Why Russia’s Elite Airborne Forces are Sometimes Called ‘Uncle Vasya’s Troops’

Friday is the professional holiday of the Airborne Forces (VDV) – the elite Russian paratroops tasked with dropping in behind enemy lines and using the elements of surprise and heavy firepower to capture strategic strongpoints. In Russia and the former Soviet Union, VDV troopers are sometimes referred to as 'Uncle Vasya's Troops'.