Domestic weapons and military equipment. “This is a company of first combat readiness

Guards Air Assault Red Banner Regiment 104, Airborne Division, in other words, military unit 32515, is stationed in the village of Cherekha, not far from Pskov. The unit carries out combat missions, destroys and captures the enemy from the air, deprives him of ground weapons, cover, and destroys his defenses. This regiment also acts as a rapid reaction force.

Story

The regiment was formed in January 1948 as part of units of the 76th, 104th and 346th Guards Airborne Divisions. For excellent combat training in 1976, the regiment became Red Banner, and from 1979 to 1989 all personnel and officers fought in Afghanistan. In February 1978, the regiment mastered new weapons and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its valiant use. From 1994 to 1995, the Red Banner Regiment 104 (Airborne Division) was part of the 76th Division, and therefore actively participated in the First Chechen War, and in 1999 and 2009 it carried out an anti-terrorist mission in the North Caucasus.

At the beginning of 2003, the regiment was partially transferred to a contract basis, at the same time the reconstruction of military unit 32515 began. Regiment 104, Airborne Division, received reconstructed old and built new living quarters and facilities on its territory, thanks to this work the living and material conditions of service have become much better. The barracks took on a cubicle appearance with hallways, showers and closets for personal belongings, a gym and a rest room. Both officers and soldiers of Regiment 104 (Airborne Division) eat in a common canteen located separately. The food is the same for everyone, they eat together. Civilians work in the canteen, cleaning the territory and barracks.

Preparation

All fighters of such a famous unit as the Pskov Airborne Division, especially the 104th regiment, devote a lot of time to landing and general physical training at any time of the year. Mandatory activities for the landing force: improving camouflage skills, forcing fire and water obstacles and, of course, parachute jumping. First, training takes place using an airborne complex on the territory of a military unit, then it is the turn of a five-meter tower. If everything is learned correctly, then the fighters, in groups of ten people, make three jumps from airplanes: first from the AN, then from the IL.

Hazing and hazing have never occurred in this unit. Now this would not be possible, if only because recruits, old-timers and contract soldiers live separately and are each extremely busy with their own work. The Pskov Airborne Division, 104th Regiment, recruits take the oath on Saturdays at ten in the morning; rarely, due to circumstances beyond the control of the commanders, it can be moved back or forward an hour. After taking the oath, military personnel receive leave until 20.00. By the way, on holidays, fighters also receive leave. On the Monday following the taking of the oath, the command distributes new soldiers to companies.

Relatives

Of course, parents, relatives and friends miss and worry about the health and pastime of those who are just starting their military service. The command warns loved ones that their beloved sons, grandchildren, brothers and best friends, having enlisted in Regiment 104 (Pskov Airborne Division), cannot be constantly in touch.

Mobile phones are allowed to be used only one hour before lights out; the rest of the time, the commander keeps the gadgets with him and gives them to the soldier only as a last resort, and after he checks in a special log. Field exercises in the unit take place year-round, regardless of the weather, sometimes trips last up to two months. The fighters are famous for their military training, and without constant exercises the 104th Regiment of the 76th Airborne Division (Pskov) would not have gained such fame.

Helpful information

First of March

The whole country remembered the day of the great feat of the soldiers of the sixth company of the second battalion of the one hundred and fourth parachute regiment of the seventy-sixth Pskov Airborne Division. Year 2000. Since the beginning of February, the largest group of militants after the fall of Grozny retreated to the Shatoi region, where they were blocked. After air and artillery preparation, the battle for Shata followed. The militants nevertheless broke through in two large groups: Ruslan Gelayev to the northwest to the village of Komsomolskoye, and Khattab to the northeast through Ulus-Kert, where the main battle took place.

The federal troops consisted of one company of regiment 104 (Airborne Division) - the 6th company, which died heroically, commanded by Guard Lieutenant Colonel Mark Nikolaevich Evtyukhin, fifteen soldiers from the 4th company of the same regiment under the command of Guard Major Alexander Vasilyevich Dostavalov and the 1st company of the first battalion of that the same regiment under the command of Guard Major Sergei Ivanovich Baran. There were more than two and a half thousand militants: the groups of Idris, Abu Walid, Shamil Basayev and Khattab.

Mount Isty-Kord

On February 28, the commander of the 104th regiment, Colonel Sergei Yuryevich Melentyev, who briefly outlived his sixth company, ordered the occupation of the Isty-Kord heights, which dominated the area. The sixth company, led by Major Sergei Georgievich Molodov, moved out immediately and managed to occupy only height 776, four and a half kilometers from the designated mountain, where twelve reconnaissance paratroopers were sent.

