Commanders 31 odshbr. In the Ulyanovsk airborne brigade introduced a new commander

SAA continues to attack terrorist positions east of Damascus, Aleppo and Homs . Reports appeared on social networks that the 31st separate guards air assault brigade of the Russian Federation was deployed to Suwayda (southern Syria). These are not the Special Operations Forces (SOF), not units serving the VKS group in Syria (like the marines in Latakia). So far, nothing can be said about the composition of the brigade (what kind of battalions).

Syrian Arab Army (SAA) fired at positions of militants near the city of Douma in the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus , freed a research center near the Damascus-Baghdad highway from the FSA; took control of the village of Zuluf and territories along the Syrian-Jordanian border in eastern Damascus; occupied the villages of Tell Fida and Al-Mazraat As-Salisa south of the Al-Jirah airbase; fought with IS in the area of ​​the Arak oil field, as well as in the Al-Shumaria mountains northeast of Palmyra, destroyed several vehicles of IS terrorists near the Deir ez-Zor air base; attacked the positions of the radicals in the Dar'a al-Balad area; destroyed three IS military pickup trucks east of Salamiyeh; carried out airstrikes on IS positions near the city of Ukeyribat in Hama.

Islamic State (IS): exchanged prisoners with Jaish al-Islam; fought with Tahrir al-Sham near the Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus; bombarded the neighborhoods of Kharabesh, Al-Jura and Al-Kusur in Deir ez-Zor, shelled the city of Salamiyah in the east of Hama.

Syrian Free Army (FSA) fought with the SAA in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe city of Al-Hula in the northwest of Homs, destroyed a SAA military vehicle in the Al-Manshiya quarter in the south of Dar'a, and shot down a Syrian Su-24 aircraft in Dar'a.

Jabhat Fath Ash-Sham shelled the quarters of Dar'a, there are casualties among civilians.

Kurds fought with ISIS near the village of Huneyda, east of At-Tabka, captured the villages of Tal Malla and Salkhabiyat al-Sharqiya near Raqqa; lost six soldiers in an ISIS attack in Raqqa.

international coalition carried out airstrikes on strongholds of ISIS terrorists in the area of ​​the settlement of Kudairan to the west of Raqqa.

Damascus Province

05/23/2017 (06:00) - FAN. In southern Damascus, according to the Syrian Monitoring Center for Human Rights, there was an exchange of prisoners between militants of the Jaish al-Islam group and ISIS terrorists. After that, fighting resumed between ISIS and the Islamists "Tahrir al-Sham" near the Yarmouk refugee camp. This was reported by the Twitter channel (@P_Strickland).

Recall that detachments of the Islamic State and the armed opposition are stationed in the southern suburbs of Damascus. However, according to the Al Masdar News news agency, ISIS terrorists intend to leave the occupied territories and move to areas under the control of the Islamic State.


To the north-east of Damascus in the region of Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) fired at militant positions in the area of ​​the city of Duma, where the Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham group operates, which is not covered by the ceasefire.

In the southeast of Damascus, the SAA continued its offensive against the positions of the Syrian Free Army (FSA). During the offensive of government troops, a research center was liberated, located south of the Zaza intersection on the Damascus-Baghdad highway.

Also, according to AMN, the Syrian army, with the support of allied pro-government units, took control of the village of Zuluf along vast territories along the Syrian-Jordanian border, approaching the At-Tanf checkpoint.

Aleppo Province

05/23/2017 (06:00) - FAN. In the eastern part of the province of Aleppo, a large-scale offensive against strongholds of the Islamic State terrorists continued. Damascus Now reported that government troops occupied the villages of Tell Fida and Al-Mazraat As-Salisa, located south of the Al-Jirah military airbase.


The Syrian army plans to soon liberate the city of Muskana, a key IS outpost in Aleppo. At the moment, the army of Bashar al-Assad is working just 10 km from the city. Muscana has been occupied by IS militants since 2014.

Homs Province

05/23/2017 (06:00) - FAN. The liberated area of ​​Al-Waer in the north-east of Homs, from which militants of the armed opposition were completely evacuated, yesterday began to be cleared of barricades and construction waste left by the Islamists. The radicals left for the city of Jarablus in the north of Aleppo. The capital of the region for the first time since 2011 is under the complete control of government forces.


