CAUCASIAN EPOPEAN

Fragment from the book "The winged guard in the nightmare of the Afghan war"

The day of February 11, 1989 was not only the date of the withdrawal of the 345th civil defense
RAP from Afghanistan to the Union, but also the starting point of a new and final
the most important period in the history of this famous regiment of the Airborne Forces. In this use
toric day 2nd battalion, regimental reconnaissance and 3rd howitzer
tareya under the command of the deputy commander of the guard regiment under
Colonel Yu.M. Lapshina (Yuri Mikhailovich - the author of the published
published in 2004 "Afghan Diary" covering the history of the regiment
at the final period of the Afghan war) were transferred to
plane; takh VTA to the Azerbaijani city of Kirovabad, where, as indicated
moose, the 104th Airborne Division was stationed. Thus, the 345th
louse regiment; l in the Kirovbad Guards Airborne
division, which at that moment was commanded by Major General Sorokin.
The question arises: why was the 345th regiment immediately redeployed to
Azerbaijan, and not to Uzbekistan, to Fergana? More; just recall that
The 105th Airborne Division was disbanded on the eve of the entry of the Soviet
troops to Afghanistan. Decision about e; reconstruction was accepted only in
1990, when the 345th regiment was already included in the 104th Airborne Forces and was assigned
acted in the Transcaucasia for the implementation of special government
assignments. After preparatory work, the 105th Airborne Division was again formed
was created in 1991, but did not last long. After the collapse of Co-
of the Soviet Union, this airborne unit was "inherited"
the composition of the armed forces of sovereign Uzbekistan.
Since February 1989, the 345th GPDP (which received a new military
measures of military unit 93613) was acquired near the railway station in the city of Kirovob-
yes (Ganja). But only the personnel of the regiment proceeded to combat support.
cooking, as already in the spring of 1989 was involved in the implementation of
inherent de jure for the Airborne Forces of government assignments. On the edge
80-90s, in the last years of the existence of the USSR, Transcaucasia became
is the epicenter of the so-called. "Hot spots" in space are agonizing
shchy, once great Soviet power. Guardsmen of the 345th regiment
had to participate in the process of stabilizing the situation in all
tr; x Transcaucasian Soviet Union Republics - Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia. In Azerbaijan itself, where he began to deploy
345th Regiment, the situation was very tense; Flared up the Armenian
Azerbaijani military conflict over Karabakh. It was restless
and on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border, which was now held not
only border guards, but also paratroopers, in particular, the guardsmen of the 350th
regiment of the Vitebsk 103rd Airborne Division (not every reader, probably,
Lenin that at the indicated time units of the 103rd Airborne Division were transferred
under the jurisdiction of the KGB of the USSR, i.e. for about two years, de jure were considered ...
border troops).
At the beginning of April 1989, units of the 104th Airborne Division were involved in
neutralization of the anti-government rally in Tbilisi. More; from 4
April in Tbilisi under the leadership of the leaders of the national movement
Zviada Gamsakhurdia, Irakli Tsereteli, an unlimited rally broke out,
anti-Soviet in nature. Two days later, the protesters
began to proclaim slogans: "Down with Russian imperialism!", "USSR-
prison of peoples! "," Down with Soviet power! " and so on. April 8 after
overthrow of a long march, the soldiers of the 345th regiment (440 people) entered
the Georgian capital, taking up defensive positions at the House of
bodies. At this time in Tbilisi, in addition to the paratroopers (345th GPD,
328th GPDP, 21st ODshBR), there were other units: 4th motorized rifle-
kovy regiment of the Dzerzhinsky division (650 people), Perm and Voronezh
OMON (160 people), cadets of the Gorky Higher School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs
(450 people)
By the evening of April 8, the atmosphere in the center of Tbilisi heated up to
limit. At the building of the Council of Ministers of the GSSR, many
a crowd of thousands of demonstrators, barricades appeared on the avenue
Rustaveli. The tragic denouement took place in the early morning of April 9, 1989
d. After the unsuccessful admonitions of the command with a request to de-
monsters to disperse troops were ordered to begin displacement
rally participants to the Republic Square. Paratroopers, armed;
like other military units, glanders; with shoulder blades and rubber
with your sticks, moved through the barricades to the demonstrators. Pro-
there was a clash of parties. Against the soldiers, the demonstrators use
whether edged weapons, chains, rods, bottles, stones. Soon in 15 minutes
the rally was dispersed. During these tragic events, according to
Officially, 17 demonstrators were crushed to death.
us by the crowd, 268 people were injured. From the side of the Soviet troops
172 people were wounded. Among them were paratroopers. TO
the end of April, the situation in Tbilisi stabilized for a while, and
the troops returned to their place of permanent deployment. Returned to Kiro-
Vobad and paratroopers of the 104th Airborne Division. This is how the tragedy ended on April 9
1989, in which the 345-
1st regiment. In sovereign Georgia in memory of those tragic events in
Tbilisi date April 9 is celebrated as the day of national unity,
civil consent and memory of those who died for Georgia.
In 1990, the internal situation in Azerbaijan continued to
tense; nna. Centrifugal political forces contribute to
They brought about the growing destabilization in this republic. Paratroopers like
elite units, more than once involved as a peacekeeping force
in Azerbaijan. At the very beginning of 1990, an alarmed personal
the composition of the 345th regiment began to carry out the order of the commander
Airborne Forces, demanding to make a military demonstration of many
meter march through the territory of Azerbaijan and Armenia along the route:
Kirovobad – Kazakh – Aboyan – Nakhichevan – Alin – Shusha – Stepanakert – Mir
Bashir-Yevlakh-Kirovobad. The task was successfully achieved
full of paratroopers, all the driver-mechanics of the 345th GRDP honored
received government awards.
At the end of 1991 he stopped his; historical existence of Co-
