Russian Airborne Troops Take Center Stage Amid Ukraine Tensions

Russia's elite airborne troops, or VDV units, are increasingly taking responsibility for Moscow's offensive operations in Ukraine, with military commanders seeking to place an increased emphasis on them. The VDV units sustained considerable losses in the early months of the invasion, and are nowhere near their former strength, with mobilized, poorly trained, and often reluctant personnel backfilling the ranks. The Russian commander of the VDV, General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky, has likely returned to a major role in Ukraine, pushing the corps' traditional role as an elite force.