In the east of the province, the Syrian army continued its large-scale offensive against the fortified areas of IS militants. Over the past day, fighting took place in the area of ​​the Arak oil field, as well as in the Ash-Shumaria mountains northeast of Palmyra. The SAA operated with the support of the special detachments of the 5th Assault Corps, the Tigers, as well as the pro-government Palestinian Liwa Al-Quds detachments.

According to Al Masdar News, the Syrian army is preparing an offensive in the direction of the largest ISIS stronghold in the region, the city of Al-Sukhna, which is located on the way to Deir ez-Zor.

In the north-west of the province, skirmishes were also recorded between the SAR troops and militants of the armed opposition - in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe city of Al-Hula. This was reported by the opposition portal Aleppo Media Center. Recall that these territories are in the de-escalation zone, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich there is a regime without fire, however, the radicals do not stop attacking the positions of the SAA, which force government troops to return fire.

Deir ez-Zor Province

05/23/2017 (06:00) - FAN. During the day, the terrorists of the "Islamic State" continued to shell the quarters of the administrative center of the province. As a result of the attack by IS militants on the Kharabesh district in Deir ez-Zor, one civilian was killed and 13 were injured. This was reported by the portal Damascus Now. Also, during the shelling of the Al-Jura and Al-Kusur neighborhoods by IS militants, according to the Damascus Now news agency, five people, including two children, were injured.

Government troops fired back at strongholds of ISIS radicals near the Deir ez-Zor military air base and in the area of ​​​​the city cemetery. According to AMN, several ISIS vehicles were destroyed.

Military experts agree that the militants intend to transfer their troops to Deir ez-Zor after the defeat in Mosul and for this they are trying to drive government units out of the provincial capital as quickly as possible.

Dar'a Province

05/23/2017 (06:00) - FAN. Despite the ceasefire regime, clashes between government troops and militants of the “free army” continued near the capital of the region. According to a military source on Twitter (@Step_Agency), militants destroyed a SAA military vehicle in the Al-Manshiya quarter in the south of Dar'a. There were also shelling of areas of the city by the anti-government group Jabhat Fatah Ash-Sham, as a result of which two women and a child were injured. The army of Bashar al-Assad, in turn, fired rockets at the positions of the radicals in the Dar'a al-Balad region.


Opposition sources claimed that the militants managed to shoot down a Syrian Su-24 military aircraft, but the data was not confirmed. The aircraft did suffer wing damage but managed to land, a government source said.

Hama Province

05/23/2017 (06:00) - FAN. In the province of Hama, over the course of yesterday, battles unfolded around the key city of Salamiyah, one of the connecting links of the strategic highway "Road of Life". The terrorists of the "Islamic state" fired at the city from rocket launchers, as a result of the attacks one person was killed, three civilians were injured. Damascus Now later reported that the Syrian Air Force had destroyed three ISIS vehicles east of Salamiyah.

In the eastern part of the province, Syrian warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on IS positions near the villages of Suha and Rasm al-Awabid near the city of Ukeyribat, the main IS stronghold in Hama. There were no data on losses in the ranks of the radicals.

Opposition sources also reported on the shelling of the Syrian army in the area of ​​the settlements of Al-Latamin and Kafr Zeta in the north of the region. This information has not yet received official confirmation. Recall that the territories in the north of Hama are included in one of the security zones, however, the Islamists, conducting regular provocative shelling of the fortified areas of government troops, are forcing the SAA to strike back.

31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade

31st Separate Guards Airborne Assault Order of Kutuzov Brigade (31st Airborne Brigade)- a military formation as part of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The brigade was created as a result of the reformation of the 104th Guards Airborne Division of the Order of Kutuzov in 1998, having received its final name in 2007.

The 31st brigade took part in the fighting on the territory of Chechnya during the Second Chechen War
The combined battalion tactical group of the 31st brigade took part in the armed conflict in South Ossetia in August 2008. The brigade is stationed in the city of Ulyanovsk (the village of Polivno). Since 2005, the brigade has been transferred to a contract recruiting system.

