FSB special forces. How to get a good job in the FSB special purpose center. Special forces of the FSB of Russia
In connection with requests regarding the opportunity to serve in Alfa, Vympel, and regional anti-terror units, we are posting this information, which will allow us to remove initial typical questions and realistically assess our physical and psychological capabilities.
Primary selection
The selection system for anti-terror special forces is carried out in several stages. For service in the special forces of the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia, as a rule, officers and ensigns, as well as cadets of military schools, are selected as candidates for officer positions.
97% of positions in special forces are officer positions, and only 3% are ensign positions. Accordingly, an officer must have a higher education, an ensign - not lower than secondary. Ensigns are usually appointed to the positions of drivers and instructors.
Firstly, a candidate for special forces must be recommended either by an active employee of the TsSN, or by a veteran who previously served in Alfa, Vympel, or Directorate C. The selection is also carried out from cadets of universities of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation or from border institutes of the FSB.
Preference is given to those who are already studying at the Faculty of Special Forces, which is in the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms Command School. The selection of children from the Moscow VOKU is also being made. Employees of the Center regularly come to all these educational institutions and carry out the initial selection. First, the personal files of cadets are studied, and then potential candidates are interviewed.
For candidates, there is one serious limitation on physical data - height must be at least 175 cm. This is due to the fact that in operations, employees often use heavy armored shields of impressive size. For undersized employees, these protective equipment is dragged along the ground.
An exception may be made for a candidate whose professional merit outweighs the lack of growth and can be used during a special operation when penetrating the hatches of an aircraft (as an example).
Another limitation is age. Applicant must be no older than 28 years old. True, for those who come to the CSN from other power structures and have combat experience, an exception may be made.
Physical testing
Physical testing is divided into two stages, which take place on the same day. During the first, candidates pass physical fitness standards, followed by hand-to-hand combat sparring.
The candidate arrives at the “object”, changes into a sports uniform for the season. He must run a distance of three kilometers in 10 minutes 30 seconds. After the finish, he is given 5 minutes to rest, and then his sprinting qualities are tested in overcoming the hundred meters for a while. The credit result is about 12 seconds.
Then, with a light run, you need to climb to the gym, where the candidate is waiting for the crossbar. A candidate for Department "A" must pull himself up 25 times, for Department "B" - 20. Here and below, after each exercise, 3 minutes of rest are given between exercises.
Next, you need to complete 90 flexions and extensions of the torso in two minutes. This is followed by push-ups from the floor. The offset for Control "A" is 90 times, for Control "B" - 75. Sometimes push-ups from the floor can be replaced with push-ups on the uneven bars. In this case, the required amount is 30 times.
The execution time is not strictly limited, but the candidate is not allowed to rest during the execution. They are also quite strict about how the exercise is performed. If the candidate, in the opinion of the receiving employee, does not clearly perform this or that exercise, it is not counted to him.
After that, the candidate is invited to perform a complex strength exercise. For "A" and "B" - 7 and 5 times, respectively. The complex exercise includes 15 push-ups from the floor, 15 flexions and extensions of the torso (checking the abdominals), then 15 times the transition from the “crouching emphasis” position to the “lying emphasis” and back, then 15 jumps from the “crouching” position up.
Each exercise is given 10 seconds. The described cycle is a single execution of a complex exercise. There is no rest break between each exercise. Sometimes in Office "A" it is proposed to perform an endurance test - jump up 100 times.
hand-to-hand combat
Having completed physical testing, the candidate rests for 3 minutes, after which, putting on protection on his legs, on his groin, a helmet on his head, gloves on his hands, he goes to the wrestling mat. The candidate's rival is an instructor or a well-trained employee. At the same time, the weight category of the candidate is not taken into account, and an employee weighing under 100 kg can go against him, weighing, for example, 75 kilograms. The fight consists of three rounds.
In the ring, the candidate is required to be active, passive defense is not welcome. It is very difficult to do this, given the loads that the candidate has overcome during the physical tests. Against him comes a completely fresh employee. Here, first of all, fighting qualities, the ability to attack, the ability to take a hit and, of course, the will are tested. There were cases when the masters of sports did not stand in the ring, and the guys who did not have any serious sports titles, on the contrary, stubbornly attacked and rushed at the enemy.
To some extent, the hand-to-hand combat phase resembles the similar phase of testing candidates during the maroon beret examination. True, I must say that in the CSN they approach the test in a more balanced way, without trying to score a candidate. The instructor often lets the candidate work on his own, take the initiative to understand what he can do. Although there were cases when during sparring they broke their arms and noses. Sometimes, to test the ability to beat with hands and feet, the candidate is allowed to work on the bag.
This completes this testing phase. Preference is given to candidates with sporting merit in martial arts, as well as in boxing and wrestling. Although accept and runners.
If a candidate for a special unit comes from other units of the Special Purpose Center, he may be subject to additional requirements. Shooting skills should be checked or the ability to swim (100 meters for a while and 25 meters underwater without any equipment).
Special check
This is followed by the so-called special check, during which even all relatives are thoroughly checked. While this process is going on, the candidate undergoes an initial examination by a psychologist, who, with the help of tests, studies the personality of the subject, his character, temperament, moral attitudes, etc. During the interview, the psychologist also tries to identify the characteristics of the candidate’s personality, clarifies some unclear points for himself. It happens that candidates do not say something or lie.
