Russia Sends 76th GAAD Elite Paratroopers to Counter Ukraine's Army Southern Push

In a strategic maneuver, Russia has mobilized its best paratrooper unit, the 76th Guard Air Assault Division (GAAD), to the southern regions of Ukraine. This move is seen as a direct response to the escalating counteroffensive led by Ukrainian forces in the area.
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The 104th Russian Airborne Regiment is equipped with the latest generation of airborne IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicles including the BMD-4M. (Picture source Wikimedia)

The Ukrainian armed forces continue their advance in the south of the country. "Robotyne has been liberated," said the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense, Hanna Maliar, as quoted by the Ukrainian army. The Deputy Minister added on Ukrainian television that the Kyiv troops, which began their counter-offensive at the beginning of June, are now moving southeast of Robotyne and south of the neighboring town of Mala Tokmatchka.

The deployment of the 76th GAAD (Guard Air Assault Division), one of Russia's premier paratrooper units, underscores the changing dynamics on the frontline. With Ukrainian forces gaining momentum and making significant advancements, the Kremlin has felt the need to bolster its defenses and counteract the progress made by Kyiv's troops.

Further evidence of this deployment comes from images circulating on Ukrainian social networks. These images appeared to show two badges of Russian units from the 234th and 104th Airborne Assault Regiments of the Guard, both integral parts of the 76th GAAD.

The decision to send these elite forces to the southern front is not just a military move but also carries significant geopolitical implications. It signals Russia's intent to prevent Kyiv from making any significant territorial breakthroughs and underscores the importance Russia places on maintaining control in the region.

Furthermore, the broader context reveals a series of strategic moves by Ukraine against Russian interests. Notably, there have been targeted attacks on Russian naval assets, including a drone strike on a Ropucha-class Russian landing ship outside the Novorossiysk harbor. Such actions have posed considerable challenges for Russia, prompting a reevaluation of their naval strategies in the Black Sea.

As the situation continues to evolve, the deployment of the 76th GAAD is a clear indication of the heightened stakes in the region and the lengths both sides are willing to go to achieve their strategic objectives.

In 2017, the 104th Russian Airborne Regiment was composed of a control unit, the 1st and 2nd Air Assault Battalions, a Paratrooper Battalion, and a Self-propelled Artillery Battalion. Additionally, the regiment included an anti-tank battery, a self-propelled anti-tank gun battery, an anti-aircraft battery, a reconnaissance company, an engineering sapper company, a communication company, another paratrooper company, a logistics company, a repair company, and an RHBZ platoon. In total, the regiment had a strength of 1,760 personnel.

In terms of military equipment in service with the regiment, they had 108 BMD units, which consisted of 31 BMD-3 units and 77 BMD-2 units. There were also 42 BTR-D units, 1 BMD-1 R unit, and 7 KShM units, which included 6 BMD-1KSh units and 1 R-149BMRD unit. The regiment was equipped with 6 BTR-RD "Robot" units, which came with the ATGM 9K113 "Konkurs". Additionally, there were 9 BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" units equipped with ZU-23-2 and MANPADS, 10 1V119 "Rheostat" units, 24 2S9 "Nona-S" units, and 6 2S25 "Sprut-SD" units.

In 2017, the 234th Russian Airborne Regiment was structured with a control unit, the 1st and 2nd Air Assault Battalions, a Paratrooper Battalion, and a Self-propelled Artillery Battalion. The regiment also incorporated an anti-tank battery, a self-propelled anti-tank gun battery, an anti-aircraft battery, a reconnaissance company, an engineering sapper company, a communication company, another paratrooper company, a logistics company, a repair company, and an RHBZ platoon. The regiment had a total strength of 1,760 personnel.

Regarding the military equipment in service with the regiment, they had 108 BMD units. This included 28 BMD-4M units, 5 BMD-3 units, and 75 BMD-2 units. The regiment was also equipped with 42 BTR-D units, 1 BMD-1R unit, and 7 KShM units, of which 6 were BMD-1KSh units and 1 was an R-149BMRD unit. Additionally, there were 6 BTR-RD "Robot" units equipped with the ATGM 9K113 "Competition", 9 BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" units that came with ZU-23-2 and MANPADS, 10 1V119 "Rheostat" units, 24 2S9 "Nona-S" units, and 6 2S25 "Sprut-SD" units.

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