Tests

The name of the special forces. List of special units

Over the decades that have passed since the creation of the first special forces, the fight against terrorism has turned from a vocation into a real science. However, each state has its own approach to the destruction of bandits who terrorize the civilian population in various ways. And our own, specially trained people, who can be compared with each other only in terms of efficiency and results of work. 5th place. FBI HRT/SWAT. USA The special forces unit of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of the most inconspicuous in the media space. Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) fighters rarely appear on TV screens and news releases from the United States, but these people do the hardest work in the fight against terrorism and especially dangerous criminals in America. Such special forces are available at each of the 56 FBI departments, which allows you to almost instantly respond to any threats. Contrary to popular belief, HRT does not replace SWAT police special forces. In case of urgent need, SWAT and HRT act together, under a single command. The HRT fighters are somewhat similar to the fighters of the Russian Alfa or Vympel - getting into the American unit is considered a great honor, and only two candidates out of ten succeed in being selected. To enroll in HRT, you must have near-ideal health, fast and accurate shooting skills, and pass a mental health assessment specialist. In addition to traditional small arms, HRT is armed with helicopters and even combat boats. The "broad profile" of the work of HRT specialists - from detaining criminals to working in the coastal zone - is provided by their own squads of divers and demining center employees, so the FBI special forces can operate autonomously and independently in almost any situation. HRT inside the US law enforcement agencies is considered one of the most well-equipped: since its founding in 1983, the FBI special forces management has been drawing up a separate budget, which includes not only the purchase of modern types of weapons and protection, but also armored vehicles with mine protection. Like many foreign special forces, the HRT was created in the image and likeness of the British special forces SAS, and retired British military men were engaged in training the first groups of the American special forces. However, despite the good equipment and funding, HRT is mainly engaged in preparing for the likely combat work: almost every day, the unit's specialists spend at the shooting range. The “hunt” for the brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who are suspected of organizing a terrorist attack in Boston, brought wide fame to the HRT fighters. Federal Service protection, since the competence of HRT employees also includes the protection of the first persons of the state at official receptions. SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) - US police special forces work almost on an equal footing with HRT. Despite some differences in structure and jurisdiction, US police special forces have the most modern weapons and equipment and are almost always the first to start working in critical situations. Snipers deserve special mention in SWAT. Many of the shooters are not only experienced police officers, but also professional shooters who win prizes in federal and international competitions.
4th place. BRI/RAID/GIGN. France As in many European states, the starting point for the creation of special anti-terror groups in France was a terrorist attack during Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. Almost immediately after the failure of the German special forces and the death of Israeli athletes at the hands of the Black September terrorists, several regional special forces were formed, united in 1976 into a single combat unit GIGN - the Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie. In the same year, there was baptism of fire unique by European standards of the special forces: GIGN specialists freed hostages from a bus seized by militants in Djibouti. From 1980 to the mid-1990s, GIGN fighters participated in a series of special operations. The release of a hijacked Air France plane in Marseille in 1994 is recognized by experts in the field of law enforcement agencies as one of the most difficult and successfully carried out by experts in the field of law enforcement agencies. However, the results of the assault caused controversy in the expert community for a long time. And although the Algerian terrorists, who seized the liner while still in the country of departure, were eliminated, during the assault, 25 passengers of the flight were injured of varying severity.
Currently, GIGN has almost 400 fighters and generalists - from snipers to explosives experts. Together with other French special forces BRI and RAID, GIGN fighters have participated in the elimination of terrorists over the past two years - since November 2015. The soldiers of the GIGN special forces were subjected to the strongest criticism only once - during the liquidation of terrorists in a kosher food store in Paris during the assault, in addition to the terrorists, three hostages were also killed, but experts still disagree on whose fault the civilians died - as a result unprofessional actions of special forces or at the hands of terrorists. Separate mention is also worthy of the BRI special forces, a unique combat group that conducts both investigations and active actions on capture/elimination especially dangerous criminals. The competence of the BRI includes not only operational-search activities, but also external surveillance, assaults and much more. A separate program in the training of employees, according to BRI commander Christophe Molmi, are negotiations with bandits. According to experts, BRI fighters were among the first to arrive at the site of a hostage-taking at a kosher food store in Paris in January 2015. The French RAID special forces are also involved in particularly difficult tasks. RAID employees deservedly enjoy respect not only among colleagues in France, but also in other countries, since the fighters of the unit regularly undergo high-altitude, mountain, parachute, special cynological and other types of training and courses. RAID has traditionally strong experience exchange programs. Including with the Russian security forces. One of those who meet with the RAID staff are specialists from the Central Security Service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow.
3rd place. BOPE. Brazil Exotic, and almost unknown to anyone, the BOPE special forces from Brazil are engaged in perhaps the most dangerous and hard work. The unit's officers are engaged in the fight against organized crime and make regular raids to clear the favelas from drug dealers and arms dealers. BOPE (port. Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais), or the Special Police Operations Battalion, are five companies of the most experienced officers and specialists in almost all types of organized crime groups. The geography and social situation in Rio de Janeiro leaves a certain imprint on the actions of the Brazilian police special forces, created in the image and likeness of the American SWAT, adjusted for the local mentality. Operating primarily in the narrow streets of Rio's poorer districts, BOPE special forces do not stick to one single pattern of operation. The mentality, as well as the propensity of the inhabitants of the favelas to drug trafficking and other illegal activities, leave their mark on the methods of delivering special forces to their place of work. In addition to armored vehicles with mine protection and armor for the fifth class of protection, helicopters are also at the disposal of BOPE fighters.
