Recently, British Army intelligence revealed that Russia's elite 104th Guards Airborne Division has been deployed for the first time in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Intelligence reports indicate that the division is currently massing in the Kherson region region. It is reported that the deployment, which marks a significant expansion of Russia's military capabilities in the region, was completed by the announcement of the reactivation of the 104th Guards Airborne Division (104GAD), announced by the commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, earlier in August 2023. This reboot process rebuilt the 104th Air Assault Division and included the 31st Guards Airborne Brigade. In addition, the 119th Airborne Regiment and the 299th Airborne Regiment were merged into the existing 106th Airborne Division and the 98th Airborne Division, forming a Russian Airborne Forces consisting of five divisions. 
Despite the fact that the addition of the division expands the operational range and capabilities of the Russian Airborne Forces, concerns have been raised about the level of training and readiness of this new division. According to sources, the 104th Reserve Force may not meet the high standards in the history of the Airborne Forces, which raises questions about its combat effectiveness. Given its strategic importance and the latest formation of the division, Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky is likely to keep a close eye on the performance of the 104th GAD in Kherson. The deployment of the division is expected to have a significant impact on the current military dynamics in the region. 
As a vital and dynamic component of the Russian army, the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) are known for their agility and elite training, and are an independent branch of the armed forces of the Russian Federation alongside the army, navy and air force, carrying out airborne operations, directly under the command of the commander of the Airborne Forces, composed of several airborne divisions and brigades, and is an important strategic component of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, its predecessor was the Soviet Airborne Army, which had an astonishing size of up to 100,000 soldiers in the Cold War era. Today, the VDV strength is estimated at 35,000 to 45,000 soldiers, but this number is subject to change due to a variety of factors, including military reform and recruitment strategies. 
The Airborne Forces consist of several different units and are capable of handling various military operations. Among them, the airborne division is its main combat force, equipped with specialized airborne infantry vehicles and artillery, allowing it to perform a wide range of operations, including airborne attacks in depth and rapid deployment missions. In addition, the Airborne Forces include special brigades, similar to special forces, which focus on key tasks such as reconnaissance and direct operations. They excel at fighting behind enemy lines and demonstrate a diverse range of skills. 
In general, the deployment of the Russian 104th Guards Airborne Division will have a significant impact on the military dynamics in the Kherson region. While there are concerns about the level of training and readiness of the division, the elite training and agility of the Russian Airborne Forces are still expected.