31st Guards Airborne Brigade
| 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Russian: 31-я отдельная гвардейская десантно-штурмовая ордена Кутузова II степени бригада | |
31st Guards Air Assault Brigade emblem
|
|
| Active | 1998–present |
| Country |
 Russia
|
| Branch |
 Russian Airborne Troops
|
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role |
Light Infantry Airborne Infantry Airmobile infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Southern Military District |
| Garrison/HQ |
Ulyanovsk MUN 73612 |
| Engagements |
Second Chechen War Russo-Georgian War Crimean Crisis War in Donbas • Battle of Ilovaisk |
| Decorations |
 Order of Kutuzov
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Dmitry Ovcharov |
The 31st Separate Guards Order of Kutuzov 2nd class Air Assault Brigade is an airborne infantry brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops, based in Ulyanovsk. The brigade was formed in 1998 from the 104th Guards Airborne Division. The brigade fought in the Second Chechen War and the Russo-Georgian War. During the Crimean crisis 2014 elements of the brigade were located in the Crimean peninsula. In August 2014 brigade's units participated in the War in Donbas.
The brigade was created as a result of the disbandment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division in 1998 at Ulyanovsk. Between 1999 and 2001, the brigade fought in the Second Chechen War. For their actions during the war, Senior lieutenants Grigory Galkin and Roman Igoshin were awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation (Igoshin posthumously). Since 2005, the brigade has used a contract manning system. On 1 December 2006, it was redesignated as an air assault brigade. A battalion tactical group of the brigade fought in the Russo-Georgian War in 2008.
A monument to Army General Vasily Margelov is located at the brigade's base in Ulyanovsk. In April 2010, VDV commander Vladimir Shamanov visited the brigade and viewed its battalion tactical exercises.
The brigade was part of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force as of 2013.
In February 2014, elements of the brigade were sent to Crimea. Brigade troops assaulted the building of Crimean Parliament, wearing Ukrainian "Berkut" police uniforms and insignia.
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Wikipedia