Russian Spetsnaz Forces Thread

I am under the impression the elite are as follows...
1.Alpha
2.Vympel
3.MVD

Do I have them in the proper order?

What about the GRU spetsnaz guys? From everything I've heard about the spetsnaz ( which, admittedly, isn't much ), they are the best of the best, and after the fall of the USSR, all the previous osnaz (Alpha, Vityaz) units adopted their training and traditions.

MVD is the interior forces, they are most certainly not anything elite.
They have many specialized units of course.

GRU Spetsnaz is Army recon Spetsnaz and are what people in the west generally mean when they talk about Russian or Soviet Spetsnaz.

Alpha and Vympel are KGB/FSB and are more counter terrorist forces.

Basically GRU spetsnaz are used for war, while FSB units will be called in for things like the Moscow theatre siege.

MVD is interior ministry troops, MVD spetsnaz are their special purpose troops and would be used against riots in prisons.

You also forget the naval spetsnaz which have quite a reputation too... indeed the Soviet Naval Infantry were considered eilte as are the VDV and the VDV Spetsnaz.

The main problem of course is that Spetsnaz translates to special purpose, so if you put a group of marines on a ship to protect it from pirates then they are special purpose troops and therefore Spetsnaz, though they didn't necessarily get any extra training other than to shoot when ordered at pirate speed boats.

GarryB wrote:GRU Spetsnaz is Army recon Spetsnaz and are what people in the west generally mean when they talk about Russian or Soviet Spetsnaz.

Alpha and Vympel are KGB/FSB and are more counter terrorist forces.

Basically GRU spetsnaz are used for war, while FSB units will be called in for things like the Moscow theatre siege.

MVD is interior ministry troops, MVD spetsnaz are their special purpose troops and would be used against riots in prisons.

You also forget the naval spetsnaz which have quite a reputation too... indeed the Soviet Naval Infantry were considered eilte as are the VDV and the VDV Spetsnaz.

The main problem of course is that Spetsnaz translates to special purpose, so if you put a group of marines on a ship to protect it from pirates then they are special purpose troops and therefore Spetsnaz, though they didn't necessarily get any extra training other than to shoot when ordered at pirate speed boats.

Never forgot about the Naval units. I believe one was called Dolphin. They are very good based on what I have read.

I don't like to call one better than the other in all honesty, although I personally will always have a soft spot for the GRU Spetsnaz due to them being the first thing I researched when my interest in Russia peaked. .

But FSB is the first thing I think of when somebody says Spetsnaz, so I guess they have that going for them.

Mr.Kalishnikov47 wrote:I don't like to call one better than the other in all honesty, although I personally will always have a soft spot for the GRU Spetsnaz due to them being the first thing I researched when my interest in Russia peaked. .

But FSB is the first thing I think of when somebody says Spetsnaz, so I guess they have that going for them.

I always had a soft spot for Vympel, Red Army Scouts(WW2), and the Naval Commandos led by Viktor Leonov during WW2.

What exactly are VDV spetsnaz? Is that the 45th recon regiment?

Spetsnaz basically means special purpose troops, so VDV Spetsnaz perform specialist operations to support the VDV.

I would say Vlad knows rather more about this than any of us since he was one... Vlad?

I think any unified special operations command will not include all spetsnaz.

They are introducing a 4 region structure and each region has a unified command for all forces within its district that controls army, navy, and air force. The Aerospace defence force is not part of its command and I would think MVD and FSB wouldn't be part either, but VDV and naval infantry would be part of the district command.

Having a unified spec ops command doesn't make sense for FSB and MVD.

Russian special forces returned to the operating room

Russian military justified the need for a single body control special forces in 2008, and then began the development of a specific project. However, in October of this year, former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has rejected the draft. The group of senior officers of the General Staff and the Chief Intelligence Directorate (GRU) has decided to achieve a positive decision from the new defense minister - Sergei Shoigu.

I must say that the Russian military intelligence, or rather for the GRU, the last few years were not the most favorable. Despite the fact that, in contrast to, for example, the KGB and Interior Ministry, military intelligence managed to survive the post-perestroika period and the "wild nineties" with minimal structural losses, major military reform has been on it rink. GRU is one of the most effective intelligence services in the world, and its force component - special forces - is at least the respect of all potential opponents. However, in the course of the reform of the Russian armed forces brigade GRU were partially cut and placed under the command of the military districts.

