 2017.</ref>|[[2022 Kazakh unrest]]|[[Russo-Ukrainian War]]}}
| anniversaries                 = [[Paratroopers' Day]] (2 August)
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = [[President of Russia|President]] [[Vladimir Putin]]
| commander1_label              = Supreme Commander-in-Chief
| commander2                    = [[Andrey Belousov]]
| commander2_label              = [[Minister of Defense (Russia)|Minister of Defense]]
| commander3                    = [[Colonel General]] [[Mikhail Teplinsky]]
| commander3_label              = [[Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces|Commander]]
| commander4                    = [[Lieutenant General]] [[Anatoly Kontsevoy]]
| commander4_label              = Chief of Staff
| commander5                    = [[Major General]] [[Nikolai Choban]]
| commander5_label              = Deputy Commander
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol         = [[File:Flag of the Russian Airborne Troops.svg|125px|border]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Flag
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Airborne Troops sleeve badge of the Russian Federation-1.svg|125px]]
| identification_symbol_3       = [[File:Great emblem of the Russian Airborne Troops.svg|125px]]
| identification_symbol_4       = [[File:Малая эмблема Воздушно-десантных войск России.png|125px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Patch
| identification_symbol_3_label = Great emblem
| identification_symbol_4_label = Insignia
| website                       = [https://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/airborne.htm Official website]
| native_name                   = {{Lang|ru|Воздушно-десантные войска России}}<br />''Vozdushno-desantnye voyska Rossii''
}}
{{Russian military}}

The '''Russian Airborne Forces''' ({{langx|ru|Воздушно-десантные войска России, ВДВ|Vozdushno-desantnye voyska Rossii, '''VDV'''}}) is the [[airborne forces|airborne]] separate combat arm  of the [[Russian Armed Forces]]. It is a rapid response force and strategic reserve that is under the [[President of Russia]], reporting directly to the [[Chief of the General Staff (Russia)|Chief of the General Staff]], and is organized into airborne and [[air assault]] units. It was formed in 1992 from divisions of the [[Soviet Airborne Forces]] that came under Russian control following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]].

Troops of the Russian Airborne Forces have traditionally worn a [[blue beret]] and blue-striped ''[[telnyashka]]'' undershirt and are called ''desant'' (Russian: Десант), from the French ''Descente''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classes.ru/all-russian/russian-dictionary-Vasmer-term-3162.htm |title=ДЕСАНТ |website=Classes.RU |access-date=2015-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204649/http://www.classes.ru/all-russian/russian-dictionary-Vasmer-term-3162.htm |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Russian Airborne Forces utilizes a range of specialist airborne warfare vehicles and are fully mechanized. Traditionally they have had a larger complement of heavy weaponry than most contemporary airborne forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thesaker.is/a-look-into-the-modern-russian-airborne-forces/ |title=A look into the modern Russian Airborne Forces &#124; the Vineyard of the Saker |access-date=2019-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117122248/http://thesaker.is/a-look-into-the-modern-russian-airborne-forces/ |archive-date=2019-01-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Mission==
According to an order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 1997, the Airborne Forces form the strategic reserve of the [[President of Russia|Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces]], under the direct command of the [[Chief of the General Staff (Russia)|Chief of the General Staff]], and as a rapid response force may be tasked with carrying out operations either independently or within larger [[army group]]s alongside units of the [[Russian Ground Forces|Ground Forces]]. The Airborne Forces can also participate in peacekeeping missions under the mandate of the [[United Nations]] (UN) or the [[Collective Security Treaty Organization]] (CSTO).<ref name="bigenc.ru">{{Cite encyclopedia |last=Drapeko |first=Valery Alexeyevich |title=Воздушно-десантные войска |trans-title=Airborne Forces |encyclopedia=[[Great Russian Encyclopedia]] |date=4 October 2023 |lang=ru |url=https://bigenc.ru/c/vozdushno-desantnye-voiska-0d10bf }}</ref>

The Airborne Forces are organized into three types of units, consisting of Airborne, Air Assault, and Mountain Air Assault.<ref name="bigenc.ru" /> The airborne units can be parachuted into a combat zone, while the air assault units are airlifted there by aircraft or helicopter.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|pages=9–10}} Specifically designated mountain units were created after the Airborne Forces were frequently used in conflicts in the [[North Caucasus]] region in the immediate post-Soviet years.<ref name="redstar1">{{Cite web |last=Pashchepkin |first=Konstantin |title=Генерал-лейтенант Николай СТАСЬКОВ: «Если не мы, то кто?»  |trans-title=Lieutenant General Nikolai Staskov: "If not us, then who?" |lang=ru |url=http://old.redstar.ru/2004/08/28_08/1_02.html |date=28 August 2004 |work=Krasnaya Zvezda |publisher=Russian Ministry of Defense }}</ref> The structure of the Airborne Forces uses airborne or air assault divisions for the operational level, airborne or air assault brigades for the operational-tactical level, and regiments for the tactical level. This structure can be augmented with the addition of Ground Forces motorized rifle, artillery, aviation, or other units, depending on the situation.<ref name="bigenc.ru" />

After studying airborne operations during [[World War II]], the Soviet leadership concluded they were largely unsuccessful, with only a few exceptions. They recognized the potential for an airborne force to attack targets behind enemy lines, but the main problems that were identified included a lack of firepower. An effort to resolve this was the introduction of the [[BMD-1|BMD series]] of armored vehicles in 1970, which were eventually issued to every regiment of an airborne division.{{sfn|McNab|2019|pages=186–190}} Up to the present, the Russian Airborne Forces are more heavily armed than their Western counterparts, with the usage of [[armored personnel carrier]]s.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|pages=4–5}}

==History==
===Founding and reorganization===
The [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] led to the dividing up of the former [[Soviet Armed Forces]] by the newly independent states. The Russian Airborne Forces were established on 7 May 1992 by a decree from the [[president of Russia|President of the Russian Federation]], [[Boris Yeltsin]]. He held a meeting with the heads of state of [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], and [[Uzbekistan]] to determine the distribution of former Soviet military assets. During 1992 and 1993 many of the airborne units were transferred to the territory of Russia, as only two of the seven Soviet airborne divisions had been located in the former [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic]].{{sfn|Elfving|2021|page=6}} During this process the [[Russian General Staff]] wanted to prioritize maintaining control over the strategic assets of the Soviet military, which besides the [[Strategic Rocket Forces]] also included the Airborne Forces. There was initially an attempt to keep them under the joint command of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS), but the concept of the CIS unified forces fell apart by the summer of 1993, as the independent states took control over the units on their territories.{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|pages=291–293}}

The Russian Federation kept six of the seven divisions, which as of 1993 included:<ref name="army-review">{{Cite web |last1=Akvilyanov |first1=Yu. |last2=Berendeyev |first2=M. |title=Воздушно-десантные и аэромобильные войска |trans-title=Airborne and airmobile forces |lang=ru |work=Army Review |publisher=Russian Ministry of Defense |date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415190925/https://army.ric.mil.ru/Stati/item/483200/ |archive-date=15 April 2023 |url=https://army.ric.mil.ru/Stati/item/483200/ }}</ref>
*[[7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division|7th Guards Airborne Division]] – moved from [[Lithuania]] to [[Novorossiysk]].
*[[44th Training Airborne Division]] – moved from Lithuania to [[Omsk]].
*[[76th Guards Air Assault Division|76th Guards Airborne Division]] ([[Pskov Oblast]])
*[[98th Guards Airborne Division]] – moved from [[Ukraine]] to [[Ivanovo]]. Part of it stayed and became the nucleus of the [[1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine)|1st Airmobile Division]], [[Ukrainian Air Assault Forces|Ukrainian Airmobile Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kobasa |first=Askold I. |date=December 1995 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA305239.pdf |title=A Strategic-Military Analysis of the Ukrainian Armed Forces |publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]] |pages=54, 112 }}</ref>
*[[104th Guards Airborne Division]] – moved from [[Azerbaijan]] to [[Ulyanovsk]].
*[[106th Guards Airborne Division]] ([[Tula, Russia|Tula]] and [[Ryazan]])

The remaining division, the [[103rd Guards Airborne Division]], became part of the [[Belarusian Ground Forces]].{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|pages=294, 297–298}}

Russia also received seven<ref name="army-review" /> of the sixteen{{sfn|Elfving|2021|page=6}} Soviet airborne and air assault brigades, and some additional units, which included:<ref name="army-review" />
*[[11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade|11th Guards Air Assault Brigade]] ([[Ulan-Ude]])
*[[13th Separate Air Assault Brigade|13th Air Assault Brigade]] ([[Magdagachi]] and [[Zavitinsk]])
*[[21st Separate Air Assault Brigade|21st Air Assault Brigade]] ([[Stavropol]])
*[[36th Separate Air Assault Brigade|36th Air Assault Brigade]] (Garbolovo)
*[[37th Separate Airborne Brigade|37th Airborne Brigade]] ([[Chernyakhovsk]])
*[[56th Guards Air Assault Brigade]] ([[Kamyshin]])
*[[83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade|83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade]] ([[Ussuriysk]])
*[[345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment|345th Guards Airborne Regiment]] ([[Gudauta]], [[Abkhazia]])
*[[38th Guards Communications Brigade|196th Communications Regiment]] ([[Moscow Oblast]])

In the early 1990s the active Russian Airborne Forces had five divisions and eight brigades, and a total strength of 64,300 personnel. Each division had a strength of 6,000 men.<ref name="FAS1">{{Cite web |title=Airborne Assault Troops (VDV) |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |date=7 September 2000 |url=https://nuke.fas.org/guide/russia/agency/army-vdv.htm }}</ref> 
The two main training establishments of the VDV were in Ryazan and Omsk: the [[Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School]]{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=9}} and the [[242nd Training Centre|242nd Training Center]] of the Airborne Forces, which was formed in Omsk on the basis of the training division.<ref name="army-review" />

===Early developments and wars===
[[File:IFORRussland.jpg|thumb|left|Russian paratroopers on patrol in Bosnia as members of the [[Implementation Force]], 1996]]
[[File:Bosnia-vdv.jpg|thumb|left|Russian VDV and U.S. [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]] soldiers in Bosnia, 1996]] 
In 1992, during the [[Civil war in Afghanistan (1989–1992)|fall of Kabul]] to the [[mujahadeen]], elements of the 106th Guards Airborne Division carried out the successful evacuation of the former Soviet embassy staff from [[Kabul]], [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]], along with the Chinese and Mongolian embassy staffs. A paratrooper of the VDV who was involved in the mission became one of the first recipients of the title [[Hero of the Russian Federation|Hero of Russia]].{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|pages=299–300}} Several units of the VDV were also used to maintain order in [[Moldova]] after the [[Transnistria War]], and the former Soviet forces in that country were commanded by General [[Alexander Lebed]], an airborne officer.{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|page=297}} Before the withdrawal of the 104th GAD from Azerbaijan in 1993, its members had been involved in skirmishes with the local Azeri population, and some members of another VDV unit joined Armenian militias that fought in the [[First Nagorno-Karabakh War]].{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|pages=300–304}} One airborne battalion in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] fought off an attack by local nationalists during the [[Georgian Civil War]], and other airborne units were involved in helping maintain ceasefires during and after the [[South Ossetia war (1991–1992)|Georgian-Ossetian]] and [[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)|Georgian-Abkhazian]] wars between 1992 and 1993.{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|pages=304–307}}

