76th Guards Air Assault Division
The 76th Guards Chernogov Red Banner Air Assault Division is a division of the Russian Airborne Troops based in Pskov. The division traces its lineage back to the 76th Guards Rifle Division, formed in March 1943 from the 157th Rifle Division for that division's actions during the Battle of Stalingrad. The division fought in the Battle of Kursk, the Battle of the Dnieper, Operation Bagration, the East Pomeranian Offensive, and the Berlin Offensive. Postwar, it was converted into an airborne division.
| 76th Guards Air Assault Division 2006–present 76th Guards Airborne Division 76th Guards Rifle Division 157th Rifle Division 1 Sep 1939 – 1 Mar 1943 | |
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| Russian: 76-я гвардейская десантно-штурмовая Черниговская Краснознаменная, ордена Суворова дивизия | |
Great emblem of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division | |
| Active | 1 September 1939 – present |
| Country | Soviet Union (1939–1991) Russia (1991–present) |
| Branch | Russian Airborne Forces |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role | Light Infantry Airborne Infantry Airmobile infantry |
| Part of | Russian Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Pskov |
| Nickname(s) | Псковские десантники ("Pskov Paratroopers") |
| Motto(s) | Мы всюду там, где ждут победу! ("We are there, when victory is awaited!") |
| Anniversaries | 1 September 2 August (day of the VDV) |
| Engagements | World War II
1990 Black January in Azerbaijan Russo-Georgian War Russo–Ukrainian War
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| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov |
| Battle honours | Guards Chernigov |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Guards Colonel Denis Shishov |
| Notable commanders | Gen. Vasily Margelov |
The division moved to Pskov, its current base, in 1947. The division was involved in Black January and the January Events in Lithuania. After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, the division became part of the Russian Airborne Troops. The division fought in the First Chechen War, Second Chechen War, the Russo-Georgian War, and Donbas then 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including committing mass murder of civilians in Bucha. The division became an air assault division in 2006.