vetsky union. Soviet republics of Transcaucasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan
jan, Georgia) turned into sovereign states overnight.
However, the acquisition of independence by these countries did not mean a decision
the development of long-standing internal ethnopolitical problems. "Hot spots" in
Transcaucasia continued to exist, military confrontation between
the peoples of this region for independence continued in the 90s of XX
century.
An example of this is the Georgian-Abkhazian armed conflict
1992-1993 By the will of Stalin in 1931, Abkhazia, which occupied the north
the western part of the Caucasus, was reassigned to the Georgian
The Soviet Socialist Republic in the status of an autonomous republic
public in Georgia. The national pride of the Abkhazians was
severely hurt. It is characteristic that in the second half of the XX century. repeatedly
but (in 1957, 1967, 1978) there were mass demonstrations of the Abkhaz
population with the demand for the separation of Abkhazia from the Georgian
SSR. At the end of the era of perestroika, when the process of sovereignization of the union
n and some autonomous republics of the USSR began to quickly gain
pace, the Georgian-Abkhazian issue has escalated sharply. In March 1989 g.
there was a gathering of many thousands of the Abkhaz people, who demanded
withdrawal of Abkhazia from Georgia. In the middle of summer 1989 in the Abkhaz
the capital of Sukhumi, there was a violent clash between the Abkhaz
and the Georgians, which turned into victims, shed blood. In 1992, after
After Georgia gained independence, the Abkhazians again begin to fight
boo for your sovereignty. Georgian-Abkhazian conflict from now on
begins to acquire the character of an armed confrontation. Beginning
the war was on. Rus-
this. Our country was interested in maintaining a peaceful situation
in Abkhazia for the reason that at that time in this part of the Caucasus,
long been a prestigious resort for Soviet
people, there were many citizens of the Russian Federation. Now they
danger threatened, they had to be evacuated.
On August 17, 1992, the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation made
phenomenon: “In connection with the current situation in Abkhazia and created
a threat to Russian citizens who were on vacation there,
among which, as a result of the clashes in Sukhumi
there were casualties (2 killed and wounded), the government of the Russian Federation, by agreement
took urgent measures in cooperation with the Georgian leadership ...
security and evacuation of Russian citizens, as well as to strengthen
protection of the Russian troops stationed in the area
units in Abkhazia sent paratrooper regiment ... "
More; On August 16, the 345th Civil Defense Police Department was alerted and promptly
transferred to the airfield of the Black Sea resort of Gudauta. While
the regiment was commanded by the guard Colonel Yevgeny Dmitrievich D; min.
At the same time, the 901st OPDB under the command of the guards landed in Sukhumi.
diy of Lieutenant Colonel V. Krasovsky. The whole airborne forces in Abkhazia
led by the Operational Group led by Major General A. Sigut-
kin.
The appearance of paratroopers in troubled Abkhazia allowed the growth
the sun-seekers-holidaymakers will safely return to their homeland; by the end of August
In 1992, more than 4 thousand people left this "hot spot". Gvar-
The Marine paratroopers were to stay in Abkhazia until 1998.
the full role of peacekeepers, i.e. be the force separating the warring
sides. The 345th regiment of the Airborne Forces took under protection the airfield in the city of Gudauta, the seismic
laboratory in the village. Lower Eschera, as well as a number of other military
objects. The paratroopers-peacekeepers have legitimately earned their respect-
the opinion of the local population, who perceived our
warriors as their protectors. Unfortunately, among the personnel
There were also casualties from the 345th regiment.
Late in the evening of March 27, 1993 at the seismic station in the village.
The militants rained down artillery-mines in the Lower Eshers; heavy fire.
At that moment, the station was guarded by the paratroopers of the 7th paratrooper
companies. As a result of the shelling, the communication line was damaged, which means that
communication with the Airborne Task Force in Gudauta was lost. Position
Nie was saved by his heroic action by the guard senior sergeant Vitaly
Wolf (born July 14, 1972 in the village of Malinovsky, Zavyalovsky district
Altai Territory. He graduated from high school in Yarovoe. Called for
military service in the fall of 1990. After six months of service in the 44th
training division of the Airborne Forces in Gaizhunai was sent to the 345th GPDP in Kiev
rovobad. Since August 1992, as the commander of the liaison office of the 3rd
1st battalion of the regiment served in Abkhazia. From the end of 1992 he continued
service as a sergeant-conscript). Under a mine; dark fire; m
The paratrooper rushed to repair communications. Being already hard
wounded by a shrapnel in the head, he managed to restore communication of the 7th company with
Gudauta. Arrived helicopter; you suppressed the fire
enemy positions. The hero sergeant died without regaining consciousness.
By the decree of the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin of July 26, 1993 for courage
in and heroism shown in the performance of military duty, the guard
senior sergeant of long-term service Wolf Vitaly Aleksand-
Rovich was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. V
In the same year, Vitaly Wolf Street appeared in Yarovoye.
After the end of the next phase of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, by
in the fall of 1993, the 345th (at that time, essentially a separate) regiment of
sh; l in the 7th Guards Airborne Division, which in
the Soviet era was stationed in Lithuania (Kaunas), and then was
withdrawn to Russian territory. The regiment continued to remain on
Abkhazian land until the end of the 90s. XX century, still fulfilling the world
creative mission in this region of Transcaucasia.
In May 1994, there was finally a signature between Georgia and Abkhazia.
sano ceasefire agreement. Consequently, there was no
the need to create a formal collective support force
enhancing peace, law and order in the region. And this decision was
adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation in June 1994. The logical consequence
this decision was the formation of the so-called. 50th military base, to which
the 345th regiment entered.

