247th Guards Air Assault Regiment

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247th Guards Air Assault Regiment
(2013–present)

247th Air Assault Regiment
(1998–2013)

21st Airborne Brigade
(1 Jun 1990–1 May 1998)

21st Air Assault Brigade
(19 Feb 1973–1 Jun 1990)
Russian: 247-й гвардейский десантно-штурмовой Кавказский казачий полк
247th Guards Air Assault Regiment shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1973–
CountrySoviet Union
Russia
Branch Russian Airborne Forces
Size1,500 troops[1]
Part of7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division
Garrison/HQStavropol
MUN 54801
EngagementsFirst Chechen War
War of Dagestan
Second Chechen War
Russo-Georgian War
War in Donbas
• Battle of Ilovaisk
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Battle honoursCaucasian Cossack
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Roman Yuvakayev[needs update]
Notable
commanders		Colonel Yury Em

The 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment is a regiment of the Russian Airborne Troops, currently part of the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division. It was first formed in 1973 as the 21st Air Assault Brigade and was transferred to the Soviet Airborne Troops in 1990, becoming the 21st Airborne Brigade. The brigade was renamed the 247th Air Assault Regiment in 1998. In 1998, it also gained the title 'Caucasian Cossack', although it is not all composed of Cossacks.[2] In 2013 it became a Guards regiment.[3] The unit fought in the First Chechen War, the War of Dagestan, the Second Chechen War, the Russo-Georgian War, the war in Donbas, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

History[edit]

Soviet Union[edit]

The regiment was first formed on 19 February 1973 as the 21st Air Assault Brigade in Kutaisi, part of the Transcaucasus Military District. It included personnel from the 337th Guards Airborne Regiment. The brigade was initially composed of the 802nd, 803rd, and 804th Air Assault Battalions. Along with the 11th and 13th Separate Airborne Brigades, the brigade served as a test unit for the Soviet airmobile concept.[4] In 1973, the brigade participated in the exercise "Snowy Pass" (Russian: Снежный перевал). The brigade conducted advanced tactical exercises under the supervision of the Chief of the General Staff in 1974.[5]

In September 1977, the brigade's 1059th Artillery Battalion was disbanded and replaced by an artillery battery and an anti-aircraft battery.[6] Around the same time, the brigade's 1171st Aviation Group became the 325th Transport-Combat and 395th Combat Helicopter Regiments.[4]

The brigade participated in the "West-81" exercises in 1981. It was involved in the exercise "Caucasus-85". Elements of the brigade participated in the cleanup operations after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The brigade participated in exercise "Caucasus-87" in the following year. Its 292nd and 325th Helicopter Regiments were detached in 1988. In 1989, the brigade received a Red Banner from the Transcaucasus Military District Military Council. The brigade air-assaulted Yerevan Airport in July 1989 after it was occupied by armed Armenians. On 12 July, it landed at Leninakan to assist in rescue after the 1988 Armenian earthquake. In 1990, it received the Minister of Defense's Pennant "For Courage and Valor". On 1 June 1990, it was transferred to the Soviet airborne and renamed as the 21st Airborne Brigade.[5][6]

Russia[edit]

In 1992, the brigade relocated to Stavropol.[7] In 1994, the brigade received the honorific "Stavropol Cossack". From 11 December 1994[8] to November 1996, the brigade fought in the First Chechen War. Colonel Yury Em became brigade commander in 1995.[9] On 1 May 1998, it was renamed the 247th Air Assault Regiment and became part of the 7th Guards Airborne Division.[6] On 12 September, it received the title "Caucasian Cossack",[5] despite not being all composed of Cossacks.[2]

From August 1999, the regiment fought in the War of Dagestan. It fought in the Battle for Donkey's Ear Height. From October 1999 to January 2000, the regiment fought in the Second Chechen War. The regiment fought in the battles for Shelkovskaya, Gudermes, Shali, and Argun. On 25 November 1999, the regiment captured Novogroznensky, reportedly killing more than 50 Chechen militants. Regimental commander Em received the title Hero of the Russian Federation for his leadership.[9]

Soldiers of the regiment during a tactical exercise in Stavropol Krai, 2018

Colonel Alexey Naumets became the regiment's commander on 2 June 2007.[10] In 2008, the regiment invaded Georgia with the rest of the division.[11] It fought in the Battle of Kodori Gorge.[12] The regiment was granted the title 'Guards' on 3 June 2013.[3] The regiment contributed a battalion tactical group to participate in the August 2014 Russian military intervention in the war in Donbas.[13] A group took part in the battle of Ilovaisk, where a column of regiments' fighting vehicles was photographed by regiment's soldier in front of destroyed R-149BMR command vehicle of the Ukrainian 121st Signal Brigade.[14] In March 2015, the regiment opened its museum in Stavropol.[15]

In the context of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, as of December 2021, the regiment was deployed in Crimea.[16] It took part in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and its commander Guard Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky was killed in action in February 2022.[17] According to Pavel Filatyev, a former soldier of the 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment, the 247th Regiment was among the Russian military units that entered Kherson on 1 March 2022.[18] An ammunition depot and a command post of the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment was destroyed by Ukrainian forces on 22 August 2022 during the 2022 Chornobaivka attacks.[19]

