SSS Belarus. Day in special forces: from rise to end

REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

At the turn of the 80–90 years. of the last century, rapidly developing instability greatly affected all aspects of society. One of the important tasks was to bring down a wave of crime, to ensure order in society. Therefore, in the Republic of Belarus there are many special forces, and with each power ministry.

ARMY SWAT

5TH SEPARATE SPECIAL APPLICATION TEAM

STORY

Formed in 1962 as a reconnaissance airborne unit, it has a high level of combat training and vast combat experience. Housed in Maryina Gorka, Pukhovichi district, Minsk region. Participated in hostilities as part of a limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, conducted special events in the Caucasus during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The appearance of such military units and formations in the Soviet army was caused by the presence of, as it was customary to call him, our probable enemy in Europe of tactical nuclear weapons. The tasks of the airborne brigades included the destruction of command posts and missile launchers, fuel and ammunition supply bases, intelligence gathering, communications sabotage, and, in the future, the organization of partisan movement on enemy territory. The special forces were designed to conduct operations in the deep rear in small groups. All brigades were directly subordinate to the General Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. Soon a unique division appeared - a company consisting only of officers and ensigns, well-trained professionals. The best of the best were selected, perfectly mastering various martial arts styles, shooting from all types of small arms, including Western models. A prerequisite was knowledge of foreign languages. The military personnel also underwent a diving training course under the program of naval special forces, mountaineering and piloting of a motorized hang glider. The company was intended to perform particularly important tasks in the interests of the GRU of the General Staff.

TRAINING

The main area of \u200b\u200btraining is reconnaissance and sabotage activities. Scouts are taught to overcome swamps, water barriers. “Field is a soldier’s academy” - fighters spend about seven months of the year at the training ground.

In order to carry out the task without losses far from the main forces, the commando must be a universal soldier. In his arsenal - tactics of secretive movement, knowledge of engineering, mastery of hand-to-hand combat techniques and first aid skills. Distinctive features are the skillful management of all types of army transport and the ability to accurately shoot from various types of small arms, including trophy ones.

There are no mountains in Belarus, but there are many high-rise buildings. Therefore, the basis of training is urban mountaineering. Classes are held not only in the brigade, they are organized and together with colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB. Diving training classes are also held.

Special forces are landing from the sky, and in a variety of ways. Landing with high accuracy day and night, in all weather conditions. To do this, new parachutes have come into service here, which allow scouts to jump from any height and at any speed of the aircraft. In addition to parachutes, there are in the arsenal of special forces and motor hang gliders.

WEAPONS

Like many special forces of the former republics of the USSR, the army special forces of Belarus are equipped with weapons and equipment of Soviet and Russian production.

KGB Special Forces Alpha

The Alpha group under the USSR State Security Committee was established in 1974. In March 1990, the then KGB chairman V. Kryuchkov signed an order to create the 11th group of the KGB of the USSR with a deployment in Minsk. The document listed the tasks of the created operational combat unit: the localization and suppression of terrorist and extremist acts, especially dangerous criminal manifestations. The area of \u200b\u200bactivity is Belarus and the Baltic republics.

From October 1991 to January 1992 the group was at the disposal of the main security department under the apparatus of the President of the USSR. Then it entered the structure of the central apparatus of the KGB of the Republic of Belarus. The fighters of the group performed special operational tasks, and in 1992–1994. was involved to ensure physical protection and security of the leadership of Belarus and members of foreign delegations. The range of tasks gradually expanded; Now it also includes the fight against organized crime, as well as the illegal export of precious metals, material and historical values \u200b\u200boutside the country.

SELECTION

When creating the Alpha, preference was given to officers who had combat experience, former paratroopers, and professional athletes. Today, candidates must have higher education and military service. Particular attention is paid to the ability to endure great psychological and physical stress. The average age of fighters is 30–35 years.

For some time, there were rumors that the Alpha fighters were gaining military experience in Chechnya, but the leadership of the group stubbornly denies this.

Special Forces Border Troops

A separate service of active events (OSAM) is a unit whose task is anti-terrorist activity in the border zone.

The history of the special forces of the KGB border troops under the Council of Ministers of the USSR began in 1981. The aim of the group operating in Afghanistan was to combat the counter-revolutionary underground and agents of the enemy special services.

OSAM appeared after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1993, its first commander was Gennady Nevyglas. One of the paramount tasks of the special forces was the fight against illegal migration. Later new tasks appeared - the fight against economic crime and drug smuggling, the fight against terrorism and human trafficking.

On the uniform chevron of an OSAM fighter - two crossed balls and a wind rose against the background of the country's contour.

At one time, OSAM was headed by Igor Rachkovsky, Chairman of the Border Committee. And the elder sons of the country's president, Viktor and Dmitry Lukashenko, served in the special forces.

