Russia is stuffing an elite paratrooper force with poorly trained troops that are eroding its power, UK intel says

• Russia is sending a new division of its VDV paratrooper force into Ukraine, the UK MOD said.
• But the division is "likely be poorly trained," it said.
• It said the division is unlikely to meet the elite standard the VDV once had.

Russia's once-elite paratrooper force is being padded out with low-quality soldiers that are eroding its elite status, according to UK intelligence.

The UK Ministry of Defence gave an intelligence update on Thursday on the VDV — Russia's once-revered paratrooper force.