On June 4, 2015, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided to recreate the 104th Guards Air Assault Division of the three-regiment structure on the basis of the 31st Airborne Brigade.

IN brigade composition(military unit 73612) includes:
- Management and headquarters of the brigade
- paratrooper battalion
- 2 air assault battalions
- artillery battalion
- combat and logistics support units
- military transport aviation squadron
- engineering sapper company

In the military section of the Global Adventure forum, there is a video, two years ago, in which we are talking about the participation 31st odshbr in the exercises of the collective rapid reaction forces of the CSTO, held in April 2014 on the territory of Belarus. According to legend, the soldiers rebuff the terrorists who decided to carry out a military coup.

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The new commander of the 31st Separate Guards Order of Kutuzov II degree of the airborne brigade, located in Ulyanovsk, was Guards Colonel Dmitry Ovcharov. The former head of the military unit, Gennady Anashkin, was appointed to a higher position - deputy commander of the 58th Southern Army. The corresponding decree was signed by the President of the Russian Federation.

I commanded the illustrious unit for almost two years. During this time, the brigade completely switched to a contract, became a unit of immediate use, became part of the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation. The paratroopers performed combat training and combat missions not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. I thank for the understanding and support of all those who are in the ranks, - Gennady Anashkin said in his farewell speech.

The presentation of the new commander took place in a solemn atmosphere on the parade ground of the 31st brigade. The ritual included farewell and the transfer of the banner of the military unit. After that, the paratroopers marched in formation, saluting Dmitry Ovcharov. The first commander of the brigade, Major General Vadim Orlov, wished him to quickly enter the position, get comfortable, and not forget that the success of any operation - combat or peacekeeping - depends on the junior staff: officers, sergeants, soldiers.

I have already met with the staff. Impressions about the brigade are positive, even enthusiastic to some extent. I am ready to command such a connection. I think we will raise the high bar that the brigade holds, and multiply the tradition, - said the new commander.

The 31st Airborne Brigade was created as a result of the reformation of the 104th Guards Order of Kutuzov II degree airborne division in 1998. This is a universal military unit, which is planned to be used, including in peacekeeping activities. From August 18 to August 22, Ulyanovsk paratroopers will take part in the large-scale international exercises "Interaction" of the collective rapid reaction forces of the CSTO, which will be held at the training ground near Karaganda in Kazakhstan.

Help "RG"

Dmitry Ovcharov graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School in 1995. In 2007 he graduated with honors from the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. From 2011 to 2014, he was deputy commander of the 7th Airborne Assault Division (mountain) of the Southern Military District.

For courage and heroism, manifestation in the performance of military duty in the second company in Chechnya, he was awarded the Order of Courage, the medal "For Courage". Among Ovcharov's awards are a medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, as well as gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation for leading the group from the Airborne Forces to ensure security during the XXII Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi.

On November 17, 1999, the reconnaissance group of the 31st Ulyanovsk airborne brigade left the Botlikha area and collided with militants in the Vedeno area during heavy fog and snowfall. The outnumbered militants soon received reinforcements from Grozny - 100 people. After many hours of fighting, 12 Russian paratroopers were killed and two were captured.

Kingdom of heaven to them. Everlasting memory…

Excerpts from an article in Moskovsky Komsomolets, November 29, 1999:

On that day, November 16, 1999, two officers went on a mission, in addition to Igoshin, the group also included an artillery gunner, Lieutenant Andrey Ladung, three sergeants and nine privates - a regular set of close reconnaissance detachment. The task of the paratroopers was uncomplicated and uncomplicated - to make a hidden raid along the Chechen border along the Tando-Kharagoy-Vedeno line. Business is only for a couple of days. Therefore, the weapons of the scouts were the usual small arms, one "back" (ammunition), "dry" for three days. The radio station provided audibility within 10 kilometers - they were not going to go further into the mountains.

Trouble began for the group within a few hours after leaving the base. A thick fog descended on the mountains, snow fell. Nevertheless, the scouts went ahead, hoping that visibility would be better at the top, and now bad weather is just in their favor - there is less chance that the militants will notice. How it happened that the group went astray is not clear. Roma Igoshin, the commander of the scouts, took this secret forever with him (this is his award watch from Vladimir Putin for the assault on Donkey's Ear was shown on TV). When the snow stopped falling, the paratroopers, without knowing it, entered Chechnya for 5-7 kilometers. Their last coordinates are known for certain: one and a half kilometers east of the village of Kharagoy.

