Russian paratroopers celebrate anniversary

Russia is celebrating the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Airborne Troops – highly mobile combat troops of the Russian Armed Forces, intended to cover the enemy in the air and fighting its rear. The Day of Airborne Forces is celebrated on August 2 in memory of the first airdrop in 1930.

Festivities attended by over 300 thousand current and former Marines will be held in Moscow and across Russia.

‘Elijah’s Day Holiday – Day of the Airborne Forces,’ combines the Patronal Feast of the Prophet Elijah, the Day of the Airborne Troops of Russia and Ilinka Street Day. The Old Testament prophet Elijah is considered to be the patron saint of the Russian airborne troops. Celebrations of the Day of Remembrance of the Prophet Elijah and the Day of the Airborne Forces are held with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Last year the patriarch said that the airborne troops are ‘a reliable shield of the Fatherland’ and ‘the elite of our Armed Forces,’ RIA Novosti reports.

The Airborne Command, in cooperation with the Council of Veterans, will hold the official celebrations with laying of wreaths and flowers at the monument to soldier-commandos on Suvorov Square on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow.

A delegation headed by the Commander of the Airborne Troops, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov, will visit the necropolis of the Novodevichy Convent, where the Marines will pay tribute to the Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Margelov. At the same time, other Airborne delegations will lay wreaths and flowers at the graves of paratroopers in the cemeteries of Troekurov and Kuntsevo.

The holiday ‘Elijah's Day - Day of the Airborne Troops’ will be marked with a traditional procession, a prayer service at Calvary and a performance of the team Airborne will be held on Ilinka Street and on Red Square. In Moscow, in the church of Elijah the Prophet, at the headquarters of the Airborne Troops, a liturgy will be held. In addition, on Red Square  distinguished paratroopers will be awarded and a gala concert dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Airborne Forces will be held.

In addition, on the territory of the Gorky Park Center today exhibitions of weapons, equipment, tools and samples of Airborne landing gear and advanced communications troops will be held. There will be demonstrations of fighting reconnaissance units, master classes with the best masters of martial arts of the Airborne divisions will be conducted.

The commander of the Airborne Troops, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov, said that this year the festival is dedicated to the former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who was the initiator of the celebration of Elijah’s Day in Moscow.

Today the troops fully meet all the criteria of "independent and self-sufficient" kind of troops. There is a saturation of the Airborne forces, which numbers 45,000 people, with modern technology, and the organizational structure has been improved. So by the end of this year six tank companies will be formed in the Airborne Forces, the number of the reconnaissance battalions will be eight units.Three air assault brigades have been returned to the structure of the Airborne Troops. By the end of the year we should get 50 Airborne combat vehicles BMD-4M and 30 armored personnel carriers ‘Shell’. The Airborne Forces plan to deploy the third shelf in the composition of air assault division (DSHD), including the Crimean one as part of the 7th Division, the commander of the Airborne Forces stated.

According to the website of the Ministry of Defense, Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the personnel and veterans of the Russian Airborne Troops on the 85th anniversary on the founding of the Airborne Forces.

"Comrades, I congratulate you on the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Airborne Forces. Over the past decade, thousands of Russian soldiers and officers have chosen to serve in the ‘winged infantry’ , honorably passed tough tests ‘for strength’, enteredviz vizbright, unforgettable pages in the heroic chronicle of the Russian armed forces. And of course, during the year of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day, there is a special word of gratitude to the veterans of the Airborne Forces. Their courage, resilience and strength of spirit will always be an example of true patriotism and loyalty to the military oath and duty," the agency cites the words of congratulations.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also congratulated the personnel and veterans of the Airborne Troops on the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Airborne Forces.

"The authority of the Airborne was established by decades of courage, valor and honor. Many generations of our citizens were brought up on stories about the heroic exploits of the paratroopers. They serve to strengthen our country and the safety of people. The ‘Blue berets’ are strong today with these traditions of statehood, patriotism and devotion to the interests of the Fatherland," a message posted on the website of the Russian government reads

The personnel of the Airborne Forces and veterans on the 85th anniversary of the Airborne Forces and Defense Minister were congratulated by the Russian Army General, Sergei Shoigu.

"For 85 years, the marines honorably fulfilled their duty in the most difficult areas. The dedication and courage showed by them on the Khalkhin-Gol River, on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, were multiplied in the post-war conflicts. During armed opposition, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations, the ‘winged infantry’ has always demonstrated professionalism, mutual support and unparalleled heroism and earned the right to be called the elite of the Armed Forces," the Press and Information service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation quotes the Minister.