Military unit of the SSO. Special Operations Forces Day
For many years, there has been talk in the Russian Ministry of Defense about the need to create a new separate structure, a separate type of troops - Special Operations Forces (SSO). The need to create such a structure has become urgent due to the experience of past wars and counter-terrorism operations. One of the goals of creating the MTR was to unite military units special purpose under a single command. Before the emergence of the Special Forces as a full-fledged structure, special forces brigades were subordinate to the commanders of military districts, while the GRU formed the task of special forces, but did not directly supervise the brigade. In many ways, a similar structure in armed forces ah USA - United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM).
The first unit of the MTR was the Special Purpose Center "Senezh" in Solnechnogorsk, a little later they created in Kubinka analogous body— special purpose center “Kubinka-2”. Judging by reports from various publications, before the departure of Anatoly Serdyukov new structure did not receive development. With the advent of Sergei Shoigu as Minister of Defense, the situation changed dramatically and already in April 2013, selected journalists were invited to MTR exercises in the Caucasus. The main combat unit of the MTR is the Senezh Special Purpose Center. Powers special operations are surrounded by perhaps a greater veil of secrecy than other GRU special forces brigades. This is one of the most secret and elite structures of the Russian Ministry of Defense, on TsSN armament there are the most modern weapons, not only Russian, but also foreign.
“Overheard” publication in a group in the village of Paltso
A few days ago, while monitoring social networks with our team, we came across a post in the group “ Overheard in Finger", which spoke about the death of a certain Zhuravlev Fedor. At the same time, in the comments, the author of the post said that Fedor died in Syria:
A little later, a second publication appeared in the same group, in the comments to which another person said that Zhuravlev died in Syria. Also in the comments, one person wrote that he died in Dagestan - we will consider this version below, but this person was corrected by the author of the first post, again saying that Fedor died in Syria:
Original recording
Saved copy
As always in such cases, we began to contact the authors of posts and comments under fictitious legends and fake profiles. We asked for a link to Fedor’s profile on the social network VKontakte or Odnoklassniki (so that using his profile and photographs it would be possible in the future to prove or disprove that he is an active serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces and was in Syria):
We also clarified how he died and where he died:
After this, we clarified what branch of the military the deceased served in:
We checked where the information came from that he died in Syria:
The man in the screenshots above is a friend of the deceased, not the closest, judging by the fact that in last time I talked to him in the summer of 2014. Green On the messages we are painted over, in black - the friend of the deceased. Then we talked with another friend of the deceased. We established the patronymic of the deceased (Vladimirovich), confirmed his age (27 years old), confirmed the existence of his brother Alexander, as well as his wife and daughter. In addition, a second friend also confirmed that Fedor died in Syria:
Our messages are colored green, friend's messages are colored blue.
We tried to find the profiles of the deceased Fedor in in social networks, but as his friends said, he did not have profiles on social networks, which is quite typical for GRU officers. We observed a similar thing during ours - they also either did not have profiles on social networks, or they were under false names. We also did not find profiles of his brother and parents.
Field work
This information was too little to publish a full-fledged investigation, but the information itself was important and could not simply be passed by. Therefore, we passed on the collected information to several journalists so that they could get involved and conduct their own investigation, perhaps ask questions to loved ones, officials, Ministry of Defense. This was before the funeral. We also decided to go to the place, to the village where the parents of the deceased live and where his funeral was to take place. While working with local sources, it was established that on Monday, November 23, a farewell to him and his deceased colleague took place in Fedor’s native military unit. According to sources, this happened in Solnechnogorsk, on the shore of Lake Senezh. Sources also reported that in addition to the two dead, there was one more wounded.
There are two military units in Solnechnogorsk: 43292 and 92154. Judging by some news, both military units are located on the same territory. At the same time, on the Internet you can find many links about military unit 92154, with a description that this is GRU special forces, from which the Senezh Special Purpose Center, SSO, was formed. There is very little information about military unit 43292 on the Internet, and everything is either with the context of “GRU special forces” (but there are much fewer such links than about 92154), or without mentioning the type of troops. Many links about military unit 43292 are redirected to topics and groups with names like “military unit 92154, GRU special forces.” We believe that military unit 43292 is simply the headquarters / command / garrison of the same Senezh TsSN.
