331st Guards Airborne Regiment

The 331st Guards Airborne Regiment is a formation of the Russian Airborne Troops, part of the 98th Guards Airborne Division.

In 2014-2016 regiment's units and servicemen participated in the War in Donbas.

History
The regiment was formed in 1946 at Kostroma from the 331st Guards Rifle Regiment. It was part of the 105th Guards Vienna Airborne Division. In 1960 it transferred to the 106th Guards Airborne Division. Between 1988 and 1990 the regiment participated in peacekeeping duties in the Caucasus. In 1992 the regiment was sent to Yugoslavia. In August 1993 the regiment became part of the 98th Guards Airborne Division. The regiment fought in the First Chechen War. In 1999 the regiment was sent to Kosovo. The regiment fought in the Second Chechen War.

In August 2014 the regiment's units fought in the Battle of Ilovaisk. On 24 August, around 12:15 AM, a column of BMD-2 s of the regiment was hit by a Ukrainian anti-tank squad of the 51st Mechanized Brigade near Kuteinykove village, 13 km West of Amvrosiivka town. Two BMD-2's were destroyed. The paratroopers left their vehicles and took cover in trees nearby. Several hours later, around 5 PM, they left their cover and were captured by the reconnaissance group of the 51st Mechanized Brigade near Dzerkalne village, the Ukrainian battalion tactical group's field headquarters. Ten paratroopers were captured. The Russian military stated that the captured paratroopers had crossed the border "by accident". During a briefing held on 5 August 2015, the Ukrainian General Military Prosecutor revealed that the captured paratroopers were exchanged between 29 and 30 August 2014 for 200 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who were detained by Russia and pro-Russian forces.

Between 29 and 31 August the regiment's paratroopers guarded Ukrainian prisoners captured in the Ilovaisk pocket after the failed Ukrainian breakthrough attempt near Ilovaisk.

Paratroopers of 331st Airborne Regiment were spotted in other regions of Ukraine occupied by pro-Russian forces: in Stanitsa-Luhanska village in March 2015, and in Donetsk in August 2016.