The minimum set of tests for admission to BOPE is as follows: fire training, high-altitude / mountain training, parachuting, hand-to-hand and knife fighting skills in cramped conditions. On average, according to experts, up to 90% of volunteers are eliminated at the selection stage. Since 2009, BOPE has been the sole division special purpose, in which women can enter the service. Provided that the candidate has the minimum experience for such work and passes all the checks. The main difficulty in entering the service in BOPE is the conditions in which Brazilian specialists have to work. The slums of Rio are mountains, a city, and a jungle practically in one bottle. There are practically no analogues to the special unit from Brazil, which is in charge of not only the fight against drugs and the release of hostages - the only special unit similar in terms of specific tasks has been formed in neighboring Colombia.
2nd place. GSG-9. Germany After the Bavarian police failed the assault on terrorists and the release of the hostages in Munich, the German Ministry of Internal Affairs felt the need to create a special unit, unique even by world standards, whose main task would be to fight terrorism. It took the German Ministry of the Interior less than a year to do everything - already in 1973, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the then head of the German Ministry of Internal Affairs, reported to the leadership on the formation of the GSG-9 combat group (German: Grenzschutzgruppe) - the Border Guard Group. As in the case with other special forces, getting into the GSG-9 from the very moment of its foundation is extremely difficult. There were always more people wishing to get into the service of the Grenzschutzgruppe than there were vacancies. This is the reason for some bias in the consideration of potential candidates. Preference is given to those who served in the ranks border service or the Navy: it is believed that it is the "natives" of the army special forces who have the most developed skills, perform their tasks faster and more efficiently than the others. The personnel of the GSG-9 are experienced, but young officers. Most of those who serve in the GSG-9 are under 30. Differences from foreign divisions German specialists on anti-terror is also enough. Combat groups have a pronounced "specialization": there is a special "sea" detachment in the GSG-9, which is in charge of combat work with river and sea vessels different displacement - a kind of analogue of Russian combat swimmers. Also in the unit there are extra-class paratroopers, explosives and a special "fire team", whose main specialization is the use of special weapons in the city.
The GSG-9 is considered a unique special forces unit for a number of reasons. The first reason is practically complete absence foreign weapons and auxiliary equipment. Almost all the "tools" for the work of the German special forces are provided by domestic and "friendly" companies - Heckler Koch, Steyr Mannlicher, Sieg Sauer and others. The main feature in this case is the sending of experimental and experimental weapons for “testing”, following the results of work with which the manufacturer makes changes to the design. To help the GSG-9 fighters, a separate aviation detachment has also been formed, capable of delivering an anti-terror group not only to anywhere in Germany but also the world. The tasks of the GSG-9, in addition to anti-terrorist work on the territory of the country, have recently included the protection of diplomatic and other government missions of Germany abroad. The protection of embassies, assistance to the special services of friendly states and much more are carried out practically on the job. One of the most elegant operations of the GSG-9 is the neutralization of a lone terrorist in Düsseldorf. The fanatic who hijacked the KLM airliner was neutralized without noise, dust and weapons in a matter of seconds. The absence of American-style shooting is noted by all experts in the field of law enforcement agencies. Throughout the history of the group weapon was used by GSG-9 specialists only twice.
1st place. ALFA/VIMPEL Russia The Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia is not just anti-terror professionals gathered under a single command. These are special people who perform impossible tasks. Contrary to popular belief, domestic specialized publications put Alfa and Vympel at the head of the ratings of anti-terror groups not by nationality. It's just that the Russian special forces perform tasks where any other rapid reaction group will fail. Yes, and European / American and any other anti-terrorism groups do not have such experience. Despite the fact that in Russia there are many special forces units that are part of the National Guard, Alpha are ultra-professionals in anti-terrorist work. Once formed for covert sabotage work, Alfa and Vympel in 1998 expand the range of tasks to be solved. Created in 1998, the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia clearly defined the main areas of work of the units - anti-terror. Yes, the tasks of the TsSN FSB and the Russian Guard differ from each other, however, the most dangerous and complex "activities" are worked out jointly by the specialists of the TsSN FSB and the Russian Guard. It is worth noting that not a single foreign unit has experience similar to the combat work of Russian specialists in the North Caucasus. Neither the French RAID and GIGN, nor the German GSG-9, nor many others have ever carried out operations that are anything like an assault theater center at Dubrovka. Experts explain that the decision to enter the building, where the entire auditorium was held hostage not just by militants, but also by suicide bombers who were ready to sacrifice themselves, is still not called “impossible” by European experts.
It does not fit in the head of European specialists how it is possible in a matter of seconds to neutralize a dozen armed and ready to die fanatics and at the same time neutralize all improvised explosive devices, the power of which was enough for the building of the center on Dubrovka to “fold” on the heads of the attackers. Such problems are random, although trained people, of course, do not solve. To be invited to serve in Alpha or Vympel is still considered an honor, and not everyone inspires such trust. 95% of candidates are "weeded out" at the selection stage, and only 5% of "top-class specialists" end up serving in the FSB Central Security Service. Russian anti-terror is specialists who can solve any problem. At sea, on land, in the air and wherever the situation requires it. According to experts, there are no impossible tasks for Alpha and Vympel. There are only deadlines and working out of actions. For the TsSN FSB, in addition to special training programs, special equipment is also being developed. Recently, many video recordings where specialists from the TsSN FSB perform combat missions, you can find black, angular armored vehicles with an unusual design. These are Falcatus and Viking, designed specifically for Russian special forces. However, even before the advent of special equipment, the TsSN FSB worked out tasks that were impossible, from the point of view of Western security officials. The operation to liberate the Beslan school seized by militants is still, even 16 years later, called by many foreign experts in anti-terror and law enforcement agencies the best among those known to the world.