We also established from local sources that the wife of the deceased lives in Solnechnogorsk, which further confirms that the deceased Fedor belongs to the Senezh Center.
November 13 senior Researcher(RUSI) Igor Sutyagin published an article in which he described which units of the Russian Ministry of Defense are involved in the operation in Syria. This list also included a team of snipers from the Senezh Special Purpose Center:
Also, on November 17, when the FSB admitted that Airbus A321, flight 7K9268 crashed as a result of a terrorist attack, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Sergei Zhigarev:
“Vladimir Vladimirovich said quite clearly that retribution will overtake the terrorists, and I think that special operations forces can be used for this, and they operate not from the air, but on the ground.”
This is nothing more than a comment from a private person, these are not statements by the State Duma itself, but it is important to note these words. Coupled with the words of Vladimir Putin that the organizers of the terrorist attack must be found and punished, no matter where they are, the appearance of elite Russian special forces in Syria is more than expected.
When we started working together with individual journalists on this investigation, it seems that the locals noticed the attention and suddenly changed in behavior: they stopped making contact, and suddenly began to put forward the version that Fedor died during a counter-terrorism operation in Dagestan, and not in Syria at all. Fedor’s relatives also strictly stand by the version that Fedor was not in Syria and died during the counter-terrorism operation in Dagestan, and that he is not a special forces special forces officer of the Special Forces of the Special Forces or the GRU, but a simple paratrooper.
Let us recall that when in June 2015 we spoke with the parents of the dead GRU special forces from the 16th separate GRU special forces brigade, that their sons died during a counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, and not in the Donbass. In addition, they received documents from the Russian Ministry of Defense with exactly this version of death.
Indeed, there was recently a counter-terrorist operation in Dagestan, but nothing has been reported about the security forces killed in it. In addition, the counter-terrorist operation in Dagestan began on November 22, and the death of Fedor, according to his friends, “has been known since Thursday,” i.e. from November 19.
Departure to Paltso
For further investigation, we needed to establish the exact date of death, as well as obtain photographs of Fedor’s grave to prove that he was an active serviceman (by the wreaths and uniform in the photograph). To begin with, we tried to find assistants who could complete this task. We published a message about the search for assistants, while throwing in two additional cities known for their military units (Tambov and Baltiysk) as a distraction:
To carry out a secret mission we need people from Tambov, Bryansk and Baltiysk. Write to telegram https://t.co/6ZZnHY0zUK
But in the end we decided to go on our own, partly because it is too dangerous a task and the assistant would risk his health and freedom, partly because the assistant must be very trusted. Having waited until the funeral was over (so as not to attract unnecessary attention), which took place on November 24, we took the train and arrived in Bryansk at night:
The road to the small village of Paltso took an hour and a half along remote, snow-covered roads:
Arriving in Paltso at dawn, we were faced with the task of establishing the location of the cemetery. Since the village is too small (population only 968 people), its infrastructure facilities are not marked on navigators and maps. We were helped to find the cemetery by fir branches with flowers, which we suddenly noticed on one of the roads in the village. These branches with flowers stretched in an even trail from the house of the deceased’s parents to the cemetery itself, which was located on the outskirts of the forest. There we quickly found Fedor’s grave:
So we established the exact date of birth of Fedor (09.11.1988) and date of death (11.19.2015). The confirmed date of death did not coincide with the version of the counter-terrorist operation in Dagestan, which began three days after Fedor’s death.
Near Fedor’s grave we found exactly the same wreaths from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and from colleagues who we:
In the photo Fedor is wearing military uniform with the rank of captain:
The Airborne Forces buttonholes are visible on the collar, but this does not in any way refute Fedor’s service in the GRU special forces, the special forces of the Special Forces of the Special Forces. Let us remind you that the dead servicemen of the 16th separate GRU special forces brigade, about whom, wear exactly the same uniform, with the same buttonholes:
Anton Savelyev, serviceman of the 16th OBRSpN GRU
In 10 days, 57 people supported us, thanks to which we have currently managed to collect 2% of the target amount. This collection is very important for us, as it will allow us to conduct more thorough investigations, devote more time to them, and What is important is to make such field trips more often in search of additional evidence. For example, this trip to Paltso cost us 7,600 rubles. We will write a more detailed report on the fundraising progress in a separate post.
