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☆ Russia is stuffing an elite paratrooper force with poorly trained troops that are eroding its power, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is sending a new division of its VDV paratrooper force into Ukraine, the UK MOD said. AdvertisementRussia's once-elite paratrooper force is being padded out with low-quality soldiers that are eroding its elite status, according to UK intelligence. The UK Ministry of Defence gave an intelligence update on Thursday on the VDV — Russia's once-revered paratrooper force. It would bring the number of VDV division up to five, from its previous level of four, per the update. AdvertisementBut this division will "likely be poorly trained and is unlikely to meet the erstwhile elite standards of the VDV," the MOD said.

Persons: —, Russia's, GAD Organizations: MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, 104th Guards Airborne Division, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine, US, Kherson Oblast

☆ Ukraine appears to be gunning for a top Russian battlefield commander who has had an unusual run as a military leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine appears to be gunning for him as Kyiv's military makes pushes in his area of control. According to several prominent Russian military bloggers and independent Russian media reporting, the Ukrainian military fired long-range missiles last week at the Dnepr battlegroup's headquarters. Astra, the independent Russian publication, reported that Ukrainian missiles hit command posts belonging to the Dnepr group in Strilkove that same day. As the Russian military bloggers noted, the timing of the strikes fall in line with an uptick in Ukrainian assaults around the Dnipro. "Teplinsky's appointment is likely an indication of increased pressure on Russian forces defending the area," Britain's defense ministry said in late October.

Persons: Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, gunning, —, Moscow's, Rybar, ROMAN PILIPEY, Teplinsky —, Russia's ultranationalists, Vladimir Putin, Teplinsky, Oleg Makarevich Organizations: Service, Moscow's VDV Airborne Forces, Dnepr, Ukraine, Storm, Russian, Neptune, Telegram, Astra, Getty, Wagner Group, Kremlin ., Institute for, Ukrainian, Command, Special Operations Forces of, Armed Forces of, Facebook, Dnipro, Kyiv Locations: Russian, Col, Ukraine, Kherson, that's, Azov, Dnipro, Ukrainian, AFP, Teplinsky, Russia, Kremlin . Russian, Washington, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kherson Oblast

☆ An elite Russian unit's morale is at 'critical levels' after being sent to stop Ukraine's counteroffensive, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian elite unit's motivation dropped to "critical levels," a US think tank said. Russian forces are seeking to prevent Ukraine breaking through on a key part of the front line. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian elite unit's motivation to fight dropped to "critical levels" amid high casualties in Ukraine, analysts said. Russia's VDV units have been deployed in the region to make counterattacks to slow Ukraine's counteroffensive, suffering high casualties. AdvertisementAdvertisementReports have emerged in recent weeks of heavy casualties in Russian units launching counterattacks to slow Ukraine's counteroffensive in the east and south of the country.

Persons: —, Alexander Khodakovsky, Khodakovsky, Andrei Kondrashkin, Kondrashkin, Mikhail Teplinsky, Russia's, they've Organizations: Institute, Service Locations: Ukraine, Bakhmut

☆ Russia's using its elite paratroopers in an unusual way to hold the line, leaving the force 'airborne in name only,' war analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia is relying on its elite paratroopers, the VDV, to defend against Ukraine's counteroffensive. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia has turned to its elite paratroopers, the VDV Airborne Forces, to help defend against Ukraine's battlefield advances. As so-called "elite" Russian forces have taken losses, they have at times been backfilled with poorly-trained replacements, degrading the overall capability of the unit. Since those figures were released, VDV units have been transferred to support Moscow's defensive efforts in the face of Ukraine's pressing counteroffensive. The VDV is one of several elite units to suffer severe casualties during the war as Moscow has relied heavily on them.

Persons: —, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky Organizations: Ukraine's, Service, VDV Airborne Forces, Russian, Institute for, Victory, Russian MoD, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Paratroopers, Rifle Brigade, 155th Naval Infantry Brigade Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Russian, Alabino, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Kherson, Luhansk, Kyiv

☆ Russia is manning its defensive line with 'poor-quality' troops, report says, and only switching in competent ones after Ukraine attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But she said that when Ukrainian units move in to take trenches, Russia deploys elite units to counterattack and retake them. "'Storm-Z' detachments are often combat ineffective and will likely provide the Russian defense in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast with marginal combat power," it noted. Ukraine's strategy appears to be to probe Russian defenses at several points on the front line simultaneously, forcing Russia to divert its most effective units. Russian defenses near Bakhmut, east Ukraine, also came under severe pressure from Ukrainian attacks this week. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the south, Ukraine is attempting to breach Russian defensive positions and retake the city of Melitopol, a Russian logistics hub, severing Russia's land bridge to the occupied Crimean peninsula.