TASKS

The following tasks are assigned to special forces of the border service:

Conducting operations related to the implementation of operational information about hostile activities on the state border and at the checkpoints through it of the special services of foreign states, extremist and criminal groups;

Protection in extreme conditions of premises, vehicles and other objects of operational bodies;

Implementation of reconnaissance and search activities;

Ensuring the security of events conducted by the border guards;

The release of hostages from among the troops of the troops, bodies and organizations of the border service;

The study of the operational situation in the areas (places) of the alleged actions of the group, the reconnaissance of these areas (places);

Participation in special events related to the implementation of specific operational information, information of interacting law enforcement agencies;

Participation in the search and detention of armed groups and persons who have crossed or trying to cross the border;

Ensuring the security of border guards when traveling around the country and abroad;

Ensuring the security of the operational staff of the border service during activities at the state border;

Ensuring the personal safety of PS soldiers and members of their families in cases stipulated by law;

Ensuring your own group security.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT

Armament - mainly Soviet and Russian production. The division is equipped with modern radio stations. In cross-country vehicles, bumpers are additionally reinforced with rails, a steel bottom is welded, and a rubber mixture is poured into the tires.

Special Forces of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

3rd Separate Red Banner Special Purpose Brigade

The third separate Red Banner Special Forces brigade (military unit 3214, Uruchye) was formed on the basis of the 334th regiment of the 120th division. It is prepared both for dispersing street actions and for participating in special operations. This is the shock part of the internal troops. The number of personnel is 1,500–2,000. The brigade includes special-purpose battalions, a special rapid response squad (SOBR), and support units.

The main tasks of the brigade are the fight against terrorism, actions in the event of emergencies, and training in the event of a military danger.

In peacetime, brigade fighters participate in the maintenance of public order in the capital of the republic, and often travel to missions and outside of Minsk. During street rallies of the opposition, the brigade is usually kept in reserve and used only in extreme cases.

Fighters receive comprehensive and diverse training. The program includes acrobatics, hand-to-hand combat, strength training, athletic gymnastics, cross-country. A lot of attention is paid to shooting from different types of weapons, as well as tactical and special training in actions in various situations.

In fact, the “special forces” of the Ministry of the Interior began with “Diamond”. True, then this unit was called "Golden Eagle", and its main purpose was the organization of prison anti-terror. Similar detachments were created in other Soviet republics.

Today it is a quick response detachment. In 1994, the then head of the Berkut and the future Minister of the Interior, Vladimir Naumov, came up with the initiative to rename the special forces into Almaz. On the basis of the Correctional Administration of the former republics of the USSR, they urgently began to form a prison anti-terror unit. The order was signed on January 2, 1992. Vladimir Naumov, then the commander of the patrol company, was appointed the first commander of the unit.

The main tasks being solved at that time were:

Hostage release;

The detention of armed criminals;

Elimination of unrest in prisons.

The forces of the then still small special forces carried out a series of operations to search for and detain dangerous criminals who escaped from the detention facilities in Minsk and Brest. Hostages captured by repeat offenders in the penal colonies of Orsha and Minsk were freed, and a mass escape from the Shklov colony was prevented.

With the change in the nature of crime, the unit also changed. At this time, many different criminal gangs appeared. They talked about the mafia, thieves' authorities, the division of territories and spheres of influence. Not limited to the walls of the colonies and Belarusian terrorism. Increased use of special forces was required. There was a question of reorganization. A review was conducted of all special forces, and chose the best - "Diamond".

Since the fall of 1994, the unit has been transformed into a special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus with subordination personally to the minister. The responsibility for carrying out the most complex tasks rests on the shoulders of the fighters: the elimination of terrorist attacks, the release of hostages, the detention of various criminal armed groups.

The history of the name of the special forces is unique - in many countries such formations are still called "Golden Eagle" or "Falcon", and the Belarusians took a different path. The new name was not chosen by chance - the diamond symbolizes hardness, purity, nobility. In a memo for fighters, their commander once wrote: “Always remember that a special forces officer must be clean and hard, like a diamond.”

Over the years the Almaz SPBT has existed, vast practical experience has been accumulated, terrorist attacks have been stopped and about 100 hostages have been released, and more than five and a half thousand special operations have been carried out together with operational units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to search for and suppress the activities of organized criminal groups and organizations. One of the most resonant events of Almaz was the detention in Minsk of suspects in the murder of Russian journalist Paul Khlebnikov.

TASKS

The main tasks are:

Prevention of terrorist acts;

Detection and disposal of explosive devices;

Carrying out special measures to detect and detain dangerous armed criminals, to seize counterfeit banknotes, narcotic, chemical and radioactive substances and ammunition;

Ensuring physical security of the operational staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

Conducting search and intelligence activities;

Protection of judges and persons of the control structure of the republic, senior officials of the state and foreign delegations.

This fact speaks of the combat readiness of the unit: in the event of an alarm, the “diamond man” must arrive at the base within 5-7 minutes. And within 20 minutes, a reconnaissance and battle group are sent to the scene anywhere in the country. After another 20 minutes, the second group follows.