The height designated by the commander was occupied by Chechen militants, with whom the reconnaissance team entered into battle, retreating to the main forces left behind. Commander Molodov entered the battle and was mortally wounded; on the same day, February 29, he died. Took command

The Brotherhood of War

But just four hours ago, Shatoy fell under the attack of federal troops. The militants furiously broke through the ring, not looking at the losses. Here they were met by the sixth company. Only the first and second platoons fought, since the third was destroyed by militants on the slope. By the end of the day, the company's losses amounted to a third of the total number of personnel. Thirty-one people - the number of paratroopers who died in the first hours of the battle when they were densely surrounded by the enemy.

By morning, soldiers from the fourth company, led by Alexander Vasilyevich Dostavalov, broke through to them. He violated the order, leaving well-fortified lines at a nearby height, took only fifteen soldiers with him and came to the rescue. Comrades from the first company of the first battalion also rushed to their aid. They crossed the Abazulgol River, were ambushed there and entrenched themselves on the bank. Only on March 3rd the first company was able to break through to the position. All this time the fighting continued everywhere.

Argun Gorge

The night of March 1, 2000 claimed the lives of eighty-four paratroopers who never missed the Chechen bandits. The death of the sixth company is the heaviest and largest in the Second Chechen War. In Cheryokha, at home, at the native checkpoint, this date is remembered by a stone on which is carved: “From here the sixth company went into immortality.” The last words of Lieutenant Colonel Evtyukhin were heard by the whole world: “I call fire on myself!” When the militants went to break through the avalanche, it was 6.50 in the morning. The bandits didn’t even shoot: why waste bullets on twenty-six wounded paratroopers if there were more than three hundred selected militants.

But hand-to-hand combat still broke out, although the forces were unequal. The guards did their duty. Everyone who could still hold a weapon, and even those who could not, entered the fray. There were twenty-seven dead enemies for each of the half-dead paratroopers who remained there. The bandits lost 457 of their best fighters, but were unable to break through either to Selmentauzen or further to Vedeno, after which the road to Dagestan was practically open. All roadblocks have been lifted by high order.

Khattab may not have been lying when he said on the radio that he bought the passage for five hundred thousand dollars, but it didn’t work out. They attacked the company in waves, like a dushman. Knowing the terrain well, the militants approached closely. And then bayonets, butts and just fists were used. For twenty hours the Pskov paratroopers held the heights.

Only six remained alive. The two were saved by the commander, who covered their jump from the cliff with machine gun fire. The bandits mistook the rest of the survivors for dead, but they were alive and after some time crawled out to the location of their troops. Company of heroes: twenty-two warriors posthumously became Heroes of Russia. Streets in many cities of the country, even in Grozny, were named after eighty-four paratroopers.

104th Airborne Division (Ulyanovsk)

This formation of the USSR Airborne Forces existed until 1998 as the 104th Guards Airborne Division, founded in 1944. In June 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense decides to recreate the famous military unit. The composition of the 104th Airborne Division is three regiments based on the 31st Ulyanovsk Airborne Brigade, which are located in Orenburg, Engels and Ulyanovsk.

Glory to the Airborne Forces

Airborne troops date back to August 1930, and this is the only branch of the military in the country where every single division is guards. Each of them gained its own glory in battle. Ancient Pskov is rightfully proud of its oldest military unit - the 76th Guards Red Banner Airborne Division, which heroically proved itself in all the wars in which it participated. The tragic death of the brave, courageous, persistent sixth company of the 104th regiment will never be forgotten not only in the country, but also in the world.

Ulyanovsk has its own historical pride: the personnel of the 104th Guards Airborne Division stationed there took part in the battles in Chechnya and Abkhazia, and were part of the UN peacekeepers in Yugoslavia. And every resident of the city knows that the military equipment with the scorpion on board is the 104th Guards Airborne Division named after Kutuzov, converted from the Airborne Forces brigade.

Motto: “We are everywhere where victory is expected”

Historical reference

The creation day of the 76th Guards Airborne Chernigov Red Banner Division is September 1, 1939. The base for the deployment of the division was the 221st Black Sea Rifle Regiment of the 74th Taman Rifle Division, created in 1925 on the basis of the 22nd Iron Krasnodar Rifle Division.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the division was part of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District and, with the outbreak of hostilities, received the task of preparing a defensive line along the Black Sea coast.

On September 15, 1941, the division was sent to help the heroic defenders of Odessa. On September 22, the formation's units replaced the defenders and by dawn took up their starting positions for the offensive. During this offensive, the division completed its task and captured the Ilyichevka state farm and the village of Gildendorf. The Military Council of the Odessa Defensive Region highly praised the actions of the division in its first battle for the city. The commander of the defensive area expressed gratitude to the personnel of the formation for their courage and bravery. Thus the division's baptism of fire took place.

By November 20, the division returned to Novorossiysk and took part in the Feodosia landing operation, which the Transcaucasian Front carried out jointly with the Black Sea Fleet. As a result of this operation, the Kerch Peninsula was cleared of the enemy and great support was provided to besieged Sevastopol.