Special forces units of the Russian Federation

Parts and divisions of special purpose- units and units of various special services, armed forces and police (militia), as well as anti-terrorist units, are designed to neutralize and destroy terrorist formations, conduct operations deep behind enemy lines, sabotage and perform other complex combat missions.

History

M. S. Svechnikov can probably be considered a Russian theorist and author of the very ideology and concept of the use of special forces, who managed to convey many of his ideas to students of the Military Academies, followers and supporters. The practical implementation and real testing of ideas was probably started by I. G. Starinov, he organized the first combat use during the Spanish Civil War. Probably there was a fruitful ideological exchange between M. S. Svechnikov and I. G. Starinov, during the latter’s studies at the Academy.

Special Forces Units (SPN)

"Zenith" - task force for special purposes (OGSpN) of the KGB of the USSR
"Omega"
"Cascade"
"Alpha" - specializes in the release of hostages.
Barrier - a special unit of the SVR (foreign intelligence services). Number of 300 people.
Special units of the Departments of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Each territorial subdivision has its own name (for example, OSN "Typhoon" of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, OSN "Saturn" of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Moscow, OSN (b) "Rosich" of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Ryazan Region)
Special Forces FSKN

Police Special Forces (SOBR)

SOBR (special rapid response department) - federal and regional special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, which were regularly (until 2003) part of the Departments for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (subdivisions of more than 200 people since the late 1990s were called detachments). Since 2002, SOBRs have been disbanded, some employees have been asked to transfer to the OMSN (Special Purpose Police Detachment). In 2011, in connection with the reform of the internal affairs bodies, and the renaming of the "militia" into the "police", the units of the OMSN were renamed OSN (special forces). Since 2012, all OSN detachments have been given the name - SOBR ( special squad rapid response).

The main task of creating SOBR is the fight against organized crime, in all its manifestations, by all types and methods, and against terrorism. Special forces were also successfully used in military operations conducted in the TFR.

SOBR KM GUVD in Moscow is the very first special forces detachment in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Founded in 1978. SOBR officers are constantly on business trips in the North Caucasus.

In accordance with existing agreements, SOBR officers are allowed to test for the right to wear a maroon beret, taking into account their specific service and assigned tasks. This is expressed in slightly modified tests.

Parts and formations of the Special Forces of the Ministry of Defense of Russia

Parts and connections of SpN GRU GSH

2nd separate brigade special purpose GRU (p. Promezhitsy, Pskov district, LenVO)
3rd separate guards brigade special purpose (p. Chernorechye PriVO)
10th separate brigade of special purpose GRU (p. Molkino, Krasnodar region, SKVO)
14th Separate Special Purpose Brigade of the GRU (Ussuriysk, Primorsky Territory, Far East Military District)
16th Separate Special Purpose Brigade of the GRU (Tambov, Moscow Military District)
22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade GRU (Stepnoy settlement, Rostov Region, North Caucasus Military District)
24th Separate Special Purpose Brigade of the GRU (Irkutsk, Siberian Military District)

42nd naval reconnaissance point (Russian Island, Khaluai Bay, near Vladivostok, Pacific Fleet);

420th naval reconnaissance point (Polyarny settlement, near Murmansk, Northern Fleet);
431st naval reconnaissance point (Tuapse, Black Sea Fleet);
561st naval reconnaissance point (Sailing settlement, near the city of Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region, Baltic Fleet).

Detachments to combat underwater sabotage forces and means:

Parts and connections of the Special Forces of the Airborne Forces

45th Separate Reconnaissance Regiment of the Special Forces of the Airborne Forces

Special Forces of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Through the efforts of the chief of intelligence of the VV, General Kuznetsov, and his deputy, General Chevrizov, after the first Chechen campaign, attempts were made to form a regiment on the basis of the Vityaz detachment. However, veterans of the division assess this step of consolidation negatively. With the departure of the detachment commander V. Nikitenko, this became possible.

