Rus (special forces)
Encyclopedia
Rus' was a special forces
unit (spetsnaz
) of the Interior Troops
(VV), of the interior ministry (MVD) of the Russian Federation. It was a unit in the Independent Operative Purpose Division (ODON).
Rus was created on August 1, 1994. It traces its roots from the OMSBON, the Independent Motorized Infantry Battalion of Special Purpose, which was created in 1964 from the 4th Battalion of the OMSDON. The dedicated role of the unit is counter-terrorism
and direct action in times of crisis. Officers and members of the unit regularly travel abroad to meet their foreign counterparts (especially in Israel
, Austria
and Germany
) in order to share and gather their common experience and training techniques.
Rus actively participated, along with other MVD units, in the military and paramilitary operations in Chechnya
. Since 1999, the unit is involved in active counter-terrorist operations there, along with other FSB
, MVD and GRU
special forces units. According to official data, the unit claims the destruction of hundreds of hidden weapons caches and hideouts. The liquidation of a certain number of terror cells, or rebel
groups, is also claimed to be a collective work of FSB, GRU and MVD units operating alongside Rus.
Rus is one of the most decorated Spetsnaz
(special forces) units in Russia. Since its creation, eight hundred Rus servicemen have been decorated for courage, six have been awarded the title Hero of Russia (three posthumously). A monument
commemorating the fallen members of the unit was unveiled on February 25, 1997 at the home camp of the unit (location unknown).
In 2005, the unit was said to be still operating in Caucasus.
On September 1, 2008, Rus and Vityaz
were deactivated and then merged into a single unit, the 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Center of the MVD of Russia, on the direct command of ODON
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit (spetsnaz
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
) of the Interior Troops
Internal Troops
The Internal Troops, full name Internal Troops of the Ministry for Internal Affairs ; alternatively translated as "Interior " is a paramilitary gendarmerie-like force in the now-defunct Soviet Union and its successor countries, particularly, in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan...
(VV), of the interior ministry (MVD) of the Russian Federation. It was a unit in the Independent Operative Purpose Division (ODON).
Rus was created on August 1, 1994. It traces its roots from the OMSBON, the Independent Motorized Infantry Battalion of Special Purpose, which was created in 1964 from the 4th Battalion of the OMSDON. The dedicated role of the unit is counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
and direct action in times of crisis. Officers and members of the unit regularly travel abroad to meet their foreign counterparts (especially in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) in order to share and gather their common experience and training techniques.
Rus actively participated, along with other MVD units, in the military and paramilitary operations in Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
. Since 1999, the unit is involved in active counter-terrorist operations there, along with other FSB
FSB (Russia)
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the main domestic security agency of the Russian Federation and the main successor agency of the Soviet Committee of State Security . Its main responsibilities are counter-intelligence, internal and border security, counter-terrorism, and...
, MVD and GRU
GRU
GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye is the foreign military intelligence directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation...
special forces units. According to official data, the unit claims the destruction of hundreds of hidden weapons caches and hideouts. The liquidation of a certain number of terror cells, or rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
groups, is also claimed to be a collective work of FSB, GRU and MVD units operating alongside Rus.
Rus is one of the most decorated Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
(special forces) units in Russia. Since its creation, eight hundred Rus servicemen have been decorated for courage, six have been awarded the title Hero of Russia (three posthumously). A monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
commemorating the fallen members of the unit was unveiled on February 25, 1997 at the home camp of the unit (location unknown).
In 2005, the unit was said to be still operating in Caucasus.
On September 1, 2008, Rus and Vityaz
Vityaz (MVD)
Vityaz was a Russian Spetsnaz unit of the MVD, a unit in the Independent Operative Purpose Division of the Internal Troops.Vityaz was assigned specifically to counter-terrorism duties. Vityaz unit regularly conducts counter-terrorism patrols in Chechnya and along the Caucasus border...
were deactivated and then merged into a single unit, the 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Center of the MVD of Russia, on the direct command of ODON