45th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Regiment of VDV (Russian: 45-й гвардейский отдельный разведывательный ордена Александра Невского полк ВДВ or 45-й полк специального назначения ВДВ) is a special reconnaissance and special operations unit within the Russian Airborne Troops, and based in Moscow.
It was created in 1994 from the 901st Separate Landing Assault Battalion (created in 1979) and 218th Separate Battalion for Special Operations of VDV, (created in 1992). The regiment has 690 men, 15 BTR-80, and 1 BTR-D; the 218th Battalion is homebased in Sokolniki.
The unit is part of the Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) and directly subordinated to VDV Headquarters. However it is also operationally subordinate to the GRU.
The Regiment fought in the First and Second Chechen Wars. In 1994 it fought for Dolinsky, Argun, and Grozny, sustaining casualties of 15 killed and 28 wounded. In June 2007 it was successfully inspected by the Commander-in-Chief of the VDV. In August, the 45th was involved in the 2008 South Ossetia War, where one battalion captured US Hummers jointly with the 7th Airborne Guards Division, and another defended Tskhinvali.
Famous quotes containing the words detached and/or regiment:
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—Margaret Mead (1901–1978)
“We had an inspection today of the brigade. The Twenty-third was pronounced the crack regiment in appearance, ... [but] I could see only six to ten in a company of the old men. They all smiled as I rode by. But as I passed away I couldn’t help dropping a few natural tears. I felt as I did when I saw them mustered in at Camp Chase.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)