From the base in Botlikh it is only about 15 kilometers - even the connection was not interrupted. The last message from the group was transmitted over the radio station with the commander’s firm confidence that they were still in Dagestan: “We see four militant vehicles, UAZs, breaking into our territory ...”. Senior Lieutenant Igoshin decided to attack first and destroy the militants, counting on help in case of emergency. To know...

From that moment on, communication with the group was cut off - apparently a radio station was broken by a bullet or shrapnel. And now one can only guess about the details of that unequal fight in the mountains. The fact that the paratroopers did not surrender without a fight is a fact. According to the stories of local residents, the shooting in the gorge did not stop for a long time, and the scouts gave their lives dearly. According to undercover intelligence and radio intercepts, the number of dead militants became known - more than 50. (Was it not their bodies that were later shown on television - do the militants also wear army camouflage?)

Excerpts from an article in Kommersant, February 1, 2000:

Captain Nemolyaev, who had not yet gone to the bathhouse, and Captain Kabanov, already washed up, classmates and comrades of Roma Igoshin at the military school, told how it really was.

You see, here is the height of 1561, they showed on the map. - And on the contrary is Mount Turtle, or height 1473. Between them is Kharachoy, the base of Shirvani Basayev. The reconnaissance group conducted a search along this road. A truck "Ural" was going towards them. Ours made it. And that's it! The group lit up. Reconnaissance remains reconnaissance until the first shot, what happens after that is called combat. Our people began to retreat, the first wounded and killed appeared. Mobility decreased accordingly. And then they stopped completely. They fired to the last. But that was it, the end.

The captains did not condemn their dead comrade for some fucking Ural. They just told how it was. They are professionals. Their friend Roman, for some reason, acted unprofessionally. Perhaps he had no other choice. No one will ever know this, and guessing and building versions is for idle journalists, and not for officers. They just drew their own conclusions.

With his death and the death of his fighters, Starley Roman Igoshin, as it were, bequeathed to them: "Guys, I made a mistake, don't repeat it."

Excerpts from an article in Moskovsky Komsomolets, August 1, 2003:

On November 16, a reconnaissance platoon of the Ulyanovsk airborne brigade left the Dagestan Botlikh for reconnaissance in the mountains of Chechnya. For its commander, senior lieutenant Roman Igoshin, this was already the fifth such operation in two months. He was only 25. After this assignment, the command promised to let him go on vacation. Two weeks ago, his daughter was born ...

The group conducted exploration successfully on the whole. The paratroopers worked for a day in the very lair of the bandits, right under their noses, and managed without a single shot. On the morning of November 17, they decided to leave: the information needed for the federal troops had been collected.

The scouts have already jumped over the pass, from which the location of the native part is within easy reach. Suddenly, snow fell in thick flakes. And then, through a white veil, one of the soldiers made out ahead of the KamAZ. As it turned out later, they were Arab professionals armed to the teeth.

The group was also noticed. They had no choice but to dive behind the nearest ledge, take up an all-round defense and be the first to open fire. If they started to retreat, they would be shot like partridges.

[…] By lunchtime, in the mountains near Vedeno, everything was quiet. The militants suffered losses, but they managed to take with them 12 corpses of Russian soldiers and two wounded: junior sergeants Alexander Sherstnev and Nikolai Zavarzin.

[…] History does not tolerate the subjunctive mood - especially the history of war. But how do the colleagues of the dead paratroopers want to change the events of that day, to give their friends at least a few chances for life, at least a little hypothetical “if only”! If the connection hadn’t been broken… If the officer hadn’t died at the very beginning of the battle… If it hadn’t been for the snow…

Then the fighters of the 31st Ulyanovsk airborne brigade will say that most likely the scouts were already waiting for the pass. Apparently, the bandits nevertheless spotted them and organized an ambush: that path was the only way for the platoon to return.

