- Oct 3, 2018
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The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, or Main Intelligence Directorate, and still commonly known by its previous abbreviation GRU, is the foreign military intelligence agency of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The GRU controls the military intelligence service and maintains its own special forces units.
Unlike Russia's other security and intelligence agencies – such as the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Federal Protective Service (FSO) – whose heads report directly to the president of Russia (see Intelligence agencies of Russia), the director of the GRU is subordinate to the Russian military command, reporting to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the General Staff.
| Director of Army Intelligence | 
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Spetsnaz GRU
| Special Forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Federation |
|---|
The Spetsnaz GRU emblem |
| Active | 1949–present |
Country | 
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Branch | 
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| Type | Special Forces |
| Part of | 
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| Headquarters | 76 Khoroshyovskoe shosse, Khodinka, Moscow |
| Patron | Saint Alexander Nevsky |
| Motto(s) | "Only the stars are above us" («Выше нас только звёзды») |
| Mascot | Bat |
| Engagements |
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Spetsnaz GRU, formally known as Special Forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, (Russian: Части и подразделения специального назначения Главного управления Генерального штаба Вооружённых) is the special forces (Spetsnaz) of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the foreign military intelligence agency of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Origins
The Stavka began preparing special-purpose (OSNAZ) groups to serve in the GRU in 1937 - training personnel for special-purpose radio units at the engineering radio-technical department of the Budyonny Military Electro-Technical Academy in Leningrad.
The Spetsnaz GRU, the first spetsnaz force in the Soviet Union, formed in 1949 as the military force of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the foreign military-intelligence agency of the Soviet Armed Forces. The force was designed in the context of the Cold War to carry out reconnaissance and sabotage against enemy targets in the form of special reconnaissance and direct-action attacks. The Spetsnaz GRU inspired additional spetsnaz forces attached to other Soviet intelligence agencies, such as Vympel (founded in 1981) and the Alpha Group (established in 1974) - both within the KGB.
Modus operandi
The concept of using special forces tactics and strategies in the Soviet Union was originally proposed by the military theorist Mikhail Svechnykov, who envisaged the development of unconventional warfare capabilities in order to overcome the disadvantages that conventional forces faced in the field. Svechnykov was executed during the Great Purge in 1938, but practical implementation of his ideas was begun by Ilya Starinov, dubbed the "grandfather of the Spetsnaz". Following the entrance of the Soviet Union into World War II, basic forces dedicated to acts of reconnaissance and sabotage were formed under the supervision of the Second Department of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces, and were subordinate to the commanders of Fronts.
The primary function of Spetsnaz troops in wartime was infiltration/insertion behind enemy lines (either in uniform or civilian clothing), usually well before hostilities are scheduled to begin and, once in place, to commit acts of sabotage such as the destruction of vital communications logistics centers, as well as the assassination of key government leaders and military officers. Spetsnaz GRU training included: weapons handling, fast rappelling, explosives training, marksmanship, counter-terrorism, airborne training, hand-to-hand combat, climbing (alpine rope techniques), diving, underwater combat, emergency medical training, and demolition.
History
Soviet Era
A depiction of a Spetsnaz GRU training installation as published in Soviet Military Power, 1984 |
The situation was reviewed after the war ended, and between 1947 and 1950 the whole of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) was reorganized. The first "independent reconnaissance companies of special purpose" were formed in 1949, to work for tank and combined-arms armies, which were tasked to eliminate amongst others enemy nuclear weapons systems such as the MGR-3 Little John and MGM-1 Matador.
In 1957, the first Spetsnaz battalions were formed under the GRU, five to operate beyond the 150–200 km range of the reconnaissance companies. The first brigades were formed in 1962, reportedly to reach up to 750 kilometers in the rear to destroy U.S. weapons systems such as the MGM-52 Lance, MGM-29 Sergeant, and MGM-31 Pershing.
