31st Guards Air Assault Brigade
| 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade | |
|---|---|
 31st Airborne Brigade patch | |
| Active | 1998 - present |
| Country |
 Russia |
| Branch |
 Airborne Troops |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role |
Light Infantry Airborne Infantry Airmobile infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of |
 Russian Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Ulyanovsk |
| Engagements |
Second Chechen War |
| Decorations |
 Order of Kutuzov 2nd class |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Dmitry Ovcharov |
The 31st Separate Guards Order of Kutuzov 2nd class Air Assault Brigade is an airborne infantry brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops, based in Ulyanovsk. The brigade was formed in 1998 from the 104th Guards Airborne Division. The brigade fought in the Second Chechen War and the Russo-Georgian War. During the Crimean crisis 2014 elements of the brigade were located in the Crimean peninsula. [1]
History
The brigade was created as a result of the disbandment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division in 1998 at Ulyanovsk. Between 1999 and 2001, the brigade fought in the Second Chechen War. For their actions during the war, Senior lieutenants Grigory Galkin and Roman Igoshin were awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation (Igoshin posthumously).[2]
Since 2005, the brigade has used a contract manning system. On 1 December 2006, it was redesignated as an air assault brigade.[2] A battalion tactical group of the brigade fought in the Russo-Georgian War in 2008.[3]
A monument to Army General Vasily Margelov is located at the brigade's base in Ulyanovsk. In April 2010, VDV commander Vladimir Shamanov visited the brigade and viewed its battalion tactical exercises. [4]
The brigade was part of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forceas as of 2013. [5] In March 2014, elements of the brigade were sent to Crimea.[1] On 4 June 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that the 104th Guards Airborne Division would be reformed from the brigade.[6]
In March 2016, the brigade temporarily moved from its base at Ulyanovsk to Orenburg in snap readiness drills. [7]
Commanders
- Major General Vadim Orlov (1998-2000)
- Colonel Sergey Yevgenyevich Kapustin (2000-2002)
- Colonel Nikolai Sergeyevich Nikulnikov (2002-2005)
- Colonel Vladimir Anatolyevich Kochetkov (2005-2007)
- Colonel Dmitry Vasilyevich Glushchenkov (2010-2012)
- Colonel Gennady Vladimirovich Anashkin (2012-2014)
- Colonel Dmitry Ovcharov (2014-present)
Composition
Brigade units:
- 2 Air Assault Battalions
- Airborne Battalion
- Artillery Battalion
- Military Transport Aviation Squadron
- Support units
References
- 1 2 "В Джанкое находятся войска Чеченской Республики" [In Dzhankoy are forces of the Chechen Republic]. IPC Dzhankoy (in Russian). 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- 1 2 "31-я отдельная гвардейская десантно-штурмовая Ордена Кутузова 2-й степени бригада : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации" [31st Separate Guards Airborne Brigade Order of Kutuzov 2nd class: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation]. structure.mil.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-12-18.
- ↑ "Прощай, оружие" [A farewell to Arms]. old.redstar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-12-18.
- ↑ "Командующий ВДВ инспектирует войска" [VDV Comamnder inspects troops]. desantura.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-03-03.
- ↑ McDermott, Roger (2011-09-04). "CSTO Moves Into The Information Age". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ↑ "Источник в Генштабе: Ульяновскую бригаду ВДВ преобразуют в дивизию" [General Staff source: Ulyanovsk Airborne Brigade to be converted to division]. TASS (in Russian). 4 June 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ↑ "Russia’s Ulyanovsk airborne formation redeployed to Orenburg range for drills". TASS. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||