Mostly, officers from similar units of the Ministry of Defense, police special forces, security services of the head of state, and border troops come to Almaz. As a rule, these are people who have served at least five years and have already participated in special operations. Serve in the "Diamond" and women - negotiators and snipers.

The armament corresponds to the armament of other special forces of Belarus.

Minsk Special Police Regiment

The regiment was formed in the fall of 2005 on the basis of a special police detachment. Both then and now the main task of the regiment is to protect public order during various mass actions.

Other tasks were:

Ensuring personal and property safety of citizens on the streets and in other public places;

Prevention and suppression of offenses, group violations of public order and riots;

Participation together with other services and units of the internal affairs bodies in the detention of armed criminals, suppression of the activities of organized groups and criminal organizations;

Participation in special events and operations conducted by the internal affairs bodies.

In addition, unit soldiers must be prepared for cataclysms, disasters, and natural and man-made disasters.

     From the book The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people (in the context of the Second World War)   the author    Krasnova Marina Alekseevna

TOPIC: USSR AND BELARUS ON THE EVE OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1. DECISION OF THE CC KP (B) B “ON ACTIONS FOR ORGANIZING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE WESTERN REGIONS OF THE BSSR” Minsk, December 2, 1939 The Central Committee of the Communist Party (b) of Belarus resolves: Announce all schools

   From the book Triumph of Operation Bagration [Main Stalinist Strike]   the author    Irinarkhov Ruslan Sergeevich

Part one. We are back to you, Belarus! In 1943, a radical change occurred during the entire Great Patriotic War. After bloody battles near Stalingrad, in the North Caucasus and the Kursk Bulge, in the Smolensk operation and in Left-Bank Ukraine, the strategic

   From the book Belarusian collaborators. Cooperation with the occupiers in Belarus. 1941–1945   the author    Romanko Oleg Valentinovich

National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (Minsk, Belarus) F. 370. The General Commissariat of Belarus. 1941 - 1944. Op. 1. D. 23, 90, 423, 443, 480, 1264, 1267, 1277, 1313, 1394, 1570, 2477; Op. 2. D. 24; Op. 6.D. 48, 49.F. 380. Belarusian Council of Confidence (BRD). 1942 - 1943. Op. 1. D. 1.F. 381. Belarusian Central Council (BCR). 1942

   From the book Who helped Hitler? Europe in the war against the Soviet Union   the author    Kirsanov Nikolay Andreevich

The Republic is fighting. The rebel forces advancing from the south and south-west came closer to Madrid day by day. On October 12, 1936, their entry into the capital was scheduled. People’s militia, exhausted in battles, fiercely resisted. The German and

   From the book of Lavrenty Beria [What the Sovinformburo was silent about]   the author    North Alexander

Post-war Belarus Life in the first peaceful years (after the liberation of the territory from Nazi invaders) in the western regions of Belarus can hardly be called calm. One of the Far Eastern security officers, recalling his work in the state security organs, is modestly and

   From the book Encyclopedia of Special Forces of the World   the author    Naumov Yuri Yuryevich

REPUBLIC OF CHILE Anti-theft aviation unit Agrupacion Antisecuestros Aereos (ASA) The special unit of the Chilean Air Force Agrupacion Antisecuestros Aereos is a special group whose main function is to free hostages when hijacking aircraft in the territory of Chile. One of

   From the author’s book

SLOVAK REPUBLIC LYNX Group The predecessor of the LYNX division was the URNA group, formed in 1980 as part of the 13th Directorate of the Czech Police. At the turn of the 1990s. in Slovakia, the level of organized crime has increased markedly. In this regard, it was accepted

   From the author’s book

TURKISH REPUBLIC “Burgundy Berets” The Turkish special forces brigade, also known as “burgundy berets”, is a special intelligence unit whose mission is to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage events and organize partisan movements in

   From the author’s book

   From the author’s book

Republic of Austria STEYR AUG Manufacturer: Steyr - Mannlicbier AG & Co KG, ADI Limited, Lithgow Facility, SME Technologies Years of production: 1978 - present Years of operation: 1978 - present Constructors: Horst Been, Karl Wagner, Karl Moser Series production started in 1977 g .; until now

   From the author’s book

ITALIAN REPUBLIC Beretta AR-7D / 9D series assault rifles The oldest and largest Italian weapons company Pietro Beretta Spa began developing a new 5.56 mm assault rifle in 1968. The rifle was ready by 1972 and began under the designation Beretta AR-70/223 act on

   From the author’s book

THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA INSAS assault rifle To date, the Indian army has at least 300,000 INSAS assault rifles, and India is also trying to sell INSAS for export, particularly to Kenya and Nepal. The production of INSAS assault rifles is carried out at the state arsenal in