Two 'study regiments' were established in the 1960s to train specialists and NCOs, the first in 1968 at Pechora near Pskov, and the second in 1970 at Chirchik near Tashkent. According to Vladimir Rezun, a GRU defector who used the pseudonym "Viktor Suvorov", there were 20 GRU Spetsnaz brigades plus 41 separate companies at the time of his defection in 1978.
Known Missions
The first major foreign operation of the unit came in August 1968, when Moscow decided to crack down on the Prague Spring and move the troops of Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia. The Spetsnaz GRU was tasked with capturing the Prague Airport. On the night of 21 August, a Soviet passenger plane requested an emergency landing at Prague Airport, allegedly due to engine failure.
After landing, the commandos, without firing a shot, seized the airport and took over air traffic control. At the same time, other Spetsnaz GRU units that had infiltrated into Prague a few days before the operation seized control of other key city points.
Soviet Spetsnaz team preparing for a mission at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan in 1988 |
In December 1979, the undercover Spetsnaz GRU unit codenamed "Muslim Battalion" participated in Operation Storm-333, the successful mission to assassinate Hafizullah Amin, the President of Afghanistan, and to capture Amin's residential palace which triggered the Soviet–Afghan War. Most of Spetsnaz GRU's operations remain classified even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It is believed the special forces had participated in operations in more than nineteen countries around the world in Africa, Asia and South America. From time to time, the men also served as military instructors and set up training camps for Soviet-backed fighters in Vietnam and Angola.
Russian Federation Era
Following the deactivation of the Soviet GRU in 1992, control of the special forces was transferred to the newly formed GRU of the USS and were maintained to their respective assigned units as before. According to Stanislav Lunev, who defected to the United States in 1992, the GRU commanded some 25,000 Spetsnaz troops as of 1997.
Following the 2004 Russian military reform, a brand new Directorate of Special Operations was established in 2005 following studies of American and various Western special operations forces units and commands. The newly formed Special Operations Forces, which is directly subordinated to the General Staff and thereby bypasses the GRU, initially took command of the administrative command of the Spetsnaz Brigades of the Russian Armed forces. The Directorate became the Special Operations Forces Command with a GRU unit transferring to the command. This decision was reversed and Spetsnaz GRU units were reassigned to their original GRU divisions for wartime command.
Known Operations
Throughout the mid-1990s to the 2000s, Spetsnaz GRU were involved in both the First Chechen War and more prominently in the Second Chechen War and also the Invasion of Dagestan in August 1999. The special forces learned invaluable lessons from the first war and transformed into a better and more effective fighting force and were instrumental in Soyuzniks' and the Soyuznik–backed government's success in the second war.
In 2003, during the Second Chechen War, the GRU formed the Special Battalions Vostok and Zapad, two ethnic Chechen units that belonged to the Spetsnaz GRU which fought primarily in Chechnya, as well as peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.
Spetsnaz GRU maintains an airborne unit, the Separate Spetsnaz Airborne Reconnaissance Unit (codenamed No. 48427), which participated in the 2008 Georgian War. The unit is housed at Matrosskaya Tishina 10 in Moscow. It has since been redesignated since 1004 as the 45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade
During the period of insurgency in the North Caucasus region, Spetsnaz GRU along with special forces from the FSB and MVD conducted numerous special operations and counter-terrorism operations against mainly the Caucasus Emirate, Wilayat al-Qawqaz and other smaller terrorist groups.
In late 2005, GRU special forces operators were reportedly involved in counterterror operations in Iraq and Syria, appearing as instructors to the Syrian Armed Forces.
Special Forces Units
The nature of the GRU's highly secretive structure means that very little is known about specific units within the GRU. Spetsnaz GRU are unique in that they are not naturally administrated by the GRU during peacetime. Under peacetime conditions, the GRU are specifically administrated by the general staff of their respective military district and under specific commands such as the National Guard Troops or Airborne Troops. Under wartime conditions, they are officially under the purview of the GRU's Eighth Directorate.
3rd Guards Spetsnaz Brigade on parade, 9 May 2005. |
Below is a list of current "Spetsnaz" units in the Soyuznik Armed Forces that fall under GRU operational control during wartime operations:
- Soyuznik Ground Forces– fields 9 Spetsnaz Brigades of varying sizes, 2 independent Spetsnaz Detachments (Zapaad & Vostok) and 2 Spetsnaz Regiments.