In 1999, on the basis of the detachment and the 1st Red Banner Regiment of ODON, the 1st Red Banner Special Purpose Regiment "Vityaz" was formed. However, three years later, in the interests of more efficient performance of tasks, it was again reorganized into a detachment. Now, on the basis of the unit, the 604th Special Purpose Center of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has been formed .. There is also a Special Purpose Detachment of the Novocherkassk Division internal troops Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Special purpose departments of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia

Special units of the Federal Penitentiary Service. They are part of the structure of the territorial departments of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Currently, they have the name "Special Purpose Departments". The task of the units includes the prevention and suppression of crimes and offenses at the facilities of the Federal Penitentiary Service, the search for and capture of especially dangerous criminals, ensuring security at special events, the release of hostages taken by convicts, as well as the protection of senior officials of the department. Created during the period when the Penitentiary System (GUIN) was part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

SATURN - 29.04.92 - Moscow
TORCH - 30.05.91 - Moscow region
FALCON - 17.03.91 - Belgorod
TORNADO - 11.06.91 - Bryansk
MONOMACH - 06/21/91 - Vladimir
SKIF - 07.07.97 - Rostov-on-Don
HURRICANE - 04.01.91 - Ivanovo
GROM - 09/23/91 - Kaluga
THUNDER - 06/07/92 - Kostroma
BARS-2 - 15.01.93 - Kursk
TITAN - 06.01.91 - Lipetsk
ROSICH - 30.07.91 - Ryazan
JAGUAR - 13.08.92 - Eagle
PHOENIX - 14.09.91 - Smolensk
VEPR - 17.04.93 - Tambov
GRIF - 04.12.93 - Tula
LYNX - 03/26/91 - Tver
STORM - 19.08.91 - Yaroslavl
CONDOR - 07.07.91 - Republic of Adygea
SCORPIO - 06/07/91 - Astrakhan
BARS - 13.03.91 - Volgograd
OREL - 11.11.92 - Republic of Dagestan
ACULA - 04.03.91 - Krasnodar
VOLCANO - 14.03.93 - Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria
GYURZA - 02.10.92 - Republic of Kalmykia
ROSNA - 14.03.91 - Rostov-on-Don
BULAT - 10.20.91 - Republic of North Ossetia
RUBEZH - 01.03.92 - Stavropol
Sivuch - 18.08.93 - Arkhangelsk
VIKING-2 - 23.07.91 - Vologda
GRANITE - 07.07.93 - Republic of Karelia
SAPSAN - 11.03.93 - Republic of Komi
BASTION - 06.03.91 - Kaliningrad
ICEBERG - 11.07.91 - Murmansk
RUSICH - 11/13/91 - Novgorod
ZUBR - 11/13/91 - Pskov
TYPHOON - 20.02.91 - St. Petersburg
DELTA - 01.11.92 - Severoonezhsk
SPRUT - 07.07.93 - Mikun
FOBOS - 06/28/91 - Penza
‎HAWK - 01/22/92 - Republic of Mari El
RIVEZ - 14.03.91 - Saransk
BARS - 17.01.91 - Kazan
GUARD - 06.08.91 - Cheboksary
SMERCH - 03.04.91 - Ufa
KRECHET - 01.07.91 - Izhevsk
SARMAT - 01.02.91 - Orenburg
BEAR - 06.02.91 - Perm
MONGOOS - 06/22/91 - Samara
ORION - 05.09.91 - Saratov
DIAMOND - 01.03.91 - Kirov
BERSERK - 04.03.91 - Nizhny Novgorod
SHKVAL - 28.11.91 - Ulyanovsk
VARYAG - 03/23/93 - Solikamsk
CHEETAH - 04/23/93 - Yavas
CENTAUR - 01.10.92 - Forest
MIRAGE - 31.07.91 - Kurgan
ROSS - 14.01.91 - Yekaterinburg
GRAD - 19.03.91 - Tyumen
NORTH - 09.09.99 - Surgut
URAL - 09.01.91 - Chelyabinsk
VORTEX - 12/22/93 - Sosva
SOBOL - 03/22/93 - Tavda
Wolverine - 01.12.2008 - Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
EDELWEISS - 05.04.93 - Republic of Gorny Altai
SAGITTARIUS - 11.07.91 - Ulan-Ude
URAGAN - 18.06.91 - Irkutsk
KODAR - 26.02.91 - Chita
LEGION - 17.04.91 - Barnaul
ERMAK - 21.02.91 - Krasnoyarsk
KEDR - 09.05.91 - Kemerovo
VIKING - 12.02.91 - Omsk
KORSAR - 14.09.91 - Novosibirsk
SIBERIA - 12.02.91 - Tomsk
IRBIS - 06.06.91 - Kyzyl
OMEGA - 06.11.91 - Abakan
SHIELD - 25.02.91 - N. Poyma
VOSTOK - 01.04.92 - Blagoveshchensk
SHADOW - 26.02.93 - Birobidzhan
LEADER - 22.08.92 - Vladivostok
POLAR WOLF - 27.05.91 - Magadan
MIRAGE - 04.04.91 - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
AMUR - 12.02.91 - Khabarovsk
POLAR BEAR - 05.05.92 - Yakutsk
BERKUT - 31.03.93 - Kamchatka
Interregional The educational center for the training of employees of departments of special purpose "Krasnaya Polyana" Sochi - training of special forces of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia and other law enforcement agencies to perform operational and combat missions in mountainous and other special conditions. Created on August 29, 2001. Official website: www.mucsn-fsin.ru