In the early 1990s, General [[Pavel Grachev]], an Airborne Forces general who served as the first Russian Defence Minister from 1992 to 1996,{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=6}} planned for the VDV to form the core of the planned Mobile Forces. This was announced in ''[[Krasnaya Zvezda]]'', the [[Russian Ministry of Defence|Ministry of Defence]]'s daily newspaper, in July 1992.<ref name="Baev" /> From December 1993, the Mobile Forces were to consist of an Immediate Reaction Force that could be deployed in 4-10 hours, and a Rapid Response Force that could be deployed in three days. It was expected that the VDV, which Grachev saw as the reliable core of the Russian military, would provide 60 percent of these forces.<ref name="FAS1" />{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|page=293}} However, the Mobile Forces plan was never enacted. The number of formations available for the force was far less than anticipated, since much of the Airborne Forces had been 'nationalised' by the republics their units had been previously based in, and other arms of service, such as the GRU and [[Military Transport Aviation]], who were to provide the airlift component, were adamantly opposed to ceding control of their forces.<ref name="Baev">Baev, Pavel (1996). ''The Russian Army in a Time of Troubles'', Oslo: International Peace Research Institute, pp. 127–135.</ref>

The end of the [[Cold War]] brought up questions about the continued role and purpose of the Airborne Forces. With the possibility of large airborne operations unlikely (the VDV had not carried out a parachute assault since [[World War II]]), there were proposals to disband it or absorb its units into other service branches.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|pages=3–4}}{{sfn|Zaloga|1995|page=311}} As a strategic reserve, the VDV was also outside the control of military district commanders.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|pages=3–4}} It did provide a rapid response force that could quickly be deployed to conflict zones by aircraft faster than regular Ground Forces units. Another role of the VDV in the 1990s was also peacekeeping.<ref name="FAS1" /> In 1992 the 554th Separate Russian Battalion was formed from the [[137th Guards Airborne Regiment]] and underwent training in Ryazan before being deployed to eastern [[Croatia]] as a peacekeeping unit with the [[United Nations Protection Force|UN mission]] during the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. It became the first Russian unit created for peacekeeping operations and consisted entirely of contract soldiers rather than conscripts.<ref name="DOSAAF">{{Cite web |title=Russia showed its character |trans-title=Россия показала свой характер |date=30 March 2019 |work=[[DOSAAF]] News |lang=ru |url=http://vestidosaaf.ru/2019/03/30/10984/ }}</ref> A new VDV formation was also established in 1994, the [[45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade|45th Spetsnaz Regiment]].<ref name="army-review" />

The Airborne Forces took part in the [[First Chechen War]] from December 1994 to August 1996.<ref name="army-review" /> The joint army groups that carried out the ground campaign in the [[Battle of Grozny (1994–1995)|Battle of Grozny]] at the start of the war had elements of the 76th, 98th, 104th, and 106th GAD. They and the other Russian forces took significant casualties in the urban combat.<ref name="DTIC">{{Cite web |last=Jenkinson |first=Brett C. |title=Tactical Observations from the Grozny Combat Experience |date=2002 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA407003.pdf |publisher=[[Defense Technical Information Center]] |pages=45–84 }}</ref> One of the groups was commanded by the VDV general [[Nikolai Staskov]], who was nearly killed by a grenade during the fighting in Grozny.<ref name="redstar1" /> The [[Battle of Vedeno (1995)|Battle of Vedeno]], in late May and early June 1995, saw an airborne assault that was deployed by helicopter, and resulted in the capture of positions held by Chechen militants.<ref name="army-review" /> In August 1999 a group of rebels led by the Chechen commander [[Shamil Basayev]] [[War in Dagestan (1999)|attempted to invade]] neighboring [[Dagestan]], but Interior Ministry troops supported by the Ministry of Defense, with VDV units being the first to arrive, repelled the attack. The [[Second Chechen War]] from September 1999 to August 2000 also involved the VDV and was much more successful than the first war. On this occasion, all of the airborne troops involved were part their own army group.<ref name="redstar1" /><ref name="DTIC" />

[[File:Russian paratroopers 106th VDD.JPG|thumb|Paratroopers of the [[106th Guards Airborne Division]] in Kazakhstan, 1999]]
[[File:Anatoly Lebed 14.jpg|thumb|VDV spetsnaz in Georgia during the [[Russo-Georgian War]], 2008]]
At the end of the Bosnian War in late 1995 the United States wanted Russia to participate in the NATO [[Implementation Force]] (IFOR) that was deployed to ensure that the [[Dayton Accord]] was followed.<ref name="NYT1">{{Cite news |last=Whitney |first=Craig R. |date=9 November 1995 |title=Russia Agrees To Put Troops Under U.S., Not NATO |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526142718/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/09/world/russia-agrees-to-put-troops-under-us-not-nato.html |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/09/world/russia-agrees-to-put-troops-under-us-not-nato.html |archive-date=26 May 2015}}</ref> The [[1st Separate Airborne Brigade]] was established for this purpose, from units of the 76th and 98th GAD, and arrived in Bosnia in January 1996, to be part of [[Multi-National Division (North) (Bosnia)|Multi-National Division North]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buø |first=Jørn |title=Russian Participation in Peace Operations: Keeping the Peace Together? |publisher=Norwegian Institute for International Affairs |date=2001 |pages=83–85 |jstor=resrep08075.10 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep08075.10.pdf }}</ref><ref name="Journal-Collection">{{Cite web |last=Kokhankin |first=Vladimir |title=Российские миротворцы в Югославии |trans-title=Russian peacekeepers in Yugoslavia |date=27 August 2023 |publisher=Journal "Collection" |lang=ru |url=https://sammlung.ru/?p=66687 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavigne |first=Jean-Philippe |date=8 August 2001 |title=Birthday Bash: Russian Airborne style |publisher=NATO |url=https://www.nato.int/Sfor/indexinf/119/p12a/t0112a.htm }}</ref> The Russian brigade, led by Colonel [[Alexander Lentsov]], was under the tactical control of [[William L. Nash]], U.S. [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]] commander, and the operational control of NATO supreme commander [[George Joulwan]] through a Russian general, [[Leonty Shevtsov]], his deputy for Russian forces. Russian and American soldiers worked alongside each other<ref>{{Cite news |last=Atkinson |first=Rick |title=BOSNIA FORCE TESTING NEW RUSSIAN-U.S. TIES |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=17 January 1996 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/01/18/bosnia-force-testing-new-russian-us-ties/f2bc66a3-831b-43e9-8ef8-eb1019dfe590/ }}</ref> in the first joint operation between Russia and the countries of NATO since World War II.<ref name="Shevtsov">{{Cite web |last=Shevtsov |first=Leonty |title=Russian Participation in Bosnia-Herzegovina |url=https://csdr.org/97Book/shevtsov-C.htm |date=21 June 1997 }}</ref> The brigade participate in the NATO mission, which became the [[Stabilization Force]] (SFOR), until 2003.<ref name="DOSAAF" /><ref name="Jones">{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=James L. |author-link=James L. Jones |title=Peacekeeping: Achievements and Next Steps |date=3 July 2003 |url=https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2003/s030703a.htm |work=NATO }}</ref>

Although during Pavel Grachev's tenure as Minister of Defense the Russian armed forces had been reduced by 1.1 million troops, these changes initially had no effect on the VDV. But in December 1995 he ordered two airborne divisions and four air assault brigades to be put under the command of military districts, and when Grachev was replaced by [[Igor Rodionov]] in 1996, a Ground Forces officer, he continued to reduce the size of the VDV.<ref name="FAS1" />{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=6}} In the end the decision was made to reduce the VDV to about one-third of its strength at the time. After Rodionov's reforms, as of 1997, the Airborne Forces headquarters had under its command four divisions, while all of the brigades were either reorganized into smaller units or transferred to the command of the Ground Forces. The four divisions that remained were the 7th, 76th, 98th, and 106th.<ref name="Kommersant1997">{{Cite web |last=Bulavinov |first=Ilya |title=Опять разгоняют ВДВ |trans-title=The VDV is being dispersed again |work=[[Kommersant]] |date=30 October 1997 |language=ru |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/186796 }}</ref> In 1998 the 104th Division was reorganized as the [[31st Guards Air Assault Brigade]].<ref name="army-review" /> The 76th Division was converted into an air assault from an airborne division in 1998,<ref name="army-review" /> and the 7th Division also was made an air assault division in 2006, in addition to getting a "mountain" designation.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=9}} 

Several brigades were disbanded: the 13th, 36th, and 37th Brigades in 1996<ref name="desantura">{{Cite web |title=Россия |lang=ru |work=Desantura.ru |url=https://desantura.ru/ru/ }}</ref> and the 21st and 56th Brigades in 1997.<ref name="army-review" /> The remaining brigades – 11th, 31st, 83rd – were transferred to the command of the Ground Forces from 1996 until 2013. In 2009 the 56th Brigade was restored.<ref name="desantura" /> The reforms in the second half of the 1990s brought the total strength of the VDV from 64,300 to 48,500,<ref name="FAS1" /> and by the late 2000s it was down to 35,000.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=8}} However, [[Georgy Shpak]], who was the [[commander of the Russian Airborne Forces]] from 1996 to 2003, prevented the Chief of the General Staff, [[Anatoly Kvashnin]], from making the VDV part of the Ground Forces. One of his successors, [[Valery Yevtukhovich]], the commander from 2007 to 2009, was forced to retire early over his disagreement with the Chief at that time, [[Nikolai Makarov (general)|Nikolai Makarov]], about the Airborne Forces.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=14}} 

During the [[Russo-Georgian War]] in 2008, two regiments of the 76th GAAD and one from the 98th GAD were involved. The 76th was rapidly deployed into Georgia's [[South Ossetia]] region ahead of the Russian main force, the [[58th Combined Arms Army|58th Army]] of the Ground Forces, along with the 45th Spetsnaz Regiment. Elements of the 7th Division entered [[Abkhazia]]. Despite some problems with their equipment, the VDV achieved its objectives.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|pages=25–29}}

===Post-2008 reform===
[[File:Д. А. Медведев проводит смотр личного состава 7-й дшд.jpg|thumb|President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] and General Shamanov inspecting the [[7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division]], 2009]]
In May 2009 Lieutenant General [[Vladimir Shamanov]] became the commander of the VDV. He was a veteran of the [[Soviet-Afghan War]] and had overseen the successful second Chechen campaign.{{sfn|Thornton|2011|pages=14–17}} Under the [[2008 Russian military reform|2008 reform programme]], the four existing two-regiment divisions should have been transformed into 7–8 air-assault brigades. However, once General Shamanov became commander of the Airborne Forces, it was decided to keep the original structure. The divisions were strengthened, becoming four independent airborne/air-assault brigades, one for each military district.<ref>Moscow Defense Brief #2, 2010 p. 22–24</ref> In 2010, the VDV deputy commander, Major General [[Alexander Lentsov]], said that the service would remain a separate combat arm, but there was a possibility that it would become part of the [[Special Operations Forces (Russia)|Special Operations Forces]] after 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ВДВ России в перспективе войдут в Силы специальных операций |trans-title=VDV of Russia will become part of Special Operations Forces in the future |date=6 November 2010 |lang=ru |newspaper=[[Interfax]] |url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/163784 }} </ref>

