106th Guards Airborne Division
A command-post exercise (CPX) of the 106th Airborne Division, with parachute jumping and live fire, was held in the Ryazan region from 21 to 25 March 2005. The goal of the CPX was to train in parachuting and waging hostilities behind the enemy lines, ensuring the division's mobility and fulfilling tasks in unknown terrain, as well as interacting with the Air Force.
Military transport planes and assault aviation of the Air Force took part in the CPX. Field firing was held at the Dubrovichi range of the Airborne Troops on March 25. This large number of tasks to be fulfilled during the CPX was designed to ensure the fulfillment of immediate development and training tasks of the Airborne Troops.
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov reported to President Putin about the beginning of a large exercise of the Airborne Troops and the Air Force in the Central Federal District. The exercise "involved the 106th Airborne Division and fighter, assault, bombing and military transport aircraft," Ivanov said at a conference of the president with cabinet members. According to the minister, about 3,000 servicemen and 300 hardware will take part in the exercise.
Regiments of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, in conjunction with the 77th Special Marine Brigade and the 45th Special Task Airborne Regiment, formed the “Mountain-Group” of Russian forces that fought Chechen rebels in 2003-2004.
It was announced in July 2007 that the former Chief of Airborne Troops at Training Center Number 242, Major-General Yevgeniy Ustimov, would became the commander of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.
