SA. Were stormtroopers real men? Well, what can I tell you, my friend? There are still contrasts in life: There are so many girls around, And you and I are homosexuals. The harsh truth of life as presented by Joseph Raskin - Comrade commander, appeared in our company

Airborne troops are one of the strongest components of the army of the Russian Federation. In recent years, due to the tense international situation, the importance of the Airborne Forces has been increasing. The size of the territory of the Russian Federation, its landscape diversity, as well as borders with almost all conflict states, indicate that it is necessary to have a large supply of special groups of troops that can provide the necessary protection in all directions, which is what the air force is.

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Because air force structure is vast, the question often arises of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Battalion, are they the same troops? The article examines the differences between them, the history, goals and military training of both organizations, composition.

Differences between troops

The differences lie in the names themselves. The DSB is an air assault brigade, organized and specialized in attacks close to the enemy rear in the event of large-scale military operations. Air assault brigades subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne troops, as one of their units and specialize only in assault captures.

Airborne Forces are airborne troops, whose tasks are the capture of the enemy, as well as the capture and destruction of enemy weapons and other air operations. The functionality of the Airborne Forces is much broader - reconnaissance, sabotage, assault. For a better understanding of the differences, let's consider the history of the creation of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Shock Battalion separately.

History of the Airborne Forces

The Airborne Forces began its history in 1930, when an operation was carried out near the city of Voronezh on August 2, where 12 people parachuted from the air as part of a special unit. This operation then opened the eyes of the leadership to new opportunities for paratroopers. Next year, at the base Leningrad Military District, a detachment is formed, which received a long name - airborne and numbered about 150 people.

The effectiveness of the paratroopers was obvious and the Revolutionary Military Council decided to expand it by creating airborne troops. The order was issued at the end of 1932. At the same time, in Leningrad, instructors were trained, and later they were distributed to districts according to special-purpose aviation battalions.

In 1935, the Kyiv military district demonstrated to foreign delegations the full power of the Airborne Forces by staging an impressive landing of 1,200 paratroopers, who quickly captured the airfield. Later, similar exercises were held in Belarus, as a result of which the German delegation, impressed by the landing of 1,800 people, decided to organize its own airborne detachment, and then a regiment. Thus, The Soviet Union is rightfully the birthplace of the Airborne Forces.

In 1939, our airborne troops there is an opportunity to show yourself in action. In Japan, the 212th brigade was landed on the Khalkin-Gol River, and a year later the 201, 204 and 214 brigades were involved in the war with Finland. Knowing that the Second World War would not pass us by, 5 air corps of 10 thousand people each were formed and the Airborne Forces acquired a new status - guards troops.

The year 1942 was marked by the largest airborne operation during the war, which took place near Moscow, where about 10 thousand paratroopers were dropped into the German rear. After the war, it was decided to annex the Airborne Forces to the Supreme High Command and appoint the commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR Ground Forces, this honor falls to Colonel General V.V. Glagolev.

Big innovations in airborne the troops came with “Uncle Vasya”. In 1954 V.V. Glagolev is replaced by V.F. Margelov and held the position of commander of the Airborne Forces until 1979. Under Margelov, the Airborne Forces are supplied with new military equipment, including artillery installations, combat vehicles, and special attention is paid to working under conditions of a surprise attack with nuclear weapons.

Airborne troops took part in all the most significant conflicts - the events of Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh, North and South Ossetia. Several of our battalions carried out UN peacekeeping missions on the territory of Yugoslavia.

Nowadays, the ranks of the Airborne Forces include about 40 thousand fighters; during special operations, paratroopers form its basis, since the Airborne Forces are a highly qualified component of our army.

History of the formation of the DSB

Air assault brigades began their history after it was decided to rework the tactics of the Airborne Forces in the context of the outbreak of large-scale military operations. The purpose of such ASBs was to disorganize opponents through mass landings close to the enemy; such operations were most often carried out from helicopters in small groups.