From July 25 to July 30, 1942, the division conducted active combat operations to destroy the Nazis who crossed to the left bank of the Don. For successful military operations and the liberation of the village of Krasnoyarsk, the Commander of the North Caucasus Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union S. M. Budyonny, expressed gratitude to the personnel.

By August 4, the formation retreated to the northern bank of the Aksai River. From August 6 to 10, subunits and units fought continuous battles, trying to knock the enemy out of the bridgeheads they had captured and preventing them from developing the offensive. In these battles, machine gunner Private Ermakov distinguished himself. On his combat account there were over 300 exterminated Nazis. In the name of Afanasy Ivanovich Ermakov, a modest and fearless machine gunner, the division’s glorious list of Heroes of the Soviet Union was opened. This title was awarded to Ermakov by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on November 5, 1942.

Since September 1942, the division as part of the 64th Army occupied the defense at the Gornaya Polyana-Elkhi line.

On January 10, 1943, the formation as part of the troops of the Stalingrad Front launched a decisive offensive to destroy the encircled enemy.

In the battles near Stalingrad, the division's units killed more than 10 thousand enemy soldiers and officers, and more than 10 thousand Nazis were captured.

Until July 3, the division's units were part of the Bryansk Front in the area of ​​the city of Belev, Tula Region.

On July 12, units of the formation began crossing the Oka using improvised means. By the end of the day, the guards captured the bridgeheads and destroyed more than 1,500 enemy soldiers and officers, 45 firing points, 2 tanks, and captured 35 Nazis. Among others, the personnel of the 76th Division were awarded the gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

On September 8, the division departs from the Orel region near Chernigov. Over three days of continuous offensive, the division advanced 70 kilometers and at dawn on September 20 approached the village of Tovstoles, three kilometers northeast of Chernigov, and then, having captured the city of Chernigov, continued its offensive to the west. By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the division, gratitude was declared and the honorary name “Chernigovskaya” was awarded.

The guardsmen honorably carried their banners from Stalingrad across the Dnieper, to Belarus, and the Motherland appreciated their valor and courage, awarding 47 of them the title of Hero of the Soviet Union; hundreds were awarded orders and medals.

As part of the 1st Belorussian Front, on July 17, 1944, the division began an offensive northwest of Kovel. On July 21, the vanguards of the formation began to advance north, towards Brest, with fierce fighting. On July 26, troops advancing from the north and south united 20-25 kilometers west of Brest. The enemy group was surrounded. The next day, the division began active operations to destroy the encircled enemy.

As part of the 2nd Belorussian Front, on January 25, 1945, with their rapid march, division units slammed the exit from the city of Torun to an encircled 32,000-strong enemy group. The enemy group defending Toruń, a powerful stronghold on the Vistula, ceased to exist.

On March 23, the division stormed the city of Tsoppot, reached the Baltic Sea and turned its front to the south. By the morning of the 25th, as part of the corps, the division captured the city of Oliva and rushed to Danzig. On March 30, the liquidation of the Datsing group was completed.

Having marched from Datzing to Germany, the division concentrated on April 24 in the Kortenhuten area, 20 kilometers south of Stettin. At dawn on April 26, the formation on a wide front crossed the Rondov Canal and, having broken through the enemy’s defensive line, cleared the city of Preclav from the Nazis by the end of the day.

On May 2, the division captured the city of Güstrow, and on May 3, having covered another 40 kilometers, it cleared the city of Karov and Butzow from the enemy. At 14.00, the advanced detachments reached the Baltic Sea and, on the outskirts of the city of Wismar, met with units of the airborne division of the Allied Expeditionary Army. At this point, the 76th Division ended combat operations against the Nazi troops and began patrol duty on the coast. During the war years, 50 soldiers in the division received the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and over 12 thousand were awarded orders and medals.

Immediately after the war, the 76th division was redeployed from Germany to the city of Kirov, Kaluga region, and during the same period it was transformed into an airborne division. Since the spring of 1947, the division has been stationed in Pskov. Thus began a new stage in the history of the connection. Since 1948, company tactical exercises with practical landings began to be conducted for the first time. In the summer, the first demonstration battalion tactical exercise with landing takes place. It was led by the division commander, General V.F. Margelov. In 1967, the division's personnel took part in the Dnepr exercises. The guardsmen, having demonstrated high training, earned the gratitude of the command.

In March 1970, the formation took part in the major combined arms exercise Dvina. Several thousand guardsmen parachuted onto the snow-covered fields of Belarus. During these exercises, for the first time, one of the units was parachuted from an AN-22 (“Antey”) aircraft, which marked the beginning of the development of new types of military transport aircraft. The actions of the paratroopers were highly appreciated by the command. All soldiers, sergeants and officers who took part in the exercises were awarded the anniversary medal "For Military Valor". For achieving high results in combat and political training in April 1970, the division was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the CPSU Central Committee, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The formation's guardsmen also showed high skill during the "Brotherhood in Arms" exercises. "Autumn-88".