   From the author’s book

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA Pindad SS2 assault rifle The Pindad SS2 assault rifles were developed in Indonesia by the state-owned company RT Pindad. The SS2 line of rifles was based on SS1 rifles, which are licensed copies of the Belgian rifle FN FNC, manufactured in

   From the author’s book

REPUBLIC OF KOREA Combined assault rifle - Daewoo K11 grenade launcher Combined assault rifle - K11 grenade launcher developed under the leadership of the Korean Agency for Defense Development (Agency for Defense Development) with the participation of several commercial companies such as Daewoo

   From the author’s book

AUSTRIAN REPUBLIC Glock-17 pistol Glock-17 pistol (17 - from a magazine capacity of 17 rounds) was developed by the Austrian company Glock for the Austrian army; it was the first experience in creating pistols - previously the company produced only knives and sapper blades. Nonetheless

   From the author’s book

FRENCH REPUBLIC PGM UR Intervention Sniper Rifle The Ultima Ratio series of sniper weapons is manufactured by PGM Precision. A number of UR Intervention and Commando rifles come into service with the French armed forces to replace the FR F1 and FR F2 rifles.

August 2 marks the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Airborne Forces, the successors of which in our country have become special operations forces. Our non-staff correspondent met with the commander of the MTR of the Armed Forces of Belarus, Major General Vadim DENISENKO (pictured)


- Comrade Major General, in Belarus, the airborne troops have transformed into a new kind of troops - special operations forces. What is the fundamental difference?

  - With the development of weapons and military equipment, the views on the conduct of armed struggle, as well as on the use of airborne forces, have also transformed. Therefore, it was decided to create in our country, on the basis of units of the Airborne Forces, a separate branch of the Armed Forces - special operations forces.

The main distinguishing feature of the MTR is that they are in constant readiness for use both in peacetime and in wartime and are designed to solve special problems in the interests of achieving political, military, economic and psychological goals aimed at preventing escalation or ending the military conflict in relation to the Republic of Belarus. The following tasks are assigned to military units and units of the MTR: counter-sabotage, reconnaissance and combat operations and special events. Units of special operations forces are also involved in the fight against terrorism, in carrying out measures to strengthen the state border protection regime and in maintaining law and order together with the personnel of units of the Ministry of the Interior.



- When creating special operations forces, have foreign experience been studied?

  - Of course, but we should not forget that the Belarusian special operations forces were not created from scratch. We had a strike component - well-trained landing brigades. We strengthened these mobile units with a reconnaissance component - a special-purpose brigade. They combined both components under a single command - in general, they made the best decision for a country with a small territory and compact in number of mobile Armed Forces.

I must say, today our experience is being carefully studied by other countries.

“And when did you realize that you were on the right track?”

- In 2004, while working out the tactics of actions, we realized that mobile brigades are mobile, able to make large marches in any conditions, can be deployed through the air and inflict serious blows. All this was taken into account by us. A special forces group capable of operating in any conditions found the object, and soon a mobile unit came to the appointed point. The commander of the special forces group, together with the commander of the mobile unit, clarified the decision and carried out the destruction of the object. Next year, we were sure that we were moving in the right direction. The tactics of our actions were also tested during various large-scale exercises of the Belarusian Armed Forces.



“Do we not thus reveal all the secrets of the forces of special operations?”

  - Such is the tactics of actions of any professional unit in the world. As for the secrets of skill, believe me, professionals are very reluctant to share them. And we are no exception. So the secrets of excellence leave outside this interview.

- The armored personnel carriers BTR-80 replaced military assault vehicles in mobile brigades. Also to fit the modern look?

  - We proceeded from the fact that our units must be very mobile: move at any time and on any roads. And this allows the BTR-80. They contribute to the successful completion of our tasks. "Wheels" in our conditions look preferable. The artillery of special operations forces is also on wheels. For rearmament, today we are considering an armored personnel carrier BTR-82, which has greater firepower. In particular, the 30-mm automatic gun will replace the heavy 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun.



- Since we touched on the issues of equipping the MTR with modern weapons and military equipment, tell us how seriously it has changed lately?

  - Recently completed tests of the armored car "Fox". We decided what changes should be made to its design in order for the car to meet our requirements for it: which combat module to install, how to position the seats, loopholes ... All this was taken into account in the technical task transferred to the Minsk Plant of wheeled tractors. First of all, "Foxes" will go to mobile battalions in cars. This year, the latest ORSIS-T5000M sniper rifles capable of hitting targets at ranges up to 1,500 meters were adopted. They became a good addition to the well-established modern sniper rifles VSK-94, OSV-96, and MTs-116M, which have proven themselves in the army.

The troops received high-precision powerful ammunition with an expansive bullet (338th caliber LAPUA MAGNUM), which penetrates all existing means of armor protection (body armor, helmets of the highest protection classes).

Our military personnel are provided with the most modern surveillance and targeting equipment of domestic production: day-night sights DNS-1, night NV / S-18, night monocular NV / M-19, laser target designator LAD-21T, and collimator sight PK-01BC.