Towards the end of the 60s in the Far East, it was decided to form 11 and 13 brigades with helicopter regiments. These regiments were deployed mainly in hard-to-reach areas; the first landing attempts took place in the northern cities of Magdacha and Zavitinsk. Therefore, in order to become a paratrooper of this brigade, strength and special endurance were needed, since the weather conditions were almost unpredictable, for example, in winter the temperature reached -40 degrees, and in the summer there was abnormal heat.

Place of deployment of the first airborne gunships The Far East was chosen for a reason. This was a time of difficult relations with China, which worsened further after a clash of interests on the island of Damascus. The brigades were ordered to prepare to repel an attack from China, which could attack at any time.

High level and importance of DSB was demonstrated during exercises in the late 80s on the island of Iturup, where 2 battalions and artillery landed on MI-6 and MI-8 helicopters. The garrison, due to weather conditions, was not warned about the exercise, as a result of which fire was opened on those who landed, but thanks to the highly qualified training of the paratroopers, none of the participants in the operation were injured.

In those same years, the DSB consisted of 2 regiments, 14 brigades, and about 20 battalions. One brigade at a time were attached to one military district, but only to those that had access to the border by land. Kyiv also had its own brigade, 2 more brigades were given to our units located abroad. Each brigade had an artillery division, logistics and combat units.

After the USSR ceased to exist, the country’s budget did not allow the massive maintenance of the army, so there was nothing else to do but disband some units of the Airborne Forces and Airborne Forces. The beginning of the 90s was marked by the removal of the DSB from the subordination of the Far East and its transfer to full subordination to Moscow. The air assault brigades are being transformed into separate airborne brigades - 13 Airborne Brigade. In the mid-90s, the airborne reduction plan disbanded the 13th Airborne Forces Brigade.

Thus, from the above it is clear that the DShB was created as one of the structural divisions of the Airborne Forces.

Composition of the Airborne Forces

The composition of the Airborne Forces includes the following units:

• airborne;
• air assault;
• mountain (which operate exclusively at mountainous heights).

These are the three main components of the Airborne Forces. In addition, they consist of a division (76.98, 7, 106 Guards Air Assault), brigade and regiment (45, 56, 31, 11, 83, 38 Guards Airborne). A brigade was created in Voronezh in 2013, receiving the number 345.

Airborne Forces personnel prepared in educational institutions of the military reserve of Ryazan, Novosibirsk, Kamenets-Podolsk, and Kolomenskoye. Training was carried out in the areas of parachute landing (air assault) platoon and commanders of reconnaissance platoons.

The school produced about three hundred graduates annually - this was not enough to satisfy the personnel requirements of the airborne troops. Consequently, it was possible to become a member of the Airborne Forces by graduating from airborne departments in special areas of schools such as general arms and military departments.

Preparation

The command staff of the airborne battalion was most often selected from the airborne forces, and battalion commanders, deputy battalion commanders, and company commanders were selected from the nearest military districts. In the 70s, due to the fact that the leadership decided to repeat their experience - to create and staff the DSB, planned enrollment in educational institutions is expanding, who trained future airborne officers. The mid-80s were marked by the fact that officers were released to serve in the Airborne Forces, having been trained under the educational program for the Airborne Forces. Also during these years, a complete reshuffle of officers was carried out; it was decided to replace almost all of them in the DShV. At the same time, excellent students went to serve mainly in the Airborne Forces.

To join the Airborne Forces, as in the DSB, it is necessary to meet specific criteria:

• height 173 and above;
• average physical development;
• secondary education;
• without medical restrictions.

If everything matches, then the future fighter begins training.

Particular attention is paid, of course, to the physical training of airborne paratroopers, which is carried out constantly, starting with a daily rise at 6 am, hand-to-hand combat (a special training program) and ending with long forced marches of 30–50 km. Therefore, every fighter has enormous endurance and endurance, besides, children who have been involved in any sport that develops that same endurance are selected into their ranks. To test it, they take an endurance test - in 12 minutes a fighter must run 2.4-2.8 km, otherwise there is no point in serving in the Airborne Forces.

It is worth noting that it is not for nothing that they are called universal fighters. These people can operate in various areas in any weather conditions absolutely silently, can camouflage themselves, own all types of weapons, both their own and the enemy’s, control any type of transport and means of communication. In addition to excellent physical preparation, psychological preparation is also required, since fighters have to overcome not only long distances, but also “work with their heads” to get ahead of the enemy throughout the entire operation.

