The 100th Guards Reconnaissance Brigade () is a

military formation Military organization ( AE) or military organisation ( BE) is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. Formal military organization tends to use hierarc ...

of the

Russian Federation Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. It is part of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the

Southern Military District The Order of the Red Banner Southern Military District () is a military district of Russia. It is one of the five military districts of the Russian Armed Forces, with its jurisdiction primarily within the North Caucasus region of the country ...

and is garrisoned in Mozdok,

Republic of North Ossetia-Alania A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...

. Its

military unit number A Military Unit Number (Russian: войсковая часть, в/ ч; Ukrainian: військова частина, в/ ч) is a numeric alternate designation for military units in the armed forces and internal troops of post-Soviet ...

is 23511.

History

The unit was formed in 2009 as an experimental reconnaissance unit out of experienced personnel from the

Russian Airborne Forces The Russian Airborne Forces () is the airborne separate combat arm of the Russian Armed Forces. It is a rapid response force and strategic reserve that is under the President of Russia, reporting directly to the Chief of the General Staff, and ...

(VDV) and

Spetsnaz GRU Spetsnaz GRU, formally known as Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, () is the special forces (''spetsnaz'') of the GRU (Russian Federation), GRU, the foreign military intelligence agency of ...

. It is speculated that the organisation was inspired by US armored cavalry type units. In late 2012 the then new Minister of Defense

Sergei Shoigu Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu; , . (born 21 May 1955) is a Russian politician and military officer who has served as secretary of the Security Council since 2024. He served as Minister of Defence of Russia from 2012 to 2024. Shoigu has served a ...

proposed for the unit to disbanded for not fitting with the Russian doctrine. Representatives of the Southern Military District referred to the creation of the unit as being an "overseas curiosity". On 18 December 2023 the brigade was awarded the Guards title with a decree from Russian President

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

"for massive heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage, demonstrated by the personnel of the brigade in combat actions in defense of the Fatherland and state interests in the conditions of armed conflicts."

Structure

The current commander of the brigade is Colonel Sergei Popov. The deputy commander is Colonel Alexander Shabunin. List of subordinate units of the brigade: * Air assault battalion * Reconnaissance battalion * Electronic warfare battalion * Artillery battalion * Anti-aircraft battery * Engineering company * UAV unit * Special Forces unit * Logistics unit

References

{{Brigades of the Russian Ground Forces Military units and formations established in 2009 Reconnaissance brigades of the Russian Federation Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine