Probably every adult man and most women in the country are well aware that the 345th (Airborne) regiment is legendary. Fame became widespread after the release of the cult feature film by F. Bondarchuk "9th Company", which poignantly told about the battle near Khost, where the 9th Airborne Company of this regiment heroically died.

Start

The regiment was finally formed on New Year's Eve, December 30, when almost six months remained before the Great Victory. Forty-fourth, the town of Lapichi near Mogilev in Belarus, liberated and tormented by the Nazis. It was from here that Regiment 345 (Airborne Forces) went on the paths of war. The regiment was originally a rifle regiment - based on the Fourteenth Guards Airborne Brigade.

The final renaming took place in June 1946. From July of the same year until 1960, the 345th (VDV) regiment was stationed in Kostroma, after, until December 1979, in Fergana, joining the 105th Guards Airborne Division.

Continuation

Already in 1946, the regimental banner carried with honor Until the end of the victorious year, the regiment guarded the peace of Hungary. For the high level of military training, the Minister of Defense of the USSR awarded Regiment 345 (VDV) with a pennant "For Courage and Military Valor". The regiment practically did not see this world, constantly being in the hottest spots of the country and the planet.

In total, from 1979 to 1998, the regiment, without interruption for a single day, participated in various armed conflicts and wars, and so eighteen years and five months passed. Then, on December 14, 1979, no one knew about it yet. With the status of "separate", the 345th airborne regiment, Bagram, also receives a new assignment.

Afghanistan

Soviet troops had not yet entered this neighboring country, and the second battalion was already helping the 111th Guards Airborne Regiment to guard the Bagram airfield. Our military transport helicopters and planes were based there. The ninth company in the amount of eighty people at the end of December 1979 had already stormed Amin's palace (as part of the Fortieth Army). In 1980, unparalleled heroism and courage earned another award - the Order of the Red Banner.

Retrofitting

In the spring of 1982, new equipment came to 3 Bagram. Afghanistan did not win back until our troops left the country. In 2002, the Americans began to use the airfield built by the powerful Soviet efforts and our largest military base.

The new landing equipment of the early eighties was more adapted to partisan operations in the mountains. BMD landing) did not interfere with fragments of mines, and regular BTR-70 and BMP-2 well protected the airborne soldiers sitting inside. The 345th Airborne Regiment in Afghanistan was pleased with the new equipment, despite the fact that they loved the old car very much - powerful, maneuverable and fast.

no longer parachute

The staff structure of the unit also changed for the better: the regimental armament received an effective tool for firepower - a howitzer division (D-30) and a tank company (T-62). It was practically impossible to land with parachutes here - the mountainous terrain was too difficult, therefore, as unnecessary, landing support in the form of airborne service units was removed.

The enemy did not have aviation and armored vehicles, so both the anti-aircraft missile and anti-tank batteries went where they were needed: to cover the columns on the marches from Bagram and to Bagram. The 345th Airborne Regiment thus became more like a motorized rifle regiment.

Revisiting the album

The tasks during the hostilities in Afghanistan were of a very different nature: the soldiers guarded the roads and directly the motorcades on the way, cleared the mountainous areas, set up ambushes, went on raids, both individually and in support of the "Commandos" and "KHAD", helped the units government police ... What can be seen in the photo albums of those years? Here in the photo - 345 Airborne Regiment. Kunduz. The fighters smile, seemingly serenely, but their weapons, if not in their hands, then close, close ...

Looking at the photographs, you understand how much dangerous work, requiring the utmost professionalism, was carried out by the fighters. Here is another page. Again 345 Airborne Regiment. Bagram (Afghanistan). The photo does not convey even the smallest fraction of the dangers that fighters lay in wait every minute for a long and bloody nine years. Nine years of daily losses. It's good that the 345th Airborne Regiment managed to take photos and managed to save them. Amazing inner composure in poses, at first glance, calm, even relaxed. Years later, many want to figure out why the victory did not come. Such strong people in the photographs. Confident and very, very beautiful. And high, dizzying mountains around.

Work

Any military operation in the highlands has a fifty-fifty chance of success. A frontal offensive is possible only in certain directions. Artillery, no matter how ironed the nearby mountains, rarely justifies the effort. It is necessary to radically change both tactics and forms of maneuver. The main thing is to capture all the dominant heights. For this, there is a helicopter landing where there is little help from the "bypassing" detachments, which most often do not reach the goal, because sheer cliffs stand in their way, then insurmountable gorges gape.

Detours and paths are long and dangerous to look for. Alpinist units would have helped, but there were none in the 345th Airborne Regiment. they checked the Soviet paratroopers in all respects: endurance, psychological stability, strength, endurance, mutual assistance - everything turned out to be in place. At altitudes of 3-4 thousand meters, reconnaissance was carried out for 2-3 weeks, on foot, with a load of 40 kilograms on each back, with a complete ambiguity of the situation. When you don't know when and where to expect an attack. For a week in the mountains, paratroopers lost up to 10 kilograms of their own weight.

Whose war is this?

In April 1978, Afghanistan was shaken by a revolution that brought the PDPA party to power, which immediately proclaimed socialism in the Soviet version. The US, of course, did not like it. Mohammad Taraki was elected the leader of the country, and his comrade-in-arms, even the closest one, who graduated from a university in the United States, became the prime minister. Taraki asked L. Brezhnev to send troops. But the General Secretary of the CPSU was a kind man, but cautious. He refused.

Probably, it was necessary to be bolder in defending their interests in neighboring territories. The experience was acquired - heavy and terrible. By order of Amin, Taraki, who was a great friend of Brezhnev, was first arrested, then strangled. By the way, immediately after he was arrested, the USSR Secretary General personally asked Amin to save Taraki's life. But Amin had already enlisted the support of the United States by that time and was not going to follow the lead of his closest neighbor.

chagrin

Brezhnev was upset to the core. Therefore, on December 12, 1979, at a meeting of the Politburo, the question of the situation in Afghanistan was raised. The decision to use the Soviet armed forces in this war was supported by Gromyko, Ustinov and Andropov. Agarkov and Kosygin opposed. By a majority of votes, the start of the war was laid.

Here, as if in parentheses, that is, in a whisper, it must be admitted that since July 1979, troops have been quietly transferred to Afghanistan: KGB special forces and the Airborne Forces, for example, including the Alpha, Zenit, Thunder units .. And even the "Muslim Battalion" began to explore Afghanistan by autumn.