Intellectual aptitude is determined using tests compiled by experts. Psychological compatibility in the team is necessarily taken into account; the guys are included in a certain detachment for 2-3 days, after which the senior officers evaluate their behavior.

Psychophysical preparation is carried out, which implies tasks with increased risk, where there is both physical and mental stress. Such tasks are aimed at overcoming fear. At the same time, if it turns out that the future paratrooper does not experience a feeling of fear at all, then he is not accepted for further training, since he is quite naturally taught to control this feeling, and is not completely eradicated. Airborne Forces training gives our country a huge advantage in terms of fighters over any enemy. Most VDVeshnikov already lead a familiar lifestyle even after retirement.

Armament of the Airborne Forces

As for technical equipment, the Airborne Forces use combined arms equipment and equipment specially designed for the nature of this type of troops. Some of the samples were created during the USSR, but the bulk were developed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Soviet period cars include:

• amphibious combat vehicle - 1 (the number reaches 100 units);
• BMD-2M (approximately 1 thousand units), they are used in both ground and parachute landing methods.

These techniques have been tested for many years and took part in multiple armed conflicts that took place on the territory of our country and abroad. Nowadays, in conditions of rapid progress, these models are outdated both morally and physically. A little later, the BMD-3 model was released and today the number of such equipment is only 10 units, since production has ceased, they plan to gradually replace it with the BMD-4.

The Airborne Forces are also armed with armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, BTR-82AM and BTR-80 and the most numerous tracked armored personnel carrier - 700 units, and it is also the most outdated (mid-70s), it is gradually being replaced by an armored personnel carrier - MDM "Rakushka". There are also 2S25 Sprut-SD anti-tank guns, an armored personnel carrier - RD "Robot", and ATGMs: "Konkurs", "Metis", "Fagot", and "Cornet". Air defense represented by missile systems, but a special place is given to a new product that recently appeared in service with the Airborne Forces - the Verba MANPADS.

Not long ago new models of equipment appeared:

• armored car "Tiger";
• Snowmobile A-1;
• Kamaz truck - 43501.

As for communication systems, they are represented by locally developed electronic warfare systems "Leer-2 and 3", Infauna, system control is represented by air defense "Barnaul", "Andromeda" and "Polet-K" - automation of command and control.

Weapon represented by samples, for example, the Yarygin pistol, PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The Soviet Ak-74 assault rifle is still the personal weapon of paratroopers, but is gradually being replaced by the newest AK-74M, and the silent Val assault rifle is also used in special operations. There are parachute systems of both Soviet and post-Soviet types, which can parachute large quantities of soldiers and all the military equipment described above. Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 “Plamya” and AGS-30, SPG-9.

Armament of the DShB

The DShB had transport and helicopter regiments, which numbered:

• about twenty mi-24, forty mi-8 and forty mi-6;
• the anti-tank battery was armed with a 9 MD mounted anti-tank grenade launcher;
• the mortar battery included eight 82-mm BM-37s;
• the anti-aircraft missile platoon had nine Strela-2M MANPADS;
• it also included several BMD-1s, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers for each airborne assault battalion.

The armament of the brigade artillery group consisted of GD-30 howitzers, PM-38 mortars, GP 2A2 cannons, the Malyutka anti-tank missile system, SPG-9MD, and ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun.

Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 “Flame” and AGS-30, SPG-9 “Spear”. Aerial reconnaissance is carried out using the domestic Orlan-10 drone.

One interesting fact took place in the history of the Airborne Forces: for quite a long time, thanks to erroneous media information, special forces (Special Forces) soldiers were not rightfully called paratroopers. The thing is, what is in the Air Force of our country In the Soviet Union, as in the post-Soviet Union, there were and do not exist Special Forces troops, but there are divisions and units of the Special Forces of the GRU of the General Staff, which arose in the 50s. Until the 80s, the command was forced to completely deny their existence in our country. Therefore, those who were appointed to these troops learned about them only after being accepted into service. For the media they were disguised as motorized rifle battalions.

Airborne Forces Day

Paratroopers celebrate the birthday of the Airborne Forces, like the DShB since August 2, 2006. This kind of gratitude for the efficiency of air units, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation was signed in May of the same year. Despite the fact that the holiday was declared by our government, the birthday is celebrated not only in our country, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and most CIS countries.

Every year, airborne veterans and active soldiers meet in the so-called “meeting place”, each city has its own, for example, in Astrakhan “Brotherly Garden”, in Kazan “Victory Square”, in Kiev “Hydropark”, in Moscow “Poklonnaya Gora”, Novosibirsk "Central Park". Demonstrations, concerts and fairs are held in large cities.

Origins of the military branch

Already in the 1930s, the first airborne assault brigades were formed in the USSR, for example, the 11th separate airborne assault brigade (11th air assault brigade Ulan-Ude). preparation of a theoretical basis for the successful conduct of operations of this kind began. The first “Experienced Airborne Detachment” was created in June 1931 on the territory of the Leningrad Military District on the basis of the 11th Infantry Division.

By the beginning of 1933, special-purpose airborne detachments, as well as separate rifle battalions (airborne assault battalions), were formed within the Moscow, Volga, Ukrainian, and Belarusian military districts. Perhaps one of the most famous airborne assault units from the heyday of the Airborne Forces can be called the 21 Airborne Assault Battalion, formed in Kutaisi in the first half of the 70s. But first things first.

It was these military formations that were the basis for the creation of the USSR Airborne Forces. The first full-fledged landing - 900 people in full combat ammunition - was dropped on the territory of the Belarusian Military District in 1934. The first full-fledged combat airborne operation of the USSR dates back to August 1939. This happened during the conflict at Khalkin Gol, where the 212th Airborne Brigade under the leadership of Major Ivan Zatevakhin, having completed a forced march of Japanese troops, showed its best qualities in the battles for Fui Heights; as a result of the operation, 352 soldiers and officers were awarded orders and medals . Ivan Glazunov - one of the first landing officers, subsequently rose to the rank of lieutenant general, and from 1944 to 1946 was the commander of the USSR Airborne Forces.

When creating the Airborne Forces, the goals and tasks set for the formations of this type of troops were determined: delivered to the enemy’s rear by means of aviation and parachute means, the landing force is engaged in reconnaissance and sabotage activities, preparing a bridgehead for the offensive of ground forces. In addition, mobile groups of paratroopers are indispensable in combat operations in hard-to-reach territories. This specificity determined the initially strict selection of personnel in the Airborne Forces; the need to conduct combat operations in an isolated state required excellent physical condition and ideological strength of the personnel.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army included five airborne corps, with a personnel strength of just under 10,000 people in each. During the Second World War, the high command began to realize the need to carry out sabotage operations, as a result of which, since 1942, new paratrooper units were formed on the basis of several guards rifle divisions. In addition, at the same time, sabotage detachments were formed under the NKVD of the USSR, and airborne units of the navy were created. In general, the results of World War II gave a new impetus to the development of the Airborne Forces in the Soviet Union.

Airborne Forces after World War II

In June 1946, the airborne divisions were withdrawn from the Air Force and came under the personal command of the Minister of the Armed Forces, thereby essentially becoming an independent branch of the military. The period after the end of World War II was marked by the beginning of the confrontation between the USSR and the West; in this situation, obvious gaps in the organization of the Airborne Forces and the unpreparedness of troops for a full-fledged confrontation with similar NATO units became visible. If the theoretical basis and training of fighters were at a decent level, then the catastrophic state of material capabilities became obvious by the end of the 40s.

The next decade was marked by a radical modernization of the airborne troops, starting with theoretical and tactical training of personnel, work on modern equipment and ending with the development of symbols that distinguished the fighters of the USSR Airborne Forces. In 1956, for example, an eternal symbol of the Russian landing force was developed - a parachutist between two planes, which for more than half a century can be seen on the flag of the Airborne Forces. Clients of our military trade, by the way, can right now buy flags of the Airborne Forces of the USSR or Russia, close to every paratrooper.

