Military service at all times was highly respected and respected in almost any existing state. After all, it is the troops that are the force that can protect the country from external aggression. It should be noted that the history of the development of military art dates back to ancient times. Many modern principles of army building were laid in ancient Greece and Rome. Over time and a gradual technological evolution, new devices and technologies were included in the activities of the military. This led to the fact that in the 21st century the art of killing is in most cases realized remotely, through computers, rockets, drones, etc. However, there are tasks that cannot be dealt with remotely or using 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 special units . In the Russian Federation, there is a similar formation in the Armed Forces. It is engaged in the performance of 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 previously indicated. But few people understand what the category of "special units" in general is. As a rule, formations of this kind are created as part of the army, since it is precisely in the conditions of hostilities that situations often arise that require a special approach. But there are special units also in internal services, for example, police, etc. Given this, we can conclude that special units are formations in the system of bodies engaged in comprehensive defense of the state, on whose shoulders lies the fulfillment of the most dangerous and complex in their essence of missions.
Russian "analogue"
Special Operations Forces is a unit directly included in the structure of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It was developed in 2009 as a result of global reform of the entire defense sector of the state. The unit is entrusted with special tasks, which will be discussed in more detail later in the article. It should be noted that the special operations forces of Russia report directly to the Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces. To date, the exact size of the special unit is unknown, since it is protected by a special regime of state secret. As regards the issue of MTR equipment, then the command came up 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 operates on the basis of a special service.
The main tasks of the unit
The special operations forces of the Russian Federation are highly mobile units. Their employees have special military training, which builds up experience in the implementation of important and dangerous tasks. In accordance with this, we can say that the main directions of the MTR work are quite specific. They are usually implemented in peacetime, wartime both abroad and on the territory of the Russian Federation. It should be noted that the special operations forces of Russia are a young unit. Many aspects and immediate goals of his work are still not fully known. However, with confidence we can say that the forces of special operations are engaged in the implementation of the eponymous task, which, in turn, has features.
Special Operation Concept
The presented term characterizes the military process. It differs from ordinary operations in the specifics of the conduct, objectives, as well as 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 given territory. Moreover, such actions are considered special because it is simply impossible to implement them by conventional methods and means. That is, the subject composition of special operations is almost always highly qualified soldiers of well-trained and highly mobile units. The methodological basis of their activities in most cases is the secrecy and secrecy of any action. For this, the military personnel of special units undergo special psychological, combat, fire and other types of training. They are trained to act as part of a mobile group, and individually in the rear of the enemy. The most common objectives for conducting special operations are as follows:
- sabotage;
- diversion;
- activities of subversive nature, etc.
History of the creation of MTR
It has already been pointed out earlier that special operations forces are a relatively young unit. In its modern form, it did not exist before. Its creation is preceded by a rather long history. The MTR management body was created in 2009, when the general reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation began. Gradually, the structure of the new unit developed and expanded. By 2012, the command of special operations forces had been created. It consisted of about nine special teams. However, the actual creation of special operations forces began in 2013. At this time, the command of this formation began to implement the planned work aimed at bringing the structure of these units in proper form. According to Valery Gerasimenko, army general, by March 23, 2013, the SSO personnel had already been formed. At this time, he was preparing 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.
Unit Structure
The special operations forces of the Russian Federation have their own internal structure, due to the need to quickly respond to situations whose solution falls within the scope of the unit. At the same time, the composition of the MTR, in turn, has an internal hierarchy that allows you to distribute functional responsibilities between the 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 is today one of the main parts of the unit presented in the article. His task is not only training fighters, but also conducting special operations. Therefore, Snezh has a structure consisting of departments of different lines of activity, which will be discussed later.
- Special training center. In this unit there is a direct training of personnel. Here, in fact, Russian special operations forces are born. In addition, fighters of other special units of the Russian Federation undergo training and retraining at the center.
- Similar to the "Snezh" combat center is the "Cuba" or "Zaborzhe", as it is commonly called.
Of course, it is possible that there are other special centers, however, information about them can 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 unambiguous. It should be noted that the SEAL division, which was popular all over the world, “seals”, also did not officially exist at the first stages of its development. Only with the passage of time was the fact of its creation and real activity revealed.
The structure of the special center "Snezh"
In order to at least roughly understand how the special operations forces of the RF Armed Forces work, it is necessary to examine in more detail 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 center structure 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. The soldiers serving in it, in accordance with the name, constantly replenish the arsenal of methods of penetrating the enemy rear directly through the air. That is, a strong emphasis is placed on parachuting, as well as paragliding flights. The fighters of this department are comparable to the employees of the airborne troops, but their activities and methods of landing are kept secret.
There is also a special mountain unit. His fighters specialize in activities and survival in appropriate conditions. As we know, carrying out special operations in the mountains has an increased level of risk, which necessitates the availability of special training for fighters. The same requirements are put forward for employees who work in the department for the destruction and capture of enemy infrastructure, that is, buildings, headquarters, bunkers, etc.
Multipurpose in essence is the special operations department of the Navy. Most often it is called marine. This formation is a competitor to the "fur seals" of the United States of America. Because his activity is based on the fulfillment of a task in the waters of lakes, rivers and seas. Typically, fighters do their job with watercraft. In addition, the functional tasks of the department include the implementation of reconnaissance operations, sabotage operations on enemy water bodies and those located directly on the shore.
No less important and functional is the department specializing in the protection of senior government officials. In this case, its functions at some points overlap with the activities of the Federal Security Service.
Additional structural departments of the special center "Snezh" are units of withdrawal and support. In the first case, we are talking about formations that are engaged in the withdrawal of certain MTR groups from the enemy rear or the location of the operation. Today, the conclusion can be made both by air, and by land and water. The remaining divisions of the center are engaged in material support and communications. It should be noted that in the territory of "Snezh" there are special complexes that are used to provide fighters and maintain their combat form.
Forces of special operations of Russia: how to get there?
Some young people would like to join this unit. Today, the process of recruiting for service in the forces of special operations of the Russian Federation is not exactly known. The composition of the unit, according to unclassified data, is staffed at the expense of contract servicemen. That is, without exception, all employees are professional fighters, and not people who undergo military service. In addition, many specialists of the unit get into it after graduating from special military educational institutions, in which certain faculties are provided. Those today are the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, as well as the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School. Nevertheless, it is possible that personnel in the MTR are also replenished through the recruitment of people who are already serving in units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Unit Conflicts
To date, special operations forces have been formally deployed on the territory of the state of Syria. In this country, the unit was engaged in ground reconnaissance to ensure the conduct of airstrikes. At the same time, the activities of the unit are confirmed by the fact, which was also covered in the media. According to the official version, near Palmyra in March 2016, militants of the MTR carried out the liberation of the city. Due to superior enemy forces, one of the special forces was killed. In addition to military operations in Syria, there are many unofficial statements on the activities of the MTR in other military conflicts, for example, in the North Caucasus in the process of combating Islamists. The most controversial is the fact of the participation of the fighters of the said unit in the Crimean crisis.
Special unit emblem
The special operations forces of Russia, whose emblem is presented in the article, have special symbols. First of all, it is represented by the common sign that exists among all military units in Russia. The emblem of the MTR of the Russian Federation is a gray wreath, at the top of which there is a reduced emblem of the Russian Armed Forces, namely: a double-headed eagle of golden color. In the center of the sign of the special operations forces is a bow, the bowstring of which is pulled by an arrow with wings. This symbol also has a golden color.
So, in this article were 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 soon there will be more information about the activities of the MTR, which will allow us to judge the quality of work of this unit.