The 345th Airborne Regiment was sent there as one of the first landing units. And on December 25, 1979, the troops of the USSR had already openly crossed the state border into Afghanistan. Literally two days later, Amin's residence was stormed, and he himself was killed. In these battles, the regiment suffered its first losses. Eight guardsmen of the 345th Airborne Regiment will never hug their relatives again. These losses were not the last ...

Sanctions

Like the Olympics in our country, so the war in the neighborhood is traditional. As early as January 2, 1980, the US began sanctions over the war in Afghanistan. One of them was the refusal to participate in the Olympics-80. One hundred and four member states of the UN supported the sanctions. Only eighteen - no.

And in Afghanistan, a leader loyal to the USSR appeared - the United States, of course, did not leave it like that. Already in February, uprisings against the PDPA broke out one after another in Afghanistan. Money (and more often promises) plus a crazy herd - that's the uprising ready. And then the massacre began. Bloody nine years and two months. Only on February 11, 1989, the 345th (VDV) regiment left Afghanistan.

Phoenix rising from the ashes

On April 13, 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation 345 (VDV), the regiment was disbanded. The combat banner and awards are stored in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces. Copies were handed over to Nowhere and never once dropped the honor of the Soviet army, observed all military traditions and faithfully, regardless of life and death, carried out all combat missions, the glorious 345th Airborne Regiment was disbanded, not even allowing it to set foot on native land. Sixty-four kilometers remained to Russia.

The memory will never fade. In many cities, veterans of the Airborne Forces have created organizations to prevent this from happening. Honor the 345th Airborne Regiment Novosibirsk, Ryazan, Moscow, many cities of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, all territories of the former Soviet Union.

More recently, V. Shamanov confirmed that the airborne troops will receive a newly formed separate assault brigade, numbered 345 - in honor of the legendary parachute regiment, which has more than seventy years of history. The formation will end in 2016 in Voronezh.

The Russian airborne troops are designed to perform various combat missions behind enemy lines, destroy combat points, cover various units, and many other tasks. Airborne divisions in peacetime often play the role of rapid reaction forces in the event of emergency situations requiring military intervention. The Russian Airborne Forces carry out their tasks immediately after landing, for which helicopters or airplanes are used.

The history of the appearance of the airborne troops of Russia

The history of the Airborne Forces began at the end of 1930. It was then, on the basis of the 11th Infantry Division, that a detachment of a fundamentally new type was created - an airborne landing squadron. This detachment was the prototype of the first Soviet landing unit. In 1932, this detachment became known as the Special Purpose Aviation Brigade. With this name, the units of the Airborne Forces existed until 1938, in which they were renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade.

The first use of landing in the USSR in a combat operation took place in 1929 (after which it was decided to create such units). Then the Soviet Red Army soldiers were parachuted in the area of ​​the Tajik city of Garm, which was captured by a gang of Basmachi bandits who came to the territory of Tajikistan from abroad. Despite the superior number of the enemy, I act decisively and boldly, the Red Army completely defeated the gang.

Many argue whether this operation should be considered a full-fledged landing, since a detachment of Red Army soldiers was landed after the plane landed, and did not parachute. One way or another, the day of the Airborne Forces is not dedicated to this date, but is celebrated in honor of the first full-fledged landing of the group near the Klochkovo farm near Voronezh, which was carried out as part of military exercises.

In 1931, by special order number 18, an experienced airborne detachment was created, whose task was to find out the scope and purpose of the airborne troops. This freelance detachment consisted of 164 members of the personnel and included:

• One rifle company;
• Several separate platoons (communications, sapper and light vehicles platoon);
• Heavy bomber squadrons;
• One corps aviation detachment.

Already in 1932, all such detachments were deployed into special battalions, and by the end of 1933 there were 29 such battalions and brigades. The task of training aviation instructors and developing special standards was entrusted to the Leningrad military district.

In the pre-war period, landing troops were used by the high command to strike at the rear of the enemy, to help soldiers who were surrounded, and so on. In the 1930s, the Red Army was very serious about practical training paratroopers. In 1935, during the maneuvers, an assault was landed in total 2,500 people, along with military equipment. The following year, the number of paratroopers was more than tripled, which made a huge impression on the military delegations of foreign states that were invited to the maneuvers.

The first real battle involving Soviet paratroopers took place in 1939. Although this incident is described by Soviet historians as an ordinary military conflict, Japanese historians consider it to be a real local war. The 212 Airborne Brigade participated in the battles for Khalkhin Gol. Since the use of a fundamentally new paratrooper tactic turned out to be a complete surprise for the Japanese, the airborne troops brilliantly proved what they were capable of.

Participation of the Airborne Forces in the Great Patriotic War

Before the start of World War II, all airborne brigades were deployed into corps. In each corps there were more than 10,000 people, whose weapons were the most advanced at that time. On September 4, 1941, all parts of the Airborne Forces were transferred to the direct subordination of the commander of the airborne troops (the first commander of the Airborne Forces was Lieutenant General Glazunov, who remained in this position until 1943). After that, they were formed:

• 10 Airborne Corps;
• 5 maneuverable airborne brigades of the Airborne Forces;
• Spare regiments of the Airborne Forces;
• Airborne School.

Before the start of the Second World War, the airborne troops were an independent branch of the armed forces that were capable of solving a wide range of tasks.

The regiments of the Airborne Forces were widely involved in the counteroffensive, as well as various military operations, including assistance and support for other types of troops. Throughout the years of the Great Patriotic War, the Airborne Forces proved their effectiveness.

In 1944, the Airborne Forces were reorganized into the Guards Airborne Army. She became part of the long-range aviation. On December 18 of the same year, this army was renamed the 9th Guards Army, it included all brigades, divisions and regiments of the Airborne Forces. At the same time, a separate department of the Airborne Forces was created, which was subordinate to the commander of the air force.

Airborne troops in the post-war period

In 1946, all brigades and divisions of the Airborne Forces were transferred to the ground forces. They were subordinate to the Ministry of Defense, being a reserve type of troops of the Supreme Commander.

In 1956, the Airborne Forces again had to take part in an armed skirmish. Together with other types of troops, the paratroopers were sent to suppress the Hungarian uprising against the pro-Soviet regime.

In 1968, two divisions of the Airborne Forces participated in the events in Czechoslovakia, where they provided full support to all formations and units of this operation.