Also in 1956, so-called nuclear landing exercises took place on the territory of the Semipalatinsk test site; during the exercises, paratroopers worked at the risk of their lives in conditions of increased background radiation. This period was marked by a significant increase in the combat effectiveness of the airborne troops, an increase in numbers and an increase in the level of logistics. The main ideologist and coordinator of that reform was the legendary Vasily Margelov, more about whom below.

By the mid-1960s, during the period of rapid development of military helicopter technology, the need arose to create airborne units that would use the ability of helicopters to land and take off anywhere. It was assumed that new units would be delivered behind enemy lines and landed directly from a helicopter, since the latter now provided the opportunity to transport large landing forces. The US troops became pioneers in the use of helicopter technology; the first air assault divisions appeared in the American army in 1965.

The military campaign in Vietnam clearly showed the full power of a helicopter landing; the Soviet command decided on the need to create this type of troops. The first domestic air assault brigade was formed on an experimental basis on the basis of the 51st Parachute Regiment as part of the Dnepr-67 exercises. The brigade landed from a helicopter at the specified point and successfully completed the combat mission. Thus, in 1968, the formation of assault airborne brigades as part of the ground forces began. The operation scheme of the DShB consisted of landing formations in any area of ​​military operations and solving combat missions with fire support from helicopters. Initially, the range of operations of assault brigades did not exceed 70-100 kilometers.

Creation of 21 DSB ZakVO

The Directive of the General Staff of November 5, 1972 ordered the formation of an air assault brigade on the territory of the Transcaucasian Military District by February 1973. In pursuance of this order, 21 air assault brigades were created in the city of Kutaisi on the territory of military unit 31571. In addition, the 21 separate brigade included: 3 separate air assault battalions numbered 802 (military unit 36685 in Tsulukidze), 803 (military unit 55055), 804 (military unit 57351); 1059 separate artillery division; two separate helicopter regiments (325 and 292); 303rd separate aviation support battalion; 1863 separate communications and radio engineering support division. Sometimes the brigade is called 21 OODShB.

True, until 1983, the personnel of the assault brigades stood out from the rest of the airborne forces - the service program here did not include parachute jumping, so the attack aircraft wore the uniform of motorized riflemen for the first ten years of their existence. We also note that the 21,11 and 13 ODShBr were created in the early seventies as a prototype. The personnel of the assault brigades then lived in conditions of continuous exercises, which were experimental in nature - at times this led to various kinds of emergency situations. As part of a major exercise in 1976, a tragedy occurred - as a result of a collision between two MI-8s, 36 soldiers of the 21st Kutaisi Airborne Brigade were killed.

The tragedy was the result of a mistake by one of the pilots - the second helicopter cut off the tail of the first with its propeller. However, despite such incidents, by the end of the decade it became clear that the command needed such highly mobile and combat-ready troops. Thus, by the decision of the Chief of the General Staff, Marshal N.V. Ogarkov in 1979, eight more air assault brigades were formed. All airborne infantry brigades of the USSR were directly subordinate to the Civil Code of the Soviet Forces, and only in 1990 were they officially transferred to the command of the Airborne Forces.

Parachute training in the 21st airborne battalion

In August 1983, the personnel of the 21st Airborne Battalion began performing parachute jumps for the first time; the landing was carried out from Mi-8 helicopters in groups of 16 people (in the standard case). Kutaisi attack aircraft specialized in conducting operations in difficult mountain conditions, desert, steppe, studied and practiced combat tactics in the dark (night shooting, forced marches, etc.). So, in 1983, the 21st Airborne Assault Brigade finally switched to the uniform, allowance and combat equipment of the airborne troops.

Standard armament 21 DShB

The technical equipment of the brigade was as follows: the transport helicopter regiment was armed with 20 Mi-24, 40 Mi-8 and 40 Mi-6; the anti-tank battery was armed with SPG-9 MD; the mortar battery had 8 82-mm BM-37s at its disposal; the anti-aircraft missile platoon had 9 Strela-2M MANPADS; several BMD-1, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers for each air assault battalion. The armament of the brigade artillery group consisted of GD-30 howitzers, PM-38 mortars, GP 2A2 cannons, Malyutka ATGM, SPG-9MD, and ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun.