  Delivered to the forces of special operations and very decent means of individual armor protection. In particular, a protective helmet “Skat”, which provides protection from a bullet from a Makarov pistol already at a distance of one meter, a “Raven” bulletproof vest, capable of protecting from a bullet from an SVD at a distance of ten meters.

Work is underway on the provision and adoption of other latest optical sights, ammunition, small arms, tactical and small glasses, RPG-32 "Hashim" grenade launchers.

Our divisions are provided with reliable communication. On the basis of the Bogatyr car, a modern command post vehicle has been developed (a means of communication for the commander of the MTR and brigade commanders).

Modern models of weapons and military equipment enter the troops and are mastered during combat training. Significantly increased the mobility of the calculation of anti-aircraft installations ZU-23-2, the modernization of these weapons, which is located today together with the ammunition based on the Ural-43202 vehicle. In the next two months we plan to put them in the 38th guards separate mobile brigade.

The uniform and equipment of the special operations forces are being improved.



  Recently, we received new ATVs that have passed tests in the Armed Forces. In the future, they will be adopted. I must say that this is a very effective technique when performing tasks in forests, on wetlands, on rough terrain ... This was also confirmed by the exercises held in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan as part of the CSTO collective response forces check.

- The servicemen of the 103rd Guards Separate Mobile Brigade are constant participants in such exercises. How important are they to us?

  - First of all, it is gaining invaluable experience. We have a lot to learn from Russians, Kazakhstanis, Tajiks. In these exercises, we always learn something new. And, of course, learning to interact.

Many other teachings are being held with great benefit. For example, the joint Belarusian-Chinese anti-terrorist exercises (training) "Swift Eagle". Not so long ago, another such exercise (the third in a row) ended on the basis of the 38th guards separate mobile brigade.

But the closest interaction has been established with Russian colleagues. Of the last joint exercises - the battalion-tactical exercise, held in the 38th brigade, which was attended by a company of the 76th guards airborne assault division. Our servicemen also proved worthy during the humanitarian search and rescue operation at the North Pole, where they had to perform tasks in difficult climatic conditions. Those who excelled are presented for state awards. The test of the North Pole has withstood both modern uniforms and the equipment of military personnel of special operations forces. Many of our new products were received with interest by the Russians. For example, the cargo containers with which our troops parachuted.



- Comrade Major General, what other successes did you remember the anniversary year?

  - In the first half of the year, the command of the special operations forces, as well as units of the 38th and 103rd guards separate mobile brigades, successfully passed the test of the Ministry of Defense. The MTR team distinguished itself in international competitions for the best special forces group held in Kazakhstan, where it won a prize. Our servicemen won the competition for the best sniper special-purpose pair of the Armed Forces, in which representatives from all the power structures of our country and teams from Russia and Kazakhstan participated.

MTR team won the championship of the Armed Forces in army hand-to-hand combat. The next tests for the right to confer the “Valor and Mastery” badge also showed an increased level of training for our military personnel.

Interestingly held bilateral tactical battalion exercises. A very useful event was a joint diving training camp in Ryazan. A great deal of his attention was paid to the study of new diving equipment, which is being supplied to the Russian Armed Forces today.



  This year, 11 of our troops have mastered the most modern crossbow parachute systems. They were trained at the Russian Airborne Special Training Center.

Of course, a landmark event was the participation of May 9 soldiers of the 5th separate special forces brigade at a parade held on Red Square in Moscow. They adequately represented the Belarusian Armed Forces.

Another important event was the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 334th separate special forces detachment, held on the basis of the 5th separate special forces brigade.

It is pleasant that the successes of the special operations forces do not go unnoticed, including at the highest level. Only this year, the Head of State awarded Colonel Vladimir Bely and Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Smekhovich for the exemplary performance of official duties with orders “For Service to the Homeland” of the III degree. Last year, these high awards were awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Sukhovilo and Major Aleksey Khuzyakhmetov.

- At all times, service in the "troops blown by all winds" was prestigious. How popular is the special operations force today? Is it in demand among young people?

  “We have no shortage of people who wish to serve in the special operations forces.”

As for the training of officer personnel for our kind of troops, it is carried out at the faculty of military intelligence of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus, as well as at the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The training is conducted in two specialties: "The use of mobile units" and "The use of special units.


  The demand for the profession of an officer in special operations forces is evidenced by the annual competition for admission to the specialty MTR. This year, he amounted to more than two people per place, and to the specialty "Application of Special Forces" - more than three people per place.

Service in the special operations forces is truly prestigious. We are pleased to see in our ranks those who have a craving for romance, a desire to see something new, learn a lot and temper character.

  CHRONICLE

On August 2, 1930, during a training exercise near Voronezh, the ejection of a group of armed paratroopers was demonstrated. The composition of the landing consisted of twelve people, who were divided into two groups of six paratroopers. The paratroopers were supposed to drop weapons and ammunition from aircraft using special cargo parachutes.