Testimony of Alexander Sherstnev:

(The number of full names in the process of mentioning surnames is entered each time a new one, so the same person can appear under different numbers. The identification process facilitated the nature of the injuries and the fact that only two servicemen survived. - ed.)

In the early morning DD.MM.YYYY, an order was received to conduct reconnaissance and guard a section of the road near the village<адрес>connecting this settlement with another - FULL NAME3. FULL NAME62 were included in the reconnaissance group, he (FULL NAME63) commanded their reconnaissance group. There were fourteen people in total. At about 10 o'clock DD.MM.YYYY, their reconnaissance group went out onto the road, which led through the gorge to<адрес>. From the side of this village and from the hills, their group came under crossfire from machine guns and grenade launchers. This happened at the moment when they stopped a UAZ car to check documents. They instantly dispersed and, hiding behind boulders, returned fire on the attacking militants. Judging by the number of firing points from which fire was fired at them, there were at least fifteen to twenty militants.

During the battle, FULL NAME64 (Zavarzin. - ed.) A grenade explosion injured his fingers on his hand, and he received bullet wounds to his right forearm and thigh of his right leg. From pain, he lost consciousness for a while, and when he woke up, he saw that the militants who had shot at them were already nearby. Their faces were uncovered, they were all dressed in camouflage uniforms and tactical vests, armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles. Some had machine guns with grenade launchers. He remembered one of the attackers well, because later, when he was already in captivity, he saw him and talked with him. He was about 18-20 years old, about 170 cm tall, of an athletic build, he wore a dark-colored knitted hat, an oval face, large eyes, a straight, large nose, thick eyebrows, black, a short thick mustache and a black beard. He had a Kalashnikov assault rifle, was dressed in camouflage clothing and a tactical vest. All pockets in the vest were filled with spare magazines for the machine in the amount of at least 8 pieces.

After he woke up, the militant in question stood a few meters away from him and fired aimed shots in short bursts at the servicemen, many of whom had already been wounded or killed. Seeing that he was wounded, but could not hold a weapon, the militant did not shoot at him. Two other militants, who were nearby, finished off the wounded lying a few meters from him with shots from their Kalashnikov assault rifles FULL NAME65. The militants kicked him several times, after which, together with FULL NAME66 (Zavarzin. - ed.), they put him in the luggage compartment of a UAZ car and brought him to<адрес>. Their wounds were bandaged at the local hospital. The doctor amputated injured fingers on Zavarzin's hand, and then they were placed in a cell at the local police station. They were held captive by the militants for 3 months, after which they were exchanged for FULL NAME4 of the militants.

Testimony of Nikolai Zavarzin:

According to the testimony of the victim FULL NAME24, who was interrogated by using the videoconferencing system, DD.MM.YYYY he is part of one of the three reconnaissance groups of the 31st brigade of the Airborne Forces stationed on the border of the Republic<адрес>, which consisted of fourteen people, advanced in the direction of the settlement<адрес>Chechen Republic. We walked all day. When they approached the outskirts<адрес>, fog descended in connection with which it was decided to spend the night in the mountains. In the morning DD.MM.YYYY they descended into the gorge and continued to move. The terrain was rocky, and a small stream flowed there. Ahead of their group at a distance of about 300 meters were two sentinels - a sniper and a submachine gunner.

At some point, a UAZ car drove by about 500 meters to the left of the group. As she approached the guards, shots rang out. It was the sentinels who were shot. By order of the commander, they opened fire on the car. As a result of two return shots from a grenade launcher, half of the reconnaissance group died. Then shots were heard again, followed by an explosion. He suffered shrapnel wounds to the head and arm. He could not fire and lay on his back with a bloody and soiled face.

When there was a lull, the bandits approached. He heard FULL NAME75 (Sherstnev?) shouting not to shoot at him, saw how a militant approached him and told him to roll away from the machine gun. Then the same militant approached him (FULL NAME77 and put a machine gun. He decided to pretend to be dead. At this time, a mortally wounded comrade lying next to him wheezed, his lungs and throat were pierced. The militant shot him. From the shot he (FULL NAME78) ( Zavarzin twitched and opened his eyes. The militant asked him: “Are you alive?” And, having received an affirmative answer, he also ordered him to roll away from the machine gun, which was nearby. He crawled away and sat down. Three or four more militants approached. He and FULL NAME99 (Sherstneva. - approx.) were put into the UAZ, they threw weapons, equipment on them and taken to<адрес>. There they were given medical assistance and put in the basement of a building similar to the "MVD". About two and a half months later, he was exchanged for a militant.