Based on the results of the initial selection, the psychologist compiles the psychological characteristics of the candidate. She is filed in the case of a special inspection. This document is necessary for the future chief to understand what kind of person came to serve in the unit.
Then the candidate undergoes an in-depth medical examination, during which his suitability for airborne training is revealed. Here he is also waiting for a mandatory polygraph test.
The polygraph (aka “lie detector”) is designed primarily to identify “dark spots of biography”, such as addiction to alcohol and drugs, connections with the underworld, corrupt motives, antisocial inclinations and other aspects.
Based on the results of the survey, a certificate is drawn up. The assessment of the candidate is compiled in points, which gives a visible picture of how successfully he passed the tests. For example, the total number of possible points in physical fitness is 900. The minimum number of points from which a candidate is considered for admission to the CSP is 700. The average passing score is 800.
Family conversation
After the candidate is recognized as having successfully passed the selection tests and his verification, an interview with his parents and his wife is mandatory. During the conversation, they are explained the nature and characteristics of service in special forces.
The result of this interview should be the written consent of the parents and wife with the admission of the candidate to serve in the special unit. This procedure is primarily due to the fact that special forces perform tasks with an increased risk to life.
If the candidate has successfully passed all the stages and the relatives are not against his service in the CSN, he is enlisted in the special forces as a young employee. Those undergo an initiation ritual with the presentation of black berets and special knives "Antiterror", which are officially adopted by the special forces. They are also presented with gifts from the International Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terror unit (watches).
If the selected candidate does not perform well, he may be expelled from the special forces.
Further preparation
In September-October, the Center conducts a training course for young employees, during which they are engaged in mountain and airborne training and other special disciplines. By the way, absolutely all employees of combat departments jump with a parachute.
Upon completion of this stage, young employees return to their units again, where they undergo training as part of the units for three years. Already there is a division into full-time and non-staff positions.
Specialization training is a separate program that requires a long time and perseverance of an employee in order to become a true professional in his field. At the end of each year, the professional qualities and physical fitness of all employees of the Center are checked.
If young employees are taken on combat missions, then only to perform some supporting functions. Only those who have served in the unit for at least two years, or employees who previously had combat experience, take part in special operations.
There is an unspoken rule at the Center that after enrolling in special forces, an employee is required to serve in it for at least five years. This is exactly the period that is necessary for the preparation of a classy "action movie" of anti-terror. The vast majority continue to serve further.
The Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia was established on October 8, 1998 on the initiative of Vladimir Putin, who then held the position of director of the FSB. The decision to create it was dictated by the terrorist war actually unfolding against Russia. As a result, the legendary Alfa and Vympel groups were united into a single powerful unit, which became Directorates A and B of the Central Security Service of the FSB, as well as the Special Operations Service. In 2008, subdivisions were also created in the structure of the Center in the North Caucasus, and in 2014 - in the Crimea.
We arrived at one of the most closed and secret units of the FSB almost on the eve of the anniversary, which is celebrated on October 8th. In the Center there was a usual daily service and study. Here, employees in black uniforms and with heavy trunks in their hands unloaded from the bus - they arrived from mountain climbing training. In the gym at that time there was a physical training test - employees passed pull-ups and other standards. At the same time, snipers were training at the shooting range and practical pistol shooting was carried out - this is when fighters need to hit targets in a few seconds from a standing position and from a kneeling position, while changing clips.
We leave the shooting gallery - a group of special forces in full gear, several of them with impressive beards, meet us.
“We just returned from a business trip - in the mountains and in the forest, you know, it’s not at all up to shaving,” one of the special forces ahead of my question about the tiredness of the beard. “We’ll return home in the evening and shave.”
Most military operations in which employees of the FSB Special Purpose Center participate are classified as "secret"
Another group worked out training tasks on the Falcatus armored car, which seemed to have left a science fiction movie, paired with a no less futuristic Viking armored truck.
"And when will we see ourselves in the newspaper?" - the guys ask.
"So you are wearing masks, how do you recognize yourself - after all, they all look the same?" - I'm interested in the answer.
“This is one thing for you, and we, not only in masks, but even recognize ourselves among hundreds of backs,” the employees smile.
In general, the situation in the center is surprisingly calm, there is no nervousness and tension, everyone is busy with their own business - at the same time they are smiling and friendly.
"Did you expect to see evil killers with twisted faces?" - the special forces are interested.
I understand that everything is in order with a sense of humor. Well, it probably shouldn't be different in a unit where everyone risks their lives and knows deep down that they might not return from the next mission.
“Having been in “hot spots”, you begin to relate to life differently and evaluate people and events in a different way,” one of the CSN instructors shares his feelings.
Even relatives do not know about the details of their service, and for everyone around them, their husband, son or dad is just a military man.
Most of the combat operations in which employees of the FSB Special Purpose Center participate are classified as "secret".
Naturally, we cannot name either their faces, surnames or even names.