That, in the opinion of most military and special forces themselves, destroyed an effective system of special military operations. But now there is a chance to return to their seats, and can be pre-reform and improve the mechanism of special operations, the chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the chief editor of "National Defense" Igor Korotchenko . In an interview with "Voice of Russia" , he said:

"In my view, should not have been put out of the GRU spetsnaz brigades. My position is that the General Intelligence Department - is an independent value for our country, I was generally against the reforms of the GRU as such. Rather, it was necessary to strengthen, reinforce the authority of strategic intelligence. The fifth was a control - as it was called - which is run by sabotage activities in the territory of the enemy in the event of a full-scale war. And each of the teams responsible for a particular area of ​​operations. But it is important to understand that, of course, geographically remote theater of war - Africa, Asia, South East Asia, if it is to act, we still did not have an adequate structure that could solve these problems. So perhaps now is exactly the time and occasion to really create Command special operations forces. "

Proponents of a unified command special forces say that the creation of such a structure will significantly improve the coordination of interaction between groups of special forces. For example, we know that often in counter-terrorist operations in the Caucasus is used by special forces, guided by different departments - GRU, FSB, MVD. Due to the different visions of the specific situation in the different headquarters military operations do not always bring the desired effect, although highly professional soldiers and officers who directly perform the task.

The above-mentioned U.S. Military Intelligence Agency (Defense Intelligence Agency - DIA) and the CIA, if necessary act in close coordination with the U.S. Special Operations Command (CSR; US Special Operations Command, SOCOM). Creating a unified special operations command failure was the result of a major U.S. intelligence in Iran. In 1980, special units of various arms of the U.S. (Air Force, Navy, Marines) during the complicated joint operation "Eagle Claw" had to release the American hostages detained in the United States Embassy in Tehran. Commando raid ended in complete failure, the loss of eight soldiers, several helicopters, aircraft and secret documents. The investigation of the disaster, American experts have concluded that at that time the main weak point of any importance was the lack of military special operations center that continuously planning the integrated use of various special forces. In spring 1987, the then U.S. President Ronald Reagan approved the establishment of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Since then, the agency manages special units of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. There also includes the famous "Green Berets."

Unified command of the military special forces practiced not only in the United States. The German Bundeswehr after its reorganization in 2001, was formed by the Special Operations Division, DSO (Division Spezialle Operationen). It includes all the mobile units and rapid response, including the battle group KSK special forces. Britain in all conflicts is using the famous SAS - Special Airborne Service (SAS, Special Air Service), created in 1942.

Russia has in modern conditions have to be effective mobile units SWAT sure Igor Korotchenko:

"Generally speaking, the Russian fishing trawler seized container or Somali pirates. This means that the SWAT team to fly to the area in a matter of hours to get there, to the corresponding operation. First, the structure should be ready to perform these functions. Must know theater of operations in the relevant geographic area. Secondly, to be deployed on-site communications, control in real time. So it is a complex organizational and technical problems. "

GRU participated in numerous operations abroad and has the unique experience of their conduct. As is known from open sources on the draft of the General Staff and the GRU special operations command center will include a special "Senezh" SWAT team, a helicopter squadron and the squadron of military transport aircraft Il-76. It is possible that the new structure will separate reconnaissance regiment of the 45th Airborne. However, this project - the first step, according to Russian military experts. In addition, on a broader scale, it then there is the special forces of the Navy, Marine Corps and other elite units of the Russian army. In principle, the formation of national CSR ready, lacking only the signature of the Minister of Defense.

(Google translate)

http://rus.ruvr.ru/2012_12_03/Rossijskij-specnaz-vernut-na-operativnij-prostor/

The Ministry of Defense has begun to establish special forces operations and has already formed a corresponding command , said Wednesday Chief of Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov . According to him, such a decision in the military came to examine the practice of formation , training and employment of special operations forces of the leading countries in the world . In particular, such structures are in Germany, France, Canada and the United States Special Operations Command (US Special Operations Command, USSOCOM or SOCOM) was established in 1987 .

