1st Separate Airborne Brigade

1st Separate Airborne Brigade
1-я отдельная воздушно-десантная бригада
Paratroopers of the 1st Separate Airborne Brigade boarding an Ilyushin Il-76 transport in Bosnia
Active	1996–2003
Country	Russia
Branch	Russian Airborne Forces
Type	Airborne
Role	Peacekeeping
Size	1,300–1,500 (1996) 900 (2001) 350 (2003)
Part of	Implementation Force (IFOR) Stabilization Force (SFOR)
Garrison/HQ	Ugljevik, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Engagements	Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, and Joint Forge
Commanders
Notable commanders	Alexander Lentsov Nikolai Ignatov

The 1st Separate Airborne Brigade (Russian: 1-я отдельная воздушно-десантная бригада, 1ОВДБр), also referred to in English as the 1st Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1 RSAB), was a Russian Airborne Forces unit that existed from 1996 to 2003 and was Russia's contribution to the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Implementation Force (IFOR), later renamed the Stabilization Force (SFOR).

The brigade was put together in the fall of 1995 from elements of the 76th and 98th Guards Airborne Divisions, and it arrived at the Tuzla Air Base in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January 1996, just after being officially activated. Its efforts were directed at separating the warring factions from each other, clearing mines, and creating safe conditions for the civilian population and international humanitarian organizations. The Russian brigade was the largest force from any non-NATO country involved in the peacekeeping mission.

The participation of the brigade in the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first time Russian troops took part in a NATO-led operation. They operated under a unique system of command, being led on the ground by the U.S. 1st Armored Division commander, as they were in the American area of responsibility, and were under the operational direction of the NATO supreme commander in Europe through his deputy for Russian forces, a Russian general. This way the brigade was subordinated to the NATO supreme commander while still being under Russian national authority.

The mission was considered to be a success by both sides, with the Russian brigade having contributed to the achievement of its military objectives, and according to U.S. General George Joulwan the development of the Russian–NATO relationship in that process created the basis for the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act in May 1997. The only serious disruption to the command structure occurred during the Kosovo War in 1999, but relations between NATO and the Russian military were restored after that, and elements of the 1st Airborne Brigade remained in Bosnia until 2003, though it was significantly downsized starting after 1999.