Russia has failed to properly use its airborne troops in Ukraine, resulting in significant casualties among many of the force’s elite units.
This is stated in the intelligence review of the Ministry of Defense of Britain, reports “European Truth”.
It is noted that the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) since the beginning of the Russian invasion have been seriously involved in several notable tactical failures. Among them are an attempt to advance on Kyiv through the Gostomel airfield in March, the stalled offensive in the Izyum direction since April, and the recent unsuccessful and expensive crossing of the Seversky Donets River.
Russian doctrine calls for the use of the Airborne Forces to carry out some of the more complex operations. The Airborne Forces, numbering 45 thousand people, consists mainly of professional contract soldiers. Its members enjoy elite status and receive additional pay.
However, in Ukraine, Russia used paratroopers in missions that were better suited to heavy armored infantry, so these units suffered heavy casualties during the campaign.
The mixed performance of the paratroopers likely reflects strategic mismanagement of this capability and Russia’s failure to secure air superiority, the summary said.
“The misuse of the Airborne Forces in Ukraine shows how Putin’s significant investment in the military over the past 15 years has led to an imbalance in the overall force. Failure to anticipate Ukrainian resistance and further complacency of Russian commanders has led to significant losses in many of Russia’s elite units,” the British review.