Chief of Staff explained that the increasing role of special operations forces demonstrates the experience of wars and military conflicts of the XXI century . " Powered by a corresponding command , which is engaged in routine work and performs event training plan of the Armed Forces " - quoted Gerasimov RIA "Novosti" . General stressed that he had developed a set of guidelines that determine the direction of development, methods of preparation and use of these forces.

About the upcoming reform of the " Military Review " wrote late last year , noting that the military experts in 2008 substantiated the need for a single point of management Russian special forces . According to the publication , an action plan , submitted by former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov , but he considered it inappropriate initiative .

Once the agency headed by Sergei Shoigu , amid promulgated a few months ago the U.S. plans to significantly increase the number of secret special operations abroad, the Russian defense ministry again talking about urgent formation of Special Operations Command . According to the " Military Review " , a group of officers from the General Staff , together with colleagues from the GRU asked the project for such a force to Shoigu , who supported the initiative .

The most famous Special Operations Command in the world is the U.S. USSOCOM. It represents one of the nine combatant commands comprising the U.S. Armed Forces and special operations forces led by the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps .

Prior to the September 11 attacks in the United States CSR activities mainly provide special operations forces in conflict zones and helped to solve the tasks assigned to the U.S. Embassy and other civil service outside the country. Since 2001, the command was engaged in and the fight against international terrorism. The total number of U.S. troops in CSR is about 58 thousand people. Approximately 85 % of personnel in units stationed abroad are in the Middle East .

There CSR in Germany - Special Operations Division was created on the basis of airborne battalion . Main strike force commanders are three special purpose company and two companies of deep exploration .

Command of the Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOFCOM) was created in 2006. It conducts anti-terrorist operations and consists of Unite Task Force JTF2, the Canadian Special Purpose Regiment (CSOR) and the 427 th Special Operations Squadron .

Special Operations Command France (GCOS) was established in 1992. It manages all units and units of special forces units that perform important tasks outside the country. Later came the task of GCOS and the fight against terrorism .

http://www.newsru.com/russia/06mar2013/minob.html

Russian “Spetsnaz” Forces — from Saboteurs to Court Bailiffs

Aleksey Nikolsky

Origins of the word “Spetsnaz”
The word “Spetsnaz” is an abbreviation of sily spetsialnogo naznachenya, which means “special task forces” in Russian. Used to denote various military and paramilitary units, the term entered wide circulation a few decades after the end of World War II. It has largely replaced another term, sily osobogo naznacheniya (special purpose forces), which dates back to imperial times, and which was used for such disparate forces as heavy artillery and counter-insurgency squads. During World War II, units of saboteurs operated by the NKVD (a forerunner of the KGB and today’s FSB) were part of an independent “special purpose” motor rifle brigade. Its remit was quite similar to that of the present-day MoD and FSB Spetsnaz. There were also “special purpose” radio reconnaissance units. In other words, the word “special” was used to denote either a very narrow specialization of the unit in question, or the special importance of the political or clandestine tasks entrusted to them.

Spetsnaz entered popular Soviet culture in the late 1980s, although the Special Purpose Brigades which the word refers to, were set up back in the 1950s. These brigades were subordinated to the Main Intelligence Department (GRU) of the Soviet Army’s General Staff. The word Spetsnaz was popularized by such mass culture phenomena as the book Aquarium by Vladimir Suvorov (Rezun), a notorious ex-GRU turncoat. Incidentally, another book by Rezun, Spetsnaz, was not very popular in the Soviet Union or Russia. Finally, GRU Spetsnaz units acquitted themselves very well during the Soviet campaign in Afghanistan, thereby adding to the word’s widespread use.

By the time the Soviet Union broke up, Soviet airborne troopers (Desant) and GRU Spetsnaz brigades had acquired a firmly established reputation as elite troops, the best of the best. As a result, various armed units subordinated to Russia’s numerous government agencies began to borrow the word Spetsnaz for their own titles so as to sound more important, even though in many cases these units were just glorified guard and protection squads. The term was also borrowed by some highly trained and well-armed police units, the Russian equivalent of America’s SWAT teams. Among the original GRU Spetsnaz brigades, such proliferation of “Spetsnaz” units in the 1990s caused significant annoyance. Nevertheless, dozens of various armed units in Russia still use the word “special” in their names, and the list of such units we offer below is by no means complete. The various Russian “Spetsnaz” forces have a combined headcount of about 50,000, so they are a large and important player on the market for small and light arms, as well as special tactical hardware.