Note: We found out that many people do not notice that in our command in the third field you can enter an arbitrary amount, including, for example, 50 kopecks.
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 oversaw the disarmament of the garrisons Ukrainian army- almost without shots, except for a few fired into the air to harrass the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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 the other is primarily the mind. 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 here is not a rarity, but knowledge foreign languages Necessarily. 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 Federal Penitentiary Service, special forces of the FSB 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, and protect strategic infrastructure facilities, such as power plants, command posts, government agencies, and communications 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, the Special Operations Directorate was created, subordinate to the chief General Staff Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. “The Senezh detachment has always been the most closed division army,” says reserve colonel V. “This is the elite 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 highly professional combat special forces of various law enforcement agencies (Special Forces) and some units for combat support and transportation, depending on the specific military mission, are quickly subordinated to the MTR command.
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 Russian Federation appointed to office 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 conventional war: in terms of stamina of military spirit, in terms of physical fitness - they are fluent in techniques hand-to-hand combat, by 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 ah the formation is complete peacekeeping forces, whose number exceeded 5 thousand people.
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 the 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 various genera troops.
Text at the beginning of the post from the articles:
Army of the Future: How Special Operations Forces Soldiers Perform Difficult Tasks
Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent Alexander Kots spent the day with a Special Operations Forces unit near Palmyra
Russian special forces in positions in front of the militants who retreated under the attacks of the Aerospace Forces
Along the deserted streets of Palmyra, the wind drives smoldering rags and dried leaves of branches cut by splinters. Deserted houses sadly slam the shutters of windows that have long since lost all their glass. Rare Syrian soldiers, seeing us, show ISIS (ISIS is an organization banned in the Russian Federation - ed.) a house of worship, followed by a field hospital in the basement. On some houses there are still inscriptions in Russian: “There are no minutes.” After the last release. Now the sappers have not finished their work yet. A black terrorist flag flutters on the roof of the Heliopolis Hotel - the former headquarters building has not yet been cleared of mines. Over the past three years, the town has been twice attacked by medieval barbarians. And each time they were driven out of the city mainly thanks to the help of the Russian military. In addition to the Aerospace Forces bombers that crushed strongholds and fortified areas of militants from the air, units of the Special Operations Forces worked on the ground.
Special Operations Forces - the elite of the Russian armed forces
The MTR is the elite of the Russian Armed Forces. Special forces, each fighter of which is a top-class specialist. These are snipers who destroyed terrorist leaders from among Russian immigrants. Thanks to them, Russian pilots accurately hit ISIS positions on the heights leading to Palmyra, bringing the liberation of the ancient city closer. Their names cannot be mentioned, their faces cannot be shown, and in many ways their work is classified as “Top Secret.” Together with a convoy of Special Operations Forces, I am moving to the front lines near Palmyra, from which the militants were thrown back, but they are leaving very reluctantly. In combat formation, armored vehicles travel only along proven bypass roads to minimize risks - militants can plant landmines at night.
SOF observers in position
MTR fighters differ from other representatives of the RF Armed Forces even in appearance. Although, if you meet such a person in civilian life, you will hardly be able to distinguish him from an ordinary passerby. Here you will find the most modern equipment, weapons and technical means. The fighters look, needless to say, impressive. Like in the movies. Just on real war the cost of error is disproportionately higher. You can't shoot a second take. The special forces from the hatches of the "Tigers" tenaciously peer along the flanks, moving the barrel of the AGS easel grenade launcher. The detour takes an hour and a half longer, but we get to the MTR observation post without incident.
MTR fighter in position
From here it is two kilometers to the village where the militants have settled. It’s five minutes to the “green patch” under the height occupied by terrorists. Several Russian special forces soldiers are lying on a hillock, drilling into enemy territory with binoculars. A few minutes later, several powerful explosions mushroom on the horizon. The Russian Aerospace Forces, thanks to coordinates from MTR specialists, suppressed the resistance of the militants in the green area.
