Russia starts deploying poorly trained airborne forces in Ukraine, says MOD
Russia is sending poorly trained and substandard airborne forces into battle in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defence.
It is believed that Russia has deployed troops with the newly reactivated 104th Guards Airborne Division, however, the soldiers are thought to be below the normal standard required for the VDV, Russia's airborne forces.
"The division will likely be poorly trained and is unlikely to meet the erstwhile elite standards of the VDV," the MOD said in its latest intelligence update on Ukraine.
The MOD said this was the first time the unit had been sent to Ukraine, with the division believed to be assembling in Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, just north of Crimea.
"In August 2023, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to re-establish 104 GAD, which was previously downsized to a smaller, brigade-sized formation in 1998," the MOD explained.
It added: "Its subordinate units likely include the 337th regiment, an additional manoeuvre regiment, and the 52nd Artillery Brigade.
"With the addition of the 104 GAD, the number of divisions in the VDV's order of battle will increase to five.
"It will almost certainly receive close scrutiny from the Russian general responsible for Kherson, General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky; his routine role is overall commander of the VDV."
This is not the first time Russia has deployed poorly trained combat troops in Ukraine.
Russian private military company the Wagner Group reportedly deployed inexperienced operators with little training in mass near-suicide waves against Ukrainian forces in what became known as 'zombie waves'.
These attacks, which made little use of standard infantry fire and manoeuvre tactics, reportedly took place during the battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
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