After a successful landing, a group of paratroopers, armed with rifles, light machine guns and grenades, were ready to carry out combat missions.

PROSPECTS

The main directions of the construction and development of special operations forces of the Armed Forces:

  - development and testing of new ways to accomplish tasks;

  - optimization of the organizational structure of the formations and military units in accordance with the tasks to be solved, as well as taking into account changes in the forms and methods of military confrontation;

  - modernization of existing weapons, military and special equipment and equipping with new models of both domestic and foreign production;

  - improving the quality of training for special operations forces;

  - Improvement of military camps and the creation of housing conditions for servicemen that meet modern requirements.


Interviewed by Alexander MAKAROV

1. Uruchensky special forces brigade. (military unit 3214, Uruchye).

T specialized Red Banner Special Forces Brigade (military unit 3214, Uruchye)  was formed in the 1990s on the basis of 334 regiment of the 120th division. It is prepared both for dispersing street actions and for participating in special operations. This is the strike part of the Internal Troops. Its number is about 1500-2000 people. The unit consists of several units - special forces battalions, Special Rapid Response Team (SOBR)  and support units.

The main tasks of the PMSN

1. Ensuring personal and property safety of citizens on the streets and in other public places.

2. Ensuring the protection of public order during mass events.

3. Prevention and suppression of offenses, group violations of public order and riots.

4. Participation together with other services and units of internal affairs bodies (ATS) in the detention of armed criminals, suppression of the activities of organized groups and criminal organizations.
5. Participation in special events and operations conducted by ATS.

The main tasks of the brigade are: the fight against terrorism, action in emergency situations, combat training in case of military danger.

In peacetime, brigade fighters perform the functions of protecting public order. Often, representatives of the brigade go on assignments and outside of Minsk. For example, they are guarding the "Slavic Bazaar".
During opposition street actions, the Uruchun brigade is usually kept safe. They are used only in extreme cases when the PMSN cannot cope with the demonstrators.

Pavlichenko himself, being the brigade commander, has repeatedly stated that he is trying to educate fighters in the "spirit of Orthodoxy." There is a temple on the territory of the unit.

Combat training is very important, it is several times stricter than in other military units. The program includes acrobatics, hand-to-hand combat, strength training, athletic gymnastics, cross-country courses. Very great importance is attached to firing from different types of weapons, as well as tactical and special training in actions in various situations.

It is worth noting that most ordinary soldiers are in the brigade for a year or a half. This is a normal military life.

2. Minsk Special Police Regiment



The regiment was formed in the fall of 2005.shortly before the presidential election. PMSN was created on the basis of riot police, and led by Yuri Podobed. As the then head of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Anatoly Kuleshov (today's Minister of Internal Affairs), explained, the main goal of creating the regiment was to protect public order during various mass rallies.

According to him, the fighters of this unit should be prepared for cataclysms, disasters, natural and man-made disasters. Kuleshov called the third reason that the creation of the regiment will enable other police officers to fulfill their immediate duties. Employees of the regiment wear a black uniform.

PMSN was created at the personal request of Yuri Podobed, who complained that the number of events that needed protection was constantly growing in the country. The staff has been much increased.

Admission to the service in the special police regiment of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee is carried out on a competitive basis by concluding individual contracts with citizens of the Republic of Belarus.

Basic requirements for candidates:

citizenship of the Republic of Belarus;

the presence of military service in the Armed Forces (the absence of military service does not exclude the possibility of admission to the service in the police department individually if there is a completed higher education);

lack of facts of demotion of military rank during the period of military service;

age up to 25 years, however, older options are possible depending on the available length of service in the Armed Forces (it is decided individually);

the presence of a complete secondary, secondary specialized or higher education (preference is given to candidates with secondary specialized and higher education);

the lack of criminal record and administrative penalties for the candidate and close relatives, as well as other incriminating information from the territorial internal affairs bodies at the place of birth and residence of the candidate and his close relatives;

positive characteristics of the candidate from all places of his service, study and work.

Those who apply for employment in the PMSN after passing a preliminary interview are sent for medical commission to the clinic of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in order to determine their suitability for service. Moreover, only those candidates who have the first and second degree of fitness for military service, established by the draft commission of the RVC when drafting into the Armed Forces, are subject to referral. Those with a third degree of validity can also be sent to the medical commission, but, as practice shows, such candidates are considered unfit for service in the PMSN, although their suitability for service in other, not special, divisions of the internal affairs bodies is not ruled out.

When the military medical commission recognizes the candidates as fit for service in the PMSN, they undergo a preliminary training in the proposed position (policeman, police driver) during which the candidate is introduced to the conditions and specifics of the service in the unit. In turn, the staff of the regiment study the moral and business qualities of the candidate in order to determine their suitability for service. The duration of the internship is at least one month. Physical training inspectors during the internship period, candidates for physical training are accepted.