In 1977, the 104th Rifle Division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for success in combat training.

The pennant of the USSR Minister of Defense "For courage and military valor" was awarded to:

• in 1974 - 234th Guards. parachute regiment;
• in 1977 - 1140th Guards. artillery regiment;
• in 1979 - 104th Guards. parachute regiment;
• in 1988 - 76th Guards. airborne division;
• in 1990 - 104th and 234th Guards. parachute regiments.

From 1979 to 1989, officers and warrant officers of the division performed international duty in Afghanistan. From 1988 to 1992, the division's paratroopers had to extinguish interethnic conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Baltic states, Transnistria, North and South Ossetia.

At the end of 1995, a separate airborne brigade was formed on the basis of the division to carry out peacekeeping tasks in the republics of the former Yugoslavia.

On November 17, 1998, one of the oldest regiments of the division and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the 1140th Twice Red Banner Artillery Regiment, celebrated its 80th anniversary. Formed on the basis of the 22nd artillery battalion of the 22nd Iron Krasnodar Rifle Division, which dates back to 1918, the artillery regiment has gone through a glorious battle path. Seven Heroes of the Soviet Union were brought up in its ranks.

The Chechen war of 1994-95 was a black page in the history of the division. 120 soldiers, sergeants, warrant officers and officers did not return from that strange war. They fulfilled their military duty to the end. For the courage and heroism shown in carrying out command assignments, many guards paratroopers were awarded orders and medals, and ten officers were awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Two of them - the commander of the guard reconnaissance company, Captain Yu. Nikitich, and the commander of the guard battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Pyatnitskikh - were awarded this high rank posthumously.

Since August 18, 1999, the personnel of the formation took part in the liquidation of illegal armed groups in the territory of the Republics of Dagestan and Chechnya as part of a regimental tactical group. During this period of time, the paratroopers of the formation had to take part in many military operations, including the liberation of the settlements of Karamakhi, Gudermes, Argun, and the blocking of the Vedeno Gorge. For most of the operations carried out, the personnel received high praise from the Joint Command of the Group of Forces in the North Caucasus.

The personnel of the 6th company of the 104th airborne division showed unprecedented mass heroism in battles with bandit formations. At the cost of their lives, the paratroopers prevented more than 2.5 thousand militants from breaking out of the Argun Gorge. For this battle, 22 guardsmen (21 of them posthumously) were awarded the high title of Hero of Russia, 69 were awarded the Order of Courage (63 of them posthumously). Their memory will forever remain in our hearts.

In the period from September 26 to 29, 2000, a regimental tactical exercise was conducted with landing and live shooting of the 234th Guards Parachute Airborne Regiment named after St. Alexander Nevsky, which showed the methodology for preparing and conducting regimental tactical exercises in conditions of limited funding, using experience , acquired by the Airborne Forces in Chechnya. During the exercises, more than four hundred people and ten units of armored vehicles were landed, issues of crossing a water barrier, as well as combat, technical and logistical support were worked out. The actions of the personnel were highly appreciated by representatives of the Ministry of Defense.

This is not the end of the story of the illustrious connection. It is continued by young guardsmen, successors to the military glory of front-line soldiers. It is supplemented by their military deeds by soldiers, sergeants and officers who carry out their honorable service under the combat banner of the division.

During the existence of the division it was commanded by:

Photos provided:

Airborne Forces Headquarters (2-20);
- From the author’s personal archive (1);

Commander of the 165th ORR, senior lieutenant Andrei Vladimirovich Shevelev: “War had not yet been declared, we were forbidden to shoot. But they shot at us. I report that I am surrounded, I see them, I can get them. In response: “Wait. Let's go to negotiations." We know that the division is receiving reports that someone has already been killed. That's when I first violated the order. I opened fire because I had to protect people. If the militants had gone into the gorge, we would have they were not found. They ran, I began to push them back. And then an order came through the station: “It’s allowed to open fire.” A cold sweat just left me: I’m not a criminal. And when you know that you can use your weapon, defend yourself, that’s all much easier."2

Battalion commander of the 237th Guards. PDP 76 Airborne Division Lieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Sivko: “And in December 1994, when the combined regiment of the Pskov Airborne Division, which included the reinforced battalion of the regiment, which I commanded, advanced from the Beslan region to the area of ​​​​the southwestern outskirts of the city of Grozny, "We were faced with well-prepared defense areas. Artillery emplacements blocked all routes leading to the city. They were well fortified, made of concrete blocks. This is actually a well-built fire system."

