Russia flexes surge capability muscles (Analysis)
VDV troops on 'peacekeeping' duty in Kazakhstan, January 2022. (Photo: Russian MoD)
The recent ten-day deployment of ‘peacekeeping’ troops to Kazakhstan reflects recent and ongoing efforts to enhance Russian airborne capabilities — should Ukraine be worried?
The Airborne Forces (VDV) branch of the Russian Armed Forces demonstrated its rapid deployment capabilities in early January, following a request from the government of Kazakhstan for assistance from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) group of ex-Soviet republics.
This was all the more impressive given the simultaneous commitment of 100,000 Russian troops to threaten the Ukrainian frontier and the celebration of the Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appealed for CSTO support on 6 January, four days after anti-government protests erupted in the capital Almaty and other cities.
The first Russian units arrived by the
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