At the same time, the activities of the FSB special forces, hidden from the eyes of ordinary citizens, are always shrouded in a certain halo of mystery and often give rise to rumors and conjectures that are far from reality. As they say in the Center, the strength of the modern special forces is in daily exhausting training, in overcoming oneself, in every minute readiness for action and self-sacrifice. Despite the difference in characters and ages, the operational-combat units are predominantly officers, and these are young lieutenants who have just graduated from schools, and 30-40-year-old experienced employees. During a real fight, there are no young or older - everyone is in charge of each and every unit. Therefore, brotherhood in arms and a heightened sense of responsibility are not just big words, they really live by this. Any successful operation is a common victory, and the death of an employee or hostages is pain and loss for the entire Center.
22 officers and warrant officers of the Special Purpose Center were awarded the title of Hero of Russia, 12 of them posthumously
“Coming to serve in the Center is not just a dream, it is a conscious choice, so we don’t have random people,” say the commanders of the Center for Strategic Research.
As such, there is no competition here, although letters asking for admission come in hundreds every month from all over the country. Candidates for service at the Center are selected by themselves. They are mainly looking at graduates of military schools. First of all, they look at the personal qualities of future employees, their ability to endure physical and, most importantly, psychological stress.
“For example, a candidate does push-ups 100 times, but we are not interested, but we are interested in how he will push-ups 101, 105, 110 times, that is, how much he can overcome himself,” said the CSN instructor. “And with this skill, that is, work at the limit and beyond their capabilities, all the military personnel of the Center are in command.
In general, each employee of the TsSN is a universal master who can solve the most complex combat missions.
But at the same time, everyone has a specialization in which he is better than others, for example, in diving, parachuting or mountain training. As for general training, all employees, for example, should have mastered the possession of weapons to automaticity. The main skill is to hit the target with the first shot, with limited visibility and a dynamically changing tactical environment.
On average, one employee of the Center accounts for up to 10 different types of personal and group weapons. Naturally, everyone is fluent in hand-to-hand combat. True, they joke that, "if in battle it came to hand-to-hand combat, it means that up to this moment everything was very bad."
In addition, vocational training includes the study of mine-explosive business. Employees of the Center are able to conduct reconnaissance of mine-explosive barriers and overcome them. Mountain training takes place in natural extreme conditions and is a tough test for special forces.
Each employee of the TsSN is a universal master who can solve the most complex combat missions
In addition to working in the mountains, employees are trained in industrial mountaineering. One of the tactics that they use is the "live ladder", when in a matter of minutes a battle group without insurance can climb onto the roof of a multi-story building. The Center has units of combat swimmers designed to conduct operational combat operations in the coastal strip and at water transport facilities. Airborne training allows you to solve the problem of delivering units in a short time to the right place. Skydiving can be performed by employees at a great distance from the object at any time of the day from various types of aircraft. The operational combat group is able to land on a limited area with high accuracy. The skills of parachuteless landing from helicopters are constantly being practiced, which makes it possible to solve complex combat missions where the delivery of combat groups by other means is impossible or impractical. Trainings to free hostages and detain criminals take place on real objects: airplanes, helicopters, trains, buses, cars, buildings and structures. The Center's snipers have many years of fruitful experience of participating in combat operations, and have repeatedly become winners and prize-winners of international competitions at various levels. Such, for example, as the championship of snipers of the Czech Republic with a foreign presence and the world championship among police and military snipers in Hungary. At the international tournament of combat teams in Germany, which is organized by the GSG-9 service, the team of the Center became the winner in shooting disciplines.
At the World Championship among SWAT special forces police units, which took place a few years ago in Orlando, USA, the CSN team became the best foreign team. And two employees took first and second place in the championship for the best Super Swat fighter. For twenty years, the FSB Special Purpose Center has rightfully earned the authority of one of the leading anti-terrorist units in the world, which has been waging a successful war on terrorism all these years. And if at the end of the 90s Russian employees learned something from their Western colleagues, today, on the contrary, everyone comes to the TsSN - to adopt the accumulated colossal combat experience.
"Rossiyskaya Gazeta" congratulates all current employees and veterans of the Central Security Service of the FSB of Russia, as well as their relatives and friends on the 20th anniversary of the Center.
Fight against terror
In total, since 1999, in close cooperation with the operational units of the Federal Security Service, employees of the Central Security Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia, the criminal activities of over 2,000 active members of gangs, including such odious leaders of the bandit underground as Maskhadov, Raduev, Baraev, Khalilov, Astemirov, Said Buryatsky, have been suppressed. As well as a number of emissaries of international terrorism operating in the North Caucasus - Abu-Umar, Abu-Havs, Safe Islam and others.
For twenty years more than two thousand times the employees of the Center were awarded state awards. 22 commandos were awarded the title of Hero of Russia, 12 of them posthumously.
Every year, the Center's employees conduct many military events, during which hostages are released, leaders and active members of gangs are neutralized. In addition, employees of the CSN stop the channels for the sale of weapons and drugs, and detain especially dangerous criminals. They also ensure the safety of holding important socio-political, religious and other public events in the event of a threat of terrorist attacks.
Congratulating the employees of the Central Security Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation on the 20th anniversary of its foundation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “the Center carried out hundreds of successful operations to neutralize terrorists and militants, agents of foreign special services. Under enemy fire, risking yourself, you saved the lives of civilians.