The Russian Armed Forces

Special Purpose (Spetsnaz) Brigades and units subordinated to Military Districts, Navy Fleets, and the Airborne Troops
At present Russia’s four Military Districts and four Naval Fleets operate seven Spetsnaz brigades, whose main purpose is special reconnaissance. There are also four naval intelligence stations (brigades) operated by the four Fleets. Previously all of them were operationally subordinated to the GRU, but now they take their orders from the Military District commands. The GRU still remains in charge of their training, materiel provision, and operational guidelines. The term “special reconnaissance” covers such areas as military and human reconnaissance/intelligence, sabotage and special operations behind enemy lines. These Spetsnaz forces consist of a total of 20–25 squads (the basic Spetsnaz unit, roughly equivalent in size to a battalion).¹ They also include the 45th Independent Guard Spetsnaz Regiment of the Airborne Troops. The total numerical strength of these forces, including support units, is estimated at 5,000–10,000.

Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the General Staff’s Special Operations Command
The Special Operations Forces (SSO) were set up approximately in 2008–2009 to perform especially important military-political and counterterrorism tasks. At present the SSO service includes a combat division and a training division, both based at the Senezh military compound near Solnechnogorsk. Another combat unit is now being established in Kubinka, outside Moscow. The total numerical strength of the SSO is estimated at 1,000 or more.²

Special Submarine Anti-Sabotage Units (OSNB PDSS)
These units were set up in 1967; there is one unit serving with each of the four Russian Navy fleets. As their name suggests, the special submarine anti-sabotage units defend the Russian Navy from the adversary’s combat swimmers and divers at the naval bases and at sea. Their total headcount is probably below 1,000.

Mobile Spetsnaz companies protecting facilities of the MoD’s 12^th Main Directorate
These forces are subordinated directly to the 12^th Main Directorate of the MoD. They protect the directorate’s facilities, i.e. nuclear weapons depots and assembly facilities from saboteurs. Their total numerical strength is below 1,500.

Anti-saboteur battalions and guard-and-reconnaissance companies of the Strategic Missile Troops
These units protect the Strategic Missile Troops’ facilities from saboteurs. They also provide anti-saboteur protection along the patrol routes of ground-based mobile ICBMs. The units are subordinated to the Strategic Missile Troops Command and their numerical strength is up to 3,000 servicemen.

Counterterrorism units of the Russian Armed Forces
In view of their hard training, high morale, and general excellence, the armed forces’ counterterrorism units probably qualify as Spetsnaz as well. These squads, platoons and companies were set up in the mid-2000s in every brigade, regiment, division and airbase of the Russian armed forces. Their overall numerical strength is thought to be several thousand servicemen. They are subordinated to the counterterrorism department of the General Staff’s Main Operations Directorate. Their main function is to serve as a mobile reserve force that can be brought to bear in the event of an increased threat of a terrorist attack against military units and compounds. They will also take on the terrorists in the event of an actual attack.

Military police Spetsnaz
The MoD military police service, which was set up in 2011, includes special task units. The overall numerical strength of these units is several hundred people; their main role is to take on armed deserters and military servicemen who have committed serious crimes.

Interior Ministry
The Interior Ministry includes the internal affairs branch and the Interior Troops. Both branches have special-purpose or special operations units.


The internal affairs branch


OMON, OMSN, TsSN
Apart from the Interior Troops, special units are also operated by the Interior Ministry’s centrally subordinated divisions and by the regional Special Purpose Centers (TsSN). The TsSN centers are subordinated to the regional Interior Ministry departments and to the ministry’s central office in Moscow. In 2011 the ministry set up the Directorate for Special Units and Interior Ministry Aviation (UPSNiA), which is in charge if the TsSN.³ There are two main types of special units: the first is OMON (mobile special police squads), whose purpose is to deal with rioting and conduct large raids. The structure of OMON units is similar to the structure of ordinary motor rifle units. The second type is OMSN (mobile special-purpose squads), which are often called by the old name SOBR. The OMSN service was created through merger of the former SOBR (armed units which dealt with organized crime in the late 2000s) and OMSN (special-purpose police squads, which were mainly used to apprehend armed and dangerous criminals). The present OMSN service is the closest thing Russia has to America’s SWAT police units.