In October 2013 it was reported that the three airborne brigades under military district control (apparently the 11th and 83rd (Ulan-Ude and Ussuriysk) in the [[Eastern Military District]] and the 56th at [[Kamyshin]] in the [[Southern Military District]]) would be returned to VDV command.<ref>Russian Defense Policy, [http://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/vdv-gets-armys-air-assault-brigades/ VDV Gets Army's Air Assault Brigades] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231202626/http://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/vdv-gets-armys-air-assault-brigades/ |date=2013-12-31 }}, October 21, 2013.</ref> The process was completed by July 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2015/0729/125530364/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Владимир Шаманов: ВДВ РФ сегодня являются полностью самодостаточным родом войск|date=29 July 2015|work=armstrade.org|access-date=30 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029093634/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2015/0729/125530364/detail.shtml|archive-date=29 October 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In October 2013, Commander of the VDV Vladimir Shamanov announced that a new air assault brigade would be formed in [[Voronezh]] in 2016 with the number of the 345th Guards Airborne Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:В Воронеже сформируют новую десантно-штурмовую бригаду ВДВ|url=http://www.rg.ru/2013/10/08/desant-site.html|website=Rossiyskaya Gazeta|date=8 October 2013 |access-date=2016-02-20|language=ru|trans-title=Troopers will add strength|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205153/http://rg.ru/2013/10/08/desant-site.html|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref> The establishment of the brigade was postponed to 2017–18, according to a June 2015 announcement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://regnum.ru/news/1930636.html|script-title=ru:Минобороны передвинуло сроки создания новой бригады ВДВ в Воронеже|date=4 June 2015|work=REGNUM|access-date=2 April 2017|language=ru|trans-title=Ministry of Defense postpones establishment of Voronezh airborne brigade|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625063004/https://regnum.ru/news/1930636.html|archive-date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It was announced in July 2015 that plans called for the 31st Airborne Brigade to be expanded into the 104th Guards Airborne Division by 2023,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ria.ru/20180505/1519952460.html |title=Ульяновскую 31-ю бригаду ВДВ переформируют в дивизию к 2023 году |newspaper=Риа Новости |date=5 May 2018 |access-date=2019-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214061617/https://ria.ru/20180505/1519952460.html |archive-date=2019-02-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> and for an additional airborne regiment to be attached to each division.<ref name="tass.ru">{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/russia/811613|title=TASS: Russia – Russian Defense Ministry to build up strength of airborne assault divisions|agency=TASS|access-date=2015-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803005742/http://tass.ru/en/russia/811613|archive-date=2015-08-03|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the mid-2010s, the Russian Airborne Forces consisted of four divisions and six brigades, including:{{sfn|Thornton|2011|page=9}}{{sfn|Elfving|2021|pages=9–10}}<ref name="janes1">{{Cite web |last=Galeotti |first=Mark |title=Russian airborne forces retool for expanded role |date=25 October 2021 |work=[[Jane's Information Group]] |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/security/russian-airborne-forces-retool-for-expanded-role }}</ref>
*7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division
*76th Guards Air Assault Division
*98th Guards Airborne Division
*106th Guards Airborne Division
*11th Guards Air Assault Brigade
*31st Guards Air Assault Brigade
*56th Guards Air Assault Brigade
*83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade
*[[45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade]]
*[[38th Guards Communications Brigade]] 

By 2021 the total personnel of the VDV was 45,000.<ref name="janes1" />

Elements of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division's [[104th Guards Air Assault Regiment]] allegedly participated in the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=The painful secrecy of Russia's war in Ukraine|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-painful-secrecy-of-russias-war-in-ukraine/article20595143/?page=all|website=The Globe and Mail|date = 14 September 2014|access-date=2016-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419195218/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-painful-secrecy-of-russias-war-in-ukraine/article20595143/?page=all|archive-date=2016-04-19|url-status=live|last1 = MacKinnon|first1 = Mark}}</ref> These units allegedly were used as spearhead forces during the August 2014 DPR and LPR counteroffensive.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Reversal of fortune|url=https://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21615605-now-willing-use-russian-troops-more-or-less-openly-eastern-ukraine-vladimir-putin-has|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2016-02-20|issn=0013-0613|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305000834/http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21615605-now-willing-use-russian-troops-more-or-less-openly-eastern-ukraine-vladimir-putin-has|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=live}}</ref> During the August 2014 counteroffensive, battalion tactical groups of the 7th Guards Airborne Division's [[247th Guards Air Assault Regiment]], the 98th Guards Airborne Division's [[331st Guards Airborne Regiment]], the 106th Guards Airborne Division's [[137th Guards Airborne Regiment]], and the [[31st Guards Air Assault Brigade]] allegedly were sent into Ukraine. Reconnaissance teams from the [[45th Guards Spetznaz Brigade]] and the 106th's 173rd Guards Separate Reconnaissance Company were previously deployed to Ukraine alongside Ground Forces units.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201503_bp_russian_forces_in_ukraine.pdf|title=RUSI Briefing Paper: Russian Forces in Ukraine|last=Sutyagin|first=Igor|date=March 2015|access-date=6 April 2016|publisher=[[Royal United Services Institute]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418162741/https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201503_bp_russian_forces_in_ukraine.pdf|archive-date=18 April 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In February 2016, it was reported that an airborne battalion would be permanently deployed to [[Dzhankoy]], [[Crimea]], in 2017–18, and upgraded to a regiment in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title = Russia plans to deploy airborne forces in Crimea on permanent basis — source|url = http://tass.ru/en/defense/857541 |website = TASS|access-date = 2016-02-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160220033813/http://tass.ru/en/defense/857541 |archive-date = 2016-02-20|url-status = live}}</ref> In May 2017, Shamanov announced that the battalion would be formed at [[Feodosia|Feodosiya]] by 1 December 2017 as part of the [[7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division]], and would be expanded into the 97th Air Assault Regiment with three battalions by late 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://tass.com/defense/946429|title=Russia starts forming air assault battalion in Crimea|date=18 May 2017|agency=TASS|access-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520231922/http://tass.com/defense/946429|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Since the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|2014 annexation]], the status of Crimea is [[Political status of Crimea|under dispute between Russia and Ukraine]]; Ukraine and the majority of the international community considers Crimea an integral part of Ukraine, while Russia considers Crimea to be an integral part of Russia.<ref>[http://europe.newsweek.com/ukraine-reports-russian-military-activity-crimea-border-armored-column-488283 UKRAINE REPORTS RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTIVITY ON CRIMEA BORDER] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018030959/http://europe.newsweek.com/ukraine-reports-russian-military-activity-crimea-border-armored-column-488283 |date=2016-10-18 }}, [[Newsweek]] (8 August 2016)<br />{{cite news |last=Gutterman |first=Steve |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |title=Putin signs Crimea treaty, will not seize other Ukraine regions |date=18 March 2014 |agency=Reuters.com |access-date=26 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709064506/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/18/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}<br />[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715040406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 |date=2014-07-15 }}, [[BBC News]]<br />[http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml UN General Assembly adopts resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304200543/http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml |date=2018-03-04 }}, [[China Central Television]] (28 March 2014)</ref>

[[File:83AABAirborneExercise2017-23.jpg|thumb|Boarding an [[Il-76]] during an exercise of the [[83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade]] in 2017]]
[[File:SlavicBrotherhood2018-23.jpg|thumb|Paratroopers on [[BMD-2]] vehicles at the Slavic Brotherhood 2018 exercise]]
In August 2016, Russian paratroopers placed 1st place in the Airborne Platoon competition during the International Army Games in Russia, defeating teams from China, Iran, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eng.armygames2016.mil.ru/page190811.html |title=Airborne platoon |access-date=2016-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813150939/http://eng.armygames2016.mil.ru/page190811.html |archive-date=2016-08-13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 October 2016, Colonel General [[Andrey Serdyukov]] was appointed commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, replacing Shamanov, who became chief of the [[Duma]] Committee on Defense.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tass.com/defense/905232|title=Russian Airborne Troops get new commander |date=10 October 2016|agency=TASS|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012075552/http://tass.com/defense/905232|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

State tests of a new [[Bakhcha-U-PDS]] parachute platform for the BMD-4M and BTR-MDM vehicles were completed in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0531/160047028/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Минобороны завершило испытания новейшей парашютной системы "Бахча-У-ПДС" для ВДВ |access-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143510/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0531/160047028/detail.shtml |archive-date=2018-06-12 |url-status=live }}</ref> Deliveries of new 'heavy drop' systems PBS-950U and PBS-955 began in 2020.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news|title=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news|website=Janes.com}}</ref> In 2019, two battalion sets of BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles and BTR-MDM Rakushka armored personnel carriers, more than 200 units of various automotive equipment, including special armored vehicles, army snowmobiles, four-wheelers and buggies and more than 9,000 parachute systems D-10 and "Arbalet-2" were delivered to the troops.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2019/1122/095055464/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Андрей Сердюков сообщил о поставках ВВСТ в Воздушно-десантные войска в 2019 году|website=armstrade.org}}</ref>

In April 2020, military personnel from the Russian Airborne Forces, performed the world's first [[High-altitude military parachuting|HALO]] [[paradrop]] from the lower border of the [[Arctic]] [[stratosphere]]. The Russian commando group used "next-generation special-purpose parachute system", military-tested oxygen equipment, navigation devices, special equipment, and uniforms. This was the first high-altitude landing in the Arctic latitudes over 10&nbsp;km in the history of Russian aviation.<ref name="armstrade1">{{cite web|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Экипажи ВТА обеспечили первое в истории высотное десантирование подразделений ВДВ|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2020/0427/102557668/detail.shtml|access-date=2020-06-09|website=armstrade.org}}</ref><ref name="functionmil">{{cite web|date=26 April 2020|title=Russian paratroopers for the first time in world history made a landing as part of a group on new parachute systems from an altitude of 10,000 meters in Arctic conditions|url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12288794@egNews|access-date=6 June 2020|website=function.mil.ru }}</ref>

As part of its mission in the Arctic region, the aircrew provided landing of airborne units from altitudes of between 10 and 1.8 kilometres, as well as landing of cargo with a total weight of about 18 tons. After conducting practical combat training, the [[Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76]] aircrews landed at the [[Nagurskoye (air base)|Nagurskoe]] airfield in the northern part of the island of [[Franz Josef Land]]. The high-altitude landing was dedicated to the [[Victory Day (9 May)|75th anniversary]] of victory in the [[World War II|Great Patriotic war of 1941–1945]], and the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Airborne troops.<ref name="armstrade1"/><ref name="functionmil"/>

In 2020, the VDV continued to modernize and re-equip its command posts, started to receive the Stayer high-altitude parachute system which enable airdrops from up to 10&nbsp;km altitude, and completed receiving special-purpose controllable parachute systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2020/0512/103057806/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / В ВДВ продолжается совершенствование системы управления|website=armstrade.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/army-2020-tekhodinamika-unveils-new-high-altitude-parachute-for-russias-vdv|title=Army 2020: Tekhodinamika unveils new high-altitude parachute for Russia's VDV|website=Janes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1238261|title=Russian paratroopers receive latest parachutes for Arctic operation|website=TASS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2021/0112/071561192/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / / В 2020 году доля обеспеченности ВДВ управляемыми парашютными системами составила 100 проц.|website=armstrade.org}}</ref>

