Airstrip Fiasco: Mishaps in Market Garden and Antonov Airfield Operations
The Vozdushno-desantnye voyska Rossii (VDV), Russia's elite airborne organisation, made history as the first military organisation to practice parachute operations as a mass military maneuver. However, their mission at Antonov Airport in Ukraine, in early 2022, did not yield the desired results.
The initial VDV assault into Antonov Airport consisted of approximately a company-sized element of three hundred light infantry soldiers. The aim was to create an air bridge for subsequent units to launch a decapitation strike on the Ukrainian government, thereby shortening the war significantly.
The Russians used the speed and surprise of their initial assault to gain a psychological advantage. Yet, Russian planners failed to account for the strong resistance encountered both en route to the airport and after its initial securing. The National Guard of Ukraine's 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade, a combined arms force trained to NATO standards, opposed the VDV assault.
The Ukrainians quickly determined the Russian plan and immediately counterattacked. The paratroop commander, operating approximately sixty miles from the nearest friendly lines, was dropped behind enemy lines with a mission that had strategic and operational objectives.
The Ukrainians were successful in preventing the airport's use as an air bridge into Kyiv. They destroyed the runway and other facilities, making it impossible for follow-on forces to be flown in. The paratroop commander's mission, to seize critical operational and strategic objectives, was thwarted.
The VDV's inability to support a quick strike meant its forces were tied down for weeks until finally being withdrawn in early April. This failure to achieve a swift victory marked a significant setback for the Russian forces in their bid for strategic advantage in Ukraine.
It's worth noting that during Operation Market Garden in 1944, a paratroop commander most likely belonged to the United States, commanding troops from the 101st Airborne Division and cooperating with the 82nd Airborne Division (USA) and the 1st British Airborne Corps (UK). However, there is no clear information linking such a paratroop commander to earlier fights in Ukraine in 2022.
The VDV is unique in military circles as being one of very few, if not the only, large-scale airborne formations with organic armored vehicles. Yet, the events at Antonov Airport serve as a reminder that even the most elite forces can face unexpected challenges and setbacks in the complex landscape of modern warfare.