When the management makes a decision on the possibility of accepting a candidate for service, he concludes a contract on service with the internal affairs bodies and the candidate is sent for initial training to the Training Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus or to the Mogilev College of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. The contract is concluded for the period of initial training and then for 5 (five) years from the moment of arrival for further service in the completing body. The contract provides for compulsory service for at least 5 years after training. Otherwise, it is possible to recover the cost of initial training costs.
The duration of the initial training at the Training Center is 6 (six) months.
For candidates who have performed military service in units of the internal troops of the Republic of Belarus, in exceptional cases, by agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is possible to be recruited with initial training at the duty station.
For more information, contact the personnel department of the PMSN GUVD.

Maryina Gorka

Near Minsk, in Maryina Gorka (Pukhovichi district), there is a 5th separate special-purpose brigade. But these are not Internal Troops. This special forces belongs to the Ministry of Defense.
The formation of the brigade began to occur in 1962.

During Soviet times, fighters reached a training level that corresponded to vympel detachment of the KGB of the USSR. Fighters from Maryina Gorka took an active part in the Afghan conflict. Two years after the withdrawal from there, the paratroopers from Maryina Gorka again went to war. Almost entirely, a team (805 people) under the command of Colonel Borodach were in Armenia.

On December 31, 1992, former Soviet commandos swore allegiance to Belarus.  The main areas of training for today's fighters in terms of is sabotage and intelligence. Scouts are taught to overcome swamps, water barriers, forests. To do this, exercises in the forests are often held. For ten days they are in an unknown place.

Maryina Gorka believes that their part is the most elite in the country. There is an informal competition and confrontation between special forces from Uruchya and Maryina Gorka. Both there and there they believe that their part is the best.

"Diamond"

Actually with "Diamond" and the Belarusian special forces began in the late 1980s. True, then this unit was called "Golden eagle", and the main purpose was the organization prison anti-terror units. They were created in other Soviet republics.

Now this is a kind of quick response squad. In 1994, the then head of the Berkut and the future Minister of the Interior, Vladimir Naumov, came up with the initiative to rename the special forces into Almaz. In a memo for fighters, Naumov once wrote: "Always remember that a special forces officer should be clean and hard, like a diamond.".
In 2002, the base of "Diamond" was personally opened by Alexander Lukashenko.

In case of alarm, the “diamond” should arrive at the base within 5-7 minutes. And within 20 minutes, a reconnaissance and battle group are sent to the scene anywhere in the country. After another 20 minutes, the second group follows.

The functions of the “diamond maker” include the fight against terrorist activities, the release of hostages, the disposal of explosives. Almazovites once detained in Minsk suspects in the murder of Russian journalist Paul Khlebnikov.

Almazovets must train at least three times a week. This is not only sports exercises, fighters also go to barriers, manholes, ladders in full gear.

Mostly, officers from similar units of the Ministry of Defense, police special forces, security services of the head of state, and border troops get into Almaz. As a rule, these are people who have served at least five years and have already participated in special operations. Serve in the "Diamond" and women - negotiators and snipers.

"Diamond" is headed by Colonel Nikolai Karpenkov. He was still in the "Golden Eagle" when from 1992 to 1994. He was the commander of the battle group of the unit. In 2003, Karpenkov returned to Almaz as a commander.

"Alpha"

The Alpha group under the USSR State Security Committee was created back in 1974.  In March 1990, the then chief security officer of the Union Kryuchkov signed a decree on the additional introduction of the group Alpha with deployment in Minsk. Among the goals of creating the group were the localization and prevention of terrorist and extremist acts, especially dangerous criminal manifestations that threaten the country's security. Initially, the group acted on the Baltic countries.

Interestingly, until January 1992, Alpha was directly subordinate to the main administration under the president of the USSR. Only then did it enter the structure of the Belarusian KGB. Alpha fighters ensure the physical defense and security of the Belarusian leadership and distinguished foreign guests. The new duties also included the fight against the illegal export of valuable metals, material and historical values \u200b\u200boutside the country.

When creating the "Alpha" preference was given to Afghan officers, vevezheshnikov, professional athletes. Now higher education and military service is mandatory for candidates. Attention is also given to the ability to endure great psychological and physical stress. The age of the fighters is 30-35 years.

It is noted that staff turnover at Alpha is very low. To become real professionals, you need four to five years. All this time the fighter is on the second or third roles. One full outfit of Alfovets (body armor, helmet, weapons, ammunition) weighs more than 20 kilograms.

Border special forces "OSAM" A separate service of active events.


Frontier guards also have their own special forces. This is a separate service of active events, perhaps the most closed and little-known special forces.
OSAM appeared after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1993. The first boss was Gennady Nevyglas.

First of all, the creation of special forces was explained by the fight against illegal migration. Mostly citizens from Asian countries to Europe. This was precisely the first task.
Later new ones appeared - the fight against economic crime and drug trafficking, the fight against transit terrorism and human trafficking.