Two air assault regiments were set up in Pskov and Crimea as part of air assault divisions in 2021. The Russian Defense Ministry also accepted the Zavet-D artillery fire control vehicle for the Airborne Forces.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tass.com/defense/1382171 |title=Russia sets up new paratroop regiment in Crimea |date=29 December 2021 |work=[[TASS]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2021/1230/094565928/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / / Минобороны приняло на снабжение машины управления артиллерийским огнем "Завет-Д" для ВДВ |publisher=Armstrade.org |date= |accessdate=2022-03-14}}</ref> In 2021-2022, the Airborne Forces received about 30,000 sets of landing equipment and parachute systems.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2022/0110/094065985/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / В 2021 году в ВДВ поступило более 13 тыс. комплектов средств десантирования и парашютных систем }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1558867|title=Russian airborne troops receive more than 15,000 parachute systems in 2022 — Ministry|website=TASS}}</ref> [[Sergey Shoigu]] claimed in September 2023 that VDV have received more than 2,000 hardware units and 5,500 landing means and also a new airborne regiment formed since the beginning of the year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tass.com/politics/1680731 | title=IN BRIEF: Russian defense chief reveals Ukraine's military losses over past month }}</ref> The Russian Ministry of Defense said on 1 January 2024 that the VDV received during the past year over 2,500 units of weapons, military and special equipment, including more than 780 samples of "newest and contemporary ones". Among the newest samples were [[T-90]]M tanks and [[BMD-4]]M IFVs as well as BTR-MDM "Rakushka" and BTR-82A APCs.<ref>{{cite web | last=Новости | first=РИА | title=Российские десантники получили за год 2,5 тысячи единиц вооружений техники | website=РИА Новости | date=2024-01-01 | url=https://ria.ru/20240101/spetsoperatsiya-1919310418.html | language=ru | access-date=2024-01-16}}</ref> It was also reported on 3 January that 20 military units were created in 2023, including the Ulyanovsk air assault division.<ref>{{cite web | last=Новости | first=РИА | title=В Минобороны рассказали о новых соединениях в ВДВ | website=РИА Новости | date=2024-01-03 | url=https://ria.ru/20240103/vdv-1919539362.html | language=ru | access-date=2024-01-16}}</ref> About 16,000 landing means were also reportedly delivered<ref>{{cite web | last=Закон | first=порядок, государство | title=Российские десантники в 2023 году в ходе учений и занятий по боевой подготовке совершили более 70 тыс. прыжков с парашютом и десантировали 77 единиц боевой техники и грузов | website=Закон, порядок, государство - МирТесен | date=2024-01-05 | url=https://zakon-i-poryadok.mirtesen.ru/blog/43744370707/Rossiyskie-desantniki-v-2023-godu-v-hode-ucheniy-i-zanyatiy-po-b | language=ru | access-date=2024-01-24}}</ref> and 1,000 more in the first quarter of 2024.<ref>{{cite web | title=Более 1 тыс. комплектов современных средств десантирования и парашютных систем поступило в ВДВ в 2024 году | website=ВПК.name | date=2024-05-03 | url=https://vpk.name/news/858511_bolee_1_tys_komplektov_sovremennyh_sredstv_desantirovaniya_i_parashyutnyh_sistem_postupilo_v_vdv_v_2024_godu.html | language=ru | ref={{sfnref | ВПК.name | 2024}} | access-date=2024-05-03}}</ref>

=== Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
[[File:Взятие под контроль аэродрома на территории Украины 003.png|thumb|VDV Airborne troops at [[Hostomel Airport]] during the [[Battle of Antonov Airport]]]] 
[[File:Russian VDV trying to shoot down Ukrainian drone with anti-drone gun and small arms fire - Ukraine, February 2023.webm|thumb|VDV Airborne troops attacking a Ukrainian drone during the [[Battle of the Svatove–Kreminna line]]]]
The VDV participated heavily in the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. In the opening hours of the invasion the VDV attempted to secure key airports and support assaults around Ukraine. These paratroopers were recognizable by the [[Ribbon of Saint George|orange-and-black Saint George ribbon]]s decorating their helmets and arms.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220224-russian-soldiers-drop-from-sky-at-edge-of-kyiv | title=Russian soldiers drop from sky at edge of Kyiv | date=24 February 2022 }}</ref>

The VDV attempted to paradrop and transport troops with [[Mi-8]] and [[Mi-17]] helicopters and take the [[Hostomel Airport]] in northern [[Kyiv]], in order to use the airport to [[airlift]] more troops and heavy equipment to take Kyiv as a form of forward "air bridge"<ref>{{Cite news | first1 = Matthew | last1 = Chance | first2 = Aditi | last2 = Sangal  | date = 2022-02-24 | title = On the ground: Russian forces take control of an air base near Kyiv, Ukraine |url=https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl#h_ab6cab437dff1920a9fcec2857593b70 | access-date = 2022-06-21 | work = [[CNN]] | language = en | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220608055718/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/h_ab6cab437dff1920a9fcec2857593b70 | archive-date = 2022-06-08 | url-status = live | quote = Russian airborne troops have taken control of the Antonov Airport, which is about 25 miles away from the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, CNN's Matthew Chance reported Thursday. | df = dmy-all}}</ref> that would enable rapid deployment of Russian forces far in advance of the Russian land front, in an action that became known as the [[Battle of Antonov Airport]]. The VDV troops at the airport then engaged the [[Ukrainian National Guard|Ukrainian National Guard's]] [[4th Rapid Reaction Brigade (Ukraine)|4th Rapid Reaction Brigade]], which with the help of the [[Ukrainian Air Force]] encircled the unsupported VDV troops and recaptured the airport, with the Russians escaping to nearby woods.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |date=2022-02-25 |title=Pictures: In Battle for Hostomel, Ukraine Drove Back Russia's Attack Helicopters and Elite Paratroopers |url=https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/02/pictures-in-battle-for-hostomel-ukraine-drove-back-russias-attack-helicopters-and-elite-paratroopers/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=19FortyFive |language=en-US}}</ref>

The next day battle resumed, and the VDV again attempted to land troops at the airport. Deploying around 200 helicopters and with support from the Ground Forces arriving from the north (Belarus and [[Chernobyl]]), they finally broke through the Ukrainian defenses and established Russian control over the airport. In the end, however, the Ukrainians claimed that the airport became too damaged from the battle to be used as an airstrip.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukraine asks for fighters of all ages, reports city lost, but successes elsewhere |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ukraine-asks-for-fighters-of-all-ages-reports-city-lost-but-successes-elsewhere/ |date=2022-02-25 |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

40 kilometers south of Kyiv in [[Vasylkiv]], VDV paratroopers also dropped in an attempt to secure the [[Vasylkiv Air Base]]. Without any support from air or ground forces, the VDV troops in Vasylkiv were eventually encircled and were unsuccessful in achieving their objectives, giving victory in the [[Battle of Vasylkiv]] to the Ukrainians.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-26 |title=Fight for Vasylkiv ends with victory of Ukrainian Armed Forces – official |language=en-US |work=AzerNews.az |url=https://www.azernews.az/region/189874.html |access-date=2022-03-01 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

On February 27, VDV troops with [[BMD-2]]s and [[BTR-D]]s were seen advancing south of Hostomel in [[Bucha, Ukraine|Bucha]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Mason |last2=Barros |first2=George |last3=Stepanenko |first3=Kateryna |title=Russia-Ukraine Warning Update: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 27, 2022 |url=https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/russia-ukraine-warning-update-russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-27-2022 |date=2022-02-27 |access-date=<!--Please fill in!--> |website=Critical Threats |language=en}}</ref> The VDV and Ground Forces' units were hit on the same day by [[Baykar Bayraktar TB2|Bayraktar]] air strikes. The Ukrainian government claimed that "more than 100 units of enemy equipment were destroyed”.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukraine says it destroyed Russian military convoy outside of Kyiv |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ukraine-says-it-destroyed-russian-military-convoy-outside-of-kyiv/ |date=2022-02-27 |access-date=<!--Please fill in!--> |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}</ref> On the following weeks the VDV served as [[mechanized infantry]] and [[light infantry]] during the [[Kyiv offensive (2022)|Kyiv offensive]].<ref name=":4" />

During the [[Battle of Kharkiv (2022)|Battle of Kharkiv]], VDV paratroopers landed in Kharkiv on March 2 in an attempt to capture the contested city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Russian forces assaulting Kharkiv – reports |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/russian-forces-assaulting-kharkiv-reports/ |date=2022-03-02 |access-date=<!--Please fill in!--> |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}</ref> They attempted a raid on a local [[military hospital]] but were repelled by local Ukrainian forces.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zaczek |first=Zoe |date=2022-03-02 |title=Russian paratroopers launch fresh attack on embattled Kharkiv |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/russian-paratroopers-launch-fresh-attack-on-embattled-kharkiv-with-battle-underway-at-military-hospital/news-story/4cbd5625944ddf500545c11291e46302 |website=Sky News Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref>

As of August 2022, according to Colonel General [[Mikhail Teplinsky]], over 5,000 VDV paratroopers have been decorated for distinguished service during operations in Ukraine, and 17 of them became [[Hero of the Russian Federation|Heroes of the Russian Federation]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Более 5 тыс. военнослужащих ВДВ удостоены госнаград в ходе спецоперации |trans-title=Over 5 thousand VDV military servicemen awarded state decorations during the special operation |date=1 August 2022 |work=[[TASS]] |url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/15366101 }}</ref>

According to the UK Ministry of Defence in June 2023, Russia was redeploying regular military units to the [[Battle of Bakhmut|Bakhmut sector]] following withdrawal of [[Wagner Group|Wagner forces]]. These included elements of the 76th and 106th VDV divisions and two additional brigades. The MoD added that the VDV was much degraded from its pre-invasion "elite" status.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=UK Ministry of Defence|author-link= |user=DefenceHQ |number=1664861262629556228|date=3 June 2023|title=Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine}}</ref>

==== Analysis of losses ====

On 3 March 2022, it was reported that [[Major General]] [[Andrei Sukhovetsky]] of the VDV's 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division, who was the appointed deputy commander of the [[41st Combined Arms Army]], was [[killed in action]] in Ukraine.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=Ukraine forces reportedly kill top Russian general in blow to invading army |url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-sukhovetsky-conflict-1684441 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> His death is attributed to [[sniper]] fire either near [[Mariupol]] (which was [[Siege of Mariupol|besieged by Russian forces]])<ref name="Indy">{{cite news |date=2022-03-03 |title=Russian Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky killed by Ukrainians in blow to Putin |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-kill-andrei-sukhovetsky-b2027858.html |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> or [[Hostomel]] during the Kyiv offensive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Why is the 64-kilometre Russian convoy not moving towards Kyiv? |url=https://en.as.com/en/2022/03/08/latest_news/1646704360_362143.html |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=AS.com |language=en}}</ref> Ukrainian sources said he was killed on 2 March and his death was first confirmed on [[VKontakte]] by "Combat Brotherhood", a Russian veterans group,<ref name=":2" /> and later by [[President of Russia|President]] [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref name="Indy" /> The VDV suffered similar losses in Bucha and Irpin with poor command and control being cited.<ref name=":4">{{cite press release | title = Ukraine's specops forces destroy another 10 enemy IFVs in Hostomel | url =https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3419418-ukraines-specops-forces-destroy-another-10-enemy-ifvs-in-hostomel.html | access-date = 2022-06-21 | work = [[Ukrinform]] | type = Press release | language = en | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220415230337/https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3419418-ukraines-specops-forces-destroy-another-10-enemy-ifvs-in-hostomel.html | archive-date = 2022-04-15 | url-status = live | quote =  | df = dmy-all}}</ref> The VDV also joined the assault on the city of [[Mykolaiv]] during the [[Battle of Mykolaiv]], but were pushed back by a Ukrainian counter-offensive.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwirtz |first=Michael |date=2022-03-07 |title=Proud Band of Ukrainian Troops Holds Russian Assault at Bay — for Now |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/world/europe/ukraine-beats-russia-mykolaiv.html |access-date=2022-03-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On 18 March it was reported that Colonel Sergei Sukharev along with deputy Major Sergei Krylov of the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment had been killed during fighting in Mariupol.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 March 2022 |title=Top Russian paratroop commander killed in latest blow to Putin's Ukraine war effort |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/russian-paratroop-commander-killed-ukraine-sergei-sukharev-moscow-putin-b988979.html |website=Evening Standard}}</ref>

In late April, [[Bellingcat]] journalist [[Christo Grozev]] claimed that he "personally checked" and that Russia had lost "almost 90% of its best paratroopers" in the first echelon of the invasion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-24 |title=Russia has lost 90% of its best paratroopers and many experienced mercenaries - Bellingcat - Canada News from unian.ua |url=https://ca.topnews.media/ukraine/russia-has-lost-90-of-its-best-paratroopers-and-many-experienced-mercenaries-bellingcat/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=CANADA TOPNews.MEDIA |language=en-US}}</ref> Many helicopters were shot down by Ukrainian defenses, and the paratroopers were stranded without armored vehicles or air support.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shull |first=Abbie |title=Ukrainian and Russian forces have been fighting for hours over a critical airfield just outside Kyiv |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-russia-fight-over-airfield-outside-kyiv-2022-2 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In early May, the UK MoD stated that the VDV units and other elite forces had suffered high losses and that it would "probably take years for Russia to reconstitute these forces."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Peter |title=Ukraine says it destroyed Russia's Izyum command center, killing 200 but just missing Russia's top general |url=https://theweek.com/russo-ukrainian-war/1013143/ukraine-says-it-destroyed-russias-izyum-command-center-killing-200-but|access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The Week |date=2 May 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>  

On 19 June 2022, it was reported by [[Odesa]] military-civilian spokesperson [[Serhiy Bratchuk]]<ref name=htyt/> that Putin had sacked Serdyukov for his doomed bid to [[Battle of Hostomel|take Hostomel airfield]], which few of the invading soldiers survived.<ref name="posspur">{{cite news |title=Possible purges among Russian officers deteriorate command: Report |url=https://tvpworld.com/60821131/possible-purges-among-russian-officers-deteriorate-command-report |publisher=Telewizja Polska S.A. |date=18 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="htyt">{{cite news |title=Putin axes top general for 'mass casualties' amid war; 'Butcher of Bucha' is his replacement |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_IwfSpa7E |agency=YouTube |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=19 June 2022}}</ref> This was confirmed by Russian media reports.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 June 2022 |title=RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 21 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-21}}</ref> He was replaced by Colonel General [[Mikhail Teplinsky]].