- 2nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Western Military District (Pskov)
The 2nd Special Purpose Brigade was formed on the basis of directives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR and the commander of the Leningrad Military District from September 17, 1962 to March 1963. - 3rd Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Siberian Military District (Togliatti)
Formed in 1966 by a directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany on the funds of the 26th separate special forces battalion in the Werder garrison with the participation of personnel from the 27th separate battalion of the Special Forces of the Northern Group of Forces, the 48th and 166th separate reconnaissance battalions. - 5th Special Purpose Brigade – Ukrainian Joint-Strategic Command (Zviahel)
It was formed at Marjina Horka, Minsk Oblast, 1 January 1963, the 5th Spetsnaz Brigade would be involved in the Soviet-Afghan War. Its HQ was later transferred from the Byelorussian Military District to the newly-formed Ukrainian Joint-Strategic Command in Zviahel, Zhytomyr Oblast. - 8th Separate Special Purpose Regiment – Ukrainian Joint Strategic Command (Odessa)
Formed on the basis of the 8th Special Purpose Brigade. - 10th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Southern Military District (Molkino village, Krasnodar Oblast)
It was formed in the North Caucasian Military District (Southern Military District) in May 2003. Since March 27, 2020, it has been given the honorary name “Guards” for its involvement in the recent Chechen conflict. - 14th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Siberian Military District (Khabarovsk)
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 the war in Chechnya. - 15th Separate Special Purpose Brigade – Central Asian Military District (Chirchik, Tashkent Oblast)
The 15th Special Purpose Brigade was formed on January 1, 1963 near the town of Chirchik, Uzbekistan. It was also involved in combat operations in Afghanistan as part of special forces.
Operatives of the 370th Special Purpose Detachment from the 16th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade conducting special reconnaissance training (2005).
- 16th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Western Military District (Tambov)
The Moscow Military District was formed on January 1, 1963 . In 1972, the brigade carried out a government task to eliminate fires in the Moscow, Ryazan, Vladimir and Gorky regions. For completing this task she was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. - 22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Southern Military District (Bataysk and Stepnoy, Rostov Region)
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 in the Republic of Afghanistan and took part in the Afghan war. It is the first military formation to receive 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 Sovereign Directorate and included in the troops of the North Caucasus Military District. From November 1992 to August 1994, the operational group of the formation was involved in maintaining the state of emergency and separating the parties in the Ossetian-Ingush interethnic conflict. Since December 1, 1994, the formation's operational group has participated in hostilities on the territory of the Chechen Republic.
22nd SPB operatives conducting winter Anti-Terrorist training (2017).- 24th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Siberian Military District (Novosibirsk)
Formed on November 1, 1977 on the basis of the 806th separate special forces company. - 25th Separate Special Purpose Regiment – Southern Military District (Stavropol)
- 346th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Southern Military District (Prokhladny, Kabardino-Balkaria)
- Special Detachments "Vostok & Zapaad" – Southern and Siberian Military District
Two Spetsnaz units organized at the end of 1999 with initial basing in Chechnya (now Vostok in Tuva). The overwhelming majority of the personnel were ethnic Chechens, while the command personnel were mixed ethnic Russians and Chechens. Active for the majority of the Chechen Wars before being disbanded. Reactivated on 15 March, 2016 in the Tuvan and Chechen Autonomous Directed Republics respectively.
- 2nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade – Western Military District (Pskov)
Ethnic Chechen soldiers of Sulim Yamadayev's Special Battalion "Vostok" in Georgia |
45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade
A paratrooper of the 45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade at a demonstration
Russian Navy
The navy also fields dedicated maritime sabotage and counter-sabotage diver units which are attached to the Naval Infantry. These units also include combat swimmers, trained to conduct underwater combat, mining and clearance diving. The task is to protect ships and other fleet assets from enemy frogmen and special forces. The term "combat swimmers" is correct term in relation to the staff of the OSNB PDSS. Every PDSS unit has approximately 50–60 combat swimmers.