Features of service in air assault units and formations

Unlike the airborne parachute units, assault brigades, as a rule, were used as additional force as part of a ground operation. More often than not, only part of a large brigade unit conducted combat operations in a specific territory. The 21st Airborne Brigade belonged to the category of demonstration military formations of the Soviet Army; a large percentage of the exercises were carried out under the supervision of foreign delegations - mainly representatives of the Warsaw Warsaw countries and allies in Asia.

It is interesting that in addition to long-distance foot marches in full ammunition, crossing mountain rivers, night battalion exercises, and landing, for example, in swamps, mountaineering training was mandatory for the 21st Airborne Brigade in Kutaisi. The commanders had the skills and certificates of rock climbing athletes.

For landing, the assault brigade used Mi-6, Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. The Mi-6 was released in 1957, being at that time the largest in the world, and the first Soviet helicopter with gas turbine engines. In the 60s, the Mi-6 set several international speed and flight altitude records. Landing from this helicopter is carried out using a parachute. The Mi-8, having a lower payload, was released in 1962 - an important feature was its adaptability specifically to combat operations, due to the possibility of high-quality fire support for ground forces.

The Mi-24, created on the basis of the Mi-8, is still used by the armies of many countries around the world, it is equipped with the maximum possible number of weapons, which does not greatly affect the payload and speed characteristics, 8-10 paratroopers plus crew members - this is exactly the number of people it can accommodate helicopter.

21 DSB in turbulent times of change

At the end of the 80s, there was an armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, it all started with pogroms based on ethnic hatred, then there were attacks on military transport and parts of the armed forces. In July 1989, the separatists captured the Zvartnots airfield, thus completely disrupting air traffic with the USSR. Troops of the 21st Airborne Assault Brigade from Kutaisi landed from helicopters directly onto the tarmac, and within an hour the invaders were driven out of the airport building; no firearms were used. Thus, a bridgehead was prepared for the landing of units of the 76th and 98th Guards Airborne Divisions.

The forces of the 21st Airborne Brigade organized a rescue operation in Leninakan after the Spitak earthquake in December 1989. The paratroopers also successfully fought against looting in cities and robbery on the roads. As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, on November 4, 1992, the 21st Special Airborne Brigade was withdrawn from Kutaisi to Stavropol. In 2007, the brigade was transformed into the 247th Air Assault Caucasian Cossack Regiment, part of the 7th Guards Airborne Division.

Where to buy paraphernalia with the symbols of 21 DShB?

Vonetorg Voenpro has a line of unique products at its disposal, including flags of individual military units, made to order. In particular, today you have the opportunity to buy the flag of the 21st Special Airborne Brigade, the basis for which was the flag of the Airborne Forces.

At the top of the flag you can see the inscription “Uncle Vasya’s Troops”, this unofficial decoding of the airborne abbreviation is familiar and dear to all Russian paratroopers - this is a tribute to the main figure in the history of the Russian airborne forces, the already mentioned Vasily Filippovich Margelov.

Hero of the Soviet Union, a legend of the Airborne Forces and the creator of this type of troops in its modern form, it was under his leadership that the tactics of conducting combat operations by airborne units were developed, and through his efforts the material and technical base for the operations of paratroopers was developed and put into use. It is with his name that the formation of the Airborne Forces as an elite branch of the military is associated; today, even outside Russia, everyone knows that service in Uncle Vasya’s Troops is very prestigious. Vasily Margelov died in March 1990, but his name will forever remain a shrine for all soldiers in vests.

If your loved one or friend served in the ranks of the Kutaisi Airborne Forces, such a flag will be an excellent gift for him; on Airborne Forces Day, colleagues can gather under it - at the bottom of the flag there is an inscription with the name of the military unit.

Now, from the perspective of 15 years ago, you understand well that in mid-1994, few people realized how long this campaign would last, what victims it would involve, how it would change Russia and its citizens. But the officers and soldiers, hastily collected from all military districts, honestly fulfilled their military duty. Sometimes at the cost of his life...
One of the clearest evidence of this is the laconic diary of combat operations of the combined tank battalion of the 21st separate airborne Cossack brigade, which recorded exactly how the unit operated from December 10, 1994 to February 4, 1995. It fell into my hands in February 1995, when I was on a business trip in Chechnya with Red Star photojournalist Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Gusev.

