Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces
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7 May 1992 (current form)
| Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces | |
|---|---|
| Командующий воздушно-десантными войсками России | |
 Flag of the Commander of the Russian Airborne | |
| Russian Airborne Forces Airborne Forces Command | |
| Member of | General Staff of the Armed Forces |
| Reports to | Chief of the General Staff |
| Appointer | President of Russia |
| Formation | 4 September 1941 (historical) 7 May 1992 (current form) |
The Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces (Russian: Командующий воздушно-десантными войсками России) is a general officer position that is tasked with leading the Russian Airborne Forces. The office is part of the Airborne Forces Command and reports to the Chief of the General Staff.
On 4 September 1941 the Directorate of the Commander of the Airborne Forces (VDV) of the Red Army was established. All of the Soviet airborne corps were transferred from the front commanders of the Red Army to be subordinated to the new organization, led by the Commander of the Airborne Forces. In October 1944 it was transferred from the Red Army to the Soviet Air Forces.[1][2] In 1946 the VDV was placed under the direct command of the Ministry of Defense, then became part of the Soviet Ground Forces in 1956, before once again being made a separate combat arm in 1964.[3]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the modern Russian Airborne Forces were officially established on 7 May 1992 by presidential decree No. 466.[4]
In 1998 the Directorate of the Commander of the Airborne Forces was reorganized into the Airborne Forces Command.[2]
