MTR operations. Special Operations Forces Day
IN last days We are all watching the events taking place in Crimea. And we are all attracted to “little green men” without identification marks, who seem to be peacefully present everywhere and do not seem to do anything in particular. Well, maybe they take pictures with girls, children and grandmothers. Who are they?
Here are quotes from a year ago from various media:
Powers special operations created in the Russian armed forces, units are undergoing training. This was announced on March 23 by the Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov.
“Having studied the practice of forming, training and using special operations forces of the leading countries of the world, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense also began to create them”
“We have created Special Operations Forces and are preparing them for use not only within the country, but also abroad. The progress of their combat training is continuously monitored by the Center’s duty shift,” Gerasimov told reporters, RIA Novosti reports. On March 23, the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping visited the Operational Control Center of the Russian Armed Forces. The Chinese leader became the first leader foreign country who visited this Center. The visit took place during his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
On March 6, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced that the Russian Ministry of Defense had begun creating Special Operations Forces and the corresponding structure and command had already been formed. Created special operations forces (MTR) are specially trained and equipped formations Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, designed to solve specific problems in the interests of achieving military, political, economic and psychological goals.
Do you get it? It is clear from these guys that they are not young conscripts at all, but fighters high level preparations, the mere presence of which inspires calm in those around them.
Let us recall that the project for creating the MTR was submitted to the military department for consideration back in October 2012, but Anatoly Serdyukov, who at that time served as Minister of Defense, considered the creation of the MTR inappropriate. However, over time the situation changed. And the news itself about the creation of the MTR Command became one of the most important military-political news in Russia. Many experts immediately called it strategic.
In the United States, such a command has existed for more than a quarter of a century. The Americans have long understood the obvious - the activities of special forces units and reconnaissance have now moved from the category of a secondary direction to a completely autonomous method of conducting combat operations. The whole point is that war in its own way classic version assumed the existence of forces special purpose as a preventative method initial stage wars, often even when hostilities are far from beginning. The enemy rear had to be saturated with special forces forces, which were transferred to enemy territory by air or water, or by other available methods and means. Then these special units began a large-scale sabotage war, disabling strategic facilities, in particular, centers and control centers for nuclear forces, strategic forces, headquarters. At the same time, it was very important that the special forces had time to perform the functions assigned to them several days before the start of active hostilities, because the enemy, instead of attacking, would be forced to restore order in his own rear, putting in order important objects and communications. This is the principle used to create special operations forces in most countries of the world.
Special operations forces also existed in the Soviet Union. Then they included eleven special forces brigades. As a rule, they were land-based and designed for deep enemy rear areas. In addition, there were naval special forces that operated in coastal areas and also committed sabotage at military facilities and naval bases.
It soon became clear that the capabilities of special forces are much greater than is commonly believed. Unfortunately, the first to come to such conclusions were the Americans, who fought a huge number of local armed conflicts.
Watch the video:
The Special Operations Forces Command remains one of the most closed structures in the Russian Armed Forces. It is known that in the last six months alone, two MTR soldiers have died in Syria: Fyodor Zhuravlev and Alexander Prokhorenko, who became a posthumous Hero of Russia.
Special Operations Forces soldiers performed critical missions. Directed and adjusted airstrikes, including cruise missiles, according to the positions prohibited in Russia " Islamic State", the flight recorders of the Russian Su-24M front-line bomber, which was shot down by the Turkish Air Force, were saved. This is a small part of the list.
The history of special operations forces began in 1999, when a specialist training center was created in Solnechnogorsk near Moscow, and in fact military unit special purpose, reporting directly to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate. Later the center was named “Senezh”, and the fighters began to be called “sunflowers”. One of the founding fathers was the then chief General Staff Army General Anatoly Kvashnin.
Sometimes this center is called a training center, but according to several interlocutors of the Military-Industrial Courier, Senezh never had such a “prefix”, and the wording “training of specialists” served rather as a cover, and also emphasized special status parts.
Initially, four areas of special operations were formed. The airborne soldiers practiced difficult jumps - both long jumps and those with the parachute opening immediately after separation from the aircraft. Mastery of such methods allows special forces to fly tens of kilometers unnoticed by the enemy. Specialists jumped both day and night using night vision devices, bad weather, at strong wind and fog.
Mountain servicemen became combat climbers, learned to storm high mountain peaks, capture and hold passes and glaciers. The training of specialists took place, in particular, on the basis of the Elbrus region training center"Terskol". The fighters made difficult climbs, even reaching the top of Elbrus.
Special forces of the assault direction learned not only to take houses and other buildings. The objectives were set much broader - capturing enemy targets in different conditions, on any terrain.
Marine fighters mastered all kinds of water areas, practiced operations in diving equipment using special towing vehicles and light boats. We learned to capture ships and coastal structures.