Persons: Olena Ivanenko, Ivanenko, Russia's, — Organizations: Wall, Service, Wall Street, for Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Robotyne, Bakhmut, Melitopol, Crimean

☆ Russia sent some of its best troops to stop Ukraine breaching its defensive line but still failed, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia sent elite units to southern Ukraine to try to stop Ukraine advancing, a think tank said. It said Ukrainian armored vehicles appeared to have breached Russia's last line of defense. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Russian forces currently defending in western Zaporizhia Oblast have been unable to prevent Ukrainian forces from making gradual but steady advances since mid-August," it said. The ISW said it could not yet determine whether Ukrainian troops had completely broken through that last line of defense. A Ukrainian soldier, meanwhile, described Russian troops in the area to The Wall Street Journal as "poor quality" and "earth movers."

Persons: Guards VDV, Stryker, Marder, Rob Lee Organizations: Institute, Service, Mountain Airborne Division, Guards, Brigades, Ukraine, Air Assault Brigade, Wall Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Washington, Robotyne, Russian, Zaporizhia Oblast, Zaporizhia

☆ Russian forces were decimated on a key part of the front line, losing more than 300 troops in one day: ISW
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian forces are suffering steep losses in the western Zaporizhia Oblast in Ukraine. Russian units lost more than 300 troops in one day, a US think tank said, citing a Ukrainian official. Ukrainian forces are seeking to breach Russian defensive lines in the region. It's an increase on the 200 casualties Russian forces in the area suffered in each of the previous two days, said Shtupen. AdvertisementAdvertisement"'Storm-Z' detachments are often combat ineffective and will likely provide the Russian defense in western Zaporizhia Oblast with marginal combat power," it noted.

Persons: Oleksandr Shtupun Organizations: Service, Ukrainian Locations: Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine, US, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Tavariisk, Ukrainian, Robotyne, Melitopol, Russian, Tokmak, Crimea

☆ Russia is using elite paratrooper units as regular infantry, with the rest of its forces overstretched, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is using elite paratroopers as regular infantry, the UK MOD said. The VDV force isn't at full strength and is being used to help overstretched Russian lines, it said. The situation is one that is unlikely to please the elite force's hierarchy, it added. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe VDV forces have likely reinforced Russia's 58th Combined Arms Army, part of Russia's ground forces, according to the UK MOD, with the situation coming about as Russia's military finds itself overstretched. Once again, they are being used as line infantry to augment over-stretched ground forces," the MOD said.

Organizations: MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Arms Army, Washington DC, for Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Robotyne

☆ Ukraine killed 49 elite Russian paratroopers in a single day — and Russia refused to retrieve the bodies, ISW report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian forces reportedly killed 49 elite Russian paratroopers in a single day of fighting. A Russian blogger posted an audio recording of a soldier saying he would retrieve the bodies himself. It cited a Russian military blogger who posted a recording purporting to be from a soldier in the unit which suffered the loses, the Russian 247th VDV Regiment. The 247th regiment is part of Russia's 7th Guards Mountain Airborne (VDV) Division, which have long been considered to be among Russia's elite. The ISW previously reported that elements of Russia's VDV Forces had been redeployed to the Robotyne area to stop Ukraine's advance.

Organizations: Russian, Service, Russian 247th VDV Regiment, VDV Division, VDV Airborne Forces, Forces Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, Staromayorske, Donetsk, Ukraine, Russia, Russia's, Robotyne

☆ Russia is throwing away elite forces it will likely need later, like paratroopers, trying to blunt Ukraine's counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia has sent its elite paratroopers to curb Ukraine's advancing counteroffensive. But in doing so, Moscow appears to be throwing away soldiers it may need later. Russian VDV units have been transferred from the Kherson and Luhansk regions to support Russia's defensive efforts in Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut, respectively. The VDV is just one of a number of so-called "elite" Russian units that have been battered over the course of the war. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe VDV were part of early operations and were heavily utilized at the start of the war, which Russia largely botched.