After the war, all units and brigades of the airborne troops received the latest models of firearms and many pieces of military equipment made specifically for the airborne forces. Over the years, samples of airborne equipment have been created:

• Tracked armored vehicles BTR-D and BMD;
• Cars TPK and GAZ-66;
• Self-propelled guns ASU-57, ASU-85.

In addition, they created the most complex systems for parachute landing of all the listed equipment. Since the new technology needed large transport aircraft for landing, new models of large-body aircraft were created that could carry out parachute landing of armored vehicles and vehicles.

The airborne troops of the USSR were the first in the world to receive their own armored vehicles, which were developed specifically for them. At all major exercises, troops were airdropped along with armored vehicles, which constantly amazed the representatives of foreign states present at the exercises. The number of specialized transport aircraft capable of landing was so great that in just one sortie it was possible to parachute all the equipment and 75 percent of the personnel of an entire division.

In the fall of 1979, the 105th Airborne Division was disbanded. This division was trained to fight in the mountains and deserts, and was deployed in the Uzbek and Kirghiz SSR. In the same year, Soviet troops were introduced into the territory of Afghanistan. Since the 105th division was disbanded, the 103rd division was sent instead, the personnel of which did not have the slightest idea and training for combat operations in mountainous and desert regions. Numerous losses among the paratroopers showed what a huge mistake the command made, recklessly deciding to disband the 105th Airborne Division.

Airborne troops during the Afghan war

The following divisions and brigades of the Airborne Forces and air assault formations went through the Afghan war:

• Airborne Division 103 (which was sent to Afghanistan to replace the disbanded 103 Division);
• 56 OGRDSHBR (separate airborne assault brigade);
• Parachute Regiment;
• 2 battalions of the DSHB, which were part of the motorized rifle brigades.

Total in Afghan war about 20 percent of the paratroopers participated. Due to the peculiarity of the relief of Afghanistan, the use of parachute landing in the highlands was unjustified, so the delivery of paratroopers was carried out using the landing method. Deaf mountainous areas were often inaccessible to armored vehicles, so the entire blow of the Afghan militants had to be taken on by the personnel of the Airborne Forces.

Despite the division of the Airborne Forces into airborne assault and airborne units, all units had to act according to the same scheme, and they had to fight in unfamiliar terrain, with an enemy for whom these mountains were their home.

About half of the airborne troops were dispersed among various outposts and control points of the country, which other parts of the army were supposed to do. Although this hindered the movement of the enemy, it was unwise to misuse elite troops trained in a completely different manner of combat. The paratroopers had to perform the functions of ordinary motorized rifle units.

The largest operation involving Soviet airborne units (after the operation of the Second World War) is considered the 5th Panjshir Operation, which was carried out from May to June 1982. During this operation, about 4,000 paratroopers of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division were landed from helicopters. In three days, Soviet troops (of which there were about 12,000, including paratroopers) almost completely established control over the Panjshir Gorge, although the losses were huge.

Realizing that the special armored vehicles of the Airborne Forces are ineffective in Afghanistan, since most of the operations had to be carried out together with motorized rifle battalions, BMD-1 and BTR-D began to be systematically replaced with standard equipment of motorized rifle units. Light armor and a low resource of light vehicles did not bring any advantages in the Afghan war. This replacement took place from 1982 to 1986. At the same time, the landing units were reinforced with artillery and tank units.

Airborne assault formations, their differences from paratrooper units

Along with the parachute units, in air force there were also air assault units that were directly subordinate to the commanders of the military districts. Their difference was in various tasks, subordination and organizational structure. The uniform, armament, training of personnel did not differ in any way from paratrooper formations.

The main reason for the creation of air assault formations in the second half of the 60s of the 20th century was the development of a new strategy and tactics for waging a full-scale war with a prospective enemy.

This strategy was based on the use of massive landings behind enemy lines, with the aim of disorganizing the defense and causing panic in the ranks of the enemy. Since the army fleet was equipped by this time with a sufficient number of transport helicopters, it became possible to conduct large-scale operations using large groups of paratroopers.

In the 80s, 14 brigades, 2 regiments and 20 battalions of air assault battalions were deployed throughout the USSR. One DShB brigade accounted for one military district. The main difference between the parachute and air assault units was as follows:

• The parachute formations were provided with specialized airborne equipment by 100 percent, and the air assault formations had only 25 percent of the staffing of such armored vehicles. This can be explained by the various combat missions that these formations were supposed to perform;
• Parts of the parachute troops were subordinate only directly to the command of the Airborne Forces, in contrast to the air assault units, which were subordinate to the command of the military districts. This was done for greater mobility and efficiency in the event of a need for a sudden landing;
• The tasks of these formations also differed significantly from each other. The air assault units were to be used for operations in the immediate rear of the enemy or in the territory occupied by the front-line units of the enemy, in order to cause panic and disrupt the plans of the enemy by their actions, while the main parts of the army were to hit him. Parachute units were intended for landing deep behind enemy lines, and their landing was to be carried out non-stop. At the same time, the military training of both formations was practically no different, although the intended tasks of the paratrooper units were much more difficult;
• The parachute units of the Airborne Forces have always been deployed to the fullest extent and equipped with cars and armored vehicles by 100 percent. Many air assault brigades were incomplete and did not bear the title of "Guards". The only exceptions were three brigades, which were formed on the basis of parachute regiments and were called "Guards".

The difference between regiments and brigades was that there were only two battalions in the regiment. In addition, the composition of the regimental kit in the regiments was often reduced.

To this day, there is still controversy about whether the Soviet army parts special purpose, or this function performed by the Airborne Forces. The fact is that in the USSR (as in modern Russia) there have never been separate special forces. Instead, they were part of the special purpose GRU of the General Staff.

Although these units have existed since 1950, their existence remained a secret until the late 80s. Since the uniform of the special forces units did not differ in any way from the uniform of other parts of the Airborne Forces, often not only the inhabitants did not know about their existence, but even the conscripts found out about it only at the time of admission to the personnel.

Since the main tasks of the special forces were reconnaissance and sabotage activities, they were united with the Airborne Forces only by uniforms, airborne training of personnel and the possibility of using special forces for operations behind enemy lines.