From the description of the battle from the words of the commander of the 8th infantry regiment of the 104th infantry regiment, Lieutenant Evgeniy Nikolaevich Opivalov: “Before Alkhan-Kala we reached the Sunzhensky ridge. Morning. The column of the combined regiment moved along the valley along the ridge. An alarming feeling was intensified by the unpleasant fog that shrouded the valley. The artillery strike fell on the closure of the column was unexpected as always. The eighth company, which included Opivalov’s platoon, was given the task of attacking the enemy, who had settled in a forest plantation from where the shooting was coming. With the support of a tank platoon [from 141 detachments], the landing force went on the attack. Dispersing the infantry and destroying the enemy’s artillery crew - of the four self-propelled artillery mounts, the “spirits” managed to fire only a few shots, - the company as part of the parachute battalion consolidated its positions.”4

Probably, the 9th Pdr.5 also took part in the same battle.5 After the destruction of the enemy, the combined battalion of the 104th Guards. PDP began equipping engineering positions in the specified area.

According to the commander of the 8th airborne division of the 104th airborne division, Lieutenant E.N. Opivalova, “At night, the enemy again attacked the regiment’s positions, hitting the junction between the 8th and 9th companies. In the darkness, the “spirits” managed to approach the paratroopers’ positions almost within the distance of throwing a grenade.”6

ZKVR company 104 airborne patrol senior lieutenant Igor Zaritovsky: “It happened on the outskirts of Grozny, on the twentieth of December, at night. “Spirits” - that’s what we call Chechen fighters - mistook the strong point of one of the companies for a military outpost and, considering that they had advantage, attacked. The main blow fell on the position of the airborne combat vehicle of Sergeant Vitaly Balaban. It was shot at from grenade launchers from several directions. Vitaly brought them down to the last, even when the “spirits” set the vehicle on fire. When the machine gun jammed, he fired from the cannon. Cannon on the BMD - a powerful fool - he crushed about forty of them there. But he couldn’t leave himself, he didn’t have time - he burned down along with the “baemdashka”..."7.

Soldier 9 pdr 104 pdp: “Then gunner sergeant Vitalik Balaban died heroically... as soon as the battle began, he jumped into the BMDeshka and started hammering at the Czechs, the two had a crap gun, then... in short, they hit the car from the gunner, the ammunition detonated and... all that was left of the boy was his foot... they presented him as a Hero posthumously, but they didn’t seem to give him the title..."8 [Indeed, Balaban was not awarded the title of Hero of Russia.]

ZKVR company 104 pdp senior lieutenant I. Zaritovsky: “Afterwards it turned out that the battalion was attacked by Chechen special forces, well equipped, trained, with considerable combat experience. And cruel. In the confusion of the battle, two at the junction of the companies managed to penetrate into the rear of the battalion. There they stumbled upon on Lieutenant Sergei Bulba, who was wounded in the legs. The “spirits” finished off the lieutenant - they cut his throat... Ours did not take these two prisoners."9.

Dead and wounded

Dead:
- Lieutenant of the 104th Guards. PDP Sergey Anatolyevich Bulba (12/21/1994)
- junior sergeant of the 104th Guards. PDP Vitaly Viktorovich Balaban (12/21/1994)
- Private 104th Guards. PDP Vyacheslav Stanislavovich Zakharov (12/21/1994)
- junior sergeant of the 104th Guards. PDP Nikolay Fedorovich Kasym (12/22/1994)
- Sergeant of the 104th Guards. PDP Alexander Viktorovich Prasolov (12/22/1994)

There were also wounded, but their exact number is unknown.10

The losses of the militants amounted to 25-30 killed11 (and according to other information - about 40 people12).

Commander of the 2 PDR 234 PDR Lieutenant Ruslan Kompanets: “I, as a platoon commander, had three BMD vehicles. But I am an officer, I was specially trained, and with me were conscripts who were 18 years old. They had little training, but, like all of us, without combat experience. My mechanic-driver Arnold, a young soldier, short in stature, seems puny, but an excellent driver, a specialist, and he has a fighter’s course and several driving lessons behind him, but he drove the car superbly. In December, there was slush, snow, our routes passed through the mountains, which is very difficult, and our lives depended on the skill of the driver, on these young guys. And then, after the explosions of the cars of the first company, there was a heavy battle, we moved to the fortified area of ​​Grozny, in my car lost connection. I moved from Arnold's car to another. Arnold's car received a direct hit from a grenade launcher - a shell breaks through the armor, explodes in the BMD: Arnold was burned, the gunner-operator was wounded. A direct fire shell hit the car in which he was I'm right in the commander's place. The Chechen fighters knew where the commander in the BMD was located and attacked directly there. The driver who was with me was shell-shocked, and I was seriously injured, and then spent a month in a hospital in Rostov."13

Dead:
- Private 2nd PDR 234th Guards. PDP Alexander Alexandrovich Arnold
- Private 234 Guards. PDP Alexey Nikolaevich Utyuzhnikov
- Private 234 Guards. PDP Alexey Nikolaevich Khaletsky (December 28?14)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

1 Chebotarev A. Paratrooper, hero, deputy // Solidarity. No. 44. 2005. November 30. (http://www.solidarnost.org/article.php?issue=115§ion=106&article=2407)
2 Chebotarev A. Paratrooper, hero, deputy // Solidarity. No. 44. 2005. November 30. (http://www.solidarnost.org/article.php?issue=115§ion=106&article=2407)
3 Fighting in Chechnya. Lessons and conclusions // Slavic world. 1997. No. 37. December. (

76th Guards Air Assault Chernigov Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Division(until 1943 - 157th Rifle, until 1946 - 76th Guards Rifle, until 2006 - 76th Guards Airborne division) is the oldest existing formation of the Russian Airborne Forces.