Already based on the experience of military operations in Chechnya, a fifth direction appeared in the center - the protection of high-ranking military personnel. The Minister of Defense is protected by FSO officers. But in conditions of hostilities, such officials as the Chief of the General Staff, the commander of the district troops, were previously accompanied to best case scenario scouts or special forces. The training of such “guards,” to put it mildly, left much to be desired. Therefore, the issue of creating a specialized unit involved in the protection of high-ranking representatives of the Ministry of Defense was acute before the emergence of the fifth direction.
At the same time, according to the interlocutors of the Military-Industrial Courier, in the center there has never been a strict tie between fighters and a specific direction. All the “sunflowers” learned to jump with a parachute, walk in the mountains, scuba dive, and storm houses. But depending on the tasks individual elements training for fighters was more in-depth.
Moreover, the command tried to ensure that specialists worked in several directions during their service. There was an exchange of experience, knowledge, skills and abilities between departments. For example, a fighter who came from the airborne force to the naval branch not only learned the peculiarities of working on the water, but also shared with his comrades the skills of skydiving.
From the moment of its formation, the directions were staffed exclusively by officers and warrant officers. Conscripts served only in business units or as drivers.
Future “sunflowers” were selected not only from airborne forces and special forces units, but also from tank crews, artillerymen, infantrymen, and even air defense and chemical warfare officers. Several times a year, “buyers” from the GRU visited military units, studied the personal files of military personnel and selected suitable candidates.
But this was just the beginning. Officers and warrant officers arrived in Solnechnogorsk, where so-called training sessions were held with them, but in fact entrance tests, where the physical training of future MTR fighters was tested, and personal qualities, and most importantly - the ability to work in a team.
Sources of the Military-Industrial Courier emphasize: the main principle of the center is not to prepare an individual fighter with excellent skills and abilities, but to create a team that acts as a single organism. This principle, strictly observed throughout all the years of Senezh’s existence, has always led the “Sunflowers” to victories.
Your way and cars for it
In the special operations forces of NATO countries, they consider it necessary to create separate divisions, trained to penetrate behind enemy lines, carry out raids and ambushes using specialized vehicles, such as the Land Rover Pink Panther in the 22nd SAS Regiment, and the Pinzgauers in the American Delta.
The experience of Russian special operations forces has shown that armored vehicles such as the domestic Tiger are in most cases not suitable for performing the tasks facing special operations forces. Therefore, the choice fell on all-terrain buggies; Senezh highly appreciated the Israeli Zibar SUVs.
Management Russian center from the very beginning, it paid close attention not just to training snipers, but to training specialists capable of conducting high-precision shooting and at the same time solving a wide range of tasks. Initially, Finnish high-precision complexes TRG-42 from Sako were purchased for these needs, and later British AWPs developed by the legendary shooter Malcolm Cooper appeared. Large-caliber weapons were studied separately sniper rifles various companies, in particular the South African "Truvel".
In Chechnya and beyond the cordon
Immediately after the creation of the Specialists Training Center, its fighters found themselves on the front line. In 1999, Wahhabi militants invaded Dagestan, but were defeated, and a few months later Russian troops launched a counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya.
It is noteworthy that the name “sunflowers” was assigned to the fighters of the center after their first trip to the Caucasus. On that trip, the servicemen wore Panama hats, which were not then available in other special forces units. According to one version, the hats were from the SPN-2 summer field kit that had just appeared. According to another, the Panama hats that the fighters saw in one of the American militants were bought in a store selling Western uniforms and equipment. Be that as it may, for its unusual appearance, and also since the center is located near the Podsolnechnaya commuter train station, its fighters received the nickname “sunflowers”. Later drawing a sunny flower against the background of a crossed sword and arrow hit the center chevron.
Despite the fact that his activities in Chechnya are still classified as “Top Secret”, according to available information, “sunflowers” liquidated and captured high-ranking militants, found and destroyed bases and caches of bandits, others decided important tasks. As VPK’s interlocutors recall, the center’s fighters were required not to have a 100 percent guarantee that the task would be completed, but all 300 percent. They simply had no right to make a mistake.
One event in the center they don’t like to remember. In the fall of 1999, senior lieutenants Alexei Galkin and Vladimir Pakhomov were captured by Chechen militants. How did experienced fighters end up in such a situation? difficult situation, still remains unclear. But later both officers, despite severe injuries, escaped from captivity and returned to their own people. Alexey Galkin became a Hero of Russia.
According to some reports, fighters from the Specialists Training Center not only fought in Chechnya, but also solved problems abroad. In particular, they participated in operations against pirates in the Horn of Africa.
