- Rus (special forces)
Rus is a
special forces unit (OSNAZ ) of the Interior Troops (VV), of the interior ministry (MVD) of theRussian Federation . Its full name in Russian is "OSNAZ VV MVD Rus".According to an MVD official [http://bratishka.ru/article.php?type=oper&id=189 press release] , Rus was created on August 1st, 1994, as the heir of an unspecified Operational Purpose Distinct Division (
ODON ) unit of the MVD. The dedicated role of the unit iscounter-terrorism and direct action in times of crisis. Officers and members of the unit regularly travel abroad to meet their foreign counterparts (especially inIsrael ,Austria andGermany ) 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 andGRU 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, orrebel 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 titleHero of Russia (three posthumously). Amonument 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.
ee also
*
OMON
*SOBR
*Vityaz (MVD)
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