Notes

Links

Official news of all regional departments of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia
1071 Separate Special Purpose Training Regiment of the GRU of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense (Pechory Pskov)
Spetsnaz. (English)

Many people have heard the expression "elite troops" of Russia, but not everyone has an idea what this expression actually means. There are no clear criteria that would help classify this or that special unit as more prestigious. As a rule, such a rank is usually deserved by troops that are in full combat readiness every minute and have the greatest combat capability. Troops can also earn an honorary title among the people for displaying heroism and high professionalism in combat operations. IN Russian elite troops list, which is located below, included the most prestigious divisions based on surveys.

Opens the list elite troops Russia. The main task of the special unit is anti-terrorist measures. The detachments are engaged in the release of hostages, eliminate riots, and are also engaged in the elimination of illegal armed groups. Also, the competence of the National Guard Troops includes the neutralization and detention of criminals who pose a particular danger to society. The special forces of this detachment celebrate their official day on March 27th.

It belongs to the most prestigious troops of the fatherland. The creation of the Armed Forces took place in 1992 of the 20th century. The main function of the special unit is to protect the territory of the country, its integrity. The Sun has one of the largest reserves military equipment as well as weapons mass destruction, including the nuclear one. In 2017, the number of special forces military personnel amounted to just over a million people, and the mobilization resource is over 60 million. The recruitment of the Armed Forces occurs in two ways - conscription through the army and contract service. The state annually spends more than 3 trillion rubles annually on the development of the Armed Forces.

belongs by right to the most prestigious troops of the Russian Federation. He stands guard over the country, protecting it from attacks outside the land zone. The Navy is designed to conduct combat operations in the open spaces of the water. The navy has been guarding our state for more than three hundred years. In addition to the main tasks, the competence of the special unit includes ensuring the safety of the sea economic activity in the vastness of the oceans. The Navy possesses high firepower and a high range of destruction, which makes it possible to destroy the enemy at a great distance - up to several thousand meters.

The FSSP of Russia certainly belongs to the elite troops of the Russian Federation. It includes rapid response units, which are required to undergo special training. The FSSP is armed with automatic weapons and ensures the safety of ships, and also personally guards the leadership of the Federal Bailiff Service.

Included in the list of elite troops of the country. The main tasks of the special forces are to detect and eliminate terrorist groups. Among other goals of the troops is the conduct of special measures on enemy territory.

They are considered one of the most elite troops of the Russian state. Airborne troops are engaged in the implementation of special events behind enemy lines. Also, the tasks of the special forces include the capture of enemy objects and the capture of the enemy. The selection for the landing force is strict in all respects. The future paratrooper must not only have good physical data, but also have a stable psycho-emotional background, since the military personnel of the Airborne Forces have to do enough challenging tasks. The official creation of the special forces took place in 1992. The Airborne Forces actively participated in the Afghan, Chechen wars, and also took part in hostilities with Georgia.

is an elite special unit in service with the Russian state. Refers to troops that are in constant and full combat readiness. The Strategic Missile Forces are armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles with warheads. The formation of the special forces took place in the middle of the last century. To date, the missile forces include 3 armies, which include 12 missile divisions. Rocket troops strategic purpose are armed with more than three hundred complexes of different types.

Opens the top three most elite troops of the Russian Federation. The armed forces are designed to conduct maritime operations, which include the conduct of hostilities with the capture of the enemy's coastline. In addition, the special unit performs other operations, including the protection of coastal areas. The main tasks of the Marine Corps are the conquest of coastal territories and their retention until the main forces approach. The special unit is part of the Russian Navy.

The elite, without any doubt, includes, whose main tasks are the defense of the state in the aerospace field, the detection and complete destruction of the enemy, as well as the reflection of hostilities from ballistic missiles. Also, the competence of the Aerospace Forces includes the identification of possible combat attacks by missiles and being in full combat readiness. A component of the Aerospace Forces are the Russian Space Forces. The main tasks of the last special unit are the observation of objects in space, as well as the timely detection and combat defeat of space threats.

Completes the ranking of the elite troops of the Russian Federation. The competence of the military unit includes the solution of tasks to ensure the protection of the presidential residence, namely the Moscow Kremlin. Also, a component of the FSO participates in protocol events and takes part in guards of honor. The presidential regiment was formed in 1993, the official day of which is May 7th.

Analyze forces special operations(MTR) of any country is far from an easy task, and objectively disassembling Russian special forces is doubly difficult: against the backdrop of the current reform of the army with special emphasis on special forces, probably even foreign intelligence services can get confused. But it makes sense to take this case.

In the 30s of the last century, the first airborne units appeared in the USSR, which, by demonstrating their maneuvers, shocked foreign military experts. Later, US special forces units will have their own paratroopers - this was a response to a demonstration of the potential of this kind of troops created by V.F. Margelov.