An MTR soldier monitors enemy territory
There is a large concrete hangar nearby. Inside are three burnt ISIS tanks. Above is a huge hole in the concrete as an example of the filigree work of Russian pilots. But the coordinates of this hangar were transmitted directly from the ground.
Special forces special forces are equipped with the latest equipment
Special operations forces ensure the Syrian army moves forward. New look Russian special forces- perfectly trained, well armed and equipped, performing tasks of any complexity anywhere in the world. Although, of course, the Syrians will have to do the main work themselves. No one will storm the heights occupied by ISIS for them. But thanks to the interaction Russian VKS and it will be much easier for the MTR to do this.
As soon as the MTR fighters find the target, they immediately transmit the coordinates to command post. Aviation continues
“This time, during the capture of Palmyra, everything went faster,” admit the Syrian fighters. — Almost all of us took part in the first assault and learned to interact with the Russians. We had to work hard to capture the Citadel - five machine gunners were sitting there, and you can’t bomb architectural monuments. But in the end we managed. We will not give up Tadmor (the Arabic name for Palmyra) again.
Thanks to the coordinates transmitted by the MTR fighters, Russian aviation launched a precise strike on the hangar in which three ISIS tanks were hidden
Four Syrians and one Russian planes and headed towards the old city. There, in the amphitheater, music sounded again. On the occasion of the arrival of the commander of the Russian group Andrei Kartapolov in Palmyra, the Syrians organized a small concert of student ensembles who performed patriotic songs in gratitude for Russian help.
The special forces are equipped with the most modern weapons and uniforms
EQUIPMENT OF MTR FIGHTERS
Equipment for Special Operations Forces soldiers
On last week American edition The National Interest published a publication dedicated to the Russian Special Operations Forces, praising their combat effectiveness. According to the magazine's authors, these units are one of the most serious threats to Russia's opponents. “Our Version” decided to find out what the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Armed Forces actually are.
As such, the Special Operations Forces (SOF) have existed for four years, and previously they did not particularly attract the attention of either domestic or foreign specialists. Everything changed on February 27 of this year, when Vladimir Putin congratulated them on the holiday - Special Operations Forces Day, recently introduced into the calendar. This assessment of the type of troops speaks at least about the significant role that these troops are assigned today. At the same time, it is not known for certain what exactly the Russian Special Operations Forces are; even the name of the head of this structure remains under the cover of secrecy. Some sources report that it was initially headed by General Alexei Dyumin (former head of Vladimir Putin’s security, now governor Tula region). This seems to be true, since at first it was reported that the Special Operations Forces would be led by one of the General Staff structures with a permanent staff. At the same time, it is possible that today, due to the complexity and exceptional importance of the SOF tasks being performed, the Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who has extensive combat experience, has taken over direct control.
Personnel for the MTR are prepared by the GRU and the FSB
There is no information about the number and structure of the MTR. In 2013, when their creation was announced, it was announced that they would include 10 GRU special forces brigades. In addition, battalions will be operationally subordinate to the command of the Special Operations Forces Marine Corps Navy, Airborne Forces and Air Force units, including transport and unmanned aircraft. At the same time, taking into account the costs of providing and training such a unit and relying on world experience, a number of experts estimate the core of the Special Operations Forces at a maximum of 800–1000 people. The remaining parts, which are formally included in the composition, do not have necessary level preparation.
Special operations forces have been compared to the elite American Delta Force, whose troops are deployed around the world.
It was possible that the MTR would include special forces of the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as units of the FSO, FSIN and FSKN. It is interesting that the option of creating joint Special Operations Forces under the auspices of the CSTO was initially considered, but this, apparently, is too closed a structure, with sensitive tasks, to attract even allies.