As a peacekeeping military unit, the 345th regiment remained in
Abkhazia until the spring of 1998. It was then that the events occurred that
determined the completion of the glorious history of this regiment. In the specified
time begins the next disbandment of the Russian army,
accompanied by the reform of some military units, in
including elite ones with rich combat experience.
Unfortunately, a victim of these ill-conceived army
The 345th Regiment of the Airborne Forces of Russia also became reforms. by order of the minister
defense of the Russian Federation on April 30, 1998, the famous winged guard regiment
was disbanded. On its basis, the so-called. 10th separate
the parachute regiment of the Russian peacekeeping forces. Battle banner
the already defunct 345th civil defense department was commissioned to be transferred to the
tralny museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The reader will surely have a question: why is this famous
was the regiment disbanded? It's really hard to answer
but. This problem can also be the subject of a separate historical
research. In fact: who are the military and politicians
was the first to put forward the idea of ​​disbanding the 345th Civil Aviation Regiment, and what
forces lobbied for this project in the military department? Was this
the idea is due to bureaucratic stupidity or deliberate betrayal
by our airborne forces? We'll get an answer someday.
The 10th OPDP did not last long. In 1999, in the course of
to the commander of the RF Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Georgy Shpak Mini
Defense and the General Staff authorized the return of the military
the banner of the 345th regiment to its successor. Handing this combat
banner of the 10th RAP took place in July 1999. But very soon and
the 10th regiment itself ceased to exist.
In connection with the termination of the mandate of the peacekeeping force
RF in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict Russian government
ordered to withdraw the 10th regiment to the territory of Russia, where he was
disbanded. The battle banner of the 345th Airborne Regiment now rests in
Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. And will be
it is kept in this military sanctuary forever, reminding descendants
about the glorious history of the 345th regiment of our winged guard, which
by the will of the lords of metahistory, it was destined for more than 9 years to find
live in the nightmare of the Afghan war, worthily preserving and strengthening
the best traditions of the Soviet landing and the spirit of the fighting guards brother-
state.

