45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade

In 1993, during the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, the battalion performed tasks for the protection and defense from looting and destruction of important military and Government facilities in the territory of Abkhazia. During this period, eight members of the battalion were killed, before the end of performing their military duty, and about 20 men were wounded. For combat missions thirteen men were awarded order "for personal courage", twenty one men-the Medal "for courage" and one man the Medal "for merit".

In October 1993, the battalion was relocated from the city of Sukhumi to the Moscow region, where in February the following year it was transformed into the 901st Special Purpose Battalion. With the beginning of the formation of the Special Purpose Regiment, the battalion was included in its composition.

The 218th Battalion of Special Forces Airborne Troops was formed July 25, 1992.[5] By order of the Commander of the Airborne Troops in the historical continuity this day is considered to be the day of formation of this battalion. The battalion was involved as a peacekeeping force in the zones of inter-ethnic conflict in the Transdniester region in June and July 1992, in North Ossetia in September–November, 1992 and in Abkhazia in December 1992. Many battalion members were awarded State Awards for bravery and heroism.

Active use of this battalion in solving special tasks in various conflicts showed the need to build other special forces with similar tasks in the airborne troops and their integration in the regiment. By July 1994, the regiment was fully formed, staffed with personnel, equipment and proceeded to battle school. December 2, 1994, the regiment traveled to the Northern Caucasus to take part in the operations against rebel forces on the territory of the Chechen Republic. During the period from December 12, 1994, to January 25, 1995, reconnaissance groups and groups of special units of the regiment, in conjunction with the parts of the Airborne Troops, took part in the fighting on the most important targets of the enemy, including partaking in the Battle of Grozny (1994–95). On February 12, 1995, parts and units of the regiment returned to their permanent home base in Sukhumi.

Anatoly Lebed was a famous paratrooper and commanding officer of the regiment.

By March 15, 1995, the consolidated unit the regiment newly arrived in Chechnya, continuing to carry out combat missions until June 13, 1995. By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated July 21, 1995, Commander of the intelligence group special purpose Senior Lieutenant Ermakova, for the courage and heroism shown during the special task command to disarm Chechen rebels, was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumous). On July 30, 1995, the unit solemnly opened the monument in memory of the Scouts. On May 9, 1995, the regiment was awarded the diploma of the President of the Russian Federation for services to the Russian Federation. The regiment participated in the parade dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany.

From February to May 1997, the consolidated unit the regiment took part in the peacekeeping mission in the zone of separation of Georgian and Abkhaz armed forces in the town of Gudauta. On July 26, 1997, the regiment was given the battle flag and charter of the 5th Guards Mukachevo Order of Kutuzov 2nd class Airborne Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Guards Airborne Division, which had been disbanded on June 27, 1945, in order to provide historical continuity from the airborne units of World War II.[11]

From September 12, the Regiment took part in special reconnaissance and anti-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus.

Masked troops, allegedly of the Russian 45th Regiment, were operating in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Vitaliy Yarema told reporters on 15 April 2014, in Poltava region:

"We have identified those persons who are now in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. They represent a unit of the 45th Regiment "Kupyanka −1", which is housed near Moscow. This unit is now operating in the territory of Ukraine."

This followed an analysis published the preceding month by the Finnish magazine Suomen Sotilas (Soldier of Finland) that identified a range of weapons and equipment seen on photos taken during the intervention as Russian issue only, and that the foreign troops with a very high probability "are the 45th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Regiment of the VDV" based in Kubinka, Moscow. Russia denied the presence of its troops in the east of Ukraine, as it had previously denied their involvement in the occupation of Crimea.[12]

In January 2022, elements of the brigade were reportedly deployed to Belarus during the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[13] On 24 February 2022. elements of the 45th assaulted Hostomel airport (Antonov),[14] but advanced no further toward Kyiv.[15] It withdrew from Hostomel airport to Belarus or Russia before 2 April 2022.[15]

In June 2023 the brigade was one of the units manning fortifications south of Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. They were present during the defence of initial Ukrainian probing attacks.[16]