The fighters of the Center are the best of the best, high-class professionals with outstanding moral and strong-willed qualities. And so it has always been. You selflessly serve Russia, stand as an insurmountable barrier to terrorism and organized crime, show examples of bravery and bravery, of true combat brotherhood. The whole world has repeatedly witnessed the courage and self-sacrifice of the fighters of the Center who freed the hostages and covered them from bandit bullets ... We will always remember those who did their duty to the end and did not return from a combat mission. We will always be with their loved ones."
Special Purpose Arsenal
It is no secret that modern equipment and weapons can significantly expand the capabilities of special forces units. And in this direction, the CSN not only keeps pace with the times, but in some cases is ahead of it.
Thus, to ensure the maneuver of assault groups in the face of enemy fire resistance, as well as protection against explosions of mines and land mines, the Viking and Falkatus armored vehicle systems were created and put into service. These machines, capable of speeds up to 160 km/h, have no analogues in the world. The jamming complex against remote explosive devices is one of the best in the world. Buggy and all-terrain vehicles have been put into operation and are actively used for rough terrain and forests.
In the near future, a special biomonitoring system is expected to be adopted, which will remotely monitor the health status of an employee directly during combat operations. The latest reconnaissance and strike robotic systems equipped with video cameras, machine guns and grenade launchers are not inferior, and sometimes ahead of the best foreign models. They are used not only for reconnaissance, but also for effective fire support of special forces units.
Various types of unmanned aerial vehicles of helicopter and aircraft type, equipped with high-resolution video equipment, help to receive information about changes in the operational situation in real time.
Regular small arms are also domestic - for example, Kalashnikov assault rifles of the hundredth series AK-100 and Yarygin pistols. True, all weapons are deeply modernized specifically for the needs of the CSN and differ from conventional army models. At the same time, the units of the Center are equipped with modern optoelectronic surveillance devices and sighting systems. All this is also domestic production.
Tests of a mechanical exoskeleton are being completed, which will help employees carry an additional load of 100 kg. Under the same exoskeleton, a reinforced armor shield with an increased degree of protection against bullets and shrapnel is being developed. Among the promising developments is a new protective suit that will withstand high temperatures, protect against radiation and aggressive environments, as well as a helmet with a video surveillance system.
The picture on the screen in the helmet will be fed from the camera mounted on the weapon. That is, a special forces soldier with intensive shelling will be able to shoot from around the corner without being exposed to terrorist fire.
The Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia is a special unit that deals only with the fight against terrorism. This post will acquaint us with the work of this unit in more detail.
To begin with, briefly about the FSB Special Purpose Center. This is a division of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, created on October 8, 1998, on the initiative of the director of the FSB of Russia, V.V. Putin, by merging into a single team of special forces units of the security agencies.
The main task of the TsSN FSB of Russia is the fight against international terrorism on the territory of the Russian Federation and beyond its borders, which includes activities to identify, prevent, suppress, disclose and investigate terrorist acts through operational combat and other activities. It is especially worth noting that the Federal Security Service acts in strict accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation, even in cases where its activities may look illegal and immoral in the opinion of certain uninitiated and incompetent citizens.
Over the years of its existence, employees of the Central Security Service of the FSB of Russia, independently or in cooperation with various units, have carried out many operational and combat activities, during which a significant amount of weapons, ammunition, explosives were seized, hundreds of hostages taken by militants were released, active members of gangs were neutralized, including such odious leaders such as Salman Raduev, Arbi Baraev, Aslan Maskhadov, Rappani Khalilov, Anzor Astemirov, emissaries of the international terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the North Caucasus Abu-Umar, Abu-Havs, Safe Islam and others.
According to indirect data, several hundred officers died in combat operations in the country and abroad, more than two thousand state awards were presented, twenty servicemen were awarded the honorary title of "Hero of the Russian Federation".
At present, the Federal Security Service is headed by General of the Army Alexander Vasilyevich Bortnikov.
TsSN FSB has the best and most modern equipment. This is its main difference from the army and other power structures of the Russian Federation. In their work, the officers of the Center use the best that Russian and foreign military science and industry can give. In the fight against terrorism, a different approach would be inappropriate
There are a lot of people who want to get into the service at the Center. The selection is strict: first of all, the CSN is guided by people who have already proven themselves to be professionals in one of the areas of special training, who have combat experience and a good military education, as well as graduates from the universities of the Ministry of Defense, Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Border Guard Service of the FSB and the Ryazan School Airborne. At the same time, the Center trains professionals of such categories that only they can raise themselves - snipers, paratroopers and combat swimmers.
Providing first aid to the wounded. Of the "Golden Hour" allotted for rescuing the wounded, the first 15 minutes are considered the most important, the faster and more qualified assistance is provided, the more likely the victim is to be saved.
In addition to physical data, special attention is paid to high moral and psychological qualities. Coming to one of the structures of the Center, the candidate must be ready, if circumstances so require, to give his life, saving the lives of the hostages. The study process lasts at least a year and a half, the dropout is very large.
With regard to fire training, it has a pronounced applied character. The emphasis is on developing sustainable shooting skills in conditions as close as possible to real situations. The level of training of CSN employees allows them to win prizes at all-Russian and international competitions, as well as to effectively solve the entire range of operational and combat missions.