According to [[BBC News Russian]] and the [[Mediazona]] news website, 1,937 VDV deaths had been documented by the end of August 2023, which included 340 officers, accounting for 6% of the 31,665 Russian fatalities who had been identified by name, and 8% of those who could identified by both name and service branch.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Четверть погибших - вчерашние гражданские: что известно о потерях России в Украине к февралю |trans-title=A quarter of the dead are yesterday's civilians: what is known about Russia's losses in Ukraine by February |work=[[BBC News Russian]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-64506030 |access-date=3 February 2023}}<br />{{Cite news |date=13 February 2023 |title=Russian casualties in Ukraine. Mediazona count, updated |work=[[Mediazona]] |url=https://en.zona.media/article/2022/05/11/casualties_eng |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref>

[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|UK intelligence]] estimate that around 30,000 paratroop forces were deployed to Ukraine in 2022 and that 50% of those have been killed or wounded by summer 2023. A Russian General in August 2023 stated that 3,500 wounded paratroopers had refused to leave the front for treatment and 5,000 had returned to the front after treatment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Russia has lost at least 50 pct of its paratroopers in Ukraine: UK |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/08/06/Russia-has-lost-at-least-50-pct-of-its-paratroopers-in-Ukraine-UK |date=6 August 2023}}</ref>

As of 8 May 2025, at least 401 BMD-2, 171 BMD-4M, 105 BTR-D, and 12 unknown BTR-D/BMD-2 have been lost in the invasion.<ref name=Oryx>{{cite web|title=Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html|website=Oryx |access-date=2025-05-08}}</ref>

==== Wartime expansion ====
Despite claims of 'devastating' and 'crippling' losses, the VDV expanded during the war. After the invasion it was announced that the Airborne Forces would create two new divisions. Teplinsky announced on August 2, 2023 that the VDV is expanding the 31st Air Assault Brigade into the [[104th Guards Air Assault Division]]. The 299th and 119th Parachute Regiments were also reestablished, expanding two other divisions from two to three regiments.<ref name="Expansion">{{cite web|title=Russia's Military Restructuring and Expansion Hindered by the Ukraine War|url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russia%E2%80%99s-military-restructuring-and-expansion-hindered-ukraine-war|publisher=Institute for the Study of War|date=Nov 12, 2023|access-date=2024-05-26}}</ref>  

Also reported was the creation of a new [[52nd Artillery Brigade (Russia)|52nd Artillery Brigade]], the first unit of its type in the VDV, and the [[44th Air Assault Division]], created on the basis of the 111th and 387th Motor Rifle Regiments of the [[1st Army Corps (Russia)|1st Army Corps]] of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]]. The 44th Air Assault Division recalls the number of the Soviet-era 44th Training Airborne Division, but being from newly-formed motor rifle regiments, it was described as being an air assault unit "in name only" by military analysts.<ref name="RFERL">{{cite news |last=Bezruchko |first=Danilo |date=27 May 2024 |title=Еще один десант из Крыма? Что известно о новом «крымском» военном формировании россиян на Запорожье |trans-title=One more airborne from Crimea? What is known about the new "Crimean" military formation of Russians in Zaparozhye |lang=ru |newspaper=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |url=https://ru.krymr.com/a/rossiyskiy-desant-krym-novoye-voyennoye-formirovaniye-zaporozhye/32965682.html }}</ref><ref name="CriticalThreats">{{Cite web |last=Hird |first=Karolina |title=Restructuring and Expansion of the Russian Ground Forces Hindered by Ukraine War Requirements |date=12 November 2023 |work=Critical Threats |publisher=[[American Enterprise Institute]] |url=https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/restructuring-and-expansion-of-the-russian-ground-forces-hindered-by-ukraine-war-requirements }}</ref>

== Structure ==
[[File:Banner of the Russian Airborne Troops.png|thumb|Banner of the Airborne Forces Commander.]]
The Airborne Forces Command answers to the [[General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation]] and is responsible for the organization, development, training of the VDV, as well as the planning and implementation of operations involving VDV units. The Command includes the following senior officials, and the titles and the number of the deputy commanders have changed over the years, but as of June 2023 they include:

* Commander Airborne Forces – Colonel-General [[Mikhail Teplinsky]]
* Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander Airborne Forces – Lieutenant-General [[Anatoly Kontsevoy]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Peacekeeping Operations and [[Collective Rapid Reaction Force]]s – Lieutenant-General [[Andrei Kholzakov]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces – Major-General [[Nikolai Choban]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Airborne Training – Major-General [[Alexander Vyaznikov]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Armaments – Major-General [[Alexei Ragozin]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Combat Training – Major-General [[Sergei Volyk]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Military-Political Work – Major-General [[Viktor Kupshichin]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Material-Technical Support - Major-General [[Nariman Timergazin]]
* Deputy Commander Airborne Forces for Construction and Quartering – Major-General [[Leonid Shevchenko (general)|Leonid Shevchenko]]

===Organization===
[[File:Russian Airborne Forces.png|thumb|center|640px|The structure of the Russian Airborne Forces (pre-2022)]]

The Air Landing Forces combine Parachute Landing (''парашютно-десантные'') and Landing Assault (''десантно-штурмовые'') units. The difference between the two is that while both were airborne qualified and mechanised with BMD, BTR-D, [[2S9 Nona]], the parachute landing units are lighter (only quarter mechanised) and play the role of entry element, while landing assault units were fully mechanised and were intended to develop the breach opened by the parachute landing forces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Десантно-штурмовые войска|url=http://ogorin.ru/-history-/air-assault-troops.html|access-date=2022-01-31|website=ogorin.ru}}</ref>

[[File:Victory Day Parade 2008-9.jpg|thumb|Paratroopers at the [[2008 Moscow Victory Day Parade]]]]
[[File:VDV Day 90th anniversary 02.jpg|thumb|Airborne Forces commander [[Andrey Serdyukov]] in front of [[Spasskaya Bashnya]] on [[Paratroopers' Day]] in 2020]]
[[File:AirborneExerciseInBrest2018-68.jpg|thumb|The VDV has a close working relationship with the Belarusian [[38th Guards Air Assault Brigade]]]]
[[File:The Airborne Troops presented a unique concert program at the Spasskaya Tower festival 03.jpg|thumb|The combined band]]

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;
|- align="center"
! colspan=10 style="width: 350px;"| Composition of the Russian Airborne Forces 2024
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the command of the Russian Airborne Troops.svg|25px]] 
|'''Airborne Forces Command'''
|
|[[Moscow]]
|Commander Col. Gen. [[Mikhail Teplinsky]]
|-
|[[File:38ОПС.png|25px]] 
|[[38th Guards Communications Brigade|38th Guards Command and Control Brigade]]
|54164
|[[Shchyolkovsky District|Shchyolkovo]], [[Moscow Oblast]]
|
|-
|
|150th Repair and Overhaul Battalion 
|
|[[Orekhovo-Zuyevo]], Moscow Oblast
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School.svg|25px]] 
|[[Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School]]
|
|[[Ryazan]], [[Ryazan Oblast]]
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorov Military School.svg|25px]]
|[[Suvorov Military School|Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorov Military School]]
|
|[[Ulyanovsk]], [[Ulyanovsk Oblast]]
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 242nd Training Centre.svg|25px]] 
|[[242nd Training Centre]]
|
|[[Omsk]], [[Omsk Oblast]]
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the Omsk Cadet Corps.svg|25px]]
|[[Cadet Corps (Russia)|Omsk Cadet Corps]]
|
|Omsk, Omsk Oblast
|
|-
|
|309th Center for Specialized Parachute Training<ref>{{cite web|title=309 цспп ВДВ (цспк, цсфп) — Десантура.ру|url=https://desantura.ru/ru/catalog/unit90524/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=desantura.ru}}</ref>
|
|Ryazan, Ryazan Oblast
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:Great emblem of the 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment.svg|31x31px]]<br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 108th Guards Kuban Cossack Air Assault Regiment.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:1141st Artillery Regiment.png|25px]]
|'''[[7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division]]'''
*[[56th Guards Air Assault Brigade|56th Guards Air Assault Regiment]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Новикова|first=Екатерина|date=March 25, 2021|title=Шойгу сообщил о создании нового полка ВДВ в Крыму|url=https://iz.ru/1142141/2021-03-25/shoigu-soobshchil-o-sozdanii-novogo-polka-vdv-v-krymu|website=Известия}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Козаченко|first=Алексей|date=2021-12-01|title=Допрыгались. Россия усилила военную группировку в Крыму полком ВДВ|url=https://aif.ru/society/army/doprygalis_rossiya_usilila_voennuyu_gruppirovku_v_krymu_polkom_vdv|access-date=2022-01-31|website=aif.ru|language=ru}}</ref>
*[[108th Guards Kuban Cossack Air Assault Regiment]]
*[[247th Guards Air Assault Regiment]]
*[[1141st Guards Artillery Regiment]]
*[[3rd Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
|61756
*unknown
*42091
*54801
*40515
*94021
| [[Novorossiysk]], [[Krasnodar Krai]]
*[[Feodosia]], [[Crimea]] 
*Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai
*[[Stavropol]], Krasnodar Krai
*[[Anapa]], Krasnodar Krai
*Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai
|
|-
|
|'''[[44th Air Assault Division]]'''<ref name="CriticalThreats" />
* [[111th Motorized Rifle Regiment]]
* [[387th Motorized Rifle Regiment]]
|
|[[Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast|Zaporozhye Oblast]]
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 104th Guards Air Assault Regiment.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 234th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:237th air assault regiment.png|25px]]<br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 1140th Guards Artillery Regiment.svg|25px]]
|'''[[76th Guards Air Assault Division]]'''
*[[104th Guards Air Assault Regiment]]
*[[234th Guards Air Assault Regiment]]
*[[237th Guards Air Assault Regiment]]
*[[1140th Guards Artillery Regiment]]
*[[4th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
|07264
*32515
*74268
*12865
*45377
*unknown
|[[Pskov]], [[Pskov Oblast]]
*[[Cheryokha]], Pskov Oblast
*Pskov, Pskov Oblast
*Pskov, Pskov Oblast
*Pskov, Pskov Oblast
*unknown
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 98th Guards Airborne Division.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 217th Guards Parachute Landing Regiment.svg|25px]]<br> <br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:1065 AP VSRF 3.png|25px]]
|'''[[98th Guards Airborne Division]]'''
*[[217th Guards Airborne Regiment]] 
*[[299th Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[331st Guards Airborne Regiment]] 
*[[1065th Guards Artillery Regiment]]
*[[5th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
|65451
*62295
*unknown
*71211
*62297
*unknown
|[[Ivanovo]], [[Ivanovo Oblast]]
*Ivanovo, Ivanovo Oblast
*unknown
*[[Kostroma]], [[Kostroma Oblast]]
*Kostroma, Kostroma Oblast
*Ivanovo, Ivanovo Oblast
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 104th Guards Air Assault Division.svg|25px]]
|'''[[104th Guards Airborne Division]]'''
*[[328th Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[337th Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment|345th Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[2nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]] 
*[[1180th Artillery Regiment]]
|73612
*01011
*51854
*33702
*55256
*02364
|Ulyanovsk, Ulyanovsk Oblast
*
*
*
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:Great emblem of the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment.svg|25px]]<br> <br>[[File:Sleeve patch of the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment.svg|25px]]<br>[[File:1182nd Artillery Regiment.png|25px]]
|'''[[106th Guards Airborne Division]]'''
*[[51st Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[119th Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[137th Guards Airborne Regiment]]
*[[1182nd Guards Artillery Regiment]]
*[[1st Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
|55599
*33842
*unknown
*41450
*93723
*71298
|[[Tula, Russia|Tula]], [[Tula Oblast]]
*Tula, Tula Oblast
*unknown
*Ryazan, Ryazan Oblast
*[[Naro-Fominsk]], [[Moscow Oblast]]
*Naro-Fominsk, [[Moscow Oblast]]
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade.svg|25px]]
|'''[[11th Guards Airborne Brigade]]'''
|32364
|[[Ulan-Ude]], [[Buryatia]]
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 45th Guards Spetznaz Brigade.svg|25px]]
|'''[[45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade]]'''
|28337
|[[Kubinka]], Moscow Oblast
|
|-
|
|'''[[52nd Artillery Brigade (Russia)|52nd Artillery Brigade]]'''<ref name="CriticalThreats" />
|
|
|
|-
|[[File:Great emblem of the 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade.svg|25px]]
|'''[[83rd Guards Airborne Brigade]]'''
|71289
|[[Ussuriysk]], [[Primorsky Krai]]
|
|-
|
|'''[[91st Mobile Material-Technical Support Brigade]]'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=В Тульской области вновь сформировали 91-ю отдельную бригаду МТО ВДВ |trans-title=91st separate MTO VDV brigade formed again in Tula Oblast |date=1 December 2024 |url=https://tulapressa.ru/2024/12/v-tulskoj-oblasti-vnov-sformirovali-91-yu-otdelnuyu-brigadu-mto-vdv/ |work=Tulapressa.ru}}</ref>
|
|Tula Oblast
|
|}