Vasily Filippovich Margelov - "father" of the Airborne Forces

A huge role in the development of the airborne troops, the development of the theory of their use and the development of weapons belongs to the commander of the Airborne Forces from 1954 to 1979, Vasily Filippovich Margelov. It is in his honor that the Airborne Forces are jokingly called "Uncle Vasya's troops." Margelov laid the foundation for the positioning of the airborne troops as highly mobile units with high firepower and protected by reliable armor. It was this kind of troops that were supposed to deliver quick and unexpected strikes against the enemy in a nuclear war. At the same time, the task of the Airborne Forces should in no case include the long-term retention of captured objects or positions, since in this case the landing force would certainly be destroyed by the regular units of the enemy army.

Under the influence of Margelov, special samples of small arms were developed for the Airborne Forces units, allowing them to effectively fire even at the time of landing, special models of cars and armored vehicles, and the creation of new transport aircraft designed for landing and armored vehicles.

It was on the initiative of Margelov that a special symbolism of the Airborne Forces was created, familiar to all modern Russians - a vest and a blue beret, which are the pride of every paratrooper.

In the history of the airborne troops, there are several interesting facts that few people know:

• Specialized airborne units, which were the predecessors of the Airborne Forces, appeared during the Second World War. At that time, no other army in the world had such units. The airborne army was supposed to carry out operations in the German rear. Seeing that the Soviet command created a fundamentally new branch of the military, the Anglo-American command also created its own airborne army in 1944. However, this army never managed to take part in the hostilities during the Second World War;
• During the Second World War, several tens of thousands of people who served in the airborne units received many orders and medals of various degrees, and 12 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union;
• After the end of the Second World War, the airborne troops of the USSR were the most numerous among such units in the whole world. Moreover, by official version, the airborne troops of the Russian Federation are the most numerous in the whole world, to this day;
• Soviet paratroopers are the only ones who managed to land in full combat gear at the North Pole, and this operation was carried out back in the late 40s;
• Only in the practice of Soviet paratroopers was landing from many kilometers in combat vehicles.

Airborne Forces Day - the main holiday of the airborne troops of Russia

August 2 is the day of the airborne troops of Russia, or as it is also called - the day of the Airborne Forces. This holiday is celebrated on the basis of a decree of the President of the Russian Federation and is very popular among all paratroopers who have served or are serving in the airborne troops. On the day of the Airborne Forces, demonstrations, processions, concerts, sporting events and festivities are held.

Unfortunately, Airborne Forces Day is considered the most unpredictable and scandalous holiday in Russia. Often paratroopers organize riots, pogroms and fights. As a rule, these are people who have served in the army for a long time, but they want to diversify their civilian life, therefore, on the day of the airborne troops, patrol squads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are traditionally strengthened, which keep order in public places in Russian cities. In recent years, there has been a steady downward trend in the number of fights and pogroms on the day of the Airborne Forces. The paratroopers learn to celebrate their holiday in a civilized way, because riots and pogroms dishonor the name of the defender of the Motherland.

Flag and emblem of the airborne troops

The flag of the airborne troops, along with the emblem, is a symbol of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation. The emblem of the Airborne Forces is of three types:

• The small emblem of the Airborne Forces is a golden fiery grenade with wings;
• The middle emblem of the Airborne Forces is a double-headed eagle with open wings. In one paw he has a sword, and in the other - a grenada with wings. The chest of the eagle covers the shield, with the image of George the Victorious, slaying the dragon;
• The large emblem of the Airborne Forces is a copy of grenada on the small emblem, only it is in the heraldic shield, which is bordered by a round wreath of oak leaves, while the emblem adorns the top of the wreath Armed Forces RF.

The flag of the airborne troops of the Russian Federation was established on June 14, 2004 by order of the Ministry of Defense. The flag of the airborne troops is a rectangular blue panel. There is a green stripe at the bottom of it. The center of the flag of the airborne troops is decorated with the image of a golden parachute with a paratrooper. On both sides of the parachute are airplanes.

Despite all the difficulties that the Russian army experienced in the 90s, it managed to maintain the glorious traditions of the Airborne Forces, the structure of which today is an example for many armies in the world.

The Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation is a separate branch of the Russian armed forces, located in the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the country and directly subordinate to the Commander of the Airborne Forces. At the moment, this position is held (since October 2016) by Colonel General Serdyukov.

The purpose of the airborne troops is operations behind enemy lines, carrying out deep raids, capturing important enemy facilities, bridgeheads, disrupting enemy communications and enemy control, and conducting sabotage in his rear. The Airborne Forces were created primarily as an effective tool for offensive warfare. To cover the enemy and operate in his rear, the Airborne Forces can use landing - both parachute and landing.

The airborne troops are rightfully considered the elite of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, in order to get into this branch of the troops, candidates must meet very high criteria. First of all, it concerns physical health and psychological stability. And this is natural: the paratroopers carry out their tasks behind enemy lines, without the support of their main forces, the supply of ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded.

The Soviet Airborne Forces were created in the 30s, the further development of this type of troops was rapid: by the beginning of the war, five airborne corps were deployed in the USSR, with a strength of 10 thousand people each. The USSR Airborne Forces played an important role in the victory over the Nazi invaders. The paratroopers actively participated in the Afghan war. The Russian airborne troops were officially created on May 12, 1992, they went through both Chechen campaigns, and participated in the war with Georgia in 2008.

The flag of the Airborne Forces is a blue panel with a green stripe at the bottom. In its center is an image of an open golden parachute and two planes of the same color. The flag was officially approved in 2004.

In addition to the flag, there is also the emblem of this type of troops. This is a flaming golden-colored grenada with two wings. There is also a medium and large airborne emblem. The middle emblem depicts a double-headed eagle with a crown on its head and a shield with George the Victorious in the center. In one paw, the eagle holds a sword, and in the other, a flaming grenada of the Airborne Forces. On the large emblem, grenada is placed on a blue heraldic shield framed by an oak wreath. In its upper part is a double-headed eagle.

In addition to the emblem and flag of the Airborne Forces, there is also the motto of the Airborne Forces: "No one but us." The paratroopers even have their own heavenly patron - Saint Elijah.

The professional holiday of the paratroopers is the Day of the Airborne Forces. It is celebrated on August 2nd. On this day in 1930, the first parachute landing of a unit was made to perform a combat mission. On August 2, Airborne Forces Day is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The airborne troops of Russia are armed with both conventional types military equipment, and samples designed specifically for this type of troops, taking into account the specifics of its tasks.