The entire training system is aimed at the formation of young employees. It is carried out by leaders of all levels and instructors. It includes, among other aspects, the institution of mentoring, passing various training camps, classes and receiving good operational training in training centers and institutions of the FSB. One of the main tasks set in the Center is not only to teach how to shoot well and master the techniques of hand-to-hand combat, but above all to act consciously as part of a unit.
One of the traditional questions asked to the commanders of the FSB special forces is: how long does it take to grow a real professional from a beginner? In previous years, the answer was: five years. Now professional development is happening much faster: such is the specificity! For the past ten years, the Center has been continuously participating in special operations in the North Caucasus, which affects the quality of the personnel.
Developed in the late 1990s on the basis of a biathlon rifle for arming OMON and FSB special forces. With low ballistic characteristics for a sniper weapon, it has a very high firing accuracy and a quiet sound of a shot.
Reloading is done manually. Detachable magazine holds 10 rounds.
The stock is symmetrical in shape (equally convenient for shooting from the left and right hand), consists of two parts. The buttstock is detachable, of skeletal construction, equipped with a recoil pad and a cheek piece. In the lower part of the butt, under the hinged cover, there is room for two spare magazines. Instead of a butt, a pistol grip can be installed. The forearm has a groove for attaching a height-adjustable bipod.
On rifles of the first years of production, the stock and stock were made of lacquered wood, however, in 2007, the SV-99 received a stock and buttstock made of durable aircraft-grade dark green plywood of the SV-98 type, and in 2009, an improved version of the stock and stock from black plastic.
There are no open sights, but the rifle has a dovetail mount for mounting an optical sight.
What special tasks are performed by special forces units with the help of such a weak and short-range (what a word!), Almost toy weapon?
1. Covert destruction of enemy manpower not protected by personal protective equipment. The .22 LR cartridge used gives a very quiet and accurate shot at short distances. “The accuracy of a shot with such a cartridge at 20-30 meters is simply amazing, and the weak recoil allows you to make two or three very accurate shots in a row. When combined with a silencer, the sound of a shot is no longer heard even from two steps with the usual noise background on a city street, and a properly selected ammunition can inflict a rather serious injury to a criminal. By the way, a shot from this weapon at a distance of up to 100 m affects not only people, but also service dogs.
2. Covert destruction of enemy technical means. True, not any technical means, but only those that are affected by such a weak cartridge as the .22 LR. Lighting equipment, video cameras, signaling units, electrical distribution boxes, radio communications, car wheels ... That is, in other words, a small-caliber sniper rifle with a silencer is an almost ideal means of preparing a bridgehead for assaulting those objects that are technically possible to approach at a direct shot range from a small-caliber rifle (50-70 m.)
I must say that when ordering the development of such a peculiar weapon as a "sniper small thing", the Russian military were not pioneers in this area. American special forces have been using small-caliber .22 LR weapons ever since such weapons were born, from the end of the 19th century. And, apparently, they are not going to refuse it yet.
Photo: Don't let yourself be a weapon in the hands of impostors acting on behalf of intelligence agencies
COVERING IN THE NETWORK BY THE LUBYANKA SPECIAL FORCE
Recently, a scandal erupted: the Center for Public Relations of the FSB of Russia, after publications in the foreign press, issued a refutation and said that the group operating on Facebook called “TsSN FSB of Russia” has nothing to do with the department.
FSB DISCLAIMER
It's amazing, but we still have to explain the obvious, in general, things: only two resources representing state security are "registered" on the Internet: these are the official websites of the Federal Security Service and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC).
Yes, there are active groups and sites on the Web that cover the activities of special services, law enforcement agencies or talk about the activities of specific special forces. But these are public, voluntary and not official matters.
The military-patriotic newspaper "Special Forces of Russia", which has been published since the spring of 1994, stands apart here. But it is by no means the official publication of the FSB, but of the International Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terror unit (headed by a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, retired colonel Sergei Alekseevich Goncharov).
Another publication founded by spetsnaz veterans is the popular maroon beret magazine Bratishka, headed by Hero of Russia Sergei Lysyuk. However, a few years ago its publication was suspended.
That, in fact, is all.
But here is another matter. There is a group on Facebook that calls itself the "Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia." No more, no less. It is clear to anyone who is in the subject that these are stickies, however, the servers of this social network are located in the United States, which predetermined the choice of impostors "from the FSB".
At the same time, the “Pokemons” on the blue eye indicate their address: Bolshaya Lubyanka Street, house number 1 / 3, 2 / 3 and 3 / 3. The FSB reception phone is also there. And even modestly, without fanfare, the status of the Internet resource is marked: “state organization”.
It would seem that even more - you do not need to be a specialist to diagnose what you see on the Web. Moreover, the CSN itself is not deployed at Lubyanka, but in one of the districts of Moscow.
However, the People hides everything, doesn't it? And - hawala, hawah ...
And another stroke. 
On the avatar of this "left" community is placed the emblem of the CSN with the characteristic letter "B", i.e. "Vympel". Well, we're really picking on that, aren't we? People believe, especially foreign subscribers - here they are, they say, secret fighters of the FSB and GRU special forces who decided to go online. And not by themselves, but by the whole combat structure of the Lubyanka.
However, the Lubyanka is tracking the sticky people.