The experience of military operations in Chechnya and foreign operations have shown that subordination of the center to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate is not the most optimal solution. Chapter military intelligence, for example, cannot give an order to the commander-in-chief of the Air Force to allocate an airplane or helicopters to the “sunflowers”; a rather lengthy procedure for preparing a request and then approving it is required. Meanwhile, in some cases, the time for an operation is measured in hours and minutes.
Two centers in a new look
The activities of Anatoly Serdyukov as Minister of Defense of Russia are still subject to serious criticism, but it was under him that the command of special operations forces was created. Just when switching to new look“Sunflowers”, having received the official name of the Special Operations Center of the Ministry of Defense “Senezh”, began to report directly to the Chief of the General Staff.
Serdyukov visited the base in Solnechnogorsk near Moscow more than once. Money was allocated for the purchase of weapons and equipment, and several research projects were opened. A helicopter squadron from the Center came under the operational control of Senezh combat use Army Aviation in Torzhok. And in Tver, military transport Il-76s were on duty around the clock, ready, if necessary, to deliver MTR soldiers to designated points at any time.
It is believed that during the transition to a new look, Senezh, like the special forces brigade, was subject to reductions, and many of its servicemen were either fired or removed from the staff. But that's not true. According to the Military-Industrial Courier, the command of the center, taking advantage of the opportunity provided, conducted certification of its fighters, selecting the best.
In the late 2000s, a second Special Purpose Center appeared in the Russian Ministry of Defense, subordinate to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, with a deployment in Kubinka near Moscow. The new TsSN, nicknamed “Zzaborye,” owes its appearance to Lieutenant General Alexander Miroshnichenko, who came to the post of Deputy Minister of Defense under Anatoly Serdyukov, who previously headed Directorate “A” of the FSB Special Purpose Center, in other words, the “Alpha” detachment.
A tense relationship, to put it mildly, immediately developed between Miroshnichenko and the management of Senezh. Former commander“Alpha” believed that it was necessary to create a command of special operations forces of the Ministry of Defense, relying only on the experience of his former department. The command of the “Sunflowers” reasonably stated that they had their own, no less serious achievements and training school, and the tasks of “Alpha” and the special operations forces of the military department were different.
In the current situation, Serdyukov made a compromise decision - to create a second Special Purpose Center, the formation of which he entrusted to Alexander Miroshnichenko, who attracted former subordinates from the FSB TsSN to this work.
When creating Zazaborye, Alpha employees were primarily guided by their own experience. Individual training of fighters was put at the forefront, great attention was given physical training– at the level of high achievement sports. A teamwork, the key principle of Senezh, was not a priority for the creators of the new center.
The VPK interlocutor explains: “At Alpha everything is different. They were taken in a car to the operation site, they ran 50 meters and became heroes. Nobody wants to sniff foot wraps and crawl through the mountains for weeks looking for militants.”
In 2013, this TsSN of the Ministry of Defense was subordinated to the command of special operations forces. The post of commander of the KSSO was taken by Major General Alexey Dyumin, who, according to knowledgeable people, in many ways became a compromise figure against the background of the confrontation between the leadership of Senezh and Alexander Miroshnichenko, who actively continued to implement the experience of the FSB TsSN.
It is noteworthy that Zazaborye maintained close relations with Alfa. Her former employees, as noted by many whom the Military-Industrial Courier met, instilled in the fighters of the newly created center the desire to be the best in everything at any cost.
Let us note the main thing - the fighters of both centers continued the traditions laid down by the founding fathers, fulfilling the most complex tasks: They defended the Olympics in Sochi, carried out a brilliant operation in Crimea, and are now working in Syria.
Alexey Mikhailov
Our country celebrates many holidays dedicated to certain military professions, types and branches of the military.
Two years ago, a new holiday date appeared in the military calendar: February 26, 2015 - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 103 “On the establishment of Special Operations Forces Day,” and now every year on February 27, Russia celebrates “Special Operations Forces Day.” Russian Federation».
The Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation (SSO RF) is a highly mobile army group of forces of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, designed to solve not only military, but also military-political tasks where Russia’s interests extend - including foreign countries and territories.
The range of tasks of the Russian MTR includes: protection from attacks on Russian citizens in other countries, evacuation of embassies, important officials, as well as special operations, which mean preventive measures to destroy the leaders of bandit groups, infrastructure facilities or weapons of other countries, as well as countering saboteurs, protection of strategic objects within our country.
In their activities, special operations forces fighters use methods and methods of combat that are not typical for conventional troops. The composition of the Special Operations Forces is secret, as are the vast majority of operations in which the Force participates.
From open sources: Currently, the Special Operations Forces have two special purpose centers: “Kubinka-2” and “Senezh”, but as necessary, other units of the Russian army can be introduced into the MTR.
The employees of the MTR units are armed with a variety of units and ammunition. The “nomenclature group” includes: Glock pistol 17, AK-74M assault rifle, APS underwater assault rifle, Pecheneg machine gun, self-loading gun"Saiga-12S", automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame".