It is difficult to name the exact number of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, this information is secret. However, according to unofficial data obtained from Russian Ministry defense, it is about 45 thousand fighters. Foreign estimates of the number of this type of troops are somewhat more modest - 36 thousand people.

The history of the creation of the Airborne Forces

The birthplace of the Airborne Forces is Soviet Union. It was in the USSR that the first airborne unit was created, this happened in 1930. First, a small detachment appeared, which was part of an ordinary rifle division. On August 2, the first parachute landing was successfully carried out during exercises at the training ground near Voronezh.

However, the first use of paratroopers in military affairs occurred even earlier, in 1929. During the siege of the Tajik city of Garm by anti-Soviet rebels, a detachment of Red Army soldiers was parachuted there, which made it possible to unblock the settlement as soon as possible.

Two years later, a special purpose brigade was formed on the basis of the detachment, and in 1938 it was renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade. In 1932, by decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, special-purpose aviation battalions were created, in 1933 their number reached 29 units. They were part of the Air Force, and their main task was to disorganize the rear of the enemy and carry out sabotage.

It should be noted that the development of the landing troops in the Soviet Union was very rapid and rapid. No expense was spared on them. In the 1930s, the country experienced a real parachute boom, skydiving towers were located in almost every stadium.

During the exercises of the Kyiv military district in 1935, a massive parachute landing was practiced for the first time. The following year, an even more massive landing was carried out in the Belarusian military district. Foreign military observers invited to the exercises were amazed by the scale of the landings and the skill of the Soviet paratroopers.

Before the start of the war, airborne corps were created in the USSR, each of them included up to 10 thousand fighters. In April 1941, by order of the Soviet military leadership, five airborne corps were deployed in the western regions of the country, after the German attack (in August 1941), the formation of five more airborne corps began. A few days before the German invasion (June 12), the Directorate of the Airborne Forces was created, and in September 1941, the paratrooper units were withdrawn from the command of the fronts. Each corps of the Airborne Forces was a very formidable force: in addition to well-trained personnel, it was armed with artillery and light amphibious tanks.

In addition to the landing corps, the Red Army also included mobile landing brigades (five units), spare regiments of the Airborne Forces (five units) and educational establishments who trained paratroopers.

The Airborne Forces made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders. The airborne units played a particularly important role in the initial - the most difficult - period of the war. Despite the fact that the airborne troops are intended for offensive operations and have a minimum of heavy weapons (compared to other branches of the military), at the beginning of the war, paratroopers were often used to “patch holes”: in defense, to eliminate sudden German breakthroughs, to release of the encircled Soviet troops. Because of this practice, the paratroopers suffered unreasonably high losses, and the effectiveness of their use decreased. Often, the preparation of landing operations left much to be desired.

Airborne units took part in the defense of Moscow, as well as in the subsequent counteroffensive. The 4th Corps of the Airborne Forces was parachuted in the winter of 1942 during the Vyazemsky landing operation. In 1943, during the crossing of the Dnieper, two airborne brigades were thrown behind enemy lines. Another major landing operation was carried out in Manchuria in August 1945. In its course, 4,000 fighters were parachuted by landing.

In October 1944, the Soviet Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate Guards Army of the Airborne Forces, and in December of the same year, into the 9th Guards Army. Airborne divisions have become ordinary rifle divisions. At the end of the war, the paratroopers took part in the liberation of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. The 9th Guards Army ended its glorious military career on the Elbe.

In 1946, the landing units were introduced into the Ground Forces and were subordinate to the country's Minister of Defense.

In 1956, Soviet paratroopers participated in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and in the mid-60s they played a key role in pacifying another country that wanted to leave the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia.

After the end of the war, the world entered the era of confrontation between the two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. The plans of the Soviet leadership were by no means limited only to defense, so the airborne troops developed especially actively during this period. Emphasis was placed on increasing the firepower of the Airborne Forces. For this, a whole range of airborne equipment was developed, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, automobile transport. The fleet of military transport aircraft was significantly increased. In the 1970s, large-capacity wide-body transport aircraft were created, which made it possible to transport not only personnel, but also heavy military equipment. By the end of the 80s, the state of the military transport aviation of the USSR was such that it could ensure the parachute drop of almost 75% of the personnel of the Airborne Forces in one sortie.

At the end of the 60s, a new type of units that were part of the Airborne Forces was created - airborne assault units (DShCh). They were not much different from the rest of the Airborne Forces, but they were subordinate to the command of groups of troops, armies or corps. The reason for the creation of the DShCh was a change in the tactical plans prepared by Soviet strategists in the event of a full-scale war. After the start of the conflict, it was planned to “break” the enemy defenses with the help of massive landings landed in the immediate rear of the enemy.

In the mid-1980s, the USSR Ground Forces included 14 air assault brigades, 20 battalions and 22 separate air assault regiments.

In 1979, the war in Afghanistan began, and the Soviet Airborne Forces took an active part in it. During this conflict, the paratroopers had to engage in counter-guerrilla struggle, of course, there was no talk of any parachute landing. The delivery of personnel to the place of combat operations took place with the help of armored vehicles or vehicles, landing by landing method from helicopters was less often used.

The paratroopers were often used to guard the numerous outposts and roadblocks scattered throughout the country. Typically, airborne units performed missions more suited to motorized rifle units.

It should be noted that in Afghanistan, the paratroopers used military equipment of the ground forces, which was more suitable for the harsh conditions of this country than their own. Also, parts of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan were reinforced with additional artillery and tank units.

After the collapse of the USSR, the division of its armed forces began. These processes also affected the paratroopers. They were able to finally divide the Airborne Forces only by 1992, after which the Russian Airborne Forces were created. They included all units that were located on the territory of the RSFSR, as well as part of the divisions and brigades that were previously located in other republics of the USSR.

In 1993, the Russian Airborne Forces included six divisions, six air assault brigades and two regiments. In 1994, in Kubinka near Moscow, on the basis of two battalions, the 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces (the so-called special forces of the Airborne Forces) was created.

The 1990s became a serious test for the Russian landing troops (as well as for the entire army, by the way). The number of the Airborne Forces was seriously reduced, some of the units were disbanded, the paratroopers became subordinate to the Ground Forces. Army aviation was transferred to the Air Force, which significantly worsened the mobility of the Airborne Forces.

