Russia's Special Forces

New graduates to the Russian interior ministry special forces (OMON) hold their weapons after finishing their training during a ceremony in the southern Russian city of Stavropol July 20, 2011. REUTERS/Eduard Korniyenko

Russia's 'Zaslon' Military Operators Are So Shadowy They Make Ninjas Look Like Amateurs -- Mark Galeotti, Business Insider/Moscow's Shadows

There is quite a cult that has grown up around Russia’s Spetsnaz special forces, with books, movies and exposes both serious and farcical alike. Names such as Alpha and Vympel have become well known. Indeed, some could almost be considered franchises: as far back as the 1990s, veterans of the Alphaspetsgruppa had set up private security firms, trading on their unit’s formidable reputation (see, for example, Tsentr-Al’fa).

The one exception appears to be Zaslon (‘Screen’), a very shadowy unit established, by what accounts we have, in 1998 as a special forces unit for the SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service). Trained to operate abroad, in everything from hostage-rescue to assassination missions, it continues to shun publicity.

Read more ....

My Comment: My nationality is Russian .... and Russia's special forces have always been a fascinating subject for me. But even I have had a difficult time getting info on these elite special forces. Kudos to Mark Galeotti for getting at least some intel and info on these groups, and sharing it with us.