From 1994 to 1995, individual units and units of the division took part in the First Chechen War. In 1999 and 2004, the division took part in the Second Chechen War. Officers, soldiers and sergeants of the division also took part in the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo in 1999-2001 and in the war with Georgia in August 2008. In 2014, military personnel of the division took part in “special tasks for the return of the Republic of Crimea to Russia.”

Story

157th Infantry Division (1939-1943)

The 157th Rifle Division (primary name) was deployed on the basis of the 221st Black Sea Rifle Regiment of the 74th Taman Rifle Division, created in 1925 on the basis of the 22nd Krasnodar Rifle Division. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the division was part of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District and, with the outbreak of hostilities, received the task of preparing a defensive line along the Black Sea coast.

The division's first baptism of fire took place during the defense of Odessa. On September 22, 1941, units and units of the division replaced the defenders and at dawn went on the offensive, during which the division captured the Ilyichevka state farm and the village of Gildendorf. For courage and courage, the commander of the Odessa defensive region expressed gratitude to the personnel of the formation.

On October 6, 1941, units of the division were redeployed to Sevastopol. On November 20, 1941, the division was redeployed to Novorossiysk to participate in the Feodosia landing operation - the first strategic joint offensive operation of the Transcaucasian Front and the Black Sea Fleet forces in the coastal direction. As a result of 9 days of fighting, the Kerch Peninsula was cleared of the enemy and great support was provided to the besieged Sevastopol.

From July 25 to July 30, 1942, the division fought to destroy German troops that had crossed to the left bank of the Don. For successful military operations and the liberation of the village of Krasnoyarsk, the commander of the North Caucasus Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union S. M. Budyonny, expressed gratitude to the personnel.

In the first half of August 1942, the division retreated to the northern bank of the Aksai River, where its units fought continuous defensive battles. In these battles, Red Army machine gunner Afanasy Ermakov distinguished himself, who was the first from the division to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on November 5, 1942). Since September 1942, the division as part of the 64th Army occupied the defense at the Gornaya Polyana-Elkhi line.

On January 10, 1943, the division, as part of the troops of the Stalingrad Front, took part in the final part of the Battle of Stalingrad, Operation Ring, with the goal of destroying the encircled enemy. In the battles near Stalingrad, the division's units destroyed more than 10 thousand enemy soldiers and officers and more than 10 thousand were captured. By order of the NKO USSR of March 1, 1943 No. 107, the 157th Infantry Division for the courage and heroism of the personnel shown during the Battle of Stalingrad was transformed into 76th Guards Rifle Division.

76th Guards Rifle Division (1943-1946)

Until July 3, 1943, units and divisions of the division were part of the Bryansk Front in the area of ​​​​the city of Belyov, Tula Region. The division took part in the Battle of Kursk on the northern front of the Kursk ledge. On July 12, units and divisions of the division, as part of the offensive against the 2nd tank and 9th armies of German troops in the Orel area, crossed the Oka River and by the end of the day captured the bridgeheads, destroying more than 1,500 enemy soldiers and officers, 45 firing points, 2 tanks and captured 35 Germans. Among others, the personnel of the 76th division were awarded the gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

On September 8, the division set out from the Orel area near Chernigov. Over three days of continuous offensive, the division's units advanced 70 kilometers and at dawn on September 20 approached the village of Tolstoles, three kilometers northeast of Chernigov, and then, having captured the city, continued their attack to the west. By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of September 21, 1943 No. 20, the division was thanked and given an honorary name Chernigovskaya.

76th Guards Airborne Division (1946-2006)

In July 1983, the division's reconnaissance company took part in a landing with personnel inside a BMD-1. The crew consisted of 2 people: a driver and a commander (gunner-operator). As part of the “Centaur” program, named after the landing system inside the combat vehicle, a total of 9 infantry fighting vehicles were landed from three ships to the Gdovo-Porechensky training ground (Belarus). Of the nine crews, two were created from military personnel of the reconnaissance company of the 104th Guards Parachute Regiment. The rest of the reconnaissance company parachuted along with division commander Georgy Shpak.

The USSR Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Soviet Union Dmitry Ustinov, was present at the exercises. Participants in the world's first landing inside combat vehicles by an entire unit were awarded medals “For Combat Merit” (soldiers and sergeants) and Orders of the Red Star (officers), a total of 18 people.