This document can tell a lot. We print it without deciphering the abbreviations.
“The combined TB of the 21st Airborne Brigade, consisting of 340 people (61 officers, 14 warrant officers, 265 soldiers and sergeants), marched along the route Beslan - South-West from December 10 to January 1, 1995. outskirts of the mountains Grozny as part of units of the 76th Airborne Division.
The battalion guarded the rear and artillery of the 76th Airborne Division, placing blocks along the route of advance of the columns. At the same time, from December 10 to 12, part of the battalion’s forces (9 troop, min. battalion, ptbatr and ZRAbatr - senior lieutenant colonel V.V. Polyansky) operated on the mobile railway. composed as a mobile fire group. However, due to the explosion of the bridge west of the village. Sleptsovskaya and blocking the Nazran railway station, the task of getting through to Grozny was not completed.
Part of the forces participated in a tactical airborne assault to cover columns moving in the direction of Grozny and evacuated the wounded. Distinguished: acting battalion commander Major S.N. Stvolov, commander of the 8th troop captain O.P. Ukhabin, assistant. beginning RAV service captain Bychkov L.I.
On December 12, the battalion suffered its first losses: a helicopter carrying troops was fired upon and Private Eduard Olegovich Zhivun was mortally wounded.
By January 1, 1995, the battalion concentrated on the southwestern outskirts of Grozny and began a direct assault on the railway depot of the station. On January 2, 1995, the task was completed. The depot and station were transferred to motorized rifles. But on January 5, 1995, the enemy knocked out the motorized rifle company (motorized rifle company - S.K.’s note) from the depot building and took possession of it. A group led by battalion commander Major S.P. Kachanov. out of 9 people, she recaptured the depot and again handed it over to Ms. But after 40 minutes the enemy knocked them out again and gained a foothold in the building. The group of Major Kachanov, who was already wounded but did not go to the rear, once again drove the militants out of the building. During the fierce attacks of the enemy, he called fire on himself. art. brigade Lieutenant Colonel Matvienko Boris Pavlovich. The enemy did not advance a single step, and the battalion was firmly entrenched in its position.
On January 1, 1995, the beginning distinguished himself. oper. department of the brigade, Colonel Nuzhny Vasily Dmitrievich. In the area of ​​the Press House, he and a group of scouts repulsed and led to the rear 16 surrounded and wounded paratroopers of the 106th Airborne Division.
From January 1 to January 12, 1995, units of the 21st Airborne Brigade fought to retain and capture the main objects - high-rise buildings on the street. K. Marx, in the area of ​​the market, the Institute of Petrochemistry (one of the tallest buildings in Grozny), the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Chechnya, the school on the street. K. Marx. Reconnaissance and sabotage raids were carried out behind enemy lines to the Sunzha River.
On January 12, 1995, an attempt was made to seize the university building in cooperation with motorized riflemen. The advance detachment, as part of the brigade's reconnaissance company, reached the attack line and started a battle, but the motorized rifles did not support it. The forces were unequal, the company retreated, but the assistant chief of intelligence, Captain A.I. Pegishev, Lieutenant A.N. Dumchikov, did not leave the building. and senior sergeant Razumov A.V. They covered the company's retreat and diverted the fire to themselves. Captain Pegishev was shell-shocked, Lieutenant Dumchikov was wounded by three bullets. They held out until dark and were then evacuated to safety. Captain Pegishev warmed Lieutenant Dumchikov with his body and bandaged him. He himself was unable to stand or walk. But he refused hospitalization.
On the same day, during the storming of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Department, the acting officer distinguished himself. battalion commander, Major Sergei Nikolaevich Stvolov, reconnaissance platoon commander, Senior Lieutenant O.V. Vorozhanin. (On January 16, 1995, he was mortally wounded and nominated for the title of Hero of Russia). Major S.N. Stvolov was wounded and shell-shocked, but a week later he was again in command of the battalion.