Day 104th Guards. VDD

December 6 - Day of formation of 104 Guards. VDD. Voenpro presents a large-scale overview of the history and combat path of the 104th Guards. airborne division before being reorganized in 1998.

How was the 104th Airborne Division formed?

Even before the end of World War II, the leaders of the opposing sides realized that airborne operations were capable of inflicting tangible damage on the enemy on its territory. Therefore, it was decided to separate the Airborne Forces into a separate branch of the military so that it was possible to purposefully prepare fighters for such actions. The formation of the 104th Airborne Division took place in early December 1944.

The Red Army was already advancing through the territory of Hungary, bringing an end to the aggressive plans of the Third Reich. Therefore, in the liberated country, not only the infrastructure was restored, but also new military formations were created. The year of creation of the 104th Airborne Division is sometimes erroneously indicated as 1946, but in fact the date refers to the reorganization of the Guards Rifle Division into an airborne division.

The history of the 104th Airborne Division began with participation in the Vienna and Prague operations of the Red Army, which ended with the liberation of two European capitals from Nazi troops. For the successful completion of combat missions, the division received the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree. After the end of the war, the division was renamed the airborne assault division and the city of Narva, Estonian SSR, was established as the place of permanent deployment.

The division stayed here for 14 years, after which it was transferred to another region, where the paratroopers were much more needed. Before the move, the soldiers managed to take part in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising in 1956, which was stopped only by the forces of the Red Army.

In 1960, the 104th Airborne Division was stationed in Kirovabad of the Azerbaijan SSR. The paratroopers stayed here until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The fighters took classes in conditions as close as possible to combat conditions, so their level of training always remained very high. Guys from all over the union dreamed of getting into the Airborne Forces, but they took only the strongest and most trained recruits here. The 104th Airborne Division in Ganja, as Kirovabad later became known, stayed until 1993.

The command of the Russian army decided to quarter the 104th Airborne Division in Ulyanovsk. This is how the history of the paratroopers' service in the armed forces of the Russian Federation began.

The combat path of the 104th Guards. VDD

The Afghan war could not bypass the 104th Airborne Division, since the very specifics of the conduct of hostilities consisted mainly of airborne assault operations. Although it was the Kirovbad paratroopers who did not take direct part in the war, in 1989 the 345th Guards Paratrooper Regiment entered the division, which for all 10 years had been carrying out command tasks in the DRA.

The 104th Guards Airborne Division took part in the settlement of the Abkhaz conflict as part of a peacekeeping mission. The paratroopers guarded key facilities from the militants, and more than once they had to do this with the help of weapons. During a peacekeeping mission during one of the battles, senior sergeant Vitaly Aleksandrovich Wolf, who received the posthumous title of Hero of the Russian Federation, was killed.

The 104th Guards Airborne Division also took part in the peacekeeping mission in Yugoslavia. The collapse of the country was very restless, and almost always the secession of another state was accompanied by bloodshed, so the help of the Russian army was a salvation for the civilian population.

104th Guards Airborne Division in Chechnya

The 104th Airborne Division in Chechnya was already directly involved from 1994 to 1996. The paratroopers carried out the most difficult tasks of the command to capture the key fortified areas of the militants in order to disperse and destroy them in small groups. It was the airborne troops that landed on the commanding heights, which had to be captured and held for the unhindered passage of the columns of the main forces.

The 104th Airborne Division in Chechnya and Dagestan received more than 4 thousand state awards, ten soldiers became Heroes of the Russian Federation (four posthumously).