And then (in fact, at the beginning of March 2017) a refutation appeared in the press, clear and concise: actions of Russian special forces during the liberation of Palmyra from terrorists.
The Special Purpose Center has nothing to do with this information, ”the FSB Public Relations Center told RIA Novosti.
Do you think the video was removed after this? Or was there a comment? Not at all.
So, dear readers, if you have friends who are members of this group, warn them what's what. And say that every like they have, every participation is work not just for sticky people, but work for the Enemy. Exactly. So that there are no illusions. You should not be mistaken.
THE PHENOMENON OF "ORLOV"
The world is going crazy hunting Pokémon with smartphones. For those who have not heard about this newfangled game, we explain. The map in the phone leads the player to the right place, the user rotates the camera and sees and catches funny cartoon animals against the background of the real situation.
The real situation, people and virtual characters controlled by extraneous will are mixed on the screen. The unknown owner of the game places the animals anywhere - in your apartment or at the dacha, at a secret facility, in a war zone, and the players point their phone cameras at the objects themselves - transferring the desired video to invisible hands.
Similarly, in social networks, we are dealing with "Pokemon" in the guise of fake heroes. It is not difficult for a Pokémon to disguise itself as a veteran of a large power structure, because current employees do not shine on social networks (strictly prohibited!), And veterans do not know newcomers. However, in the case of Alpha, this is difficult to imagine, since those who left the service still remain part of their native unit. Veterans are connected with him through a powerful public organization.
... A year ago, a character appeared on Facebook knocking on me and several of my friends at once. Photos of the character hinted that we were dealing with ... hmm, as if not a general, "Hero of Russia", related to the Alpha anti-terror unit and going on the social network under the nickname "Alexey Orlov". By the beginning of the year, he had accumulated 2 thousand friends.
Then there was a personal correspondence. Orlov spoke little about who he was and where he came from, but he made it clear that he served in the GRU, then was in Alfa, and now he is a sniper instructor at the Special Forces Center of the FSB of Russia.
As a result, the first doubts about the reality of the character crept in, as it turned out, I was not the only one. After discussing with comrades, they found out that no one knows the newly appeared “friend”. Then they made inquiries at Directorate "A" of the Central Security Service of the FSB of Russia and the International Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terror unit. And we made sure that we have a virtual pokemon character that has never had anything to do with special forces and exists on Facebook, surrounded by other similar fictional “heroes”.
As it was possible to establish, his avatar is an old photograph of a real person - holder of the Order of Courage, reserve lieutenant colonel Ruslan Tsvetkov, who lives in Samara. He served in the Airborne Forces and the GRU special forces. Fought in the North Caucasus. It has nothing to do with Pokemon.
Began to refine the list of characters and their relationships, methods of work. The information was checked, and meanwhile the Pokémon were fed with fakes, humorously discussing the new exploits of the “elusive”, with which the ersatz heroes plentifully regaled their audience in private correspondence.
The promoted pokemon "Alexey Orlov" already had more than 3.5 thousand friends and one thousand subscribers on Facebook. Things were going uphill. Until all the “raspberries” were spoiled for him by the veterans of “Alpha” and the newspaper “Special Forces of Russia”. As a result of the high-profile exposure, Orlov's page was deleted. However, his accomplices remained, as well as the TsSN FSB of Russia group itself.
"I AM THE FIGHTER OF THE INVISIBLE FRONT"
Before ingloriously merging from the Web, the senior Pokémon Orlov at the end of October 2016 posted a simply heartbreaking post about his injury and being in the Burdenko military hospital.
Well, in VKontakte the people are savvy, such fables would not work here, but on Facebook the people, in general, are different. And a lot of foreigners. And a flurry of condolences rained down (including entries in English, Italian, etc.) to the wounded Internet fighter of the invisible front.
"Orlov" reported that "the bullet passed a few centimeters from the kidneys" (obviously, both at once!) And those "who wished him death can rejoice."
Then the stickman pressed on a tear: “I served in Group A for 8 unforgettable years, I left due to a wound. After being wounded, I recovered for a long time, and I was offered to continue my service in another unit of the army.
Well, this is strong, right!
Not a single officer of the special forces of state security will write like that by definition. "Spetsnaz Lubyanka" is one thing, the army is another! It's like "Our Father".
And then “Orlov” continued: “I created this page only for the sake of interest, I wanted to know how people relate to the army team (again, he is for his own!) and not only. Who closely followed my page (and there are many of them), I made posts about special forces, posted photos and showed Russia and Russians only from the good side. "Consumor aliis inserviendo" - shining on others, you burn yourself. I'm not going to make excuses, I just don't have the strength, and my head is full of painkillers. So excuse who I offended, I am a fighter of the invisible front and did not come here to promote myself, but to talk about my service in Group A.
... In short, it was a message in the spirit: “I am a poet, my name is Tsvetik. Hello from me to all of you!”
Readers of the "Special Forces of Russia" had a good laugh at the two photographs of the "injury" of the older Pokemon, and we quickly found out that no Orlov, of course, was admitted to the Burdenko military hospital. As no other patient with this kind of wounds did at all. A run designed for an absolutely inexperienced audience.