In 1988, the division took part in eliminating the consequences of the earthquake in Armenia. In the period from 1988 to 1992, the division's paratroopers participated in containing interethnic conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan (Black January), Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Baltics, Transnistria, North and South Ossetia. In 1991, the 104th and 234th Guards Parachute Regiments were awarded the USSR Ministry of Defense pennant “For Courage and Military Valor.” Previously, the pennant of the USSR Ministry of Defense was awarded to the division as a whole and its artillery regiment. In July 1994, for the first time in history, the division's paratroopers conducted joint exercises with their French colleagues (in Pskov and France).

From 1994 to 1995, the division took part in the First Chechen War. The division's combat losses amounted to 120 soldiers, sergeants, warrant officers and officers. For the courage and heroism shown during the special task of establishing constitutional order in the territory of Chechnya, many guards paratroopers were awarded orders and medals, and ten officers were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Two of them - the commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, Captain Yuri Nikitich, and the commander of the guard battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Pyatnitsky, were awarded this title posthumously.

From August 18, 1999 to 2004, the division's personnel participated in the Second Chechen War. During this period of time, paratroopers took part in the liberation of the settlements of Karamakhi, Gudermes, Argun and in the operation to block the Vedeno Gorge. In most operations, the personnel received high praise from the joint command of the group of forces in the North Caucasus.

In 2004, the 76th Guards Airborne Chernigov Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Division was the first in Russia to switch to a contract manning system.

76th Guards Air Assault Division (since 2006)

Since 2006 the division has been air assault. According to the former commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel General Alexander Kolmakov, in both the airborne division and the air assault division, 100 percent of the personnel are ready to parachute. In an air assault division, unlike an airborne division, each regiment has one reinforced battalion capable of landing with equipment. This is due to the real state of military transport aviation, the geographical location of the locations of the Airborne Forces units and the optimization of the organizational and staffing composition of the Airborne Forces.

In 2008, military personnel of the division took part in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Since 2012, the 25th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Sevastopol Red Banner Brigade named after the Latvian Riflemen has been located on the territory of the division. In 2014, the division took part in the Crimean crisis.

“For the successful completion of combat missions of the command and the courage and heroism shown by the personnel” By decree of the President of Russia No. 571 of August 18, 2014, the division was awarded the Order of Suvorov

Compound

The highest award of the USSR was also awarded to:

• Abramov, Afanasy Nesterovich, guard lieutenant, platoon commander of the 237th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Alexandrov, Vasily Ivanovich, guard senior sergeant, gun commander of the 154th Guards Artillery Regiment.
• Alexandrov, Nikita Alekseevich, guard senior lieutenant, agitator of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Alekseev, Evsey Alekseevich, guard junior sergeant, gunner of the 5th battery of the 154th Guards Artillery Regiment.
• Andreev, Alexey Dmitrievich, guard senior lieutenant, company commander of the 237th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Andreev, Nikolai Mikhailovich, guard sergeant, squad commander of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Andrusenko, Korney Mikhailovich, guard colonel, commander of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Afanasyev, Semyon Efimovich, Red Army guard, rifleman of the 237th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Baranov, Mikhail Pavlovich, guard junior sergeant, rifleman of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Bakharev, Pyotr Mikhailovich, guard lieutenant, Komsomol organizer of the battalion of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Bolodurin, Ivan Petrovich
• Gendreus, Genrikh Iosipovich, guard sergeant, commander of the machine gun squad of the 234th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Golodnov, Alexey Vasilievich, Red Army guard, machine gunner of the 234th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Gridin, Dmitry Alekseevich, guard senior lieutenant, battery commander of the 154th Guards Artillery Regiment.
• Demidov, Alexander Alexandrovich, Red Army guard, sapper of the sapper platoon of the 234th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Zavgorodny, Grigory Demidovich, guard captain, battery commander of the 154th Guards Artillery Regiment.
• Zakirov, Akhmet Zakirovich, guard junior lieutenant, platoon commander of the 7th rifle company of the 239th guards rifle regiment.
• Zaulin, Ivan Alexandrovich, guard sergeant, commander of the machine gun 234th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Zozulya, Maxim Mitrofanovich, guard senior sergeant, assistant platoon commander of the 237th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Ivankin, Yuri Petrovich, Red Army guard, rifleman of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Kizatov, Zhalel Kizatovich, guard lieutenant, commander of a battery control platoon of the 154th Guards Artillery Regiment.
• Kirik, Ivan Vasilyevich, guard foreman, squad leader of the 239th Guards Rifle Regiment.
• Kirsanov, Alexander Vasilievich, guard major general, division commander.

It has become the “center” of attention of all news channels. Murder, investigation, funeral march. Of course, one feels sorry for him, like any other person... But about the dead it’s either good or nothing. Therefore, there is nothing to add to the word “sorry”.

But the country learned only on March 5, 2000 that on February 29, 2000, a company of paratroopers took on battles with many times superior forces of militants. For three days, 90 guys held back, according to various sources, from 2.5 to 3 thousand militants breaking through from the territory of Chechnya through the Argun Gorge.