The list of uniform sets for the MTR of the RF Armed Forces includes more than a dozen items. For example, the FORT “Raid-L” anti-fragmentation suit; wetsuit GKN-7; anti-fragmentation helmet 6B7-1M; body armor 6B43; Veer-6 armored shield.
MTR units use various types of vehicles, including armored vehicles, ATVs, helicopters, and combat (transport) robots.
The Senezh detachment is the most closed division army, one might say, the elite of military intelligence, whose fighters are capable of carrying out missions of any degree of danger. It is no coincidence that it was on the basis of this unit that the Special Operations Directorate was created in 2009, subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff Armed Forces RF.
Career officers and contract sergeants serve in the MTR of the Russian Federation. Almost every serviceman of the RF SO Forces has several specialties. Characteristic feature: mandatory knowledge foreign languages.
Become an employee elite unit maybe not every soldier. MTR representatives actually select candidates themselves who have the necessary knowledge and abilities. Training is carried out in a special center, as well as directly at permanent deployment points.
Training sessions are conducted in conditions as close as possible to combat conditions (at mountain ranges, in Arctic conditions, etc.).
Many MTR employees are graduates of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School and the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School.
The debut of the Russian MTR was participation in the events of three years ago - during the famous events in Crimea, which became one of the manifestations of the “Russian Spring”. The military personnel provided the Crimeans with the opportunity to conduct a free expression of will, which resulted in the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia. It was those events that served as the choice of date for the new military holiday.
On the night of February 27, 2014, units of the Ukrainian armed forces in Crimea were blocked and disarmed without firing a single shot, and all strategic objects of the peninsula were occupied by the Russian Special Forces, who behaved politely and correctly both in relation to Ukrainian army, and to the residents Crimean peninsula. The politeness of the Russian military served as the birth of a concept now known throughout the world: " polite people". This is one of the names of Special Operations Forces Day - Polite People Day.
Since 2015, units of the Special Operations Forces have been used in Syria for additional reconnaissance of targets for strikes Russian aviation.
Officers of the Russian Special Operations Forces, not sparing their lives, carried out tasks in different provinces of Syria, including the province of Homs, when the heroism of Russian military personnel helped the Syrian army liberate ancient Palmyra from terrorists - the pearl of the architectural, cultural and historical heritage of the whole modern civilization. Today in Syria, units of the Russian Special Forces ensure the security of the air force base in Khmeimim.
With the passage of time and gradual technical evolution, new devices and technologies were included in the activities of the military. This has led to the fact that the art of fighting is largely carried out remotely, through computer technology, relatively new physical principles, including guidance principles modern weapons on target.
However, there are tasks that simply cannot be solved with the help of “machines”. It is necessary to involve people with a special level of training, people who are able to complete the task as efficiently as possible.
And there are such people in our country. They are not recognized on the street, they are not “promoted” by the media. We know them by their deeds, and not by their names - their personal files are kept classified as “Secret”. They are popularly known, and this has already been noted, as “polite people”, and officially they are military personnel of the Special Operations Forces. And today these heroic people holiday.
"Military Review" is not ready to ignore the courage and heroism of the Russian Special Forces and congratulates everyone involved on the holiday. Complete the tasks assigned by your command and return home safe and sound!
On the night of February 27, 2014 and in the following days, a baptism of fire of the Special Forces took place in Crimea - today known and officially recognized. The first pancake didn't come out lumpy. Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in places of deployment in Crimea were blocked, and all strategic objects of the peninsula were occupied by people in camouflage uniform without identification marks or insignia, who behaved “politely” towards to the local population. They politely followed the disarmament of the garrisons of the Ukrainian army - almost without shots, except for a few fired into the air to alarm the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
That’s when this expression appeared - “polite people.” And a little later, when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking about the “involvement” of Russian military personnel in the events in Ukraine, said: “It is difficult to look for a black cat in a dark room, especially if it is not there. This is even more stupid if this cat is smart, brave and polite” - this unique status has become almost official.
“The most important thing for us is not muscle strength, but still the head. The scout works with his head: he doesn’t hit bottles and bricks, but thinks with it. Any intelligence officer, technical intelligence or otherwise, is, first of all, smart. That is, human intelligence,” notes GRU Special Forces Colonel Alexander Musienko
Career officers and contract soldiers serve in the MTR. Each is a specialist not only in military affairs: academic degree This is not uncommon here, and knowledge of foreign languages is mandatory. They call themselves scouts: this best explains both the nature of the unit’s tasks and the veil of secrecy that surrounds it. Active fighters are prohibited from communicating with the press.
It was precisely due to their intelligence and their unshakable reputation that they not only prevented in Crimea in 2014. bloodshed, but there were almost no shots fired (not counting those fired into the air as a warning). Although in use various weapons these people have no equal. But in this case, their reputation worked more effectively than a bullet.