In most of the Russian provinces the OMON and OMSN units have been merged into Special Purpose Centers (TsSN), but in some parts of the country where the crime situation is especially worrying, there are several OMON or OMSN units in every large city. There are a total of about 120 OMON units in the whole of Russia, with a numerical strength of about 22,000 officers. There are also about 90 OMSN units, with 4,500 officers.

In addition, there are OMON and OMSN units subordinated directly to the Interior Ministry HQ in Moscow (the Zubr and Rys squads, respectively). These units take their orders from the UPSNiA directorate, and are used mainly as a reserve force. UPSNiA also operates the Yastreb squad, a small unit that has several planes and helicopters. Finally, there are Special Air Squads (AOSN) in 20 of the Russian provinces; these units usually have several helicopters, and take their orders from the regional Interior Ministry departments.

Special Purpose Center of the Interior Ministry’s extra-agency guard service
The name is used to denote a fairly ordinary Interior Ministry extra-agency protection division which guards and protects government buildings and sensitive facilities. The numerical strength of this division is at least 500 people.

Road Safety Special Purpose Center (TsSN BDD)
These service guards protect top officials on the road, and apprehend armed criminals trying to flee by car. The service has units in Moscow and the Southern Federal District. Its numerical strength is about 300 people.

State Protection Service Spetsnaz
This Interior Ministry division guards and protects witnesses, judges and police officers from assassination attempts. It has a unit subordinated to the Interior Ministry HQ in Moscow, and several units subordinated to the ministry’s regional departments. Its numerical strength is about 700 people.

Interior Ministry’s Interior Troops
The Interior Troops Spetsnaz was set up in the early 1980s. It has about 20 units stationed in various Russian provinces (mainly in the North Caucasus), and includes the centrally subordinated Vityaz unit. Its numerical strength is up to 10,000 people. The service is subordinated to the Reconnaissance Directorate of the Interior Troops Main Command. Along with the FSB special units, the Interior Troops Spetsnaz currently bears the brunt of the fighting with Salafist insurgents and terrorists in the North Caucasus.


The Federal Security Service (FSB)


The FSB Special Operations Center (FSB TsSN)
This is Russia’s main counterterrorism outfit. The FSB Special Operations Center is situated in Moscow. It consists of the HQ, the A Directorate (the Alfa squad conducts counterterrorism operations at mass gatherings and mass transit facilities), the B Directorate (the Vympel squad conducts counterterrorism operations at strategic facilities), and the S Directorate (special operations to apprehend terrorists and provide support during field operations and investigations). The A Directorate has regional divisions in Khabarovsk, Murmansk, Krasnodar and several other cities. These regional divisions are called Regional Special Operations Departments (ROSN). In addition, there are Operational Support Groups and Operational Support Squads (GSOM and OSOM, respectively) at the FSB regional directorates. The overall numerical strength of the FSB Spetsnaz units is much lower than the figure for the Interior Troops Spetsnaz; it is probably below 2,000 people.⁴

FSB Border Service
The Border Service operates several Mobile Squads and Mobile Units, as well as Special Operations Squads, which protect the most sensitive stretches of the Russian border. The overall numerical strength of these units is probably below 2,000 servicemen.

External Intelligence Service (SVR)
The Russian foreign intelligence service has its own internal security center often referred to as Zaslon (Firewall). Its numerical strength is classified information, but it is unlikely to be more than a few hundred people. It appears that Zaslon’s main mission is to guard and protect Russian diplomatic missions, as well as Russian envoys visiting conflict zones.


Federal Protection Service (FSO)
Special Purpose Directorate of the FSO Presidential Security Service
The directorate includes such squads as the Bastion Spetsnaz and the Arsenal Spetsnaz. Its main remit is to guard sensitive facilities and top officials during trips around Russia and during foreign visits. The service also implements anti-sniper and counterterrorism measures. Its numerical strength is 500 to 1,000 people.⁵

Presidential Regiment of the Moscow Kremlin Superintendant’s Department
The Presidential Regiment’s rapid reaction battalion includes about 300 servicemen; it consists of several companies, and essentially serves as the regiment’s fighting force. Its training program centers on suppressing riots, including such scenarios as using live ammunition against armed rioters trying to seize the Kremlin and other key facilities.