"Orlov" deleted the page, along with it another Pokémon from the special forces - "Aleksey Petrov", obviously looking for other guises, biographies and approaches to new persons of interest. Others in the Facebook group stayed and, after waiting, continued their activities (however, it is possible that these are the same persons under different surnames).
And the closer the presidential elections in Russia are, the more "fighters of the invisible front" will emerge from various cracks, which - which is by no means excluded! - will make stuffing and give comments on behalf of the Russian special services.
Forewarned is forearmed.
WHO NEED A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL HEROES?
What to do with this group of impostors, for what purposes do they work? Who are the faces on Facebook that the Pokémon Orlov calls his commanders, mentors, colleagues?
There are three options for which the network of virtual heroes is needed by the hosts of Pokémon.
The first is work for foreign intelligence. This is the most likely option, aimed at obtaining information about veterans and current employees, about the organization of Russian special forces, their combat and daily activities. How this is done - we will tell below.
But in addition to collecting information, the owners have extensive opportunities for manipulating real people and even for provocations. For example, a well-known Pokemon officer, not the first year on the Web, will suddenly tell his blogger friends in secret that he is fighting in some country, share another important insider. And now the correspondence with the special forces officer appears on the front pages of newspapers as proof of "Russia's treachery."
Further, even more fun - imagine that following such a revelation, the “veteran” disappears from the social network, and his friends “go on the run”, simultaneously spreading reports about how their own acting officer of the Mordor special service was killed for the truth.
Of course, the FSB of Russia will expose the "whistleblowers", but the deed is done - these will be just unsubstantiated words of the special services against the words of "heroes", "fighters for the truth", well known to the Internet community. The new virtual traitor Alexander Litvinenko is straight (the one who fled to London and died from a dose of polonium)! And everything is ready for such a provocation. I wonder when, according to the scenario, the virtual Orlov should die? After all, the “assassination attempt” on him had already taken place.
The second option is pure scam. A publicly respected SWAT officer will one day be approached privately to resolve business or legal problems. He will ask for money for solving problems. And they will give him, maybe even a lot, without ever seeing the officer in the eye and not being able to find his traces later.
Or one day, a Pokémon officer will publicly ask for help in an operation due to an injury. Reposts, receipt of money on dummy accounts - with such authority and the number of fans of the character, its owners can earn a fortune in a week, while no one has time to understand what is happening and sound the alarm.
The third option is the game of scouts and special forces, the game of "lightning". It is possible that we are dealing with an attempt to realize in the virtual world our aspirations, aspirations and ambitions that have not been realized in life, however, the likelihood of this is small - there is a group acting professionally, harmoniously, purposefully. In addition, we are not aware of the existence of manuals on the Web, with which the actions of this group can be compared.
In general, as experience shows, social networks have become an ideal environment for breeding Pokemon. You can launch a fictional character in the guise of a special agent, the hero of all wars, and there will be those who will believe in him, and then they will make others believe. The photo of the Pokemon is someone else's, stolen or processed.
When communicating on behalf of the Pokemon, the owners hide their gaps in knowledge and experience, while not answering uncomfortable questions - the Pokemon is positioned as a secret person, and its work and personality are shrouded in mystery, about which - how could it be otherwise! - you can’t talk on social networks even with your own.
The only ones who could help figure out Pokemon breeders are the owners and moderators of social networks. But Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, is based in the US with his servers. Please note that in the largest social network VKontakte, whose servers are located in Russia, the Pokemon group we are studying does not work, which once again suggests the professional actions of foreign special services.
HOW TO BECOME OWN POKÉMON IN THE REAL WORLD?
First, the impostor must be "born". They come up with a name and a legend for him, make an avatar by processing a photo of another person. They create a profile on the social network and fill it with patriotic materials, photographs pulled from other people's pages.
Then they create a company of virtual characters just like him, also “heroes”, but only on a smaller scale. Pokémon repost each other's materials, communicate and interact in the feeds of other users - objects of interest, and ask to be friends with them. As a result, "followers" of the virtual sect appear, and with them live people, hands that fulfill someone else's will, requests, commands in the real world.
“Have you seen Orlov live?” - "No, but a man came from him, brought money for a sick boy." And the man, it turns out, didn’t see Orlov either, but he received a request from him to find money for a good cause, he fulfilled it, collected it, handed it over.
A real boy, real money, real help and… a virtual hero who laid another brick in the foundation of his own legalization with someone else's hands.
Or a girl, a living friend of the virtual hero Orlov. Having tagged along to the front line, she once took part in the civil war in the Donbass. Was wounded. She is for the truth, for freedom, actively posts materials on social networks, does not have a soul in the Internet idol ... And at the same time, she is not wiser with experience.
It is difficult to overestimate the degree of her involvement in the events in the Donbass, but once, as it was said, she received a real injury - she caught fragments as a result of an explosion. As a result, other real people, at the suggestion of Orlov, met a compatriot in Moscow, assigned her to expensive treatment, and provided her with money.
Pokémon makes women fall in love with him, arranges romantic meetings under public webcams, and then says that he urgently flew to the war, but sent his friend to the meeting place, who was too shy to approach his beloved.
There are other examples of how the virtual group we are studying acts with proxy in the real world. Sometimes he does good deeds. However, the purpose of these cases is not to help people, but to legalize a group of Pokémon.