Checking the future Osamovite lasts from a year to two. During this time, with special attention check the track record of the fighter, all close and distant relatives. The average age of officers is 33 years. On the uniform chevron of an OSAM fighter - two crossed balls and a wind rose against the background of the country's contour.

At one time, OSAM was headed by today's chairman of the Border Committee, Igor Rachkovsky. And the elder sons of Lukashenko, Viktor and Dmitry, served in the special forces.

What are they, Special Operations Forces of the Republic of Belarus? “Defend Russia” peeks to its closest neighbor to find out.

Photo: Defend Russia

In addition to them, MTRs use the latest Russian machines - for example,. This machine gun butt is made of impact-resistant glass-filled polyamide, which clearly facilitates the weight of the weapon. His - weight 3.6 kg, rate of fire - 650 rounds per minute, sighting range - 50 m.

Photo: Defend Russia

Now the MTR have the latest sets of special clothing and weapons for different habitats of fighters. With the flag of the Airborne Forces, the "underwater paratrooper" coquettishly sits in the SCUBA scuba gear kit. It is equipped with a breathing apparatus with a buoyancy compensator, a neoprene wetsuit with gloves and boots, flippers and a diving mask. There is a "paratrooper" with a set of diving equipment SLVI-71, which allows you to work at a depth of 40 m.

Photo: Defend Russia

The Beekeeper is dressed in a summer special set.

Photo: Defend Russia

A sniper is dressed in a camouflage "Leshii". To his right is the Gorka-E windproof kit.

Photo: Defend Russia

The lyricism of army names continues the set of winter vestment of paratroopers “Thawed snow”.

In fact, the “special forces” of the Ministry of the Interior began with “Diamond”. True, then this unit was called "Golden Eagle", and its main purpose was the organization of prison anti-terror. Similar detachments were created in other Soviet republics.
Today it is a quick response detachment. In 1994, the then head of the Berkut and the future Minister of the Interior, Vladimir Naumov, came up with the initiative to rename the special forces into Almaz. On the basis of the Correctional Administration of the former republics of the USSR, they urgently began to form a prison anti-terror unit. The order was signed on January 2, 1992. Vladimir Naumov, then the commander of the patrol company, was appointed the first commander of the unit.
   The main tasks being solved at that time were:
   - release of hostages;
   - detention of armed criminals;
   - elimination of unrest in places of deprivation of liberty
   The forces of the then still small special forces carried out a number of operations to search for and detain dangerous criminals who escaped from the detention facilities in Minsk and Brest. Hostages captured by repeat offenders in the penal colonies of Orsha and Minsk were freed, and a mass escape from the Shklov colony was prevented.
   With the changing nature of crime, the unit also changed. At this time, many different criminal gangs appeared. They talked about the mafia, thieves, about the division of territories and spheres of influence. Not limited to the walls of the colonies and Belarusian terrorism. Increased use of special forces was required. There was a question of reorganization. A review was conducted of all special forces, and they chose the best - "Diamond".
   Since the fall of 1994, the unit has been transformed into a special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus with subordination personally to the minister. The responsibility for carrying out the most complex tasks rests on the shoulders of the fighters: the elimination of terrorist attacks, the release of hostages, the detention of various criminal armed groups.
   The history of the name of the special forces is unique - in many countries such formations are still called "Golden Eagle" or "Falcon", and the Belarusians took a different path. The new name was not chosen by chance - the diamond symbolizes hardness, purity, nobility. In a memo for fighters, their commander once wrote: “Always remember that a special forces officer must be clean and hard, like a diamond.”
Over the years, the Almaz SPBT has accumulated vast practical experience, terrorist attacks and about 100 hostages were stopped, and more than five and a half thousand special operations were conducted together with operational units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to search and suppress the activities of organized criminal groups and organizations. One of the most resonant events of Almaz was the detention in Minsk of suspects in the murder of Russian journalist Paul Khlebnikov.

Tasks
   The main tasks are:
   - Prevention of terrorist acts;
   - detection and disposal of explosive devices;
   - carrying out special measures to detect and detain dangerous armed criminals, to seize counterfeit banknotes, narcotic, chemical and radioactive substances and ammunition;
   - ensuring the physical security of the operational staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
   - conducting search and intelligence activities;
   - protection of judges and persons of the control structure of the republic, senior officials of the state and foreign delegations.
   The following fact speaks of the combat readiness of the unit: in the event of an alarm, the “diamond man” must arrive at the base within 5-7 minutes. And within 20 minutes, a reconnaissance and battle group are sent to the scene anywhere in the country. After another 20 minutes, the second group follows.
   Mostly, officers from similar units of the Ministry of Defense, police special forces, security services of the head of state, and border troops come to Almaz. As a rule, these are people who have served at least five years and have already participated in special operations. Serve in the "Diamond" and women - negotiators and snipers.
   The armament corresponds to the armament of other special forces of Belarus.