Federal Counter-Narcotics Service (FSKN)
The FSKN has inherited a physical protection directorate from the Federal Tax Police Service, which was abolished in 2003. After being taken over by the FSKN, the directorate added the word “special” to its title. At present, special-purpose services and departments (SSN and OSN) are operated by all regional FSKN departments across Russia. They take their orders from the 5th Operations and Combat Division of the FSKN Department for Special Operations and Protection.⁶ The overall numerical strength of the FSKN Spetsnaz forces is about 3,000. Their main purpose is to provide armed support during operations to apprehend drug dealers and traffickers, as well as to guard senior FSKN officers.


Federal Customs Service (FTS)
The FTS Armed Support Service (SSO) consists of special rapid reaction squads (SOBR), special operations customs offices, and regional customs departments. The remit of the SOBR units includes locating and apprehending smugglers and people suspected of breaking customs regulations; providing armed support for special customs operations; guarding confiscated shipments and, on a paid commercial basis, providing armed guard for such shipments en route to temporary storage depots. The numerical strength of the FTS Spetsnaz is about 1,000 people.


Justice Ministry


Federal Bailiffs Service (FSSP)
The FSSP armed units include Rapid Reaction Groups (GBR) that serve with the Special Operational Duty Departments (SOOD). These departments have been or are now being set up at the regional FSSP divisions. Their purpose includes providing security during high-profile court cases enforcing court rulings and lately, also escorting illegal migrants being deported from Russia in accordance with court warrants. The numerical strength of this force is 1,500 people.

Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN)
Regional departments of this service include special operations squads (OSN), whose remit includes suppressing riots and dealing with hostage situations at prisons locating and apprehending escaped prisoners and guarding FSIN officers during searches and in other situations. The number of the OSN squads (about 90) does not match the number of regional FSIN departments; their overall numerical strength is about 4,000 people.⁷ FSIN Spetsnaz units were actively involved in the campaigns in Chechnya, along with the FSB and Interior Ministry special task forces (whereas the Spetsnaz units operated by other Russian ministries and government agencies were barely involved at all).


Ministry of Industry and Trade
Directorate for Safe and Secure Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons (UBKhUKhO)
The directorate operates several Spetsnaz companies, with a total numerical strength of about 500 people. Their remit includes guarding chemical weapons destruction facilities, which are being used to eliminate the Russian stockpiles of toxic agents in accordance with the country’s international commitments.


1. The numerical strength of the Spetsnaz squads serving with special reconnaissance units has been estimated on the basis of a statement made by the minister of defense, Sergey Shoygu, on August 1, 2013, and the MoD Plan of Action until 2020. (http://mil.ru/mod_activity_plan/constr/lvl/plan.htm), In accordance with that plan, by the end of 2013 some 60 per cent of warrant officers and soldiers should be professionals serving under contract, and the number of these squads is expected to reach 15.
2. Aleksey Nikolsky. The Olympic Reserve: Why Russia Has Created Special Operations Command/ Moscow Defense Brief, #4, 2013.
3. http://mvd.ru/mvd/structure1/Upravlenija/Upravlenie_po_obespecheniju_dejatelnosti.
4. http://www.agentura.ru/dossier/russia/fsb/structure/specnaz/.
5. http://bratishka.ru/archiv/2010/4/2010_4_1.php, author’s own information.
6. http://fskn.gov.ru/pages/main/info/leadership/6000/index.shtml.
7. http://www.spec-naz.org/dossier/MVD_special_forces/perechen_otryadov_specialnogo_naznacheniya_fsin_rf/.

FSB special forces during a recent op:

does anyone know if GRU Army Spetsnaz have a standard beret and what colour is it? thanks

AFAIK GRU Spetsnaz wear exactly the same uniform as the VDV to hide their true purpose/presence.

