The structure of glasses in the Li2O–B2O3–V2O5and ZnO–B2O3–V2O5systems of a high modifier content ([Li2O, ZnO]/[B2O3] ratio > 1) and 10 to 50 mol % V2O5are investigated by V-KEXAFS and Raman spectroscopy. In the glasses investigated, VO4tetrahedra are the predominant coordination polyhedra for the vanadium ions. The symmetry of the tetrahedra is more or less distorted in comparison with crystalline substances. The VO4tetrahedra can be either directly connected to each other or incorporated into the borate groupings of the BO3and BO4units. An increase in the vanadium content in the glasses reduces the interconnection of structural units and, therefore, the glass transition and crystallization temperatures.