The holiday of the 104th Airborne Division was traditionally celebrated on December 6th. In early May 1998, the division was reorganized into the 31st Guards. a separate airborne brigade with a downsizing. The successor continued the glorious traditions of the division and also repeatedly defended the Motherland. The paratroopers have shown themselves to be the most capable combat unit in many conflicts.

The new formation of the 104th Guards. airborne division (Ulyanovsk)

On June 4, 2015, a decision was made to restore the 104th Airborne Division in Ulyanovsk. And now the compound will have a three-regiment structure with deployment in Ulyanovsk itself, as well as Engels and Orenburg. Therefore, soon there will be a recruitment of contractors for service in the restored division.

Structure of the 104th Airborne Division

The 104th Airborne Division consisted of the following combat units:

• 328th Guards RAP;
• 337th Guards. RAP Ord. Alexander Nevsky;
• 345th Guards. OPDP Vienna Red Banner, Ord. Suvorov, named after the 70th anniversary of the Leninist Komsomol;
• 1180th Guards AP;
• 110th ORR 104th Airborne Division;
• 103rd OZRADn;
• The 578th self-propelled artillery division of the 104th airborne division;
• 729th OBS;
• 132nd OISB;
• 24th ORVB;
• 611th OBDO;
• 1684th OBMO;
• 180th OMedB;
• 116th OVTAE;
• 422nd SFPS.

Commanders of the 104th Airborne Division:

1. Guards gen.m. IN AND. Ivanov from 1943 to 1944.
2. Guards gen.m. OH. Redchenko in 1945.
3. Guards gen.m. I.F. Seregin from 1945 to 1946.
4. Guards gen.m. N.T. Tavartkiladze from 1946 to 1950.
5. Guards p / p-to A.A. Startsev in 1950.
6. Guards p-k P.M. Khvorostenko from 1950 to 1954.
7. Guards gen.m. A.P. Rudakov from 1954 to 1955.
8. Guards gen.m. F.P. Dranishchev from 1955 to 1961.
9. Guards p-k I.I. Blue-eyed from 1961 to 1963.
10. Guards kennel Yu.M. Potapov from 1963 to 1964.
11. Guards gen.m. N.N. Guskov from 1964 to 1967.
12. Guards gen.m. A.A. Spirin from 1968 to 1975.
13. Guards gen.m. A.G. Khomenko from 1975 to 1981.
14. Guards gen.m. N.I. Serdyukov from 1981 to 1984.
15. Guards gen.m. E.A. Semyonov from 1984 to 1987.
16. Guards gen.m. V.A. Sorokin from 1987 to 1989.
17. Guards gen.m. V.V. Shcherbak from 1990 to 1993.
18. Guards gen.m. IN AND. Orlov from 1993 to 1998.

Over the years, the paratroopers have received several thousand state awards. There are also Heroes of the USSR in the 104th Airborne Division, who received their orders for performing combat missions on the territory of the Soviet Union and beyond. After the collapse of the country, the paratroopers continued to bravely serve the Russian Federation and earned many glorious victories on the battlefields to defend the Motherland from enemies.

Paratroopers of the "Wild Division"

The emblem of the 104th Airborne Division, in addition to the traditional parachute, also contains a scorpion. In military circles, this insect is always associated with courage in battle and a willingness to go to the end. Many fighters who have had a chance to visit "hot spots" get themselves a tattoo of a scorpion as a keepsake. In the jargon, the hundred and fourth was often called the "wild division" because of the specifics of training fighters for war in mountainous and desert areas. So the scorpion on the emblem is quite appropriate.

To help the paratroopers celebrate the day of the 104th Airborne Division, you should go to the electronic catalog of Voenpro products and choose interesting gifts and souvenirs there. The assortment is huge, so for everyone there is some interesting accessory that can please the paratrooper.

You can leave feedback about your service in the ranks of the VDD in the comments.

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

History

The regiment was formed in January 1948 as part of the units of the 76th, 104th and 346th Guards Airborne Divisions. For excellent combat training in 1976, the regiment became the 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 104 Red Banner Regiment (Airborne Division) was part of the 76th Division, and therefore actively participated in the First Chechen War, and in 1999 and 2009 carried out an anti-terrorist mission in the North Caucasus.