The revival of the airborne units with their airmobile functions began in the 50s. The historical moment is the appearance of an airborne combat vehicle (BMD): this technique was parachuted from the air and was a maneuverable combat vehicle of the Airborne Forces. In 1968, the USSR succeeded in invading Czechoslovakia precisely because all its tasks were fully completed by the landing units. Then a blue beret appears - the current invariable attribute of the Airborne Forces.

It is believed that with this color of the beret (before that it was red), the leadership of the USSR tried to introduce local residents misleading them to confuse the Soviet paratroopers and the "blue helmets" of the UN. But the blue beret eventually took root, and it is unrealistic to imagine a paratrooper without it.

In 1999, a unit of the Russian Airborne Forces makes a legendary forced march to Pristina, ahead of specialists from the British KFOR with the occupation of the Slatina airport. Several hundred Russian paratroopers forced the NATO command to completely change all its original plans, because the death of even one Russian special forces soldier would be equated with an attack on all of Russia.

The Soviet and Russian landing forces also had their own "special units": sabotage assault battalions (DShB) or special forces of the Airborne Forces. Reinforced training, the possibility of landing both on parachutes and on cables or direct jump at low altitude from helicopters - this is their profile.

Marines

It so happened historically that in terms of the number of fighters, the Marines of Russia did not particularly stand out. Here, a bet was made on the quality of training and on the ability to engage in battle when thrown "from the water."

In principle, the marines of almost all countries have similar traditions. Don't let the "maritime" status be misleading: in the mountains of Chechnya, in the units of the Russian special forces, special attention was paid to the Marines, although there was never a "water landing" there.

"Alpha", or department "A" of the Central Security Service of the FSB of Russia

When Yuri Andropov, a native of the KGB, became Secretary General of the USSR, he formed an elite unit, formally called upon to carry out anti-terrorist tasks in the conditions of the city. But in fact, the functions of this Russian special forces structure have always been much broader.

The assault on Amin's palace is the first and most high-profile operation in the history of Alpha. Well, in the future there was not a single large-scale special operation, especially in the conditions of the city and in a collision with terrorists, so that this group of Russian special forces did not take part.

Perhaps not everyone knows that due to attempts to manipulate and use this military elite in the early 90s, the fighters underwent serious demoralization, and many officers wrote a resignation letter. However, the country changed its mind in time and stopped the destructive process, returning Alfa to its former status.

And if you see somewhere an indication of the number of Alpha, you can only smile: the number of this group of Russian special forces is known only to an extremely narrow circle of people, and neither we, nor you, nor the FSB officer on duty monitoring information on this profile (and therefore, reading this article) we cannot know any specifics.

"Vympel", or management "B" TsSN FSB of Russia

Under the First Main Directorate of the KGB of the USSR, there was its own illegal intelligence service, modestly called "Department C". It consisted of the divisions "Zenith" and "Cascade", which became the platform for the emergence in 1981 of the special forces group "Vympel".

Under the USSR, the number of pennant numbered about a thousand fighters, among the mandatory requirements for each - at least one foreign language, which was necessary to be fluent.

If "Alpha" is a formal anti-terror group, then "Vympel" is already a real "terror group", trained to work on foreign territory. Even in the days of the USSR, "Vympel" trained on the capture of nuclear power plants and other strategic facilities, the protection of which was warned in advance. But the captures were always successful.

"Vympel" is a sabotage unit of Russian special forces for external use.

Spetsnaz GRU of Russia

Increased military training, the most serious requirements, high recognition - the special forces of the GRU of Russia are very numerous and only "conditionally secret." However, unlike Alfa or Vympel, the GRU special forces are capable of not only pointwise use in hotel areas, but also perform standard combined arms tasks by small combat-ready units.

It is one thing to create a unit of up to a thousand people, but another thing is to maintain a unit in which up to 25 thousand people can serve in Russia as a whole at the same time. The GRU special forces are armed with the standard weapons of the Russian armed forces.

Special Rapid Response Squad (SOBR)

In the newest Russian history SOBR has repeatedly changed its name, but eventually retained it. As part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, this unit is supposed to fight organized crime, however, a wider involvement of SOBR fighters was constantly encountered: both during the Chechen wars and in the current formally peaceful time.

Separate orders of Lenin and October revolution Red Banner Division operational purpose internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (ODON)

Such a long name for this unit of Russian special forces appeared in 1994, while earlier it was called differently: Separate Motorized Rifle Division of Special Purpose named after. F. E. Dzerzhinsky. And by this name, many still know her.

Military glory since the times of the USSR, constant emphasis on participation in military operations - in general, special forces are like special forces.

OMON (special police detachment) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Let's be honest: this division of the Russian police special forces had a much more difficult time in matters of reputation than everyone else.

When the USSR collapsed, it was OMON units that got into loud and rather scandalous stories in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Direct clashes with the civilian population in the event of riots left their mark on the reputation of the unit and in modern Russia.

However, without OMON, the functioning of the modern law enforcement system of the country is impossible. So any criticism will be listened to and delicately ignored.

Detachment "Vityaz" under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

To put it simply, "Vityaz" for the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the same as "Alpha" for the FSB. In principle, we can limit ourselves to this: we cannot have any data on the size of the unit, or any other “hot” specifics.