== Armament and equipment ==
Personal [[firearms]] and crew served weapons include:{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}
*[[AK-74]]M (including upgraded variants with the KM-AK Obves modernization kit)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2019/0620/110052949/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / На учении «Славянские-братство-2019» российские десантники используют автоматы АК-74М с комплектом модернизации «Обвес»|website=armstrade.org}}</ref> and [[AK-74|AKS-74]] assault rifles, and AKS-74U special purpose and self-defence carbine (5.45×39mm)
* [[AK-12]] assault rifles (5.45×39mm)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2020/0529/101558066/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Около 10 тыс. автоматов АК-12 поступили на вооружение соединений и воинских частей ВДВ|website=armstrade.org}}</ref>
*[[RPK|RPK-74]], light weight machinegun (5.45×39mm), now largely withdrawn from service and replaced by the PKM/PKP
* [[PK machine gun|PKM]], general purpose machinegun (7.62×54mmR)
*[[PKP Pecheneg machine gun|6P41 "Pecheneg"]] (PKP) general purpose machine gun (7.62×54mmR), currently replacing the PKM as the general purpose machine gun throughout the [[Russian Armed Forces]]
*[[Dragunov sniper rifle|Dragunov SVD]]S, sniper rifle (7.62×54mmR)
* [[Dragunov SVU]], modified SVD in bullpup configuration and its variants are in limited use
* [[SV-98]], main sniper rifle (7.62×54mmR)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150801/1157827137.html|title=ВДВ: основной снайперской винтовкой десантных войск России стала СВ-98|work=РИА Новости|date=August 2015|access-date=2015-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804002418/http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150801/1157827137.html|archive-date=2015-08-04|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[KSVK 12.7|ASVK-M Kord-M]] anti-materiel sniper rifle (12.7×108mm)<ref name="auto"/>
* [[VSS Vintorez]], silenced sniper rifle (9×39mm)
* [[AS Val]], special assault rifle<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/pPCXiyo-3L8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150509075138/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPCXiyo-3L8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPCXiyo-3L8&t=49m35s|title=#Victory70: Largest May 9 parade in Russian and Soviet history since WW2 (FULL VIDEO)|date=9 May 2015|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[MP-443 Grach]], semi-automatic pistol (9×19mm Parabellum)
*[[Makarov pistol|Makarov]], semi-automatic pistol (9×18mm Makarov) 
*[[Glock|Glock 17]], semi-automatic pistol (9x19 Parabellum)
* [[GP-25]], [[GP-25|GP-30]] and GP-34, under-barrel 40&nbsp;mm grenade launchers for fragmentation and gas grenades
* [[AGS-17]] Plamya (Flame), 30&nbsp;mm automatic grenade launcher
* [[RPO-A Shmel]] (Bumblebee), infantry rocket flamethrower, currently replacing the older [[RPO Rys]] (Lynx)
* [[RPG-7]]D anti-tank rocket launcher, or more modern systems such as the [[RPG-22]] and [[RPG-26]]
* [[2B14 Podnos]] 82&nbsp;mm mortar or the 120&nbsp;mm [[2S12 Sani]] on UAZ vehicles
* [[9K38 Igla]] man-portable SAM system, or the more modern 9K338 Igla-S
* [[9K333 Verba]] man-portable SAM system, currently entering service<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kbm.ru/ru/press-centre/599.html|title="Верба" — гарантированно в цель|work=kbm.ru|access-date=2015-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626180716/http://www.kbm.ru/ru/press-centre/599.html|archive-date=2015-06-26|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[9K111 Fagot]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/1013/093075807/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / Расчеты ПТРК «Фагот» ВДВ уничтожили наблюдательный пункт, технику и живую силу ВСУ }}</ref> [[9K115 Metis]]{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} and [[9M133 Kornet]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12243003@egNews|title=Более 300 десантников-артиллеристов и 50 единиц специальной техники Ульяновского соединения участвовали в тактическом учении артиллерии : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации|website=function.mil.ru}}</ref> man-portable anti-tank systems
* MTS-566 sniper rifle<ref>{{cite web | title=ЦАМТО / / Спецназ ВДВ получит партию новейших снайперских винтовок МЦ-566 | website=ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием | date=2023-10-25 | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/1025/094576020/detail.shtml | language=ru | ref={{sfnref | ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием | 2023}} | access-date=2023-10-26}}</ref>

The VDV are fully equipped with Barmitsa and [[Ratnik (program)|Ratnik]] infantry combat suits as of 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ra.spetsnaz.su/wiki/Barmica |title=Barmica - RedAllianceWiki |access-date=2016-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220215701/http://ra.spetsnaz.su/wiki/Barmica |archive-date=2016-12-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1017/102537623/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Десантники смогут продемонстрировать преимущества экипировки "Ратник" в ходе российско-белорусского учения |access-date=2016-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003105/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1017/102537623/detail.shtml |archive-date=2016-12-21 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0827/100048406/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Все соединения и воинские части ВДВ получили боевую экипировку "Ратник" |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175642/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0827/100048406/detail.shtml |archive-date=2018-08-29 |url-status=live }}</ref> Andromeda-D, Barnaul-T and Dozor automated control systems, AS-1 snowmobiles, four wheelers, a specially-created uniform for hot climates and Nanuk Arctic gear, reconnaissance-control and planning modules and the REX-1 counter-unmanned aerial vehicle rifle-like, man-portable jammer developed by Kalashnikov Group subsidiary ZALA Aero Group are also being introduced into service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0528/104546946/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / ВДВ обеспечены военной и специальной техникой на 100 проц., из них более половины – доля современных образцов |access-date=2018-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530035550/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0528/104546946/detail.shtml |archive-date=2018-05-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tass.com/defense/958705 |title=Sneak peek at Russian Airborne Forces' mighty weapons |access-date=2017-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803130330/http://tass.com/defense/958705 |archive-date=2017-08-03 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0604/144547076/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / ВДВ России получили новые модули разведки и управления |access-date=2018-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143729/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/0604/144547076/detail.shtml |archive-date=2018-06-12 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.janes.com/article/82990/russian-rex-1-counter-uav-system-breaks-cover-on-exercise |title=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news |access-date=2018-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915141104/https://www.janes.com/article/82990/russian-rex-1-counter-uav-system-breaks-cover-on-exercise |archive-date=2018-09-15 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2019/0517/093052400/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / ВДВ начали получать модернизированную систему управления "Андромеда-Д"|website=armstrade.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1150129|title=Russian paratroopers test Polar gear as they skydive from 10,000 m altitude in Arctic|website=TASS}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> Portable versions of the Garmony air defence radar, modernized reconnaissance and artillery fire control posts and Aistyonok and Sobolyatnik radars are being supplied to the VDV.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vpk-news.ru/news/22975 |title=Российская армия в этом году получила десять переносных РЛС "Гармонь" &#124; Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер" |access-date=2016-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229100153/http://www.vpk-news.ru/news/22975 |archive-date=2016-12-29 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Russian Airborne Forces have also received new special-purpose controlled wing-type parachutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1354725|title = Russian, Egyptian paratroopers hold Defenders of Friendship counter-terror drills}}</ref> VDV servicemen performing tasks in [[Ukraine]] received VKPO 3.0 all-season field uniform kits in 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/0522/084073198/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / В ВДВ поступили всесезонные комплекты полевого обмундирования нового поколения }}</ref> The automatic cargo parachute system Junker-DG-250 passed acceptance trials and began to be supplied in November 2023.<ref>{{cite web | title=Russian troops get Junker robotic parachute | website=tass.com | url=https://tass.com/defense/1704449 | language=en | ref={{sfnref | tass.com}} | access-date=2023-11-13}}</ref> VDV also reportedly use the Lesochek EW system.<ref>{{cite web | title=Almost all Russian armored vehicles get Lesochek electronic warfare system — Putin | website=tass.com | url=https://tass.com/defense/1720893 | language=en | ref={{sfnref | tass.com}} | access-date=2024-01-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Russian airborne units proactively use EW systems during special operation | website=tass.com | url=https://tass.com/defense/1729147 | language=en | ref={{sfnref | tass.com}} | access-date=2024-01-16}}</ref>

===Armoured vehicles===
There are over 1,800 armored fighting vehicles, mostly [[BMD-1]] (since 1969), of which all but around 100 are in storage,<ref>{{cite web |title=BMD-1 |url=http://warfare.be/db/catid/245/linkid/2313/title/bmd-1/ |website=Warfare.be:Russian Military Analysis |publisher=Warfare.ru |access-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219183247/http://warfare.be/db/catid/245/linkid/2313/title/bmd-1/ |archive-date=19 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=February 2022}} and at least several hundred BMD-2 (since 1985). There are over 100 [[BMD-3]] (1990) that were partially upgraded to [[BMD-4]] level. All of them are amphibious, moving at around 10&nbsp;km/h in water. The BMD-4 is capable of full, continuous fire while in deep water, unlike any other vehicle with such heavy weaponry (100&nbsp;mm gun and 30&nbsp;mm auto cannon). However, some units (such as those who served on peacekeeping duties in the Balkans) are known to have used BTR armored personnel carriers rather than BMD's. T-72B3 tanks supplied to the Russian Airborne Forces in 2018 have been upgraded and are equipped with Andromeda automatic control system and some of them with top-attack defence screens.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/russian-air-assault-division-fields-tanks-with-top-attack-defence-screens|title=Russian air assault division fields tanks with top-attack defence screens|newspaper=Janes.com }}</ref> As of 2021, the Russian Airborne Forces have 150 T-72B3 and 10 T-72B3 mod. 2016. [[T-90]]M tanks are also attached to VDV units as of August 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/0823/091074871/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / Танкисты на Т-90М «Прорыв» поддерживают тульских десантников плотным огнем на Северском направлении }}</ref>

