There were rumors about how the Spetsnaz, the country's special-operations forces, might be used by the Kremlin.
In late January, the UK's defense secretary told lawmakers that people were linked to the Russian state in ways that were not conventional.
Over the past 20 years, the US and Western militaries have relied more on special operators. While Russia's elite forces play that role, Moscow has 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884
It wasn't until after World War II that Spetsnaz units were officially formed. Stalin signed off on them in the 1950s, while the Defense Minister advanced their development later that decade.
Spetsnaz is an abbreviation of the Russian phrase for "special purpose forces." It has come to describe all specialized units in the Russian military, law enforcement, and emergency services.
Spetsnaz has the same meaning as special operations, and is used broadly, much in the same way as special-operations forces is applied to a range of US units inside and outside the Defense Department.
The Green Berets of the US Army Special Forces are similar to the Spetsnaz units in their primary mission sets.
Spetsnaz are comparable to the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, a light infantry force, though some units are akin to Tier 1 units.
Only a few Spetsnaz units are military free-fall qualified, meaning that they can conduct jumps from tens of thousands of feet.
The original and most elite Spetsnaz units are under the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency.
The strategic mission sets are maintained by only the GRU and FSB Spetsnaz units. The Alpha and Vympel Groups of Spetsnaz are tasked with counterterrorism and security at strategic installations, such as nuclear facilities.
Spetsnaz units have a more tactical mission and are trained to support conventional forces directly.
In a war, a GRU or Spetsnaz unit would be tasked with taking out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his advisors, while the Spetsnaz unit would be tasked with a tactical mission.
In recent years, GRU operators have been in the spotlight for using brutal, Hollywood-style tactics abroad, including a brazen assassination attempt in the UK that left one bystander dead.
Since the Cold War, the Spetsnaz have become almost mythical in the West, thanks to flashy public displays.
In training videos we saw Spetsnaz breaking bricks with their hands and jumping through flames. A retired Delta Force operator told Insider that this helped build a myth of invincibility around them.
The Russian military's overall performance in Ukraine in the days after its invasion has hurt that standing.
The former Delta operator said that he was not trying to humiliate or underestimate them. Their actions, or at least what we have seen or know so far in Ukraine, are not great.
Underestimating an opponent can backfire. The Spetsnaz units are playing a significant role despite Russia's setbacks.
Russian military commanders may use Spetsnaz units as shock troops to open the way for large conventional formations. They could use Spetsnaz units to cause chaos.
During the conventional part of the conflict, Spetsnaz focuses on strategic targets such as airports, the Ukrainian leadership, power plants, etc.
These are elite troops specially selected, trained, and equipped. You don't want to waste them in infantry attacks. He said that you wouldn't want to lose or blunt a certain capability against a disproportionate significance.
Spetsnaz units have had a central role in past Russian counterinsurgency operations. If the war in Ukraine shifts to unconventional warfare, they could do it again.
Russia is a proud nation with a great martial tradition. How they use their top tier troops is most likely influenced by that tradition.
US special-operations units have had limited exposure to their Russian counterparts.
In 2001, soldiers from the US Army's 10th Special Forces Group worked with Spetsnaz troops for the first time, teaming up to patrol in Kosovo.
Giaconia described the camaraderie that they developed, saying that the Spetsnaz troops were very similar to us, with big macho guys with special status in their military.
They were a lot like us. The elite of their military were them. They were good at tactics. Giacona said they were great to work with.
A defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran, and a graduate of the University of Baltimore, are some of the things that Stavros Atlamazoglou is.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