Hello. Some info from ru.wiki, but only in computer translate

On October, 24th, 1950 the Instruction of the Military Minister of the USSR № ORG/2/395/832 with a signature stamp "Classified" has been signed. It has begun creation of subdivisions and special units (SpN) (deep investigation or special purpose investigation) for actions in the deepest back of the opponent. The autumn of the same year in all military districts had been created 46 separate mouths of SpN on 120 persons everyone. Later connections of SpN (on a brigade on each military district or fleet and a brigade of the central submission) have been created. Groups of scouts should appear in immediate proximity from command points and other strategic objects of armed forces of the opponent. Their missions included: To conduct investigation, and in case of need, infringement of a control of troops, elimination of commanders of army, aircraft and fleet and political leaders of the countries-aggressors to destroy control posts, rocket installations, strategic aviation planes, nuclear submarines, to break communication, power supply, to destroy transport communications, to spread panic and bring chaos in military and the government of the countries-aggressors. Subdivisions and units of SpN GRU have played a huge role in the Afghani War.

At the moment of special division GRU creation intended for operations in near and far back of the opponent, and also antisubversive work in the back. A headquarters, communications, air bases and other especially important targets was the typical purposes for them, to strike which was planned including by means of nuclear mines of low power.

The Afghani war became the most severe test for special troops GRU, but it and has transformed it into one of the most effective similar subdivisions in the world. For conspiracy it was accepted to name them in line of duty separate motorised-rifle batallions. Together with colleagues from VDV and KGB it actually became one of the main striking forces of the Soviet troops, carrying out following purposes:

Investigation in deep back of the opponent;
Failure of supply of Mojaheds by raids on caravans and supply bases;
Capture and liquidation of representatives of command of Mojaheds and foreign instructors;
Capture of samples of the weapon;
Aircraft prompting on especially important purposes.

Weapons 1991-present: AS "Val", АК-74, АКМ, the Automatic pistol of Stechkin, the Self-auto-loading pistol of Serdjukov, Yarygin's Pistol, PSS, VSS "Vintorez", SVD, SV-98, SV-99, ОSV-96, KSVK, PKM, RPO "Shmel", АЕК-919К "Kashtan", PP-19, PP-2000, the Machine gun "CORD", Knife NRS-2, AGS-30, GP-25, GP-30, PTRK "Cornet", hand grenades RGD-5, F-1, RGN, RGO, mine MON-50

Armour: Bullet-proof vests, kevlar and titanic helmets.

Rus:

Present Russian Military Spetsnaz Units

SSO - probably from the 218th and may still be official designation. Reports to the General Staff and is the Delta Force equivalent.

45th Airborne Recon brigade - used to be regiment but another battalion added last year. Claim not to be spetsnaz, but does the same role for the Airborne Forces.

Ground Forces

2nd Spetsnaz brigade - West OSC
16th Spetsnaz brigade - West OSC

10th Spetsnaz brigade - South OSC
22nd Spetsnaz brigade - South OSC
25th Spetsnaz regiment - South OSC (formed for Sochi Olympics, not sure of long term plans)
346th Spetsnaz brigade - South OSC

3rd Spetsnaz brigade - Central OSC
24th Spetsnaz brigade - Central OSC

14th Spetsnaz brigade - East OSC

Naval Forces

420th Spetsnaz - Northern Fleet
561st Spetsnaz - Baltic Fleet
431st Spetsnaz - Black Fleet
42nd Spetsnaz - Pacific Fleet

There are other units that could be considered as Spetsnaz like but don't do the "recon and raid" functions;
- at least 10 Anti-Saboteur Combat Diver units attached to major Naval bases but for defensive purposes.
- SWAT like units attached to all Strategic Rocket divisions and Nuclear Weapon storage units.
- SWAT like units attached to Command structures and new Miltary Police as Reaction forces.

I have wondered why there is no Caspian Flotilla Spetsnaz unit, but have never been able to locate such.
Any corrections, additions and input is appreciated.

Russia’s Chechnya to Host Unique Training Complex for Special Forces

Russia’s republic of Chechnya is set to host a world-class center for training Russian Special Forces; the complex will also be available to the Special Forces of other countries.

In this Sunday Jan. 11, 2015 photo, a Yazidi fighter protects the Sharaf al-Deen temple shrine, one of the holiest for the Yazidis, a religious minority whom the Islamic State group considers heretics ripe for slaughter, in Sinjar, northern Iraq

Chechnya, a republic of Russia, is set to construct a world-class complex the size of a city to host training facilities for all branches of the country’s elite Special Forces, the newspaper Izvestiya reported on Monday.

The complex will be located in the city of Gudermes, 36 kilometers east of the capital Grozny.

According to the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, the facility, which so far has no analog in the country, will be constructed within one year.

