Airborne Forces (VDV)

Broad area of activity

Committed across multiple axes since 2022 rather than held as a strategic reserve.

Notable history

A prestige branch with its own recruitment, traditions and light armour (the BMD family). VDV units spearheaded the failed 2022 air-assault seizure of Hostomel airport near Kyiv, took heavy losses, and were subsequently committed as regular assault infantry across the front — a role their light equipment was not designed for. Tank battalions with heavier armour were reportedly added during the war.

Strengths

Above-average training, strong esprit de corps, historically a first-choice assault force.

Limitations

Sustained attrition eroded the experienced core; repeatedly misused as ordinary infantry, blunting the airborne advantage.

Subordinate & associated

• 76th Guards Air Assault Division Formation
• 98th Guards Airborne Division Formation
• 106th Guards Airborne Division Formation
• 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division Formation
• 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade Formation
• 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade Formation
• 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade Formation

Documented equipment

Reported & historical equipment associations

Campaigns

Campaigns naming this organisation as a participant. The campaign record owns the relationship and grades it; this list is computed.

• The Ukrainian counteroffensives, 2022–2023 Opposing force · September 2022 – November 2023 · moderate confidence · as of 2023-09

  Airborne formations were repeatedly used as a mobile defensive reserve in the southern sector during 2023.

• The February 2022 invasion and the failure at Kyiv Supporting force · February – April 2022 · high confidence · as of 2022-02

  The Hostomel air-assault operation on the first day is the clearest documented VDV action of the campaign and its clearest failure.