And how many people on March 1, 2015 remembered that 15 years ago, on February 29 - March 1, almost the entire 6th company of the 2nd battalion of the 104th Parachute Regiment of the 76th Guards Pskov Airborne Division died in an unequal battle?

About 21 thousand people came to the funeral march in memory of Nemtsov, and about 200 people came to the peaceful rally in memory of the Pskov paratroopers in the capital. Yes, perhaps in 15 years no one will remember about Nemtsov, but that’s not the main thing...

It is important whether the people remember those who, without sparing their bellies, defend the peace and quiet of our cities, even at the cost of their lives.

On February 29, troops of the federal group liberated the last populated area of ​​Chechnya from militants. General Troshev (at that time deputy commander of the OGV in the North Caucasus) brought the Russian flag to Shatoy to symbolically hoist it over the city. At the same time, Troshev stated in his interview that large organized gang formations no longer exist, and the remnants of the militants “are scattering in small groups in order to save their skins.” On the same day, Minister of Defense I.D. Sergeev reported to... O. President V.V. Putin on the successful completion of the 3rd stage of the counter-terrorism operation. And just a few hours after that, the battle began at an altitude of 776.0.

March 3, 2000 Russian generals Viktor Kazantsev, Gennady Troshev, Vladimir Shamanov, as well as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Anatoly Kvashnin became honorary citizens of Makhachkala. A decree on this was signed by the head of the Makhachkala administration, Said Amirov.
Honorary citizenship was awarded to the generals for their contribution to the defeat of the bandit formations that attacked Dagestan in August-September last year. As it became known, in addition to special addresses, Kazantsev, Shamanov, Troshev and Kvashnin will be presented with a personal name - Kubachi sabers.

And at the same time, there is not a word in the media about the dead paratroopers. To avoid causing dissonance?

From the memoirs of Andrei Velichenko (as part of a group of paratroopers of the 104th regiment, he marched and crossed the Abuzalgol River, but due to dense enemy fire they were unable to break through to the aid of the soldiers of the 6th company):

The picture was very creepy. In an area of ​​about 200 by 200, almost the entire personnel of the 6th Airborne Company was located.

Showing incredible courage, 90 paratroopers repelled attacks by more than 2.5 thousand militants. According to various sources, from 370 to 700 militants were killed. 84 paratroopers died, six were lucky - they survived.

In 2006, director Vitaly Lukin made the feature film “Breakthrough,” based on the last battle of the heroic 6th company of the 104th Guards Regiment. The script was written by Ivan Loschilin and Vyacheslav Davydov. The main roles were played by Igor Lifanov, Marina Mogilevskaya, Anatoly Kotenev and other domestic actors. True, the film turned out to be controversial both from the director’s point of view and from the point of view of historical accuracy.

On March 12, 2000, Presidential Decree No. 484 appeared on awarding 22 dead paratroopers the title of Hero of Russia, the rest of the dead were awarded the Order of Courage.

Three years later, the case of the death of 84 paratroopers was closed by Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky. The investigation materials have not yet been made public. For ten years, relatives and colleagues of the victims have been collecting the picture of the tragedy bit by bit.

In July 2003, an open appeal from a regional public organization of families of fallen military personnel to President Vladimir Putin was published. In it, the relatives asked a number of questions to the acting. the commander of the OGV, General Gennady Troshev, the Chief of the General Staff, General A.V. Kvashnin, and the command of the Airborne Forces.

1. Why was the company’s exit delayed by the command for a day?
2. Why couldn’t the company’s property be dropped off by helicopter?
3. Why did the company move into an ambush that had been prepared in advance for it?
4. Why was the company not supported by long-range artillery?
5. Why was the company commander not warned about the presence of the main enemy forces on the route? How did information about the company's movements become known to the militants?
6. Why did the regiment commander demand to hold on and promise help, although the company could have been withdrawn at any moment, and the company sent to help went along the most inconvenient route?
7. Why did the military leave the battlefield to the militants for three days, allowing them to bury their dead and collect the wounded?
8. Why did the information published by Pskov journalists five days later take the generals by surprise?

These questions were partially answered by Gennady Troshev in his book “My War. Chechen diary of a trench general." In particular, Troshev points out that the paratroopers were nevertheless provided with fire support. The regimental 120-mm 2S9 guns “worked” at height 776 almost continuously from the afternoon of February 29 until the morning of March 1 (when Lieutenant Colonel Evtyukhin called fire on himself), firing about 1,200 shells during this time. Moreover, according to the author, most of the losses of the militants in this battle were caused precisely by artillery shelling. Troshev also mentions the impossibility of transporting company personnel by air, since during the reconnaissance of the area carried out in advance, it was not possible to find a single suitable site.

What a shame that someone has to become a hero to “compensate” for the incompetence or corruption of others!