There is a turret-less variant of the [[BMD-1]], the [[BTR-D]], which is used as troop carrier and serves as the basis for specialised versions such as anti-tank, command and signals. The BTR-D will be partially replaced by the new multi-purpose APC BTR-MD "Rakushka" that will also come in several different versions. Approximately 280 vehicles in all BTR-D configurations are in service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://warfare.be/db/catid/245/linkid/2312/title/btr-d-/rd/-zd/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131024125732/http://warfare.be/db/catid/245/linkid/2312/title/btr-d-/rd/-zd/|title=BTR-D /RD/ ZD|archive-date=24 October 2013|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref> As part of the 2011 state defence order (GOZ), 10 BMD-4M and 10 "Rakushka's" have been ordered, but according to the VDV's CinC General Colonel Shamanov, Kurganmashzavod did not give a guarantee it would produce them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/shamanov-on-the-vdvs-goz/|title=Shamanov on the VDV's GOZ – Russian Defense Policy|work=Russian Defense Policy|date=31 May 2011|access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019083204/http://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/shamanov-on-the-vdvs-goz/|archive-date=19 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Russian Defense Ministry adopted the BMD-4M in April 2016.<ref>[http://armyrecognition.com/april_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/bmd-4m_and_btr-mdm_airborne_armoured_vehicles_enter_officially_in_service_with_russian_army_tass_13004163.html BMD-4M and BTR-MDM airborne armoured vehicles enter officially in service with Russian army] – Armyrecognition.com, 30 April 2016</ref> The first production batch of the new armored vehicles BMD-4M and BTR-MDM "Shell" in the amount of 24 units (12 each) transferred to the Russian Airborne Forces in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1803670|title=ТАСС: Армия и ОПК – В ВДВ поступила первая серийная партия из 12 БМД-4М и 12 БТР "Ракушка"|work=ТАСС|access-date=2015-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304075658/http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1803670|archive-date=2015-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref> The VDV equipped the first regiment with BMD-4Ms and BTR-MDMs in 2016.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} In 2017, they received two battalion sets of BMD-4M combat airborne vehicles and BTR-MDM APCs, over 80 Rys’ and UAZ Pickup armored automobiles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12152767@egNews |title=Leadership of Airborne troops sums up results in 2017 : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation |access-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209204313/http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12152767@egNews |archive-date=2017-12-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Army2016demo-016.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[BMD-4]]M]]
[[File:Army2016demo-019.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[BTR-MDM]] "Shell"]]
Russian airborne brigade-level units have received [[Tigr (Russian military vehicle)|SPM-2 GAZ-233036 Tigr]] armored cars. They have ordered [[Kamaz Typhoon]] armored infantry transports, following modifications to meet the demands of the airborne troops and accepted them for supply in August 2021. The Russian Airborne Forces have received about 100 Tigr and Rys special armored vehicles, 200 Snegohod A-1 snow-going and AM-1 all-terrain vehicles, UAZ Patriot light motor vehicles, Toros 4x4 armored vehicles and Kamaz trucks that can be air-dropped.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2021/0804/102063872/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / / ВДВ получили на снабжение новейшие бронеавтомобили «Тайфун-ВДВ»|website=armstrade.org}}</ref>

The VDV currently receives Berkyt protected snowmobiles for personnel transportation and fire support in arctic conditions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20758/russias-tiny-machine-gun-toting-snowmobile-keeps-occupants-warm-even-when-its-50-below |title=Russia's Tiny Machine Gun-Toting Snowmobile Keeps Occupants Warm Even when It's 50 Below |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=2018-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001513/http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20758/russias-tiny-machine-gun-toting-snowmobile-keeps-occupants-warm-even-when-its-50-below |archive-date=2018-10-19 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://vpk-news.ru/news/34007 |title=Минобороны РФ получило 40 снегоходов "Беркут" для работы в Арктических условиях &#124; Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер" |access-date=2016-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208003922/http://www.vpk-news.ru/news/34007 |archive-date=2016-12-08 |url-status=live }}</ref> Infauna and Leer-2 EW systems alongside Aileron-3SV UAVs and P-230T command vehicles are also received.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/0503/100040825/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Военнослужащие Ульяновского соединения ВДВ в летнем периоде обучения будут осваивать новое вооружение |access-date=2017-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526190726/http://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/0503/100040825/detail.shtml |archive-date=2018-05-26 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/0503/161540845/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Ульяновское соединение ВДВ получило новейшие средства РЭБ и беспилотные летательные аппараты |access-date=2017-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511151626/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/0503/161540845/detail.shtml |archive-date=2017-05-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> The RKhM-6 chemical reconnaissance vehicle based on the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, the BTR-D airborne assault armored personnel carrier with a ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun and the R-149MA1 and the R-142DA command and staff vehicles were demonstrated in August 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1331041|title = Paratroopers demonstrate latest weapons at Army arms show in Russian Far East}}</ref> The Sarmat-2 light tactical buggy participated in the Zapad-2021 drill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/russia-debuts-new-tactics-and-equipment-during-exercise-zapad-2021|title = Russia debuts new tactics and equipment during exercise 'Zapad 2021'| newspaper=Janes.com }}</ref>

=== Artillery ===
[[File:125-mm self-proppeled antitank gun "Sprut-SD" during the "Armiya 2021" exhibition.jpg|thumb|"Sprut-SD" tank/howitzer for [[airborne forces]] (equipped with parachutes)]]
The airborne self-propelled artillery guns [[ASU-57]] and [[ASU-85]] have been withdrawn. They had light armour and limited anti-tank capability, but provided invaluable fire support for paratroopers behind enemy lines (the caliber of the gun in mm is the number next to the ASU designation).

Also withdrawn were the multiple rocket launch systems [[BM-14|RPU-14]] (8U38) of 140&nbsp;mm and the [[BM-21 Grad|BM-21V "Grad-V" (9P125)]] of 122&nbsp;mm on GAZ-66, as well as the 85&nbsp;mm gun [[85 mm divisional gun D-44|SD-44]].

Today the VDV operates the following systems:
* [[2S9 Nona]] and modernized 2S9M<ref>[http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1201/100538420/detail.shtml В 2017 году десантники на учениях будут активно применять танки и РСЗО, а также передовых авианаводчиков] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202235519/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1201/100538420/detail.shtml |date=2016-12-02 }} armstrade.org. 2016</ref> 120&nbsp;mm self-propelled gun-mortar. Currently being replaced by the 2B23 Nona-M1 120&nbsp;mm towed mortar and [[2S31 Vena]] 120&nbsp;mm self-propelled gun-mortar/[[2S12]]A modernized 120&nbsp;mm self-propelled mortar<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsrussian-army-conducts-nona-m1120mm-mortar-live-firing-drills/ |title=Russian Army conducts NONA-M1120mm mortar live firing drills |newspaper=Army Technology |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=2018-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527023603/https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsrussian-army-conducts-nona-m1120mm-mortar-live-firing-drills/ |archive-date=2018-05-27 |url-status=live |author1=Admin }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/1214/101550107/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Воздушно-десантные войска получили более 30 модернизированных минометов различного типа |access-date=2018-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022030/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/1214/101550107/detail.shtml |archive-date=2018-12-15 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[2S25 Sprut-SD]] 125&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery/anti-tank gun based on [[BMD-3]] hull
* [[122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)|D-30 (2A18)]] 122&nbsp;mm howitzer and anti-tank weapon, towed by truck, not amphibious, able to make 360 degree turns as it is deployed on a tripod
* [[ZU-23-2]] 23&nbsp;mm air-defence gun, is either mounted on the BTR-D, or can be towed by a jeep or truck as it has wheels. Since 2011, some ZU-23s are being replaced by the [[9K35 Strela-10|Strela-10M3/MN]] and since 2016 by the newest versions of the [[Buk missile system]].<ref name="russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/hows-it-look-for-vdv/|title=How's It Look for VDV? – Russian Defense Policy|work=Russian Defense Policy|date=16 February 2011|access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216233945/http://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/hows-it-look-for-vdv/|archive-date=16 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/1201/102544399/detail.shtml |title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Генерал-полковник Андрей Сердюков сообщил некоторые подробности о перевооружении ВДВ |access-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210015757/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/1201/102544399/detail.shtml |archive-date=2017-12-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[TOS-1]]A 220&nbsp;mm self-propelled 24-barrel thermobaric/incendiary unguided rocket launcher since 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2022/1025/092070072/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / Минобороны опубликовало видео боевой работы расчета ТОС-1А «Солнцепек» в ходе специальной военной операции }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tass.com/politics/1598349 | title=Russian paratroopers get heavy flamethrowers for first time for Ukraine op — top brass }}</ref>
* [[2S36 Zauralets-D]] – future 120&nbsp;mm self-propelled gun-howitzer based on the [[BMD-4]]<ref name=":23">{{cite web |url=http://federalbook.ru/files/OPK/Soderjanie/OPK-10/III/Shamanov.pdf |title=перспективы развития системы вооружения воздушно-десантных войск (Prospects for the development of the airborne troops' weapons system) |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011011806/http://federalbook.ru/files/OPK/Soderjanie/OPK-10/III/Shamanov.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-11 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[2S37]] – future 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled gun-howitzer based on the BMD-4<ref name=":23" />

The VDV is equipped with numerous types of airborne capable trucks and jeeps, for example the [[Ural-4320]], the [[GAZ-66]]V and the GAZ-2975 "Tigr" for transporting cargo, specialist crews and equipment (e.g. mortars, ammunitions), but not infantry (all fighting paratroopers are transported in armoured vehicles). Currently, the GAZ-66 is being replaced by the [[KamAZ-4350]]1.<ref name="russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kamazexport.com/478.html|title=KAMAZ: Best for Homeland|date=29 June 2010|publisher=[[KAMAZ]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119010301/http://kamazexport.com/478.html|archive-date=19 November 2011|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>

=== UAVs ===
[[File:FinalCheck2018-08.jpg|thumb|A Granat-4 UAV of the 56th Guards Air Assault Brigade]]
* Compact recon complex "Iskatel" (The Seeker) with 2 UAVs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i-mash.ru/news/nov_otrasl/29246-iskatel-zavershil-prokhozhdenie-vojjskovykh.html|title=iskatel zavershil prokhozhdenie vojjskovykh|date=14 December 2012|language=ru|trans-title="Iskatel" Completes trials|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724111046/http://www.i-mash.ru/news/nov_otrasl/29246-iskatel-zavershil-prokhozhdenie-vojjskovykh.html|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>
* UAV complex Orlan-10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vpk-news.ru/news/33016 |title=Россия может стать экспортером БЛА &#124; Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер" |access-date=2016-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019085050/http://vpk-news.ru/news/33016 |archive-date=2016-10-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* UAV complex Granat<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/JBNj00dEQHU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170630084723/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBNj00dEQHU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBNj00dEQHU|title=Serbia: Russian Airborne ride quad bikes into action in joint drills|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* UAV complex Takhion<ref>[http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1107/104538001/detail.shtml Разведчики ВДВ РФ в ходе учений «Славянское братство-2016» используют модернизированные БЛА «Тахион»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109022702/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1107/104538001/detail.shtml |date=2016-11-09 }} armstrade.org. 2016</ref>
* Kamikaze FPV drone Boomerang<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1583005|title=Russia's top brass unveils video of VR headset-controlled drones hammering Kiev's troops|website=TASS}}</ref>
* [[ZALA Lancet]] kamikaze drone<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/0608/095573497/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / Барражирующий боеприпас «Ланцет-3» уничтожил РЛС ЗРК IRIS-T в зоне СВО }}</ref>
* Albatross M5 reconnaissance drone<ref>{{cite web| url=https://z.mil.ru/spec_mil_oper/news/more.htm?id=12470831@egNews | title=Расчет БпЛА Ивановского гвардейского соединения ВДВ обнаружили технику противника при помощи нового БпЛА «Альбатрос» (The UAV crew of the Ivanovo Guards Airborne Forces discovered enemy equipment using the new Albatross UAV) | access-date=2024-01-30 | language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tass.com/defense/1637239 | title=Russia's Albatros recon drones ferret out enemy strongholds in Ukraine operation }}</ref>