“Special operations forces are, in banal terms, a certain pilot project development of the army of the future. Two or three years will pass, and all the special forces brigades that exist will accept this new tactics, new methods of training, new equipment, new weapons. This will already be a fairly large and formidable force,” said Oleg Martyanov, a member of the board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation (the first commander of the MTR).
Structure of the Special Operations Forces (SSO)
Izvestia found out back in 2013. structure of the Special Operations Forces (SSO).
As Izvestia’s source in military circles told, in addition to the special forces of the Ministry of Defense, the special forces will include special forces of the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as units of the FSO, the FSIN and the FSKN.
We are talking about creating a headquarters command in the General Staff of the Armed Forces, to which, if necessary, the special forces of all will be transferred to the operational control security services and troops,” explained Izvestia’s interlocutor.
Participation in the MTR will require adjusting the combat training program of special forces in order to unify their capabilities and increase interaction.
The special forces of the Federal Penitentiary Service, for example, need training not only in suppressing riots in colonies and prisons, but also in blocking sabotage groups, Izvestia’s interlocutor gave an example.
He explained that the MTR will be able to conduct operations both outside the country - for this they will use the special forces of the Ministry of Defense "Senezh", the Airborne Forces, special forces brigades (GRU special forces), as well as the special forces of the Federal Drug Control Service "Grom" - and inside - they will already use internal troops, units of the FSIN, FSB special forces and other services.
Options for such actions include protection from attacks on Russian citizens in other countries, evacuation of embassies, important officials, as well as “special assignments,” which mean targeted mini-operations to destroy militant leaders, infrastructure or weapons, and leaders of other countries.
Inside the country, the opposite is true - the SOF will have to counter saboteurs, block landings, protect strategic infrastructure facilities, such as power plants, command posts, government agencies, communication centers.
The Special Operations Forces Command is one of the structures of the General Staff with a permanent staff.
The military unit near Solnechnogorsk, conventionally called “Senezh” (after the name of a nearby lake), is a special forces unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). On its basis, a Directorate of Special Operations was created, subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. “The Senezh detachment has always been the most closed unit of the army,” says reserve colonel V. “This is the elite of military intelligence, whose fighters are capable of performing tasks of any degree of danger. Only officers and contract servicemen serve in the detachment. Each of them is trained to achieve specific goals, including uncharacteristic methods and methods of combat operations. This is a professional of the highest standard. It is no coincidence that the Special Operations Forces were formed on the basis of this unit.”
The composition of the Special Operations Forces, as well as all its activities, are secret. Apparently, all combat highly professional special forces of various law enforcement agencies(Special Forces) and some units as combat support and transportation, depending on the specific military mission.
If we talk about Special Forces, then lists of such units are available in the public domain, but, again, without confirmation from official bodies. For almost every special unit there are informal websites organized, apparently, by retirees of these units. Naturally, all this is without reference to official bodies.
Special forces units of the Russian Federation of various departments, as components of the special forces.
1st component of the MTR from the Moscow Region
Units and formations of the Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (SpN GU GSh). Note Recently the GRU began to be called the GU.
Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Valentinovich Korobov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, was appointed to the post on February 2, 2016. In intelligence since 1980. Awarded 5 orders and a medal “For Courage”.
Before him, the Directorate was headed by Colonel General Igor Dmitrievich Sergun in 2012-2015. By the nature of his activity, he is a co-author in planning, providing intelligence data and maintaining the secrecy regime of at least two well-known operations of the Russian Armed Forces in Crimea and Syria. Much to our chagrin, he died suddenly at the beginning of the year in the prime of his strength. The officially announced reason was a heart attack.
Information about the MTR command was not found. The first commander is Colonel Oleg Martyanov.
Brigades of the Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces:
2nd separate special purpose brigade - Western Military District (Pskov). Formed on the basis of directives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR and the commander of the LVO troops in the period from September 17, 1962 to March 1963.
3rd separate guards special purpose brigade - Central Military District (Tolyatti). Formed in 1966 by directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the GSVG on the funds of the 26th separate battalion Special forces in the Werder garrison with the participation of personnel from the 27th separate special forces battalion of the Northern Group of Forces, the 48th and 166th separate reconnaissance battalions.
10th separate special purpose brigade - Southern Military District (Molkino village, Krasnodar region). It was again formed in the North Caucasian Military District (Southern Military District) in May 2003.
14th separate special forces brigade - Eastern Military District. (Ussuriysk). Formed on December 1, 1963 Over 200 officers, sergeants and soldiers took part in combat operations in Afghanistan as part of special forces. 12 officers, 36 sergeants and soldiers were killed. From January to April 1995, the combined Special Forces detachment took part in establishing constitutional order in Chechnya.
