What is Spetsnaz? Part 1 0f 3 parts

• Spetsnaz is the Russian special forces group. It has been in the news recently because of it's involvement in the Russian occupation of Ukraine The name is an acronym derived from the Russian spetsialnoye naznachonie meaning special designation or special purpose. The modern Spatsnaz was created not long after President Kennedy ordered the creation of US units designed for low intensity warfare in the early 1960's (US Army Special Forces, Navy SEALS, which is an updated version of the Underwater Demolition Teams, aka Frogmen, and the Air Force Air Commandoes.                                                                              

Spetsnaz  is under the command of and directly subordinate to The Russian Main intelligence Directorate  Glavnoe   Razedyvatelnoe Upravlenie (GRU), Russian  Millitary Intelligence. At times, it can be commanded by the FSB  (KGB re named after fall of USSR). Spetsnaz is usually the tip of the spear for Russian military action on bordering countries (the near abroad) Stealth, surprise and precision strikes against  it's target country are the tools of Spetsnaz.

All information presented here is declassified and is from US and other Western sources. Therefore some of it may be out of date.                                      

Spetsnaz conducts what the Russians call special reconnaissance, In  Russian spetsialnaya razvedka. Those mission include reconnaissance carried out to subvert the political, economic, and military potential and morale of a potential or actual enemy. Either by putting the targets out of commission or subverting them, as well as  conducting propaganda, forming and training insurgents.. Their mission might include: sabotage or disrupt key military installations, gather and report intelligence on vital target. prepare aircraft landing areas and disrupt the enemy's power systems. The most important of those being  power stations oil and gas storage centers, pipelines, electric power lines and transformer stations . Spetsnaz teams often enter the target zone dressed as civilians before military action commences.                                                                                                 

All candidates for Spetsnaz undergo a preliminary loyalty check and if accepted have to sign a statement promising to protect official secrets. Breaking this oath is punishable by death. Spetznaz units generally wear the uniform of the airborne forces athough they have no connection with them. Spetznaz units generallyshares barracks with airborne or air assault units. Naval Spetsnaz units  are barracked with Naval infantry units. All contact between Spetznaz and other units is forbidden.                                                                                                       

The Spetznaz tactical  unit is made up of 8 to 10 men. It  is commanded by an officer and may have a senior sergeant as second in command. Positions included: a radio operator, demolition experts, snipers, and reconaisssance specialists .