Testimony of one of the militants:

Meanwhile, from those examined at the hearing on the basis of Part 3 of Art. 281 Code of Criminal Procedure at the request of the public prosecutor testimony FULL NAME37, given them at the stage of preliminary investigation, it follows that the defendant FULL NAME5 told him that he was in a group of militants took part in the battle with the paratroopers. From the words of FULL NAME47, when they were driving a UAZ car, they noticed the scouts, stopped, jumped out and began to fire at them. One of the members of their group had a grenade launcher, the rest had Kalashnikov assault rifles. The defendant also told him that because of the gun quarreled with militant FULL NAME95: he wanted to take one of the guns, but he did not let him do it, wanted to execute the wounded – again did not allow FULL NAME86. He (FULL NAME37) realized that because of this conflict the defendant FULL NAME47 for some time left for another group. About all this, as a heroic deed, they say, they were in the minority able to defeat superior forces, and not just soldiers, but paratroopers, FULL NAME5 told him in DD.MM.YYYY year.

Testimony of another militant:

At the same time, from those announced in accordance with Part 3 of Art. 281 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, at the request of the prosecution, the testimony of witness FULL NAME38, given by him during the preliminary investigation, it can be seen that around mid-October DD.MM.YYYY, by order of "FULL NAME89" from among the inhabitants of the villages<адрес>and FULL NAME3 two detachments of "volunteers" were created, numbering 20-25 people each, the commanders of which were residents of the village FULL NAME3 and FULL NAME90. All members of the detachments were given uniforms, unloading vests and weapons, mainly Kalashnikov assault rifles of 5.45 mm caliber and 10 magazines equipped with 30 rounds each. He was in the detachment FULL NAME6. In the same detachment in DD.MM.YYYY year entered and the defendant FULL NAME5. Then with him (FULL NAME47) he met. Their duties included the protection of access roads to the village of Vedeno, including the road leading to this village from the settlement<адрес>

On one of the days in mid-November DD.MM.YYYY, a group of 6-7 people, led by FULL NAME6, drove towards the village in a UAZ-lux car<адрес>to change the patrol, which was on its outskirts. On the way, noticing in an open area, about 200 meters from the village<адрес>a group of military personnel of fourteen people, FULL NAME6 ordered his group to disperse and attack them from the available weapons. First, a grenade launcher was fired at the servicemen, then Kalashnikov assault rifles were used. As a result, twelve servicemen were killed and two captured. FULL NAME4 brought to<адрес>where they received medical care. Personally, he was not involved in the attack.

According to the conclusions of experts, the death of servicemen occurred for the following reasons:
five have blast injuries,
- four had multiple bullet holes (including one finished off with a shot in the head),
- two - one bullet (in the head; in the chest),
- one had an explosive injury and one bullet in the head (finished off).
Both survivors had bullet wounds.

May 5, 2018 agency "Interfax-AVN", by 2023, in accordance with the plan for the construction of the Airborne Forces (VDV), it is planned to reorganize the 31st separate guards airborne assault brigade into the 104th guards airborne assault division. This information was announced on Saturday by the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov. He spoke at a solemn rally on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the redeployment of the 104th Guards Airborne Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class, division from the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ulyanovsk and the 20th anniversary of the formation of the successor formation of the 31st Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade.

BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles delivered in 2017 from the 31st Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Russian Airborne Forces. Ulyanovsk, 08/01/2017 (c) ulpressa.ru

“Today, when the plan for the construction of the Airborne Forces until 2030 has been approved, we should expect that by the 25th anniversary of the brigade in 2023 we will revive the now 104th Airborne Assault Division, which is planned to be deployed in three cities: Ulyanovsk, Penza and Orenburg," said V. Shamanov.