Persons: ISW, Efrem, Moscow's Organizations: VDV Airborne Forces, Service, Institute for, 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, AP Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhzhia region, Kyiv

☆ The Kremlin won't admit how many soldiers have died in Ukraine, but researchers have now identified 30,000 dead Russians by name
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Researchers have identified more than 30,000 Russians killed fighting in Ukraine. More than 1,300 dead soldiers were identified in the last two weeks alone, they said. But researchers working with the BBC say they have now identified — by name — more than 30,000 dead Russian soldiers, including more than 1,300 in the last two weeks alone. More than 5,600 inmates have been identified as killed in Ukraine. At least 9,000 civilians have also been killed in Ukraine, according to the United Nations, most in areas targeted by Russian forces.

Persons: Mediazona, Wagner, Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, Teplinsky's, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Service, VDV Airborne Forces, Russia — Kremlin, United Nations, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhia, Russia —

☆ At least half of the 30,000 elite paratroopers Russia deployed in Ukraine have been killed or wounded, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Half of Russia's elite paratroopers in Ukraine have been killed or wounded in battle, UK intel said. It is unclear how exactly the figures were calculated by the British intelligence service. "More than 5,000 wounded paratroopers returned to the front after treatment, and more than 3,500 of our wounded refused to leave the front line," Teplinsky said. It is unclear how exactly the figures were calculated by the British intelligence service. Teplinsky video was eventually removed without explanation several hours later, likely at the request of the Kremlin's military leadership, Insider's Jake Epstein previously reported.

Persons: Russia's, Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, Russian Ministry of Defense — Teplinsky, Teplinsky, Insider's Jake Epstein, — Organizations: intel, Service, British Ministry of Defense, Russia's VDV Airborne Forces, Zvezda —, Russian Ministry of Defense, BBC Russian Service Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Wall, Silicon, Russia

☆ A top Russian general's rare admission that his elite paratroopers suffered heavy casualties in Ukraine was mysteriously removed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A top Russian general admitted his elite paratroopers suffered thousands of casualties in Ukraine. It's unclear exactly how many casualties Russian forces have suffered during the Ukraine war. Favorited by Russian ultranationalists, Teplinsky oversaw successful combat operations last year but was eventually dismissed from his leadership role. This prompted some insubordination from the Russian airborne commander, who even expressed his frustration with Moscow's military brass directly to Putin. The elite paratroopers suffered heavy losses early on and continued to struggle in the months that followed.

Persons: Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, Russia's, Teplinsky, Teplinksy, VDV, Vladimir Putin, Gian Marco Benedetto, —, Putin Organizations: Service, Russia's VDV Airborne Forces, Moscow Times, Zvezda, Airborne Forces, Anadolu Agency, Getty, BBC Russian Service, Wagner Group, Institute for Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhya, Washington

☆ 'Chaos' is fueling fights among Putin's top commanders. These are the players battling for power.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

More than three weeks after the historic challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority, there's still internal power plays and high-level purges in motion. "We are seeing a lot of military formations and military figures that are pushing for their own objectives." For example, in Kadyrov's case, he may be pushing for control to shield his fighters from the battlefield in Ukraine and send conventional Russian forces instead. Consequences for disobedienceInsubordination against Moscow's military leadership, such as Teplinsky's criticisms or the Wagner's rebellion, has undermined Russian military leaders but has also come with consequences for members of the anti-Gerasimov camp. The instability increasingly endemic to the Russian military comes as the Ukrainians try to break through their defensive lines.

Persons: Wagner Group's, Vladimir Putin's, Wagner, Putin, doesn't, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Alexander Ermochenko, he's, Stepanenko, Valery Gerasimov, Sergei Shoigu, Ramzan Kadyrov, Kadyrov, there's, Gerasimov, Vladimir Putin, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Alexei Nikolsky, Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, Russia's, Teplinsky, Sergei Surovikin, There's, Friedemann Kohler, hasn't, Russia's Aerospace Forces Sergei Surovikin, Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, Staff Sergei Rudskoi, Mikhail Metzel, Ivan Popov, Vladimir Seliverstov, Popov, vilely, Viktor Zolotov, it's, ISW, Vyacheslav Gladkov Organizations: Service, Institute for, Wagner Group, Kremlin, Southern Military, REUTERS, Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian Armed Forces, Russian Defense, Russian, Staff, AP, Russia's VDV Airborne Forces, Getty, Russia's Aerospace Forces, Armed Forces, Sputnik, Arms Army, 106th Guards Airborne, Russian MoD, National Guard, Russian National Guard Service, PMC Wagner Group Locations: Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Moscow, Prigozhin, Belarus, Rostov, Don, Russia's Belgorod, Sputnik, Washington, Chechnya, Sochi, REUTERS Maj, Belgorod

☆ Threats of desertion are spreading in Russia's military as troops openly disrespect their commanders, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insubordination is spreading through the Russian military in Ukraine, a report said. It names the dismissed officers as Major General Vladimir Seliverstov, Major General Alexander Kornev, and Major General Ramil Ibatullin. It cited Russian military bloggers, an important source of information about the Russian military, saying that authorities were also preparing to arrest Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky. The report says that the defiance towards Russia's top commanders appears to be spreading through the ranks. The VDV servicemen are blackmailing the Russian MoD to ensure that Teplinsky continues to command troops in Ukraine," the ISW said.