“It is going to be a grand-scale center, with facilities for professional training for aerial, underwater, above-water and other types of warfare. We are ready to train Special Forces officers; not only from Chechnya, but from around the whole of Russia, and this is already being negotiated with different government agencies. We have enough experience. The training will be delivered by our instructors, who have profound practice,” the newspaper quotes Kadyrov as saying.

Combat Commonwealth international military exercise in Astrakhan Region
© Sputnik/ Mihail Mokrushin
Massive Air Defense Exercises Begin in Siberia, Baltic Sea
The unique tactical city will have high-rises, schools, hospitals, kindergartens and a theater, which all will be meant for drills on freeing hostages and destroying terrorists.

Parachute, mountain, forest, water and other kinds of training will also be in focus. The construction of an aerodynamic tunnel is under way to practice operations in different physical conditions.

The facility will be built with private investments, without any financial support from the state or from the republic’s budget.

The ground will be also available for other countries: mostly Arabic, Latin American and CIS nations. Negotiations are already underway with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The facility is planned to be used for sports competitions, mostly shooting and parachute championships.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150216/1018321562.html#ixzz3RuY5cTU7

Russian Commandos Use Tiger Combat Vehicles in Drill

Commandos of Russia’s Central Army District in Novosibirsk effectively destroyed their imaginary enemy in a drill using advanced Tiger armored vehicles often referred to as “the Russian Humvee”.

Russian Paratroopers to Get First Advanced Armored Vehicles in 2015
Ahead of the exercise all drivers of the CMD’s Special Forces Command underwent 60-day special driving courses in Kolomna.

"Novosibirsk commandos on Tiger-M light armored vehicles destroyed an imaginary illegal armed unit as part of a tactical drill in Novosibirsk region,” CMD said in a statement Tuesday.

During the war game the Tiger crews were to find and destroy the “enemy” with 7.22mm Pecheneg machineguns, 12.7mm Kord machineguns and the Plamya automatic grenade launcher.

The GAZ-2330 "Tiger" is a Russian high-mobility multipurpose military vehicle, manufactured by GAZ Auto Works in Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150310/1019314766.html#ixzz3U5q9gieR

just saw the next video.. about Russian/chechen army ...in competition in Jordan..
Representing Russia..



In wondering if this muslins chechens part of the Russian army trains
in the same way of all armed forces of Russian Federation.. if they follow orders of
Russia Defense minister.. and if their training is exactly the same of any other ethnic Russian
,lets say from moscow in the Russian army?

Vann7 wrote:just saw the next video.. about Russian/chechen army ...in competition in Jordan..
Representing Russia..

In wondering if this muslins chechens part of the Russian army trains

in the same way of all armed forces of Russian Federation.. if they follow orders of
Russia Defense minister.. and if their training is exactly the same of any other ethnic Russian
,lets say from moscow in the Russian army?

This is Chechen Republics internal Spetsnaz , not military.

All citizens of RF serve military and (almost) all ethnic groups are represented in officers cadre , from low to high rank , for instance Dagestani Muslim officer is appointed to command newly formed Black sea fleet sub squadron.

SCO special forces work out landing of assault teams during exercises
https://defencerussia.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/sco-special-forces-work-out-landing-of-assault-teams-during-exercises/

Various photos of VDV special forces training in the Arctic:











































Lots more here:

http://www.arms-expo.ru/photo/fotoreportazh/arkticheskiy-desant-otrabotal-ryad-takticheskikh-meropriyatiy/

http://www.arms-expo.ru/photo/fotoreportazh/desantniki-sovershayut-marsh-na-lyzhakh-v-slozhnykh-meteousloviyakh-v-arktike/

http://www.arms-expo.ru/photo/fotoreportazh/vpervye-v-usloviyakh-severnogo-polyusa-podrazdelenie-vdv-sovershaet-mnogokilometrovyy-marsh-na-sobach/

http://www.arms-expo.ru/photo/fotoreportazh/desantniki-osvaivayut-prokhozhdenie-torosov-v-arktike/

http://www.arms-expo.ru/photo/fotoreportazh/desantniki-zavershayut-provedenie-uchebnoy-gumanitarnoy-poiskovo-spasatelnoy-ekspeditsii-v-okolopolyu/

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1608909302685153.1073741879.1492252324350852&type=1