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation took part in both Chechen campaigns, in 2008 the paratroopers were involved in the Ossetian conflict. The Airborne Forces have repeatedly taken part in peacekeeping operations (for example, in the former Yugoslavia). Airborne units regularly participate in international exercises, they guard Russian military bases abroad (Kyrgyzstan).

The structure and composition of the airborne troops of the Russian Federation

Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces consist of command and control structures, combat units and units, as well as various institutions that provide them.

Structurally, the Airborne Forces have three main components:

• Airborne. It includes all airborne units.
• Air assault. Consists of air assault units.
• Mountain. It includes air assault units designed to operate in mountainous areas.

At the moment, the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation include four divisions, as well as separate brigades and regiments. Airborne troops, composition:

• 76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov.
• 98th Guards Airborne Division, located in Ivanovo.
• 7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, stationed in Novorossiysk.
• 106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula.

Regiments and brigades of the Airborne Forces:

• 11th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, stationed in the city of Ulan-Ude.
• 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade (Moscow).
• 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Place of deployment - the city of Kamyshin.
• 31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Based in Ulyanovsk.
• 83rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade. Location - Ussuriysk.
• 38th Separate Guards Communications Regiment of the Airborne Forces. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera.

In 2013, the creation of the 345th Airborne Assault Brigade in Voronezh was officially announced, but then the formation of the unit was postponed to a later date (2017 or 2019). There is information that in 2019 an airborne assault battalion will be deployed on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, and in the future, a regiment of the 7th airborne assault division, which is currently deployed in Novorossiysk, will be formed on its basis.

In addition to combat units, the Russian Airborne Forces also include educational institutions that train personnel for the Airborne Forces. The main of them and the most famous is the Ryazan Higher Airborne command school, which also trains officers for the Russian Airborne Forces. Also, the structure of this type of troops includes two Suvorov schools (in Tula and Ulyanovsk), the Omsk Cadet Corps and the 242nd Training Center located in Omsk.

Armament and equipment of the Russian Airborne Forces

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use both combined arms equipment and samples that were created specifically for this type of troops. Most types of weapons and military equipment of the Airborne Forces were developed and manufactured back in Soviet period, but there are also more modern samples created already in modern times.

The most popular models of airborne armored vehicles at present are the airborne combat vehicles BMD-1 (about 100 units) and BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units). Both of these vehicles were produced back in the Soviet Union (BMD-1 in 1968, BMD-2 in 1985). They can be used for landing both by landing and by parachute. These are reliable vehicles that have been tested in many armed conflicts, but they are clearly outdated, both morally and physically. This is openly stated even by representatives of senior management. Russian army., which was adopted in 2004. However, its production is slow, today there are 30 BMP-4s and 12 BMP-4Ms in service.

Also, the airborne units are armed with a small number of BTR-82A and BTR-82AM armored personnel carriers (12 pieces), as well as the Soviet BTR-80. The most numerous armored personnel carrier currently used by the Russian Airborne Forces is the tracked BTR-D (more than 700 pieces). It was put into service in 1974 and is very outdated. It should be replaced by the BTR-MDM "Shell", but so far its production is moving very slowly: today in combat units there are from 12 to 30 (according to various sources) "Shells".

The anti-tank weapons of the Airborne Forces are represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun (36 units), BTR-RD Robot self-propelled anti-tank systems (more than 100 units) and a wide range of different anti-tank systems: Metis, Fagot, Konkurs and "Cornet".

The Russian Airborne Forces are also armed with self-propelled and towed artillery: Nona self-propelled guns (250 pieces and several hundred more units in storage), D-30 howitzer (150 units), and Nona-M1 mortars (50 units) and "Tray" (150 units).

The air defense means of the Airborne Forces consist of portable missile systems (various modifications of the Needles and Willow), as well as the Strela short-range air defense system. Special attention should be paid to the newest Russian MANPADS "Verba", which was only recently put into service and now it has been put into trial operation in only a few units of the RF Armed Forces, including the 98th airborne division.

The Airborne Forces also operate self-propelled anti-aircraft guns BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (150 units) of Soviet production and towed anti-aircraft guns ZU-23-2.

In recent years, new samples of automotive equipment have begun to enter the Airborne Forces, of which the Tiger armored car, the A-1 Snowmobile all-terrain vehicle and the KAMAZ-43501 truck should be noted.

The airborne troops are sufficiently equipped with communication, control and electronic warfare systems. Among them, modern Russian developments should be noted: electronic warfare systems "Leer-2" and "Leer-3", "Infauna", the control system for air defense systems "Barnaul", automated command and control systems "Andromeda-D" and "Flight-K".

In service airborne troops there is a wide range of small arms, among which there are both Soviet models and newer Russian developments. The latter include the Yarygin pistol, the PMM, and the PSS silent pistol. The main personal weapon of the fighters remains the Soviet AK-74 assault rifle, but deliveries of the more advanced AK-74M to the troops have already begun. To carry out sabotage missions, paratroopers can use the Russian-made Val Orlan-10 silent assault rifle. The exact number of Orlans in service with the Airborne Forces is unknown.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

The place of deployment of the 217th Guards Airborne Order of the Kutuzov Regiment, or military unit 62295 is the city of Ivanovo, Ivanovo Region. The formation is part of the 98th Guards Airborne Division. The regiment, in turn, consists of three battalions: the 1st battalion is a combat battalion, the 2nd battalion is a rapid response, staffed by contract servicemen, the 3rd battalion is a drill battalion.

Chevron of the 217th RAP Airborne Forces

Story

The regiment was formed in October 1948, at that time it was part of the 37th Corps of the 13th Airborne Division. He received the battle flag in February 1948. He was awarded the Order of Kutuzov at the end of February 1986. He took part in many military tactical exercises, for which he was awarded commendations. Among them: landing on Sakhalin Island (1965), "South-7" and "Desna-7" (1969), "Shield-82".
The unit also carried out a number of government tasks in the territory of Azerbaijan. After the collapse of the USSR, part of the formation went to the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the rest left for the city of Ivanovo.