Persons: Wagner, Ivan Popov, Vladimir Seliverstov, General Alexander Kornev, Ramil, Mikhail Teplinsky, Teplinsky, Sergey Shoigu, Sergey Surovikin Organizations: Institute, Kremlin, Service, Russian MoD Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Bakhmut, Russian, Kherson, Ukrainian

Some Russian military bloggers with substantial followings expect a serious reshuffle of the military in the light of the Wagner uprising, and perhaps within the security services for not seeing the preparations for it. Putin has sought to reassert his authority after Prigozhin's mutiny. There is no way to verify Rybar’s allegations, but their airing may demonstrate a level of apprehension in the Russian military in the light of the mutiny. At one point, according to Russian military bloggers, Surovikin interceded to try to procure ammunition for Wagner. There is still considerable respect in Russian military circles for what Wagner has contributed to the Ukraine conflict.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Wagner, Sergey Shoigu, Rybar, ” Rybar, Putin, Valery Gerasimov, Mikhail Teplinsky, Boris Rozhin, Sergey Surovikin, “, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, ”, Dmitry Peskov, Surovikin, Mark Galeotti, Galeotti, Tatiana Stayonova, Rob Lee, “ Wagner, ” Surovikin, Prigozhin, Vyacheslav Volodin, ” Volodin, Anastasia Kashevarova, Mikhail Tereshchenko, Stayonava, Shoigu, Yevgeny Prigozhin, George W Bush, Concord Company ”, we’ll, eking, Viktor Zolotov, ” Zolotov, ” Anastasia Kashevarova, Russia “, there’s Organizations: CNN, FSO, Federal Guard Service, Federal Protective Service, AP, General Staff, The New York Times, Mayak Intelligence, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Russian Aerospace Forces, Sputnik, Getty, Western Military, Concord Company, Kremlin, MoD, Defense Ministry, Russian National Guard, Ministry of Defense, Telegram Locations: Rostov, Moscow, Don, Russia, Ukraine, AFP, Bakhmut, Shoigu, Putin, St, Petersburg, Russian, Minsk, Belarus, Prigozhin

☆ Putin is facing a new threat at home while Russia's military is making itself 'vulnerable globally,' experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It comes as Russia's military is tied down in Ukraine and less able to respond to crises elsewhere. Those questions come as a Ukrainian offensive bears down on Russia's military, which since late last year has been replenishing its forces in Ukraine with aging equipment and under-trained personnel. These efforts have bolstered Russian units in Ukraine but left the Russian military more vulnerable elsewhere and undermined its ability to respond to other crises, experts say. Russia's military has tried to show it still has muscles to flex, mostly with air and naval forces that are largely undamaged by the war. Russian troops board a military aircraft on their way to Kazakhstan in January 2022.

Persons: Wagner, it's, Putin, —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin's, Russia's, Dara Massicot, Maxym, I've, there's, Massicot, Gorshkov, Kassym, Tokayev, Mark Galeotti, Galeotti, It's, Prigozhin, SERGEI GUNEYEV, Angela, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Service, Wagner Group, Rand Corporation, Georgetown University, Getty, Russia's, Fleet, Northern Fleet, Iranian Army, Anadolu Agency, Moscow, Russian Defense Ministry Press, Kremlin, SPUTNIK, Center for, East European Studies, Brookings Institution, National Security Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, Siberia, Norway, Georgia, Central Asia, Russia, Syria, Kazakhstan, Russia's, Armenia, Tajikistan

☆ After a year of fighting in Ukraine, the brutal logic behind Russia's 'human wave' attacks is becoming clear
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

At the bottom of the hierarchy is what RUSI terms "disposable infantry." According to the RUSI report, the term "human wave attacks" has been misleadingly applied to the way Russia has employed these infantry forces. The assault troops attack in larger company-size formations, backed by tanks and artillery as they attempt to outflank Ukrainian defenses. Once their mission is complete, assault forces are replaced by line and disposable infantry, who begin preparing for the next attack. Disposable troops are fed into the meat-grinder and killed or wounded before they can gain enough experience to survive.