=== UGVs ===
* Hortenzia, Shanghai and Lyagushka UGVs<ref>{{cite web | last=Нуриева | first=Сакина | title=Российские военные применили на СВО наземные роботизированные беспилотники | website=Газета.Ru | date=2025-06-18 | url=https://www.gazeta.ru/army/news/2025/06/18/26059658.shtml | language=ru | access-date=2025-06-24}}</ref>

== Ranks and rank insignia ==
;Officer ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/Russia (Airborne Forces)}}
|}

;Other ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Russia (Airborne Forces)}}
|}

== Commanders of the Russian Airborne Forces ==
[[File:Flag of Russia's Commander-in-Chief of the Airborne Troops.svg|thumb|The flag of the Commander of the Airborne Forces]]
{{Main|Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Rank
! Period of command
|-
| [[Yevgeny Podkolzin]]
| [[Colonel general]]
| 7 May 1992 – 4 December 1996
|-
| [[Georgy Shpak]]
| Colonel general
| 4 December 1996 – 8 September 2003
|-
| [[Alexander Kolmakov]]
| Colonel general
| 8 September 2003 – 19 November 2007
|-
| [[Valery Yevtukhovich]]
| Colonel general
| 19 November 2007 – 6 May 2009
|-
| [[Nikolai Ignatov (general)|Nikolai Ignatov]]
| [[Lieutenant general]]
| 6 – 24 May 2009
|-
| [[Vladimir Shamanov]]
| Colonel general
| 26 May 2009 – 4 October 2016
|-
| [[Andrey Serdyukov]]
| Colonel general
| 4 October 2016 – 16 June 2022
|-
| [[Mikhail Teplinsky]]
| Colonel general
| 16 June 2022 – present
|}

== Traditions ==
{{main|Culture of the Russian Armed Forces}}
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 = vdv.gif
| caption1 = The older sleeve ensign of the Russian Airborne Forces
| image2 = Russian Airborne Troops patch.svg
| caption2 = The former sleeve badge of the Russian Airborne Forces
| width = 150
}}

=== Symbols ===
*Nickname(s): Blue Berets, Winged Infantry
*Patron: [[Elijah|Saint Elijah the Prophet]]
*Motto(s): Никто, кроме нас! (Nobody, but us!)
*Beret Color: [[Blue beret|Sky Blue]]

As late as 1999 many members of the Airborne Forces still wore the old patch of the Soviet VDV on their uniform, either by itself or along with the Russian Armed Forces patch, which had been issued in 1994.<ref name="Journal-Collection" />

=== Paratroopers' Day celebrations ===
{{Main|Paratroopers' Day}}
Russian airborne troops had their own holiday during the Soviet era, which continues to be celebrated on 2 August.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CuriosaDay |date=2024-08-02 |title=Paratroopers Day in Russia |url=https://curiosaday.substack.com/p/paratroopers-day-in-russia?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=CuriosaDay}}</ref> Their most emblematic mark of distinction is a blue beret. VDV soldiers are often called "blue berets". Each year, current and former paratroopers, often in an inebriated state, celebrate by meeting up and wandering city streets and parks. The day is notorious for two common sights: paratroopers frolicking in fountains and picking fights with hapless passers-by.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Northern Russian City Breaks Promise, Rejects Request for Gay Parade – News |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/mayor-of-northern-russian-city-breaks-promise-rejects-request-for-gay-parade/526157.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725175057/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/mayor-of-northern-russian-city-breaks-promise-rejects-request-for-gay-parade/526157.html |archive-date=2015-07-25 |access-date=2015-07-25 |work=The Moscow Times|date=24 July 2015 }}</ref> On Airborne Forces Day in many Russian cities, it is customary to turn off the fountains and hold veteran reunions near those fountains.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sib.fm/news/2012/08/02/vlasti-kemerovo-ne-dajut-desantnikam-iskupatsja-v-fontane|title=Власти Кемерова не дают десантникам искупаться в фонтане|website=sib.fm}}</ref>

=== Bands ===
{{Main|Russian military bands}}
The Combined Military Band of the Airborne Forces is an integral part of all the solemn events of the Airborne Forces. Every year, the band's personnel take part in the Victory Parade on [[Red Square]], as well as the opening ceremony of the [[International Army Games]]. In the ranks of the combined band were musicians of the military bands of the airborne and assault formations of the Airborne Forces. There were six other [[military band]]s in the airborne forces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Сводный оркестр Воздушно-десантных войск — Спасская башня|url=https://spasstower.ru/participants/combined-band-of-the-russian-airborne-forces/|access-date=2020-09-07|website=spasstower.ru}}</ref>

The Song and Dance Ensemble of the Airborne Forces is the theatrical troupe of the VDV. It began its creative activity in 1937, as the Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble of the [[Kiev Military District]], numbering only 18 people. On 3 May 1945, three days after the signing of the German armistice, the ensemble gave a concert on the steps of the destroyed [[Reichstag building|Reichstag]].<ref name="autogeneratedmil">{{cite web|url=http://sc.mil.ru/social/culture/ensembles/more.htm?id=9814@morfOrgCulture|access-date=2020-09-07|website=sc.mil.ru|title=Ансамбль песни и пляски Воздушно-десантных войск : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации}}</ref>

During the Cold War, the unit was known as the Song and Dance Ensemble of the [[Group of Soviet Forces in Germany]]. During this time, it had participated in concerts in the cities of [[East Germany]], [[Czechoslovakia]], and [[Poland]]. It gained its current status in 1994. The Song and Dance Ensemble also contains the [[Blue Berets (performers)|Blue Berets]] musical group.<ref name="autogeneratedmil"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Ryazan BMD4M-1200-7.jpg|The [[137th Guards Airborne Regiment]] troops in front of the [[BMD-4|BMD-4M]] vehicle.
File:Inspection2018-08.jpg|The [[31st Guards Air Assault Brigade]] during inspection.
File:Iveco LMV Lynx of the Russian Airborne Troops 10.jpg|Scout of the [[106th Guards Airborne Division]]
File:FinalCheck2018-18.jpg|Final check of the [[56th Guards Air Assault Regiment]]
File:83AABAirborneExercise2017-45.jpg|Paratroopers of the [[83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade]] during an exercise.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Special Operations Forces (Russia)]]
* [[Ukrainian Air Assault Forces]]
* [[List of Russian military bases]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources==
*{{Cite web |last=Elfving |first=Jörgen |title=An Assessment of the Russian Airborne Troops and Their Role on Tomorrow's Battlefield |date=April 2021 |work=[[Jamestown Foundation]] |url=https://jamestown.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Jorgen-Russian-Airborne-Troops.pdf }}
*{{Cite book |last=McNab |first=Chris |title=The Great Bear at War: The Russian and Soviet Army, 1917-present |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-4728-3652-6 }}
*{{Cite book |last=Thornton |first=Rod |title=Organizational Change in the Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of the Georgian Conflict |year=2011 |publisher=[[Strategic Studies Institute]], [[U.S. Army War College]] |location=Carlisle, PA |isbn=978-1-58487-519-2 }}
*{{Cite book |last=Zaloga |first=Steven J. |title=Inside the Blue Berets: A Combat History of Soviet and Russian Airborne Forces, 1930–1995 |year=1995 |publisher=Presidio Press |isbn=978-0-89141-399-8 }}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Austin | first1 = Greg | author-link1 =  | last2 = Muraviev | first2 = Alexey D. | author-link2 =  | date = 2000-06-21 | title = Red Star East: The Armed Forces of Russia in Asia | url = https://archive.org/details/armedforcesofrus0000aust | url-access = registration | language =  | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | isbn = 978-1864485981 | lccn = 2001276255 | oclc = 859420476 | ol = OL38565480M | access-date =  | via = [[Internet Archive]] | df = dmy-all}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Bonn | first1 = Keith E. | author-link1 =  | date = 2004-11-07 | title = Slaughterhouse : The Handbook of the Eastern front | url =  | url-access =  | language =  | publisher = The Aberjona Press | isbn = 978-0971765092 | lccn =  | oclc = 1170020077 | ol = OL8565591M | access-date =  | df = dmy-all}}
*{{cite web | url = http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/sssr-89-91/vdv.htm | script-title = ru:Состав и дислокация Воздушно-десантных войск | trans-title = The composition and deployment of the Airborne Forces | date = n.d. | website = brinkster.com | language = ru | access-date = 2022-06-21 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131210231617/http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/sssr-89-91/vdv.htm | archive-date = 2013-12-10 | df = dmy-all}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Feskov | first1 = V.I. | first2 = K.A. | last2 = Kalashnikov | first3 = V.I. | last3 = Golikov| date = 2000-06-21 | script-title = ru:Sovetskai︠a︡ Armii︠a︡ v gody "kholodnoĭ voĭny," 1945-1991 | trans-title = The Soviet Army in the Years of the 'Cold War' (1945–1991) | url =  | url-access =  | language = ru | publisher = [[Tomsk State University|Tomsk University Press]] | isbn = 5-7511-1819-7 | lccn = 61109861 | oclc = 859420476 | ol = OL38565480M | access-date =  | df = dmy-all}}
* {{Cite book|script-title=ru:Вооруженные силы СССР после Второй Мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской|last1=Feskov|first1=V.I.|last2=Golikov|first2=V.I.|last3=Kalashnikov|first3=K.A.|last4=Slugin|first4=S.A.|publisher=Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing|year=2013|isbn=9785895035306|location=Tomsk|language=ru|trans-title=The Armed Forces of the USSR after World War II: From the Red Army to the Soviet: Part 1 Land Forces}}
* Glantz, David, ''The Soviet Airborne Experience'', Research Survey No. 4, Combat Studies Institute, November 1984.
* Isby, David C., ''Weapons and tactics of the Soviet Army'', Jane's Publishing Company, London 1988
* Schofield, Carey, ''The Russian Elite: Inside Spetsnaz and the Airborne Forces'', Stackpole/Greenhill, 1993
* Simpkin, Richard, ''Red Armour: An examination of the Soviet Mobile Force Concept'', Brassey's Defence Publishers, London, 1984
* Staskov, Lt. Gen. N.V., ''1943 Dnepr Airborne Operation: Lessons and Conclusions'', Military Thought, Vol. 12, No.4, 2003 (in Russian)
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.mil.ru/ Official web site of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation] {{in lang|ru}}
* [http://www.desantura.ru/ "Desantura"] {{in lang|ru}}
* [http://eng.armygames2016.mil.ru/page190811.html Airborne platoon]

{{Russian Airborne Forces}}
{{Armed Forces of the Russian Federation}}

[[Category:Airborne units and formations of Russia| 01]]
[[Category:Military parachuting in Russia]]
[[Category:Rapid reaction force units and formations]]
[[Category:Russian Armed Forces]]