VDV
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The Vozdushno-Desantnye Vojska or VDV (Russian: Воздушно-десантные войска = ВДВ, "Airborne Troops") is a Russian military corps.
The VDV is an independent and distinct branch of the Russian military, equal to the Russian Navy, Russian Air Force and Russian Army. The Airborne Troops are the most capable mobile assault forces of Russia, as they are airborne forces in the first place.
Originally formed in the Soviet Union during the mid 1930s and massively expanded during World War II, where they formed up to ten Airborne Corps with numerous Independent Airborne Brigades, with most or all achieving "Guards" status. At the end of the war they were reconstituted as Guards Rifle Divisions. They were later rebuilt and eventually formed seven Air Assault Divisions. With an Independent Air Assault regiment and up to sixteen Air Assault Brigades. They were formed into their own VDV command to give the Soviets a Rapid Strike force to spearhead strategic military operations.
With the demise of the Soviet Union, the number of VDV divisions has shrunk from seven to four (7th Airborne Division, 76th Airborne Division, 98th Airborne Division, and 106th Airborne Division) but they remain as efficient and as battle-ready, as previously. Furthermore, 76th Airborne Division is the only Russian army division, that is fully composed of contract soldiers (and not of "srochniki" - the conscripted soldiers aged eighteen).
Unlike western airborne units which must walk when they arrive at their destination, the VDV divisions are mechanized with over 250 armored fighting vehicles, the BMD family of vehicles. VDV units have superior mobility with these vehicles and superior firepower, each division has three regiments equipped with them and their derivatives. The Indepent brigades, however, are not equipped with their own armor or artillery and are equivalent to western airborne as they function as light infantry and must walk when reaching their destination.
VDV troops participated in the rapid deployment of Russian forces in and around Pristina airport during the Kosovo crisis, taking NATO by surprise. They also were deployed in Chechnya as an active bridgehead for other forces to follow.
A VDV unit, the 45th ORPSN (Separate Reconnaissance Regiment of Special Designation), that reportedly performed brilliantly in Chechnya during the second campaign, was said to actually represent a Spetznaz GRU unit, which was later proven untrue.
In 2004, the Russian MoD announced that the VDV will be re-equipped with new APC vehicles of the BMD-4 type (RIA Novosti, December 20th, 2004). Ultimately, the VDV will form the core of the future Russian Mobile Forces. However, it is unlikely that this reorganization will happen in the years to come due to lack of funding and resistance from within the VDV.
Russian airborne troops had their own holiday during the Soviet era, which is still celebrated today each year on the 2nd of August.
External links
- [Unofficial website of VDV] Russian Only
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