Today it is obvious that huge amounts of money are being invested in equipping the MTR, an arsenal of high-tech weapons is being created and military equipment, which are developed exclusively for these forces. Some of the weapons are already being tested in combat conditions. This is clearly hinted at by the Ministry of Defense, which regularly posts videos about the actions of the Special Forces in Syria on YouToube, where, as if by chance, they are “exposed” modern systems weapons, weapons, new armored vehicles, and different kinds military vehicles and other means, including combat robots. In addition, it was officially and unofficially reported that the MTR has specialists who use the most modern computer and satellite technologies, as well as systems electronic warfare. It is separately mentioned that special forces soldiers have a special uniform and protective equipment that protects them from bullets and shrapnel, as well as from extreme climatic conditions. At the appropriate level is also combat training. Thus, The National Interest reports that Russian Special Operations Forces use special system, which includes parachuting, mountaineering and diving. One of the most important areas of training is sniper training, Special Forces are also trained to fight in the city and protect high-ranking military officials in combat zones. By the way, a number of sources confirm that it was the MTR unit that saved the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
The main principle of training MTR fighters is not just to individually prepare a fighter with excellent skills and abilities, but to create a team that acts as a single whole. Candidates for the MTR are sought mainly in airborne and special forces units. To get into elite squad, you need to pass entrance tests, where they check physical training future MTR fighters, their personal qualities, and most importantly – the ability to work in a team. IN tactical training One of the main areas is the ability to act in offline mode, at a considerable distance from the main forces, deep behind enemy lines. Training takes place at the Senezh GRU Specialist Training Center, established in 1999 in Solnechnogorsk near Moscow. It was also reported that in Kubinka, near Moscow, on the basis of the 45th Airborne Regiment, a center for training contract special forces was created, where the experience of the FSB special unit “Alpha” is used.
Designed to intimidate
Today, Special Operations Forces are surrounded by an aura of mystery, superiority and invincibility, which gives them weight and is additional factor impact on the enemy. This, however, is what they do in other countries. Let us remind you that such units are not a Russian invention; they have been operating successfully for a long time in almost all developed countries. In most cases, these are autonomous, maximally closed structures, with their own funding, high status and separate logistics support, having aviation and special weapons. Special operations forces are used, as a rule, in local military conflicts, when the use of large military contingents is considered
premature, but quick and effective impact on the enemy. Simply put, when the enemy needs to be intimidated. The expensive maintenance of special forces is justified by their use to counter the proliferation of weapons mass destruction, to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.
In this regard, it is no coincidence that The National Interest journalists compare the Russian Special Operations Forces with the elite American unit Delta Force, whose troops are deployed around the world at US military bases, both external and internal, and in as soon as possible ready to begin the next secret mission in any region. The Americans practically do not limit the use of their special forces - among their tasks, for example, protecting against attacks on US citizens in other countries, evacuating embassies, as well as conducting operations to destroy militant leaders, infrastructure or weapons, and leaders of other countries. In particular, it was the Delta squad that was credited with carrying out the operation to kill Osama bin Laden.
Alexander Perendzhiev, expert at the Association of Military Political Scientists:
– The publication of an American publication about Russian SOF is rather an attempt to provoke a public discussion in Russia and, with its help, cause some leaks about the capabilities of this structure. That is, this is a kind of information intelligence. In order to obtain information, the bait is thrown in the form of flattery towards new Russian troops so that they open up and talk more about their achievements. Apparently, the Americans realized that a very powerful and effective structure had been created. The leadership of the Armed Forces will play its own game in this situation. The Russian Ministry of Defense will try to find out what is known about these forces, and most likely information about the capabilities and activities of the Special Forces will be kept as secret as possible. These forces are designed to act covertly and unexpectedly, which is precisely what makes them strong point, their trump card. Even if we recall the operation in Crimea in 2014, initially no one from the top leadership - neither the Minister of Defense nor the President - recognized that these were representatives of the Russian Armed Forces.
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 of the 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, automatic AK-74M, automatic underwater APS, machine gun "Pecheneg", 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 Vehicle, including armored cars, ATVs, helicopters, combat (transport) robots.
The Senezh detachment is the most closed unit of the 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 of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Career officers and contract sergeants serve in the MTR of the Russian Federation. Almost every serviceman of the RF SO Forces has several specialties. Feature: mandatory knowledge of foreign languages.
Not every serviceman can become an employee of an elite unit. 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 Corps command school and 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 Russian Special Operations Forces soldiers, who behaved politely and correctly both towards the Ukrainian army and towards the residents Crimean peninsula. The politeness of the Russian military gave birth to the 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 Russian Forces special operations, 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 entire 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 warfare 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 have a 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!