In early 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 erected new living quarters and facilities on its territory, thanks to this work, living and material conditions of service have become much better. The barracks took on a cockpit appearance with hallways, showers and wardrobes for personal belongings, a gym and a recreation room. Both officers and soldiers of Regiment 104 (Airborne Division) eat in a common dining room, 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, 104 regiment especially, devote a lot of time to airborne and general physical training at any time of the year. Mandatory events for the landing: improving camouflage skills, crossing fire and water barriers and, of course, parachute jumping. First, training takes place with the help of an airborne complex on the territory of a military unit, then it is the turn of a five-meter tower. If everything is assimilated correctly, then the fighters, manned by groups of ten, make three jumps from planes: first from the AN, then from the IL.

Irregular relations and hazing in this unit have never been present. Now this would not be possible, if only because recruits, old-timers and contract soldiers live separately and are extremely busy with their own business. The Pskov Airborne Division, 104 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 postponed an hour back or forward. After taking the oath, servicemen receive a leave of absence until 20.00. By the way, on holidays, fighters also receive leave. On the Monday following the swearing-in, the command assigns new fighters to companies.

For relatives

Of course, parents, relatives and friends are bored and worried about the health and pastime of those who are just starting to serve in the army. The command warns relatives that their beloved sons, grandchildren, brothers and best friends, having entered the service in regiment 104 (Pskov Airborne Division), cannot be constantly in touch.

Mobile phones are allowed to be used only for one hour before lights out, the rest of the time the commander keeps the gadgets and gives them to the soldier only as a last resort, and after he signs in a special journal. Field exercises in the unit are held all year round, regardless of the weather, sometimes the field trips last up to two months. The soldiers are famous for their military training, and without constant exercises, the 104th regiment of the 76th division (Pskov) of the Airborne Forces would not have won such fame.

Useful information

March 1st

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 paratrooper regiment of the seventy-sixth Pskov airborne division. Year 2000. Since the beginning of February, after the fall of Grozny, the largest group of militants retreated to the Shatoi region, where it was blocked. After air and artillery barrage, 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.

Federal troops consisted of one company of Regiment 104 (Airborne Division) - 6 company, heroically killed, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel of the Guard Mark Nikolaevich Evtyukhin, fifteen soldiers from the 4th company of the same regiment under the command of Major of the Guard Alexander Vasilyevich Dostalov and the 1st company of the 1st battalion of that the same regiment under the command of Major of the Guard Sergei Ivanovich Baran. There were more than two and a half thousand militants: the groups of Idris, Abu Valid, 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 to occupy the Ista-Kord hill, which dominated the area. The sixth company, headed by Major Sergei Georgievich Molodov, advanced 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 intelligence entered the 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. Command took

The Brotherhood of War

But just four hours ago, Shatoy fell under the blow of federal troops. The militants fiercely broke out of the ring, not looking at the losses. Here they were met by the 6th company. Only the first and second platoons fought, since the third was destroyed by the militants on the slope. By the end of the day, the losses of the company amounted to a third of the total number of personnel. Thirty-one people - the number of paratroopers killed in the first hours of the battle when the enemy was densely surrounded.

By morning, soldiers from the fourth company, led by Alexander Vasilyevich Dostalov, 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 hurried to their aid. They crossed the Abazulgol River, were ambushed there and entrenched themselves on the bank. Only on the third of March was the first company able to break through to the position. All this time, the battle did not cease everywhere.

Argun gorge

The night of March 1, 2000, claimed the lives of eighty-four paratroopers who did not let the Chechen bandits pass. The death of the sixth company was the worst and the largest in the Second Chechen War. In Cheryokha, at home, at his native checkpoint, a stone reminds of this date, 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 am calling fire on myself!" When the militants went to break through with an avalanche, it was 6.50 am. The bandits did not even shoot: why waste bullets on twenty-six wounded paratroopers, if there are more than three hundred selected militants.

But hand-to-hand fighting nevertheless began, although the forces were unequal. The guards have done their duty. Everyone who could still hold a weapon, and even those who could not, entered the fray. Twenty-seven dead enemies fell on each of the half-dead paratroopers who remained there. The bandits lost 457 selected militants, but they could not break through either to Selmentauzen or further to Vedeno, after which the road to Dagestan was practically open. All checkpoints were removed by high order.

Khattab may not have been lying when he announced on the radio that he bought the pass for five hundred thousand dollars, but it didn't work out. They attacked the company in waves, in a dushman style. Knowing the area well, the militants came close. And then bayonet knives, butts and just fists were used. The Pskov paratroopers held the height for twenty hours.