16th separate special purpose brigade - Western Military District (Tambov). The Moscow Military District was formed on January 1, 1963.
22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade - Southern Military District. Formed on July 21, 1976 by order of the commander of the Central Asian Military District in the city of Kapchagai, Kazakh SSR. In March 1985, the unit was redeployed to the city of Lashkargah of the Republic of Afghanistan and took part in Afghan war. Is the only one military formation, which received the guards name after the Great Patriotic War. In 1989-1992, the unit was stationed in Azerbaijan. In June 1992, the unit was redeployed to the territory of the Russian Federation and included in the troops of the North Caucasus Military District. From November 1992 to August 1994, the formation's operational group was involved in maintaining the regime state of emergency and separation of the parties in the Ossetian-Ingush interethnic conflict. From December 1, 1994 to the operational group of the formation participated in hostilities on the territory of the Chechen Republic.
24th separate special purpose brigade - Central Military District (Novosibirsk). Formed on November 1, 1977 on the basis of the 18th separate company special purpose.
346th separate special forces brigade. Prokhladny. Kabardino Balkaria. Southern Military District.
25th separate regiment special purpose, Stavropol. Southern Military District Created in 2012 to ensure security of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. It is stationed in Stavropol on the territory of the headquarters of the 49th Army.
Special purpose center TsSN "Senezh" military unit 92154, Solnechnogorsk Moscow region Western Military District.
Marine reconnaissance points of the MRP Spetsnaz GRU- one in each fleet.
42nd MCI Special Forces (Russky Island, New Dzhigit Bay, near Vladivostok, Pacific Fleet) military unit 59190;
420th MCI Special Forces (Zverosovkhoz settlement, near Murmansk, Northern Fleet);
137th (formerly 431st) MCI Special Forces on Black Sea Fleet(Tuapse), military unit 51212;
561st MCI Special Forces (Parusnoye village, near Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region, Baltic Fleet).
In peacetime, the MCI includes 124 people. Of these, 56 are fighters, the rest are technical personnel. Share technical staff in departments naval special forces significantly higher than in the GRU special forces. The fighters are divided into groups of 14 people, which are autonomous combat units. Those, in turn, include more small groups 6 people each: 1 officer, 1 midshipman and 4 sailors. A separate article will be published in more detail.
Number of units and formations of the GRU Special Forces
Currently, the GRU special forces consist of eight separate special forces brigades, one regiment and four GRU naval reconnaissance posts. According to various sources, the number of units and formations of the Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff currently ranges from 6 to 15 thousand people. In addition to units and formations of the Special Forces, troops are subordinate to the GRU general purpose numbering about 25 thousand people. But as you understand, all this data is unofficial and it is not a fact that it is correct. Please consider these to be for some guidance.
It should be noted that it is impossible to compare the soldiers and officers of the Special Forces with the military of the Ground Forces. Just as they don’t compare, for example, a stiletto with a sword. These are tools for completely different tasks. Each special forces soldier, having undergone many years of training using unique methods, is many times superior to an ordinary soldier: in the fortitude of the military spirit, in physical training - they are fluent in hand-to-hand combat techniques, in having the skills to use most types of weapons on the battlefield. In addition, these people have the highest tactical training and are aimed at completing assigned tasks in any case, finding individual and optimal solutions for them each time. They are trained to act both in a group and alone. It follows that, despite a certain small number, special forces, when used correctly, are a super-effective military tool.
Airborne Special Forces, as an integral part of the MTR and the Airborne Forces, as a possible reserve for the MTR and a base for the creation of Rapid Reaction Troops.
45th Separate Guards Order of Kutuzov Order of Alexander Nevsky Special Purpose Brigade. Formed by 2015 on the basis of the 45th regiment of the Special Forces of the Airborne Forces 2 (military unit 28337) Kubinka, Moscow region, Western Military District.
I admit that, if necessary, if the special operation is large-scale, the KSSO may be subordinated to additional units of the Airborne Forces. This is indirectly indicated by plans to increase the number of airborne forces.
Special forces brigade and three separate reconnaissance battalion joined the Airborne Forces in 2014, he told reporters official representative Airborne Forces Lieutenant Colonel Evgeny Meshkov.
"As part of the Airborne Forces, a special purpose brigade was created (Moscow region) and three separate reconnaissance battalions were formed in two air assault battalions (76th Pskov and 7th Novorossiysk) and one airborne division(106th Tula)".
2014 it was reported that in Airborne troops The formation of peacekeeping forces, the number of which exceeded 5 thousand people, was completed.
In addition, a source in the General Staff in the summer of 2014. told TASS about plans to approximately double the number of airborne forces - to 72 thousand people. It is expected that these plans will be fully implemented in 2019.
