Guards (Russian (language): гвардия) or Guards units (Russian (language): гвардейские части) were and are elite military units in Imperial Russia, Soviet Union and Russian Federation. The exact meaning of the term "Guards" varied over the time.

Imperial Russia

In Russia, Guards units ("Leib-Guards", лейб-гвардия) were created by Peter the Great in 1690s. At the beginning of the 20th century it consisted of 13 infantry, 4 rifle and 14 cavalry regiments and some other units. They were abolished in 1918.

Russian Revolution

See Red Guards and White Guard.

Soviet Union

Soviet Guards (Советская Гвардия in Russian, Sovetskaya Gvardiya), units and formations of the Soviet Army, which distinguished themselves in combat during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

The title of the Soviet Guards was first introduced on September 18, 1941 in accordance with the decision of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Ставка Верховного Главнокомандующего, or Stavka Verkhovnogo Glavnokomanduyuschego) and by the order №308 of the People's Commissar of Defense for the distinguished services during the Yelnya Offensive. The 100th, 127th, 153th and 161th Rifle Divisions were renamed into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards Divisions, respectively.

The units and formations nominated for the Soviet Guard title received special Guards banner in accordance with the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. On May 21, 1942, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR introduced Guards ranks and Guards badges to be worn of the right side of the chest. In June of 1943, they introduced the Guards Red Banners for the land forces and in February of 1944 - for the naval forces.

After the WWII a number of Guards troops were stationed over the Eastern Europe, e.g., in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

Russian Federation

The military of Russia has the following Guards units:

• Moscow Military District
  • 20th Guards Combined Arms Army
    • 4th 'Kantemirovskaya' Guards Tank Division, гвардейская танковая Кантемировская дивизия,
    • 2nd 'Tamanskaya' Guards Motor Rifle Division, гвардейская мотострелковая Таманская дивизия
    • 10th 'Uralsko-Lvovskaya' Guards Tank Division, гвардейская танковая Уральско-Львовская дивизия (?)
  • 22nd Combined Arms Army
    • 3rd 'Vislenskaya' Guards Motor Rifle Division, гвардейская мотострелковая Вислянская дивизия
• North Caucasus Military District
  • 58th Combined Arms Army
    • 20th 'Prikarpatsko-Berlinskaya' Guards Motor Rifle Division, гвардейская мотострелковая Прикарпатско-Берлинская дивизия
    • 136th 'Umansko-Berlinskaya' Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, гвардейская мотострелковая Уманско-Берлинская дивизия
• Guards formations of the Airborne Troops (гвардейские соединения воздушно-десантных войск)
• Other units and Russian Navy ships