Only six survived. Two of them were saved by the commander, who covered their jump from the cliff with automatic fire. The rest of the survivors were taken by the bandits for the dead, but they were alive and after a while they crawled out to the location of their troops. A company of heroes: twenty-two soldiers were posthumously become Heroes of Russia. The streets in many cities of the country, even in Grozny, were named after eighty-four paratroopers.

104th Airborne Division (Ulyanovsk)

This unit 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 104th Airborne Division consists of three regiments based on the 31st Ulyanovsk Airborne Brigade, which are deployed in Orenburg, Engels and Ulyanovsk.

Glory to the Airborne Forces

Airborne troops originate from August 1930, and this is the only branch of the country in which every 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, staunch 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 deployed there took part in the battles in Chechnya and Abkhazia, was part of the UN peacekeepers in Yugoslavia. And every resident of the city knows that the military equipment with a scorpion on board is the 104th Guards Airborne Division named after Kutuzov, transformed from an airborne brigade.

December 6 is the birthday of the 104th Guards Airborne Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree Division.

On this day in 1944, the Division was assigned number 104. Which the Division proudly carried until 1998

104th Guards Order of Kutuzov II degree airborne division was created in December 1944, the basis for its creation was the 104th rifle division. The USSR Armed Forces, in 1998 it was reorganized into the 31st Guards. ODSSBr. However, for veterans of the Airborne Forces, first of all, the old name is close - 104 Guards. The Airborne Forces has always been a symbol of standard combat training and readiness to deliver a lightning strike, it is no coincidence that its unofficial name was “Wild Airborne Division”, and its symbol was a scorpion.

So, a brief history of the glorious 104 Guards. VDD

On December 6, 1944, the 11th Guards Airborne Forces was reorganized into the 104th Guards SD (the district of Slutsk, Belarus, completed by January 3, 1945). In this form, the division as part of the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian fronts participated in the Vienna and Prague operations.

The division receives hordes. Kutuzov 2nd st .; 346 regiment - ord. Alexander Nevsky.

Subsequently, on April 7, 1946, by directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Rifle Division was reorganized into the Airborne Division. Division headquarters - Narva, Estonia. Dislocation of units - in the region of the cities. Rakvere, Nykhvi (Yekhvi), Narva, mz. Hive.

In 1960. 104 Guards The Airborne Division was relocated to Azerbaijan in the cities of Kirovabad (Ganja) and in the city of Shamkhor.

In 1974 and 1990, the division was awarded the pennants of the Minister of Defense for courage and military valor. In 1993, 104 Guards. The airborne division was relocated from the city of Ganja (Azerbaijan) to the city of Ulyanovsk.

May 1, 1998 104 Guards. The VDD was reorganized into the 31st Guards. a separate airborne brigade with the transfer of Battle Banners, pennants of the Minister of Defense, an order, a historical form belonging to the management of the 104th Guards Airborne Division and parachute regiments.

From 1994 to 1996 104 Guards VDD and from 1999 to 2001. 31 Guards The UDBR took part in operations against terrorists in the republics of Chechnya and Dagestan. For courage and heroism, 10 servicemen were awarded the title of Hero of Russia, including 4 posthumously, more than 4,000 were awarded orders and medals.

In April 2001, the 31st Guards. The OVDBr has been withdrawn from the combat area of ​​the Republic of Chechnya to the point of permanent deployment in Ulyanovsk, where it is currently located. On December 1, 2006, it was renamed 31 Guards. ODSSBr.

In July - August 2006, the brigade took part in two large-scale exercises with a mass drop of troops and equipment near Ryazan and in the Orenburg region during the Southern Shield - 2006 exercise, where it was highly praised by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Currently 31 Guards. The ODSBr is a reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the RF Armed Forces. The brigade occupies one of the leading places in combat and mobilization readiness, combat training, military discipline, among the formations and units of the Airborne Forces and in general in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The personnel of the division took part in hostilities in Afghanistan and Chechnya, carried out a peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Abkhazia, as well as as part of the UN peacekeeping forces in the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

Among the natives of this compound there are many famous people in the country. For example, Colonel General Valery Vostrotin. In Afghanistan, paratrooper Vostrotin became a Hero of the Soviet Union. He commanded both a company and a regiment in the 104th Airborne Division. In the same division, the current commander of the Airborne Forces, Hero of Russia, Vladimir Shamanov, once commanded the regiment.