The territory of the military unit

eyewitness impressions

For the first 3 months, recruits take the course of a young fighter. During the KMB, mobile phones can only be used on weekends. Parcels are picked up not at the city post office, but at the post office of the unit, the fighters also do not go to the store. After completing the course of a young soldier, employees of such a unit as military unit 62295 take the oath.
The event is held on the parade ground of the unit, on Saturday. The date and time of the solemn acceptance of the oath by the military shall be announced by telephone. After the oath, leave is allowed on the security of the passport of the parents or wife. The dismissal is provided with an overnight stay, but on Sunday morning (at 6.00) the soldier must check in at the checkpoint.
During the rest of the service, you can see a soldier of military unit 62295 at the checkpoint (on Saturday - 1 hour 30 minutes in the afternoon), or he will be released on dismissal on Sunday.
The servicemen live in well-maintained Kubrick barracks. There is a shower room and a bathroom for two cubicles. The barracks has a recreation room, a room for ironing and drying clothes, as well as a sports corner. Bathing day, as well as park and economic - on Saturdays. The bath is located on the territory of the unit.

Training base of fighters

The food, according to reviews, is delicious. Soldiers and officers eat in the dining room. There is also a chip on the territory of the unit, soldiers can visit it accompanied by contract soldiers.
Field exercises are held twice a year, not far from Kostroma. In addition to this settlement, soldiers of military unit 62295 can be sent to Luga, Yeysk or near Yaroslavl. The employees of the 3rd battalion last the least time for field exercises (approximately 1-2 weeks of field exercises).
Soldiers can use mobile phones every day, in the evening. It is forbidden to use telephones in the hospital and in the medical unit, they are given out on weekends. It is reported that it is problematic to get through to MTS numbers when a soldier is in the hospital.
Military unit 62295 pays monetary allowances to servicemen on the VTB-24 card. There are no ATMs of this bank on the territory; an ATM of the Moscow Industrial Bank is installed at the checkpoint. For withdrawing money from the card, a commission of 100 rubles is charged. For each jump, the paratroopers receive cash surcharges, if there is a complication factor for the jump, the payments increase.

Parachute stowage exercises

Contract soldiers have a slightly higher salary and jump payouts than conscripts. In order to serve in the 217th Airborne Regiment, the applicant must:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 35;
• Have a medical certificate of health of the form not lower than A-1;
• Have an appropriate education (not lower than complete secondary);
• Pass physical and psychological testing.

Candidates whose relatives have been convicted are not accepted for contract service. The list of required documents should be clarified at the local military registration and enlistment office.

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Russian paratroopers are revered not only in their own country. They are respected by the whole world. One American general is known to have said that if he had a company of Russian paratroopers, he would have conquered the entire planet. Among the legendary formations of the Russian army is the 45th Airborne Regiment. He has interesting story, the central part of which is occupied by heroic deeds.

We are proud of our paratroopers, honor their courage, valor and readiness to defend the interests of the Motherland at any cost. The glorious pages of the military history of the USSR, and then Russia, appeared, largely due to the heroic deeds of paratroopers. Soldiers serving in the Airborne Forces fearlessly performed the most difficult tasks and special operations. The airborne troops are among the most prestigious formations of the Russian army. Soldiers strive to get there, wanting to feel involved in creating the glorious military history of their country.

45th Airborne Regiment: key facts

The 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces was formed in early 1994. Its base was separate battalions number 218 and 901. By the middle of the year, the regiment was equipped with weapons and fighters. The 45th regiment began its first combat operation in December 1994 in Chechnya. The paratroopers participated in the battles until February 1995, and then returned to the Moscow region, to the base of their deployment on a permanent basis. In 2005, the regiment received the Battle Flag of the Guards Regiment No. 119

From the moment of its foundation, the military formation became known as the 45th reconnaissance regiment of the Airborne Forces. But in early 2008, it was renamed the Special Forces Regiment. In August of the same year, it participated in a special operation to force Georgia to peace. In 2010, Regiment 45 tactical group ensured the safety of Russian citizens during the riots in Kyrgyzstan.

background

The basis for the formation of the 45th separate guards regiment was the 218th and 901st special forces battalions. The fighters of the first battalion had taken part in three combat operations by that time. In the summer of 1992, the battalion served in Transnistria, in September - in the territories where there was a conflict between Ossetian and Ingush combat groups, in December - in Abkhazia.

Since 1979, battalion number 901 has been part of the Soviet troops on the territory of Czechoslovakia, in 1989 it was redeployed to Latvia and transferred to the structure of the Baltic Military District. In 1991, the 901st Special Forces Battalion was relocated to the Abkhaz ASSR. In 1992, it was renamed the paratrooper battalion. In 1993, the formation performed tasks related to the protection of state and military facilities. In the fall of 1993, the battalion was redeployed to the Moscow region. Then the 45th regiment of the Russian Airborne Forces appeared.

Awards

In 1995, the 45th Airborne Regiment received the Diploma of the President of Russia for services to the country. In July 1997, the formation was awarded the banner of the airborne regiment number 5, which participated in the hostilities during the Great Patriotic War. In 2001, the regiment received Vympel from the Minister of Defense of Russia - for courage, high combat skills and real valor when participating in hostilities on the territory of Chechnya. The 45th Guards Regiment of the Airborne Forces owns the Order of Kutuzov - the corresponding decree was signed by the President of Russia. The military formation was awarded this award for the success in the heroic performance of military operations, the heroism and courage shown by the soldiers and the command. The regiment became the first carrier in the modern history of our country. In July 2009, the formation received the St. George banner.

The title of Hero of Russia was given to ten fighters, whose duty station was the 45th Airborne Regiment. The Order of Courage was awarded to 79 paratroopers. Ten military personnel of the regiment were awarded the medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" of the second degree. Seventeen and three paratroopers received the Orders "For Military Merit", as well as "For Merit to the Fatherland", respectively. Medals "For Courage" were received by 174 servicemen, the medal of Suvorov - 166. Seven people were awarded the Zhukov medal.

Anniversary

Kubinka near Moscow - the 45th Airborne Regiment is based there - in July 2014 was the place where the anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the formation were held. The event was held in the format open doors- the paratroopers showed their combat skills to the guests, the parachute units lowered the flag of the Airborne Forces from the sky, and the famous pilots from the Russian Knights team showed miracles of aerobatics on fighters.

The legendary regiment as part of the Airborne Forces

Which includes the 45th regiment - Airborne Forces (airborne troops) of Russia. Their history dates back to August 2, 1930. Then the first paratroopers of the Air Force of the Moscow District made a parachute landing in our country. It was a kind of experiment that showed military theorists how promising the landing of parachute units could be from the point of view of combat operations. The first official unit of the airborne troops of the USSR appeared only the following year in the Leningrad Military District. The formation included 164 people, all of them were servicemen of the airborne assault detachment. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, there were five airborne corps in the USSR, each of which served 10,000 fighters.