Persons: —, Wagner Group's, Arkady Budnitsky, Wagner, They're, Diego Herrera Carcedo, demographically, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Wagner Group, Donetsk People's Republics, Russian, Soviet, —, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, British, Rostov, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Forbes

☆ Moscow's 'special' forces: An inside look at how Russia's famed Spetsnaz really operate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Mark Galeotti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +24 min

Russia's Spetsnaz forces are often depicted as a kind of Russian super troops. Osprey PublishingMost countries' special forces emphasize physical fitness, determination and aggression. Special people, for special tasksMembers of the Russian military's 16th Separate Special Purpose Brigade during an exercise in 2018. Even so, being better than most of the Soviet army's miserable and recalcitrant conscript forces did not make most of them truly special, special forces. The special operations commandMembers of Russian's 22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade during an exercise in November 2017.

☆ Ukraine could launch its offensive against Russia any moment now. Here's what's waiting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The defenses continue for hundreds of miles across the meandering southern front – where Ukrainian forces are expected to concentrate their counter-offensive in the coming weeks. This area will be critical should Ukrainian forces try to advance towards the city of Melitopol and split Russian forces in the south. It’s unclear where the equipment went but likely that it was sent north to reinforce Russian defensive lines. Russian-appointed officials in Zaporizhzhia claim there is already a large build-up of Ukrainian forces in the area. Ukrainian officials do not disclose the movement of units.

Summary Putin visits Russian-held UkrainePutin discusses war with Kherson commandersUnclear when the visit took placePutin sits beside General TeplinskyApril 18 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in Russian-controlled Ukraine, the Kremlin said, where he discussed the war with a general from Russia's airborne troops who has reportedly taken up a powerful new role in the invasion. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24, 2022, has triggered the deadliest European conflict since World War Two. Dressed in a heavy blue jacket, Putin, 70, was shown on Russian state television descending from a military helicopter in Russian-held Ukraine and greeting senior military commanders. Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of Russia's airborne troops, sat to Putin's right while Colonel-General Oleg Makarevich sat to Putin's left. "Teplinsky, commander of Russia’s corps of airborne troops, the VDV, has highly likely returned to a major role in Ukraine," British military intelligence said.

☆ Russian paratroopers are getting thermobaric tank-mounted 'flamethrowers' to make them more deadly after a string of failures, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's paratroopers are getting a powerful new weapon in Ukraine, the UK MOD said. But the UK MOD said the move suggests Russia wants it to play a larger role in any new offensive. The UK Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update on Tuesday that, according to Russian media, paratroopers were receiving TOS-1A thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems. Russia's efforts to reconstitute the paratrooper force mirrors its efforts to rebuild other once elite units that suffered significant losses. Earlier this month the UK MOD highlighted Russian efforts to repair the reputation of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet.

☆ Putin's top troops are being 'decimated' as Russia relies too much on so-called 'elite' forces to wage war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Several so-called "elite" Russian units have suffered heavy casualties on the battlefield in Ukraine. The 155th is only the latest so-called "elite" Russian unit to face serious setbacks on the battlefield. An abandoned Russian military tank left in the Ukrainian city of Balakliia after Russian Forces withdrew from the Kharkiv region on September 15, 2022. So I think it's much more of a blow to Russia's ground force's combat power than it is to their reputations." Russia's military leadership has at times faced criticism and even domestic outrage over its decision-making.

☆ An 'elite' Russian unit has been weakened by severe front-line losses, and the replacements appear to be making things worse, Western intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia's 155th Naval Infantry Brigade has suffered heavy losses while fighting in Ukraine. The 155th was considered to be an "elite" unit, but has been degraded, Western intelligence says. It's the latest high-profile Russian unit to see a high number of causalities on the battlefield. SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty ImagesThe 155th is not the only Russian unit considered elite that has suffered severe setbacks and losses in Ukraine. Western intelligence estimates that Russian forces may have suffered as many as 200,000 casualties while fighting in Ukraine, with up to 60,000 troops dead.

☆ After bloody failures in Ukraine, Russians are reconsidering the role of their military's 'elite' paratroopers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The issues raised about the role and value of paratroopers are not unique to Russia's military. Russian paratroopers in the Kyiv region in March 2022. Russian paratroopers unload a truck from an IL-76 to join the NATO peacekeeping operation in Bosnia in January 1996. That point underlines the debate about the value of airborne forces — a debate that isn't unique to Russia. That battle, an ignominious Allied defeat, has stood as a lesson in the limits of airborne forces.

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