Shamanov added that the rapid reaction troops being created in Russia, the basis of which will be the Airborne Forces, may include army aviation. He explained that attack drones, with which it is planned to equip the Airborne Forces, will allow intelligence units operate deep behind enemy lines...
It should be noted that the Airborne Forces are essentially rapid reaction troops. It is possible that in order for them to finally receive this status, in addition to increasing the staff, it is necessary to update the fleet of military equipment and increase the number of transport aircraft, with the addition of units of the Ground Forces with heavy equipment. All these steps are planned in the coming years, right up to the creation of new heavy transport aircraft by 2025 in quantities sufficient for the simultaneous transfer of several hundred tanks, several tanks in each. And here it is possible and necessary for the MTR command to coordinate the various branches of the military.
Text at the beginning of the post from the articles:
Army of the Future: How Special Operations Forces Soldiers Perform Difficult Tasks
Military service has at all times enjoyed great honor and respect in almost every existing state. After all, the troops are the force that can protect the country from external aggression. It should be noted that the history of the development of military art stretches back to ancient times. Many modern principles army formations were established in Ancient Greece and Rome. With the passage of time and gradual technical evolution, new devices and technologies were included in the activities of the military. This has led to the fact that in the 21st century, the art of killing in most cases is carried out remotely, through computers, missiles, drones, etc. However, there are tasks that are simply impossible to cope with remotely or with the help of machines. That is, it is necessary to involve people with a special level of training. This type of military exists in every state. As a rule, they are combined into units. In the Russian Federation, there is a similar formation within the Armed Forces. It performs special functions and also has its own structure, staff and features, which will be discussed later in the article.
The concept of special units
The special operations forces of the Russian Federation are special units in the structure of the Armed Forces, as was already indicated earlier. But few people understand what the category of “special units” is in general. As a rule, formations of this kind are created as part of the army, since it is precisely in combat conditions that situations very often arise that require a special approach. But there are special units also in internal services, for example, the police, etc. Taking this into account, we can conclude that special units are formations in the system of bodies involved in the comprehensive defense of the state, which are responsible for carrying out the most dangerous and inherently complex missions.
Russian "analogue"
Special Operations Forces are a unit directly included in It was developed in 2009 as a result of the global reform of the entire defense sector of the state. The unit is assigned special tasks, which will be discussed in more detail later in the article. It should be noted that the Russian special operations forces report directly to the chief of the Russian Armed Forces. Today, the exact number of the special unit is unknown, since it is protected by a special regime. As for the issue of MTR equipment, the command approached it quite professionally. The unit uses all available technical innovations in the field of military affairs. It should be noted that the staff of special operations forces carries out its activities on the basis of a special service.
Main tasks of the unit
Russian special operations forces are highly mobile units. Their employees have a special military training, which builds experience in performing important and dangerous tasks. In accordance with this, we can say that the main directions of the work of the MTR are quite specific. They are usually implemented peacefully, war time both abroad and on the territory of the Russian Federation. It should be noted that the Russian special operations forces are a young unit. Many aspects and immediate goals of his work are still not fully known. However, we can say with confidence that special operations forces are engaged in the implementation of the task of the same name, which, in turn, has its own characteristics.
The concept of a special operation
The presented term characterizes the military process. It differs from ordinary operations in the specifics of its implementation, goals, and methods of activity of its subjects. First of all, it should be noted that a special operation is carried out by military units to protect the interests of the state in a particular territory. Moreover, such actions are considered special because it is simply impossible to implement them using conventional methods and means. That is, the subject composition of special operations is almost always highly qualified fighters of well-trained and highly mobile units. The methodological basis of their activities in most cases is the secrecy and secrecy of any actions. For this purpose, military personnel special units undergo special psychological, combat, fire and other types of training. They are trained to operate both as part of a mobile group and individually behind enemy lines. The most common purposes of special operations are the following:
Sabotage;
Sabotage;
Activities of a subversive nature, etc.
History of the creation of the MTR
It has already been pointed out that special operations forces are a relatively young unit. It did not exist in its modern form before. Its creation is preceded by a fairly long history. The governing body of the MTR was created in 2009, when the general reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation began. Gradually, the structure of the new division developed and expanded. By 2012, a special operations forces command had been created. It consisted of about nine special brigades. However, the actual creation of special operations forces began in 2013. At this time, the command of this formation began to implement planned work aimed at bringing the structure of these divisions into proper form. According to the statement of Valery Gerasimenko, Army General, by March 23, 2013 personnel The MTR was actually already formed. At this time, it was being prepared for direct use both on the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad. Around the end of April 2013, the Russian Armed Forces conducted exercises that were aimed at practicing practical actions in conditions as close as possible to real ones.