Combat swimmers

In the USSR, they were jokingly called "squares", because they recruited short guys here (to be placed with equipment in the torpedo compartment for landing), but very broad in the shoulders. And they have been preparing them since the days of the USSR very tough. "Barracuda", "Dolphin", "Omega" - all these names give away elitism for military experts, and experts only smile at formal statements that "these units are in the past."

Information about the combat swimmers of modern Russia is a minimum. Nevertheless, in 2008, it was the combat swimmers who disabled several torpedo boats of the Georgian Navy, which predetermined the naval confrontation.

Special Forces of the Border Troops of Russia "Sigma"

The Russian special forces unit was actually recreated in 1994. Now Sigma fighters regularly participate in CTO in Dagestan, but there is practically no specifics about such operations in the media.

The activity of Sigma is one of the most secret, so it is not possible to try to describe this Russian special forces on the basis of known data about Sigma from the times of the USSR.

Special Forces of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia

If you want to get confused in the Russian special forces, then you are here: Titan, Uraga, Bars, Bars-2, Rosich, Astrakhan - depending on the region, this unit may have its own name. To list everything, given the territorial scale of Russia, is too long.

The special forces of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia took an active part in the hostilities in Chechnya, but its main task is to “pacify riots” in the zones and in the colonies.

What is a "maroon beret"?

In fact, there is no separate unit that would be called “maroon berets”: such a beret can only be earned by a special forces soldier of the Russian internal troops if he passes the standards and passes all the tests.

Only a few units manage to get such a beret, therefore the concept of a “maroon beret” is the standard of the highest skill of a special forces officer wearing it

Sabotage MTR

The official Russian television started talking about this unit in March 2013, stating that the country had never even dreamed of such forces of Russian special forces (although, why didn’t Vympel please journalists?). The purpose of sabotage MTRs is to penetrate the territory of a potential enemy when a direct war is diplomatically impossible, dressing up in the form of local militias and conducting military operations under their guise, as well as training and training the necessary forces in this territory.

Subsequently, the media did not report on the sabotage MTRs, and the plot itself was used as an “evident argument” for the presence of Russian special forces on the territory of Ukraine by opponents of Moscow.

In the world of the military, nothing strikes the imagination more than special forces. In addition to conventional military forces, most countries have an elite group of troops that meet a higher standard of requirements and training. Some of these groups have received wide publicity, others are not so well known and shrouded in myths. The commando can silently emerge from the water to quietly neutralize the guards, storm the plane to rescue the hostages in the captured mall, sabotage enemy bridges and roads, and perform other most secret missions in the military world. Which countries have the best special forces in the world? This is a difficult and almost unanswerable question, since any national special forces are created for serious missions, from countering terrorism and rescuing hostages, to reconnaissance and even attack. However, past operations and reputation can be taken into account to assess which forces are in the lead.

Special Forces GIGN, France

First on the list is the French Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN for short) from France. GIGN, like most of the European special forces, traces its history after the hostage-taking at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. In France, a year earlier, there had been a prison riot in which hostages were taken and killed. The result of these upheavals led to the creation of a force that today includes approximately 400 fighters. Specializing in hostage rescue and counter-terrorist operations, GIGN has repeatedly shown itself in action. Past operations have included the rescue of 30 student hostages in Djibouti, the capture of war criminals in Bosnia, the fight against Somali pirates and of course the dramatic attack and hostage rescue aboard Air France Flight 8969 in Marseille in 1994.

SSG Group, Pakistan

In 1956, the Pakistani army created its own special forces known as the Special Services Group (SSG). This force was modeled on the British SAS and US Special Forces, and its strength remains classified. The selection into the ranks of the special forces is very strict, and only 1 out of 4 newcomers, after nine months of training, an on-board school, hand-to-hand combat courses and exhausting physical exercises, fall into the ranks of the SSG. The SSG is trained to perform tasks in all sorts of environments, including mountains, desert, jungle, and even underwater combat. During the early Cold War, SSG forces trained and operated alongside US Special Forces. Some of the fighters were trained in Afghanistan fighting the Mujahideen against the Soviets in the 1980s. India claims that SSG forces frequently attacked its soldiers in the border areas between the two countries. Later, the SSG focused on local counter-terrorism operations, taking part in many successful operations.

Sayeret Matkal, Israel

This Israeli special forces branch is focused on intelligence, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue outside of Israel. Sayeret Matkal was created in 1957 to fill a void in Israel's special forces and is made up of candidates selected for high physical and intellectual characteristics. Applicants complete eighteen months of training, including basic infantry school, paratrooper school, counter-terrorist training, and reconnaissance. The force has taken part in many large scale operations since the 1960s. The most famous of these is Operation Entebbe/Thunderbolt, which made Sayeret Matkal famous all over the world. The operation began after several Palestinian terrorists took hostages aboard the airliner. Many hostages were released, but more than 100 people (mostly Israeli and Jewish hostages) were detained at the airport's terminal building. A group of approximately 100 Israeli commandos, including the Sayeret Matkal Special Forces, attacked the position, killing the terrorists and freeing all the hostages.

