Editing Russian Airborne Forces (section)

===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>