The combat equipment of a division can always be identified by the division's scorpion symbol painted on board.

Emblem: scorpion, personifying mortal danger and unpredictability of actions on his part; The scorpion is distinguished by the fact that at any moment it is capable of inflicting an irresistible blow to the enemy, which is characteristic of the fighting style of this division. The emblem also reflects the specifics of the combat training of the 104th Guards for operations in the mountainous desert area, where the unit has been deployed for more than 45 years.

The location of the 104th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment of the Red Banner, or military unit 32515, is the village of Cherekha, Pskov Region. The unit belongs to the Airborne Forces, performing combat missions to destroy and capture the enemy from the air, as well as to destroy ground weapons and cover or defend certain areas. For some combat missions, the Airborne Forces are used as rapid reaction formations.

Distinctive sign of the 104th airborne assault regiment

History

The formation of the regiment began in January 1948. It consisted of units of the 346th, 104th and 76th Guards Airborne Divisions. The final connection was organized in early January 1949.
In 1976, the regiment was awarded the Red Banner for success in combat training. From 1979 to 1989, the regiment's personnel and officers carried out military operations in Afghanistan. In February 1978, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his success in mastering new weapons.
From 1994 to 1995, the regiment was among the units of the 76th division that took part in the hostilities in Chechnya. In 1999 and 2009 he took part in anti-terrorist missions in the North Caucasus.
Since the beginning of 2003, it has been partially transferred to a contract acquisition basis. At the same time, the reconstruction of old and the construction of new residential premises, as well as objects on the territory of military unit 32515, began.

Parade ground regiment

Eyewitness impressions

Material and living conditions of service in part are satisfactory. The servicemen live in the cockpit barracks, with one shower room per block and a closet for storing things in the hallway. The hostel has a relaxation room and a gym. The dining room is located in a separate room, officers and soldiers eat together. Catering, as well as cleaning the barracks and the adjacent territory, is assigned to civilian personnel.
Fighters of such a unit as military unit 32515 devote a lot of time to general physical and airborne training, regardless of the season. Among the mandatory activities for paratroopers are the acquisition and improvement of camouflage skills, forcing water and fire barriers.
A lot of time is also devoted to the basic skills of fighters - jumping. At first, soldiers of military unit 32515 train at the airborne complex on the territory of the unit. The first jump takes place from a five-meter platform. Then, in groups of 10, the paratroopers make three jumps from the AN aircraft, and then in the same composition from the IL.

View of the VDK regiment

There are no non-statutory relations and hazing in the unit, because recruits of military unit 32515 live on a separate floor of the barracks, and old servicemen and contract soldiers - on the floor above, but in the same block.
The oath of office in the 104th regiment takes place on Saturdays, at 10.00 am. Sometimes, due to weather conditions, it can be moved forward or backward one hour. After being sworn in, servicemen are allowed a leave of absence until 20.00. Also, soldiers are released on leave and on holidays. The division among the companies of the 104th regiment takes place on Monday after taking the oath.
Calls to relatives on a mobile phone are allowed only at a certain time - one hour before lights out. The rest of the time, the phones are kept by the unit commander and are given to the soldiers only after they have been marked in the corresponding magazine.

At the ceremony of taking the oath to the regiment

Field exercises take place regardless of the season. Sometimes employees of such a unit as military unit 32515 can spend up to two months on the road (usually this is a combined-arms exercise).
For contract service in military unit 32515, psychologically stable applicants are accepted with good physical training and a health certificate not lower than the A-1 form. Preference is given to applicants with martial arts skills, who previously served in the Airborne Forces and were involved in parachuting.
The paratroopers of military unit 32515 receive their monetary allowance on the card of Sberbank of Russia. For contract servicemen, it is charged twice a month (advance payment and salary), and for conscripts - once a month. The Sberbank ATM, like the Baltic Bank ATM, is located at the checkpoint of the unit. You can send money to a fighter at a bank branch, in a Sberbank terminal, through an online system or through the Qiwi payment system.

Day of the Airborne Forces in St. Petersburg

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