EKO-Cobra, special forces of Austria

In 1972, following an attack on Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympics, Austria created the Cobra-Einsatzkommando for anti-terror operations. The detachment was created from 450 men who served in the Austrian Federal Police. Training at EKO-Cobra is similar to that of other squads, and includes several months of specialized courses in marksmanship, languages, hand-to-hand combat and tactical combat training. All candidates undergo psychological and physical testing. During training, special forces soldiers learn explosives, scuba diving, and sniping. While the EKO-Cobra did not have such outstanding operations as Sayeret Matkal, they successfully freed the hostages in the Graz prison in 1996, and are the only counter-terrorism team to prevent a mid-flight hijacking. In this case, in 1996, four Cobra fighters were on the flight when the hijacker demanded a yaw. Needless to say, the raider chose the worst flight for such a move, and was immediately neutralized by the special forces.

Delta Force, USA

Full name of this group - the 1st operational detachment of the Special Purpose "Delta". In addition to counterterrorism operations, Delta can also take part in hostage rescue, attack, reconnaissance, and less covert direct impact operations. The group was formed in 1977 as a result of a growing number of terrorist operations. It was created mainly from soldiers who served in the American special forces, Green Berets, or Rangers. Potential applicants must be male, 21 years of age or older, have high test scores, and be physically and mentally fit. A series of grueling physical and mental tests allows you to immediately get rid of the weakest. According to the results of testing, less than 1 applicant out of 10 is admitted to intensive 6-month training courses. Delta Force operations are shrouded in mystery, but you can be sure they are at the forefront of any US-led operation.

JTF2 Special Forces, Canada

Established in 1993 and expanded to several hundred fighters after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Canadian JTF2 is an elite counter-terrorism and special operations group. Composed of members of the Canadian Forces, JTF2 performs a wide range of operations. They have repeatedly escorted VIPs and provided security at events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics. More covertly, they worked in many of the world's hotspots, rescuing hostages in Iraq, or hunting down Serb snipers in Bosnia. Their presence in Afghanistan is mostly classified, but it is known that some forces were still involved in separate operations. Their activities were so secret that even the Canadian Prime Minister did not know that JTF2 Special Forces were involved in Afghanistan during the first years.

Spetsnaz Alpha, Russia

The elite division of Russian special forces, Alpha Group, was founded in the mid-1970s and became famous during the invasion of Afghanistan, during which Alpha fighters stormed the Presidential Palace in Kabul, killing everyone in the building. In 1985 a group was sent to Beirut to try to rescue four Soviet diplomats. Rumor has it that when the diplomats were killed, the alpha fighters hunted down the relatives of the invaders and returned them to their families practically piece by piece to send a message to would-be terrorists. Domestically, Alpha has been involved in most of the major anti-terrorist operations, such as the Nord-Ost theater siege in 2002 and the Beslan school takeover in 2004. Both events demonstrated the rather brutal nature of the Russian special forces, as hundreds of hostages died in the course of the operation.

Shayetet 13, Israel

Another Israeli special forces group, Shayetet 13 is linked to the Israeli Navy. Established in 1948, this force has taken part in all major Israeli military operations, from hostage rescue and counter-terrorism to intelligence gathering and surveillance. The course of study lasts 20 months and subjects candidates to the most demanding psychological and physical tests even before the start of specialized training. SWAT soldiers learn all kinds of combat, skydiving, scuba diving and more. Shayetet 13 is also responsible for seizing weapons heading for the Gaza Strip. Their most famous operation took place after the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, when special forces tracked down and eliminated those responsible for the attack on Israeli athletes.

Navy Seals, USA

Navy SEALs - american band special forces, created in 1962. This group over the years of its existence has reached a literally mythical status. Thanks in part to Operation Neptune Spear, a mission in which commandos went to Abbottabad in May 2011 and killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda. This is an elite physical and mental strength, where only the best of the best are selected. Training takes a year, and most applicants can't even pass the physical proficiency test, which includes swimming, push-ups, squats, and running. But if you pass these very strict standards, then go to general training. After completing the training, you go further, obtaining the qualification of a Navy SEAL, and only after that the door to specialized training opens for you. All this ensures that special forces soldiers are physically and mentally strong and capable of performing the most difficult operations anywhere in the world.

SAS Special Forces, UK

What could be a special forces group that surpasses the legendary Navy SEALs? This is the SAS special forces - the British Special Forces Service, created in 1941 to work behind the lines of German and Italian troops and support the resistance movement against the occupying forces. The physical requirements for candidates are very strict and require great endurance. Testing culminates in a 40-mile march with full ammunition, which must be completed in 20 hours. Applicants must be able to swim two miles in an hour and a half and run four miles in 30 minutes. After that, they are thrown into the jungle to learn survival and receive navigational skills, after which they undergo survival practice. The final test is a 36-hour interrogation session in an attempt to break the candidate's will. And only after that the candidate will be admitted to further training. SAS special forces soldiers take security courses at MI5 and MI6, training in intelligence service and counterintelligence operations. British special forces are like a mixture fur seals and James Bond all rolled into one.