The command of the Russian Airborne Forces and the general staff are considering options for increasing the strength of the airborne and air assault divisions by establishing third regiments within them (the divisions are currently made up of two regiments each), Airborne Forces Commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said at a press conference on Thursday.

"There are plans to deploy the 97th Air Assault Regiment within the 7th Air Assault Division stationed in Novorossiysk, Stavropol, and Anapa. At the present time, Dzhankoi [Crimea] is under consideration" as the possible deployment base, he said.

Five reconnaissance battalions have been formed within the Airborne Forces, and "we will form three more reconnaissance battalions by the end of the year," Shamanov said.

"This should improve the reconnaissance potential of the Airborne Forces' units," he said.

The first companies set up within the reconnaissance battalions are special-purpose companies, Shamanov said. "Eighty percent of their personnel are contract servicemen. Their employment envisions the use of Arbalet-2 steerable parachutes, which increases the air assault depth," Shamanov said.