During these battles, 2 soldiers were killed, 1 was missing (Corporal Zimin V.V. - reconnaissance company), 24 people were wounded, including 12 officers.
Until January 24, 1995, the 21st brigade received a 2-day rest in the area of ​​the park named after. Lenin and held the corridors at checkpoints for the entry of the main forces, evacuated the dead and wounded. Lieutenant Colonel B.P. Matvienko adjusted the fire of all artillery of the group. Reconnaissance led by senior lieutenant A.V. Zhukov. scouted the area of ​​the bridge across the river. Sunzha on the street. Khabarovsk and 21.01. ensured the passage of a Marine regiment into this area without loss.
On January 24, 1995, the combined tank battalion was given a new task: to move to the Andreevskaya Valley area and prevent militants from entering the residential area and industrial zone. The task was completed successfully and without losses.
From 1.02 to 3.02.95, reconnaissance units were tasked with penetrating behind enemy lines beyond the river. Sunzha and explore the area of ​​the slaughterhouse, chemical plant, bakery and bridge across the river. Sunzha. 2 groups led by senior lieutenant Zhukov A.V. and captain Borisov V.V. We repeatedly went behind enemy lines and returned without losses.
On 02/04/95, after artillery preparation, the battalion units launched an attack across the bridge in the area of ​​the bakery, but encountered strong fire resistance along the entire right bank. 8 enemy firing points and mortars were identified in the area of ​​the bakery. The attack failed. At 3.00 on 5.02 an attack was launched along another corridor, bypassing this strong point. But here, too, fierce resistance slowed progress. Despite this, by 11.00 6.02. units captured a bakery and ensured that a marine regiment was brought into battle.
During the fighting, the reconnaissance company commander, Senior Lieutenant Zhukov, and the group's intelligence chief, Colonel Nuzhny, were mortally wounded.
For two days the battalion held the object. The commander of the howitzer battery, senior lieutenant I.V. Mikloshevich, worked excellently here, skillfully adjusting the fire and not allowing the militants to concentrate for the attack.
During the fighting, 35 people were wounded and shell-shocked, 8 of them refused to be evacuated.
02/08/95, after the transfer of objects, the units completed the last task in the city. Grozny - captured the fire station area on the southern outskirts of the city. The capture was personally supervised by the commander of the 21st Airborne Brigade, Colonel Em Yu.P.
On February 12, 1995, the bloodless units were withdrawn to guard and defend facilities in the village. Khankala.
During their missions in the Chechen Republic, all military personnel performed their military duty honestly and conscientiously, showing personal heroism and courage. There was not a single sign of cowardice. Many military personnel have been nominated for state awards. 14 officers were awarded the next military rank ahead of schedule, and 8 were awarded one step higher than their current position.
Died:
1st row. Zhivun Eduard Olegovich,
2. Efr. Bludenov Andrey Gennadievich,
3. Art. Lieutenant Vorozhanin Oleg Viktorovich,
4. senior pr-k Suleymanov Asim Eyub-Ogly,
5. row. Zobov Viktor Alexandrovich,
6. row. Kostin Alexey Anatolievich,
7. Lieutenant Kostin Roman Nikolaevich,
8. Senior Lieutenant Zhukov Alexander Vladimirovich,
9. p-k Nuzhny Vasily Dmitrievich.
Efr went missing. Zimin Viktor Viktorovich.
88 people were wounded and shell-shocked, of which 26 were officers, 5 warrant officers, 29 sergeants, 28 soldiers.
Even now, 15 years later, these lines smell like gunpowder to me. I note that the feat of the officers and personnel of the combined tank battalion of the 21st separate airborne brigade was appreciated by the state. On April 1, 1995, the title of Hero of the Russian Federation was awarded to Captain Alexander Pegishev, on May 15, 1995 - to Lieutenant Alexander Dumchikov (posthumously), on May 29, 1995 - to Colonel Vasily Nazhny and Senior Lieutenant Oleg Vorozhanin (both posthumously).
There were two long years ahead of the first Chechen campaign. In 1999, the counterterrorism campaign in the North Caucasus acquired a new scope. By that time, the 21st separate airborne brigade had been transformed into the 247th airborne assault regiment of the Novorossiysk airborne division. And that, as they say, is another story.