HOW DO POKÉMON COLLECT INFORMATION?
Much of the above more or less corresponds to the techniques of the so-called "seeding" (in terms of Public Relations) used to promote goods and services by advertising agencies. In the case of the legalization of the Pokemon-hero, its owners have to go through a more difficult path, interact on the Web with real veterans of the special services.
A Pokémon can jump off an uncomfortable conversation, secrecy will write it off, but this is too easy and does not correspond to its goal of "becoming one". And here we see know-how, a technique that, by analogy with "sowing", we will call "cross-pollination".
“Have you worked in staff? Do you know where the documents go after the dismissal?
“Hi, is there a new boss in the N department, do you know?”
"Hey. What kind of nonsense they write, they say, Filatov (vice-president of the International Association "Alpha", editor-in-chief of the "Special Forces of Russia" - Auth.) and Sokolov (veteran of "Alpha" - Auth.) died in the Crimea? Not? Here I am about this ... And then they tell me that their photos were shown on TV. And who then died there?
Let's add that there are at least two people behind our main character. The one that started to spin the main Pokemon was smarter, better oriented in the environment. The second made many mistakes, caused a flurry of suspicions even among purely civilians. Apparently, for the period of legalization, a more expensive specialist was attracted, and then, when the strategic task was solved, cheaper moderators and collectors of the invoice, which they swipe from wherever possible, joined in.
So, for example, the good guys from the “TsSN FSB of Russia” were repeatedly caught for stealing publications (without links, of course) from the “Spetsnaz of Russia”, the most striking example is Alexei Filatov’s essay entitled “Berserk”, dedicated to the legendary “ Alfovets" Viktor Ivanovich Blinov.
At the same time, by posting the publication on Blinov in two parts, they stupidly cut off both posts, because otherwise they would have to give links to the basic publication of the essay on the website of Spetsnaz Russia".
Personal correspondence with veterans is not all that the intelligence community does to gather information. Further more. Pokemon creates groups and pages on the social network, drags his friends and subscribers into them. Pages are created with obviously incorrect names or their spelling, but this does not bother visitors: “Spetsnaz grru rf (spn gr grsh vs rf)”, “Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia” and so on.
Everyone knows, but for some reason they forget that it is in the films that villains and scammers look and behave like villains and scammers, but in real life they are often pleasant and respectable people. In social networks, it is even easier for attackers - there is no need to look into the eyes of those whom you are deceiving. Their pages and groups contain beautiful, patriotic, often interesting and up-to-date information. How can one not believe in virtue?
And visitors believe the villains, ask questions on social networks to anonymous page and group administrators, believing that they are related to the relevant special services. The military personnel of the Ministry of Defense are interested in how to get into the service in the Central Security Service of the FSB of Russia, the widows of the dead employees - how to get benefits, and the veterans of the units - help in finding a job.
In return, users abundantly share with the owners of the intelligence network information about their participation in hostilities, photographs from the scene, not only of their own, but also of friends, including those still serving in the military.
Conclusion: the work of the studied group on Facebook bears little resemblance to pranks and petty fraud. Rather - on the operation of the special services, is not it?
WHAT TO DO?
We have what we have. We are not going to refuse to communicate in social networks, and this intelligence community is not the first and not the last that every user has to deal with on the Internet every day. Let's take at least some precautions.
First. Check your social media friends, find and remove those you don't know yourself or your real friends don't know in the real world. You will not only save yourself from unnecessary contacts, but also save your friends from the troubles, in front of whom scammers will hide behind "friendship" with you.
Second. Never add as a friend someone you doubt exists. And don't be put off by pretty faces on avatars, fiery texts, or the fact that these characters are already friends with those who enjoy your respect.
And fourth. Send someone you know in the real world a link to this material, repost it. For those who want to protect themselves from manipulation, to learn more about fraud technologies similar to those practiced by the Orlova group, we recommend reading the book by Kevin Mitnick (an iconic figure in the field of information security) "The Art of Deception" - very informative.
If in life you, dear readers, have come across some people who position themselves as veterans of the FSB special forces, or firms operating under the brands of legendary units, then this issue is easily resolved.
If it is claimed that a person served in Group A of the KGB-FSB, then the necessary information will be prompted to you by the International Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terror unit, which has accumulated rich experience in exposing sticky people and impostors for a quarter of a century.
They talk about Vympel - contact the Association of Veterans and Employees of the Vympel Special Purpose Group (headed by Valery Popov), and they will explain there whether it is true or not.
The Fund for Veterans of the Smerch Special Operations Unit of the State Security Bodies can also clarify its profile.
So do not allow yourself to be a weapon in the hands of impostors acting on behalf of the special services, because you create a much-needed extras for them to carry out the activities mentioned above.
In the conditions of the Cold War, when the Internet and the press became a weapon of mass disinformation and active information events, working, albeit passively, for the enemy is infantilism and an unaffordable luxury that diverts people's attention to unusable objects.
The author is a reserve lieutenant colonel, a veteran of Directorate "A" of the Central Security Service of the FSB of Russia. Participant of special operations on Dubrovka ("Nord-Ost") and in Beslan. Deputy Head of the Kolomna Municipal District of the Moscow Region
The newspaper "SPETSNAZ RUSSIA" and the magazine "SCOUT"