"We will also revive the 345th legendary regiment, which successfully performed combat missions in Afghanistan. This will be a tribute to the feat and heroism of these wonderful people," the head of the committee added.

He said that recently at a meeting with the President of Russia in St. Petersburg, on behalf of the veteran community, he addressed him with a proposal to give a political assessment of the almost 10-year stay of Soviet troops in Afghanistan in connection with the 30th anniversary of their withdrawal from this country, which will be celebrated in 2019. "The President of Russia agreed with this," V. Shamanov said.

He noted the decisive role of the personnel of the 31st brigade in the fact that in Russian society military personnel began to be called "polite people." "You did this by returning Crimea to its native harbour," the head of the State Duma committee emphasized, addressing the paratroopers standing in the ranks.

"Bow to you, success in combat and political training and faith in the future of Russia," V. Shamanov wished.

From the side of bmpd, we recall that for the first time plans to reorganize the 31st separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade stationed in Ulyanovsk into the 104th Guards Airborne Assault Division were in the media back in June 2015. At the same time, it was stated that "the reconstituted unit will have three regiments in its combat strength, it is planned to deploy these regiments in Ulyanovsk, Engels and Orenburg."

The 104th Guards Order of Kutuzov Airborne Division was one of the oldest formations of the USSR Airborne Forces and was formed in January 1944 as the 11th Guards Airborne Division. At the end of 1944, it was reorganized into the 104th Guards Rifle Division, which ended hostilities in May 1945 in Czechoslovakia. In April 1946, the division was reorganized into the 104th Guards Airborne Division and deployed in Narva (Estonian SSR). In 1960, the division was redeployed to Kirovabad (Ganja) of the Azerbaijan SSR. In May 1993, the division was withdrawn from Azerbaijan to Ulyanovsk and in 1998 it was reorganized into the 31st Separate Guards Airborne Order of the Kutuzov Brigade (since 2007 - the 31st Separate Guards Airborne Assault Order of the Kutuzov Brigade).

By the time of the collapse of the USSR, the 104th Guards Order of Kutuzov Airborne Division included three airborne regiments - the 328th Guards Airborne Regiment, the 337th Guards Airborne Order of Alexander Nevsky Regiment and the 345th Guards Parachute Regiment. Airborne Vienna Red Banner Order of Suvorov Regiment named after the 70th anniversary of the Lenin Komsomol - the last regiment in the status of a separate one took an active part in the hostilities in Afghanistan in 1979-1989, and after the withdrawal from Afghanistan was included in 1989 in the 104th division.

It should be noted that in 2013-2015, as commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General V. Shamanov repeatedly announced plans to create the 345th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade with the proposed deployment in Voronezh, which was supposed to inherit the traditions and regalia 345 1st Airborne Regiment. However, plans to create a new airborne assault brigade in Voronezh were gradually abandoned, and, as can be understood from the current statements of V. Shamanov, it is now planned to recreate the 345th regiment as part of the 104th division planned for restoration.

Now the Airborne Forces of Russia include two airborne (98th and 106th) and two airborne assault (7th and 76th) divisions and four separate airborne assault brigades (11th, 31 -I, 56th and 83rd), as well as a separate special-purpose brigade (45th).

On December 8, 1944, the State Defense Committee decided to reorganize the 11th Guards Airborne Division into the 104th Guards Rifle Division. The formation of the division took place in Slutsk, Byelorussian SSR.

The 104th Guards Rifle Division was completed and equipped with military equipment and weapons, taking into account the experience of combat. It was intended to participate in inflicting new powerful strikes on the enemy and received extraordinary firepower.

In March 1945, the division left for the front in the Budapest area. In heavy fighting from March 16 to March 22, units of the division coped with the task, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in manpower and equipment. On March 25, 1945, in a fierce battle, the guardsmen of the division, in cooperation with other formations of the 9th Army, completely captured the town of Papa. By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, gratitude was announced to the personnel of the division.

