31st Guards Air Assault Brigade

The 31st Separate Guards Order of Kutuzov 2nd class Air Assault Brigade is an airborne infantry brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops, based in Ulyanovsk. The brigade was formed in 1998 from the 104th Guards Airborne Division. The brigade fought in the Second Chechen War and the Russo-Georgian War. During the Crimean crisis 2014 elements of the brigade were located in the Crimean peninsula. In August 2014 brigade's units participated in the War in Donbas.

History
The brigade was created as a result of the disbandment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division in 1998 at Ulyanovsk. Between 1999 and 2001, the brigade fought in the Second Chechen War. For their actions during the war, Senior lieutenants Grigory Galkin and Roman Igoshin were awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation (Igoshin posthumously). Since 2005, the brigade has used a contract manning system. On 1 December 2006, it was redesignated as an air assault brigade. A battalion tactical group of the brigade fought in the Russo-Georgian War in 2008.

A monument to Army General Vasily Margelov is located at the brigade's base in Ulyanovsk. In April 2010, VDV commander Vladimir Shamanov visited the brigade and viewed its battalion tactical exercises.

The brigade was part of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force as as of 2013. In March 2014, elements of the brigade were sent to Crimea. On 4 June 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that the 104th Guards Airborne Division would be reformed from the brigade.

In March 2016, the brigade temporarily moved from its base at Ulyanovsk to Orenburg in snap readiness drills.

Commanders

 * Major General Vadim Orlov (1998-2000)
 * Colonel Sergey Yevgenyevich Kapustin (2000-2002)
 * Colonel Nikolai Sergeyevich Nikulnikov (2002-2005)
 * Colonel Vladimir Anatolyevich Kochetkov (2005-2007)
 * Colonel Dmitry Vasilyevich Glushchenkov (2010-2012)
 * Colonel Gennady Vladimirovich Anashkin (2012-2014)
 * Colonel Dmitry Ovcharov (2014-present)

Composition
Brigade units:
 * 2 Air Assault Battalions
 * Airborne Battalion
 * Artillery Battalion
 * Military Transport Aviation Squadron
 * Support units