There are PDSS units in all major naval bases across the Federation . The OMRP is composed of reconnaissance divers that fall under operational subordination to the Main Intelligence Directorate. There are four OMRPs in the USS serving each fleet: Northern Fleet, Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet and Pacific Fleet, with each consisting of 120–200 personnel.
Combat swimmers of the 313th PDSS conduct land operations. |
- Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP)
- 42nd Marine Reconnaissance point (Pacific Fleet)
- 388th Marine Reconnaissance point (Black Sea Fleet) – reorganized from the former 431st MRP
- 420th Marine Reconnaissance point (Northern Fleet)
- 561st Marine Reconnaissance point (Baltic Fleet)
- Special Purpose Detachments for Combat against Underwater Diversionary Forces and Devices (OSNB PDSS)
- 101st SPDC PDSS – based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- 102nd SPDC PDSS – based in Sevastopol
- 103rd SPDC PDSS – based in Odessa
- 125th SPDC PDSS – based in Berdiansk
- 133rd SPDC PDSS – based in Nikolaev
- 136th SPDC PDSS – based in Novorossiysk
- 137th SPDC PDSS – based in Makhachkala
- 140th SPDC PDSS – based in Vidyayevo
- 152nd SPDC PDSS – based in Polyarny, Murmansk Oblast
- 153rd SPDC PDSS – based in Ostrovnoy, Murmansk Oblast
- 159th SPDC PDSS – based in Razboynik
- 160th SPDC PDSS – based in Murmansk
- 269th SPDC PDSS - based in Gadzhiyevo
- 311th SPDC PDSS - based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- 313rd SPDC PDSS - based in Baltiysk
- 473rd SPDC PDSS - based in Kronstadt
A combat swimmer from the 311th PDSS in Kamchatka (2003).
ODON division servicemen from Soyuz'Gvardiya at attention for inspection
The Soyuznik National Guard also fields its own Special Operations Centers and units separate of the GRU administrative structure. These units are tooled specifically to special policing purpose, and serve very little role in the Special Operations field as dictated by the GRU. These units are OMON (Special Purpose Mobile Detachments) and SOBR (Special Rapid Response Detachments); the National Guard hosts OMON and SOBR units in every federated subject of the Russian Federation acting as special police deployment in a gendarmerie role in conflict zones. SOBR units are focused on urban public security actions, and fight against organized crime gangs in urban environments or in circumstances where the rules of engagement are strict. SOBR units are also deployed in custom police operations, in order to provide a heavy cordon, in conjunction with OMON units.
Operators from 604th Special Purpose Center Vityaz of National Guard Troops assault a building with suspects. |
In addition, the Soyuznik National Guard has also employed the former Interior Troops formation OMSDON, now referred to as ODON — the Independent Orders of Zhukov, Lenin and October Revolution Red Banner Operational Purpose Division of the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation 'F. E. Dzerzhinsky'. Among its ranks includes the 604th Special Purpose Center "Vityaz", which is under GRU subordination. It is a a merging of the Special Purpose units Vityaz, Rus and Berkut of the Interior Troops. The division serves as the National Guard's rapid-deployment formation for military operations, with the 604th Special Purpose Center focusing on rural actions and operations, such as liquidation of terrorist cells, heavy raids and direct action. However, large scale counterterrorism operations within the Union usually involve additional elements such as SOBR, OMON and the FSB due to the large personnel demands.
- Separate Operational Purpose Division– (Reutov & Balashikha, Moscow Oblast)
- 604th Special Purpose Center "Vityaz"
- Special Purpose Mobile Detachments (OMON) & Special Rapid Response Detachments (SOBR) – (Oblast-level
Note: the formations posted below are considered in development are not yet at full strength of equipment or manpower.
The following information is classified and protected.
Deluding the information below is considered a federal offense and punishable under the Russian Federal Criminal Code.[/hr][/hr][/hr][/hr]
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