A reconstituted regiment took part the Southern Military District's efforts to hold Staromaiorske during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[20] It was reported the 247th refused to fight due to equipment shortages, Ukrainian victories, and high casualties.[21] In September 2023 the regiment was deployed at the southern theatre around the village of Verbove, where its commander was killed in action.[citation needed]

Commanders[edit]

The following officers commanded the 21st Air Assault Brigade, the 21st Airborne Brigade, the 247th Air Assault Regiment, and the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment:[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Airborne Assault Troops [VDV - Order of Battle]
  2. ^ a b Galeotti, Mark (22 February 2012). "The Cossacks are coming (maybe)". The Moscow News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Десантно-штурмовому Кавказскому казачьему полку присвоено почётное наименование" [Air Assault Caucasian Cossack Regiment given honorary title]. Kremlin.ru (in Russian). 3 June 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b Feskov et al 2013, p. 244
  5. ^ a b c d "247-й десантно-штурмовой Кавказский казачий полк" [247th Air Assault Caucasian Cossack Regiment] (in Russian). Union of Russian Paratroopers. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Holm, Michael. "21st independent Landing-Assault Brigade". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  7. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 528.
  8. ^ Seely 2001, p. 225
  9. ^ a b "Yury Em". Герои страны ("Heroes of the Country") (in Russian).
  10. ^ "Новый комполка десантников" [New regiment commander paratroopers] (in Russian). Stavropolskaya Pravda. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Russian Division From Black Sea Towards Georgia". GeorgianJournal. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  12. ^ Metelev, Kirill (11 August 2015). "Комдив Василич" [Komdiv Vasilich]. Командор (in Russian) (1). Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  13. ^ Sutyagin, Igor (March 2015). "RUSI Briefing Paper: Russian Forces in Ukraine" (PDF). Royal United Services Institute: 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ "Russian Paratroopers Miss The Killings - InformNapalm.org (English)". InformNapalm.org (English). 20 August 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  15. ^ "На Ставрополье 247-й десантно-штурмовой полк отметил 42-ю годовщину своего образования" [In the Stavropol region celebrated 42nd anniversary of the 247th Airborne Assault Regiment]. www.stapravda.ru (in Russian). Stavropolskaya Pravda. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Russia builds up forces on Ukrainian border". Politico. December 2021.
  17. ^ Shoaib, Alia (17 March 2022). "How the Russian officer elite is being decimated in Ukraine – 10 generals and commanders who were killed in action". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  18. ^ Pavel Fitalyev (17 August 2022). "'They turned us into savages': Russian soldier describes start of Ukraine invasion". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Ворожий склад з боєприпасами та командний пункт 247 десантно-штурмового полку знищено в Чорнобаївці, - ОК "Південь"". Censor.NET (in Ukrainian). 23 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Fighting escalates on two contact line areas – UK Intelligence". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  22. ^ Kopytova, Yulia (6 May 2011). "Настоящий полковник…" [This colonel...]. 71ru.info (in Russian). Magazine Tula Arsenal. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  23. ^ Ilinov, Igor (2 April 2011). "Полковник Александр Валитов назначен командиром 247-го десантно-штурмового полка в Ставрополе" [Colonel Alexander Valitov appointed commander of the 247th Air Assault Regiment Stavropol] (in Russian). Stavropolskaya Pravda. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  24. ^ Moskalenko, Viktor (18 January 2013). "Александр Валитов: 247-й десантно-штурмовой полк имеет собственное лицо, крепкий характер и боевой дух" [Alexander Valitov: 247th Airborne Assault Regiment has its own face, strong character and fighting spirit]. Stavropolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  25. ^ Ilinov, Igor (13 June 2013). "247-й десантно-штурмовой Кавказский казачий полк теперь "гвардейский"" [247th Caucasian Cossack Air Assault Regiment is now Guards]. Stavropolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  26. ^ Sukharev, Mikhail (3 August 2016). "За ВДВ!" [For the VDV!]. Vercheny Stavropol (in Russian). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Konstantin Zizevsky". TopCargo200. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Погиб командир 247-го гвардейского десантно-штурмового полка". ГТРК «Ставрополье» (in Russian). 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Vasily Popov". TopCargo200. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Война в Украине. 568‑й день" [War in Ukraine. Day 568] (in Russian). 14 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.

Sources[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment.
  • Feskov, V.I.; Golikov, V.I.; Kalashnikov, K.A.; Slugin, S.A. (2013). Вооруженные силы СССР после Второй Мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской [The Armed Forces of the USSR after World War II: From the Red Army to the Soviet: Part 1 Land Forces] (in Russian). Tomsk: Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing. ISBN 9785895035306.
  • Seely, Robert (2001). Russo-Chechen Conflict, 1800-2000: A Deadly Embrace. New York: Frank Cass. ISBN 9780714649924.

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