What happened that was talked about for a long time. Almost from the beginning of the ATO in Ukraine. Ukrainian paratroopers abandoned blue berets. Now they are using maroon colors. I'm not afraid of this comparison, Ukrainian paratroopers now use the colors of the sunset … The colors of the end of the day. Instead of the color of the height. Instead of the color of elevation above the ground … What is this?
Once upon a time, in an era of serious confrontation with the United States and NATO, General Margelov decided to use the color of the sky to denote a new kind of troops. Not the color of the venous blood, but the sky. This decision was met with hostility by many military leaders of the time. And for exactly the same reasons that the Ukrainian authorities cite as an argument today. "Everyone's different."
Yes, there is no airborne forces in Ukraine today. There are highly mobile landing troops. Yes, after last year's decision to separate airmobile troops and special operations forces, which were given the blue color of berets, all this can be argued to the point of hoarseness. Yes, "sky-colored paratroopers" remained only in those countries that were previously Soviet republics. The message of the command of the Highly Mobile Airborne Forces says: "Only seven countries of the world use blue for their airborne units. This is Russia and the countries that until recently were dependent on it: Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine."
Ukraine renounces the imperial past, the Soviet past. Ukraine is "ceevropa". "59 countries of the world (where the airborne units are not at the same time special operations forces) use a maroon beret. In particular, these are 19 NATO countries. In some countries, airborne units acting as special forces use green berets."
But most of all "kills" the main argument of the Ukrainians. "The burgundy color of the beret was not chosen by chance. It was the headgear of this color that was used by the British Airborne Infantry, which was the first in the world to form the first full-fledged combat independent airborne division."
How is it necessary to hate one's own people, one's own very recent history, so that at the official level, openly renounce hundreds of thousands of courageous Ukrainian soldiers who participated in the USSR Airborne Forces in military conflicts that did not shame their people in Afghanistan? To "lie" under the Anglo-Saxons …
It is no secret that the airborne troops have always been and remain the first. Whatever happens, the soldiers in blue berets and vests will cover. They will give the opportunity to pull up the main forces. They will do the impossible. So it was and so it is today.
Hundreds of thousands of veterans of the Airborne Forces in Ukraine today are humiliated and insulted. Hundreds of thousands of veterans of the Airborne Forces who, due to circumstances, ended up in different countries, too. The airborne brotherhood is born in flames. Someone's in real combat. Someone in situations of "peaceful nature". Someone in operations, like the one that our paratroopers conducted in the former Yugoslavia.
They often write to me that in Ukraine they practically do not parachute. No aviation, no skill. It seems that they are not paratroopers. And tell me, can anyone name such a landing in Afghanistan? In Chechnya? In other places where our paratroopers are involved?
The method of disembarkation is not important. Not even equipment and weapons. It is important to realize that you are a paratrooper and the traditional "Nobody but us". Inside! Under the skin! Under the vest! Not superficial, but ingrained for life. And blue takes not just a form. This is also from there. From within the soul.
I understand that Ukraine is trying to "find itself" in this world. Ukraine is trying by all means to prove to others that it is not Russia. So far, the Ukrainians are proving this only to themselves. It is clear that all these "new views" on history in general and the history of the Great Patriotic War in particular, also follow from this task.
They abandoned the great Victory over fascism. Today, "by the ears" there are some "facts" of the participation of the Ukrainian army, an army separate from the Red Army, in the defeat of the Nazis. The rejection of blue berets is from the same series. Tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, a "campaign to explain" the continuity of burgundy from blue will begin. A bunch of "historians" and politicians will say that the Airborne Forces, in fact, "always wanted to be" like the entire civilized world, "burgundy. And the" bloody communist regime "forced the paratroopers to wear blue vests and berets."
On the other hand, "the burgundy color will also symbolize the color of blood shed in the battles for state sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of Ukraine." Considering that the paratroopers of Ukraine are still doing this in Donbass, then … Let these very freedom fighters be burgundy. So as not to dishonor the real paratroopers. Fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers …
"Out of respect for the victories of the Ukrainian paratroopers, during the current Russian-Ukrainian war, they are encouraged to use a beret as the only everyday and ceremonial headdress. From a soldier to an army general. Not a cap, but the color of blood shed in battles for state sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of Ukraine ".
But this is especially cynical for Ukraine, where the war of religions and the spread of all sorts of sects have been going on for a long time: "… changes will also affect the beret marks of the paratroopers. Now they will depict the canopy of the parachute, as a symbol of airborne units around the world, the wings of Archangel Michael and the fiery the sword with which he burns the filth with sacred fire."
I deeply respect the Ukrainian veterans of the Airborne Forces. Guys, you were and remain our brothers. We remember everything and do not forget. Even though a lot of both you and us want to deprive us of this memory. We do not forget your courage in Afghanistan. We do not forget your courage when landing in difficult conditions. And we will always consider you brothers. Not "burgundy", but you! But don't forget!
In its quest to change, Ukraine is becoming more and more annoying. Not Ukrainians, but Ukraine. "Breaking through the knee" memory … Give up your own heroes …
When Kiev began to destroy its own economy to please "the masters from behind a puddle," we understood. We need to screw up Russia. When Kiev began to mix the history of the war with manure and to call traitors, fascists, executioners heroes, we also understood. It is necessary to bring at least some kind of "basis" under the collapse of the country. When Kiev "started a war with Russia," we also understood. The destruction of the economy and the deterioration of the life of the people must be justified by something.
But when they began to abandon the living citizens of the country, we ceased to understand. Yes, today the Soviet paratroopers are over 50. But they are alive! They can do something else. And you are their soul, "insides" in the mud … Then where?
