Vladimir Putin sending elite airborne troops in bid to stop Ukrainian breakthrough in east, says UKRussian generals are thought to be deploying airborne forces to stop a breakthrough by Ukrainian forces on the frontline between Kremina and Svatoveladimir Putin is sending some of his elite airborne troops to shore up his army’s defences against a Ukrainian counter-offensive in the eastern Donbas region, British defence chiefs believe.Russian generals are thought to be deploying VDV airborne forces to stop a breakthrough by Ukrainian forces on the frontline between Kremina and Svatove.But these elite units are reported to have been “severely weakened” by losses so far during Mr Putin’s war which started nine months ago.In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “In the last two weeks, Russia has likely redeployed major elements of the VDV (airborne forces) to the Donetsk and Luhansk fronts in the Donbas.Russia’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, responded by complaining that it was against council rules for Mr Zelensky to appear via video, and rejected what he called “reckless threats and ultimatums” by Ukraine and its supporters in the West."