Airborne Forces during the Great Patriotic War

With the outbreak of war, all Soviet airborne corps entered into battles taking place on the territory of the Ukrainian, Belorussian, Republic of Lithuania. The largest operation involving paratroopers during the war years is considered to be a battle with a group of Germans near Moscow in early 1942. Then 10 thousand paratroopers won the most important victory for the front. Parts of the Airborne Forces were connected to the battles near Stalingrad.

The paratroopers of the Soviet army honorably fulfilled their duty to defend the city. The Airborne Forces of the USSR army also took part in the battles after the defeat of Nazi Germany - in August 1945 they fought on Far East against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Over 4 thousand paratroopers helped Soviet troops to win the most important victories in this direction of the front.

After the war

Particular attention, according to the observation of military analysts, in the post-war strategy for the development of the USSR Airborne Forces was given to organizing military operations behind enemy lines, increasing the combat capability of soldiers, and interacting with army units, subject to the possible use of atomic weapons. The troops began to be equipped with new aircraft of the AN-12 and AN-22 types, which, thanks to their large carrying capacity, could deliver vehicles, armored vehicles, artillery and other means of warfare behind enemy lines.

Every year, an increasing number of military exercises were conducted with the participation of airborne soldiers. Among the largest - held in the spring of 1970 in the Byelorussian ASSR. As part of the Dvina exercises, more than 7 thousand soldiers and more than 150 guns were parachuted. In 1971, exercises "South" of a comparable scale took place. In the late 1970s, the use of new Il-76 aircraft in landing operations was first tested. Until the collapse of the USSR, the soldiers of the Airborne Forces at each of the exercises repeatedly showed the highest combat skills.

Airborne troops of the Russian Federation today

Now the Airborne Forces are considered a structure that is called upon to independently (or as part of it) perform combat missions in conflicts of various scales - from local to global. About 95% of the Airborne Forces are in a state of constant combat readiness. Landing forces are considered one of the most mobile branches of the Russian military. are also called upon to perform the functions of conducting combat operations behind enemy lines.

As part of the Russian Airborne Forces - four divisions, its own training center, institute, as well as a large number of structures that perform work on provision, supply and maintenance.

The motto of the Russian Airborne Forces is "No one but us!" The service of a paratrooper is considered by many to be one of the most prestigious and at the same time difficult. As of 2010, 4,000 officers, 7,000 contract soldiers, and 24,000 conscripts served in the Airborne Forces. Another 28,000 are civilian personnel of the formation.

Paratroopers and operation in Afghanistan

The largest participation of the Airborne Forces in hostilities after the Great Patriotic War took place in Afghanistan. The 103rd division, the 345th airborne regiment, two battalions, motorized rifle brigades participated in the battles. A number of military analysts believe that the specifics of the conduct of hostilities in Afghanistan did not imply the expediency of using parachute landing as a method of transferring army combat personnel. This, according to analysts, is due to the country's mountainous terrain, as well as the high level of costs for such operations. The personnel of the Airborne Forces, as a rule, were transferred using helicopters.

The largest operation of the USSR Airborne Forces in Afghanistan was the Battle of Panjer in 1982. More than 4 thousand paratroopers took part in it (with total number soldiers involved in the operation, 12 thousand people). as a result of the fighting, she was able to take the main part of the Panjer Gorge under her control.

Combat operations of the Airborne Forces after the collapse of the USSR

The paratroopers, despite the difficult times that came after the collapse of the superpower, continued to defend the interests of their country. They were often peacekeepers in the territories of the former Soviet republics. Russian paratroopers made themselves known to the whole world during the conflict in Yugoslavia in 1999. Soldiers of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation made the famous throw at Pristina, having managed to get ahead of the military from NATO.

Throw on Pristina

On the night of June 11-12, 1999, Russian paratroopers appeared on the territory of Yugoslavia, starting from neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. They managed to occupy an airfield located near the city of Pristina. There, a few hours later, NATO soldiers appeared. Some details of those events are known. In particular, US Army General Clark ordered his colleague from the British armed forces to prevent the Russians from seizing the airfield. He replied that he did not want to provoke a third world war. However, the main part of the information on the essence of the operation in Pristina is not available - it is all classified.

Russian paratroopers in Chechnya

Troops of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation took part in both Chechen wars. Regarding the first - most of the data is still secret. It is known, for example, that among the most famous operations of the second campaign with the participation of the Airborne Forces is the Battle of Argun. The Russian army received the task of blocking a strategically significant section of the transport highways passing through the Argun Gorge. According to him, the separatists received food, weapons and medicines. The paratroopers joined the operation in December as part of the 56th Airborne Regiment.

The heroic feat of the paratroopers participating in the battles for 776 heights near the Chechen Ulus-Kert is known. In February 2000, the 6th company of the Airborne Forces from Pskov entered the battle with the grouping of Khattab and Basaev, ten times larger in number. During the day, the militants were blocked inside Argun Gorge. Performing the task, the soldiers of the Pskov company of the Airborne Forces did not spare themselves. Only 6 soldiers survived.

Russian paratroopers and the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict

In the 1990s, units of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation performed in the territories where the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict took place, mainly peacekeeping functions. But in 2008, the paratroopers participated in combat operations. When the Georgian army attacked South Ossetia, units of the Russian army were sent to the war area, including the 76th division of the Russian Airborne Forces from Pskov. According to a number of military analysts, there were no major amphibious landings in this special operation. However, according to experts, the participation of Russian paratroopers had a psychological effect - primarily on the political leadership of Georgia.

45th regiment: renaming

AT recent times there is information that the 45th Airborne Regiment can receive the honorary name of the Preobrazhensky regiment. A military formation with this name was founded by Peter the Great and became legendary. There is a version that the initiative regarding the fact that the 45th regiment of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation should be renamed comes from a statement by the President of Russia, who expressed the opinion that formations named after famous regiments, such as Semenovsky, Preobrazhensky, should appear in the Russian army. At one of the military councils of the Russian Airborne Forces, as indicated in some sources, the proposal of the President was considered, and as a result, responsible persons were instructed to prepare information on the start of work on the creation of historical army regiments. It is quite possible that the 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation will receive the title of Preobrazhensky.