At the final stage of the Vienna operation, parts of the division stormed the city of St. Polten, thereby closing the encirclement of Vienna. After the fall of Vienna, units of the 104th Guards Rifle Division were withdrawn to the reserve of the 9th Army. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 26, 1945, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree. By the same Decree, the 346th Guards Rifle Regiment of the division was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

From March 4 to May 12, 1945, units of the division fought 1036 km, they liberated 344 settlements, including 7 cities. The division destroyed 7400 enemy soldiers and officers, captured 1897, disarmed 75 thousand people, destroyed 62 tanks, 35 SAO, 34 armored personnel carriers, 80 guns, 35 mortars, shot down 20 and destroyed 42 aircraft on the ground. On May 12, 1945, units of the formation met with American troops in the area of ​​the Vltava River.

In April 1946, the 104th Guards Rifle Division, Order of Kutuzov, 2nd Class, was reorganized into the 104th Guards Airborne Division, Order of Kutuzov, 2nd Class, relocated to the Estonian SSR (Kingisepp) and became part of the 15th th Guards Airborne Corps.

In 1960, the division was redeployed to the Transcaucasian Military District in the cities of Kirovabad, Shamkhor, Baku and Kutaisi. On April 7, 1964, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the Hero of the Soviet Union Guards, Private Galushin Prokopy Ivanovich, was permanently enrolled in the lists of personnel of the 328th Guards Airborne Regiment.

In 1967, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, on behalf of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Presidium of the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, a commemorative Red Banner was handed over for eternal storage for success in combat and political training.

On July 27, 1968, as part of a group of paratroopers who landed on the Pamirs in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Komsomol, there were also soldiers of the 104th Guards Airborne Division of the Guard, Privates Asayonok, Zizyulin and Kulpinov. They showed great skill and courage, for which they were listed in the book of Glorious deeds of the Transcaucasian military district.
In 1972, the 337th Guards Airborne Regiment of the division, and in 1973, the 328th Guards Airborne Regiment were awarded pennants of the Minister of Defense of the USSR "For courage and military prowess."

From August 27 to September 1, 1974, on the basis of the division, the commander of the Airborne Forces, General of the Army Margelov V.F. the Airborne Forces commanding staff was assembled with an experimental tactical exercise, during which 108 objects of heavy equipment were landed and, for the first time in the Armed Forces, an experimental landing of a 122-mm D-30 howitzer with two crew members in the cockpit was carried out. The first in the Airborne Forces, together with the equipment, were the paratroopers of the artillery regiment of the division of the guard, Sergeant Koltsov S. M. and the guard corporal Kozmin G. V.

In 1974, the division was awarded the pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR "For courage and military prowess." Most of the officers and ensigns of the division participated in the fighting in Afghanistan. In 1989, the formation was awarded the pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR "For courage and military prowess." In 1993, the division was redeployed to Ulyanovsk.

The personnel of the division took part in establishing constitutional order on the territory of the Chechen Republic in 1994-1996. and demonstrated examples of courage, valor and self-sacrifice. In the battles on Minutka Square in Grozny, Guards Private Djordjadze N.K., saving the life of the wounded commander of the Guards Captain D.I. Incertov, was mortally wounded and died. For the courage and heroism of the Guards, Private Jorjadze N.K. was awarded the title of Hero of Russia (posthumously).

For courage and bravery shown in the performance of their duties, hundreds of servicemen of the formation were awarded orders and medals, and Guards Senior Lieutenant A.I. Bocharov, Guards Senior Lieutenant O.A. Eremetsky. (posthumously), Guard Sergeant Kulakov R.I. (posthumously), Guards Senior Lieutenant O.I. Lobunets, Major Makarov V.V., Guards Captain Spiridonov R.V., Guards Captain Chirikov A.A. awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

By May 1, 1998, the 104th Guards Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Division was reorganized into the 31st Guards Separate Airborne Brigade of the Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class airborne division.

From 1999 to 2001, the formation took part in the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. Courage, bravery and steadfastness - these are the main features of the guardsmen of the brigade, shown by them during the fighting. For their heroism, hundreds of military personnel were awarded state awards, and Guards Senior Lieutenant Galkin G.N. and Guard Senior Lieutenant Igoshin R.V. (posthumously) awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

Since 2005, the brigade has been transferred to a contract recruiting system. In the course of carrying out measures to reform the Airborne Forces from December 1, 2006, the full name of the brigade: 31st Separate Guards Airborne Assault Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree brigade.