247th Guards Air Assault Regiment

The regiment was first formed on 19 February 1973 as the 21st Air Assault Brigade in Kutaisi, part of the Transcaucasus Military District. It included personnel from the 337th Guards Airborne Regiment. The brigade was initially composed of the 802nd, 803rd, and 804th Air Assault Battalions. Along with the 11th and 13th Separate Airborne Brigades, the brigade served as a test unit for the Soviet airmobile concept.[3] In 1973, the brigade participated in the exercise "Snowy Pass" (Russian: Снежный перевал). The brigade conducted advanced tactical exercises under the supervision of the Chief of the General Staff in 1974.[4]

In September 1977, the brigade's 1059th Artillery Battalion was disbanded and replaced by an artillery battery and an anti-aircraft battery.[5] Around the same time, the brigade's 1171st Aviation Group became the 325th Transport-Combat and 395th Combat Helicopter Regiments.[3]

The brigade participated in the "West-81" exercises in 1981. It was involved in the exercise "Caucasus-85". Elements of the brigade participated in the cleanup operations after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The brigade participated in exercise "Caucasus-87" in the following year. Its 292nd and 325th Helicopter Regiments were detached in 1988. In 1989, the brigade received a Red Banner from the Transcaucasus Military District Military Council. The brigade air-assaulted Yerevan Airport in July 1989 after it was occupied by armed Armenians. On 12 July, it landed at Leninakan to assist in rescue after the 1988 Armenian earthquake. In 1990, it received the Minister of Defense's Pennant "For Courage and Valor". On 1 June 1990, it was transferred to the Soviet airborne and renamed as the 21st Airborne Brigade.[4][5]

In 1992, the brigade relocated to Stavropol.[6] In 1994, the brigade received the honorific "Stavropol Cossack". From 11 December 1994[7] to November 1996, the brigade fought in the First Chechen War. Colonel Yury Em became brigade commander in 1995.[8] On 1 May 1998, it was renamed the 247th Air Assault Regiment and became part of the 7th Guards Airborne Division.[5] On 12 September, it received the title "Caucasian Cossack",[4] despite not being all composed of Cossacks.[1]

From August 1999, the regiment fought in the War of Dagestan. It fought in the Battle for Donkey's Ear Height. From October 1999 to January 2000, the regiment fought in the Second Chechen War. The regiment fought in the battles for Shelkovskaya, Gudermes, Shali, and Argun. On 25 November 1999, the regiment captured Novogroznensky, reportedly killing more than 50 Chechen militants. Regimental commander Em received the title Hero of the Russian Federation for his leadership.[8]

Soldiers of the regiment during a tactical exercise in Stavropol Krai, 2018

Colonel Alexey Naumets became the regiment's commander on 2 June 2007.[9] In 2008, the regiment invaded Georgia with the rest of the division.[10] It fought in the Battle of Kodori Gorge.[11] The regiment was granted the title 'Guards' on 3 June 2013.[2] The regiment contributed a battalion tactical group to participate in the August 2014 Russian military intervention in the war in Donbas.[12] A group took part in the battle of Ilovaisk, where a column of regiments' fighting vehicles was photographed by regiment's soldier in front of destroyed R-149BMR command vehicle of the Ukrainian 121st Signal Brigade.[13] In March 2015, the regiment opened its museum in Stavropol.[14]

In the context of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, as of December 2021, the regiment was deployed in Crimea.[15] It took part in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and its commander Guard Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky was killed in action in February 2022.[16] The regiment is being investigated in connection with the war crimes committed in Bucha.[17] An ammunition depot and a command post of the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment was destroyed by Ukrainian forces on 22 August 2022 during the 2022 Chornobaivka attacks.[18] On September 9, 2022, Ukrainian sources reported the complete destruction of the unit during the Ukrainian counter-attack in the Kherson region.[19]

A reconstituted regiment took part the Southern Military Districts efforts to hold Staromaiorske during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[20] It was reported the 247th refused to fight due to equipment shortages, Ukrainian victories, and high casualties[21] In September 2023 the regiment was deployed at the Southern theatre around the village of Verbove where its commander was KIA.