Division structure
The special operations forces of the Russian Federation have their own internal structure, due to the need to quickly respond to situations the solution of which is within the scope of the unit’s activities. At the same time, the composition of the MTR, in turn, has an internal hierarchy, which makes it possible to distribute functional responsibilities between individual structural elements. Thus, the special operations forces of the Russian Federation consist of the following elements:
- Direct command located in the Moscow region.
- Special center "Snezh", which is also located in the Moscow region. It should be noted that this center today is one of the main parts of the unit presented in the article. Its task is not only to train fighters, but also to conduct special operations. Therefore, Snezh has a structure consisting of departments in different areas of activity, which will be discussed below.
- Special training center for specialists. Direct training of personnel takes place in this department. Here, in essence, Russian special operations forces are born. In addition, soldiers from other special units of the Russian Federation undergo training and retraining at the center.
- A combat center similar to “Snezh” is “Cuba” or “Zzaborye”, as it is commonly called.
Of course, it is possible that there are other special centers, but information about them may be strictly classified. This level of mystery around the MTR is not accidental. After all, the fighters of this unit carry out operations that are far from straightforward. It should be noted that the SEAL unit, the SEALs, popular throughout the world, also did not officially exist in the first stages of its development. Only over time was the fact of its creation and real activities revealed.
Structure of the special center “Snezh”
In order to at least roughly understand how the special operations forces of the Russian Armed Forces work, it is necessary to take a more detailed look at the composition of the Snezh special purpose center, which was mentioned earlier in the article. It should be noted that in accordance with the tasks assigned to the MTR, the structure of the center includes a number of special departments. Each of them is responsible for maintaining combat training and performing specific functions. One of these departments is the airborne department. The fighters serving in it, in accordance with the name, constantly replenish the arsenal of ways to penetrate behind enemy lines directly through the air. That is, there is a strong emphasis on skydiving, as well as paragliding. The fighters of this department are comparable to employees; however, their activities and methods of landing are kept secret.
There is also a special mountain division. Its fighters specialize in operating and surviving in appropriate conditions. As we know, conducting special operations in the mountains has increased level risk, which necessitates special training of fighters. The same requirements are put forward to employees who work in the department for the destruction and capture of enemy infrastructure, that is, buildings, headquarters, bunkers, etc.
The department is inherently multipurpose special actions Navy. Most often it is called sea. This formation is a competitor " fur seals"United States of America. Because its activities are based on carrying out tasks in the waters of lakes, rivers and seas. As a rule, fighters carry out their work from watercraft. In addition, the functional tasks of the department include reconnaissance operations, sabotage operations on water bodies the enemy and those located directly on the shore.
No less important and functional is the department specializing in the protection of high-ranking officials. government officials. In this case, its functions at some points intersect with the activities of Federal service security
Additional structural departments special center"Snezh" are the withdrawal and support units. In the first case, we are talking about formations that are engaged in the withdrawal separate groups MTR from behind enemy lines or the location of the operation. Today, withdrawal can be carried out both by air, land and water. The remaining departments of the center are engaged material support and communication. It should be noted that on the territory of “Snezh” there are special complexes, which are used to provide fighters and maintain their fighting shape.
Russian special operations forces: how to get there?
Some young people would like to get into this unit. To date, the recruitment process for service in the special operations forces of the Russian Federation is not known exactly. The unit, according to unclassified data, is staffed by contract military personnel. That is, all employees without exception are professional fighters, and not people who go through conscript service. In addition, many specialists of the unit end up in it after graduating from special military service. educational institutions, in which certain faculties are provided. These today are the Ryazan Higher Airborne command school, and However, it is possible that personnel in the MTR is also replenished through the recruitment of people who are already serving in units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Conflicts involving the unit
To date, special operations forces have officially been deployed on the territory of the state of Syria. In this country, the unit was engaged in ground reconnaissance of the area to support airstrikes. At the same time, the activities of the unit are confirmed by a fact that was also covered in the media. According to the official version, near Palmyra in March 2016, MTR soldiers liberated the city. Due to superior enemy forces, one of the special forces personnel was killed. In addition to military operations in Syria, there is a lot of unofficial information about the activities of the Special Forces in other military conflicts, for example in the North Caucasus during the fight against Islamists. The most controversial is the fact of the participation of fighters of the mentioned unit in the Crimean crisis.
Special unit emblem
The Russian special operations forces, whose emblem is presented in the article, have special symbols. It is, first of all, represented by a common sign that exists among all military formations in Russia. The emblem of the MTR of the Russian Federation is a gray wreath, at the top of which is a reduced emblem of the Russian Armed Forces, namely a double-headed eagle of gold color. In the center of the Special Operations Forces badge is a bow, the string of which is pulled by an arrow with wings. This symbol is also gold in color.
So, this article presented photos of the special operations forces of the Russian Federation. We also found out the main tasks and composition of this unit. Let's hope that more information about the activities of the MTR will soon appear, which will make it possible to judge the quality of the work of this unit.