The leadership of many countries have "tasted" the problem of terrorism for a long time, so they came to the conclusion that certain power structures should be involved in the treatment of this "disease". Back in the 70s, the leaders of the USSR perceived terrorism as one of the most important problems that threatened the normal functioning of the state. For this reason, a special special-purpose company was created to them. F. Dzerzhinsky (by the way, the decision on this was made before the start of the 22 Olympic Games, which were held in Moscow). It was thanks to this unit that the legendary special forces VV Vityaz were subsequently created, to which our material is dedicated.
was formed on December 29, 1977. Its creation took place on the basis of the 9th company, 3rd battalion, 2nd regiment of OMSDON. There was very little time allotted for the formation of the detachment. At the beginning of 1978, a collection of officers began, and training programs were developed. Along with this, the already partially formed unit began exercises. The following month, there was a demonstration speech for the leadership, and after that, for three months, an accelerated preparation was carried out for a speech to the Minister of the Interior. By the way: 25 maroon berets were sewn for military personnel at that time.
On June 1, 1978, as soon as the demonstration performance was successfully performed, a law came into force that spoke of the need for special forces in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Then intensive training began, in the first months of which it became clear that in order to perform the highest quality work, it was necessary to introduce basic positions of instructors in special training. preparation. Actually, they didn’t have to wait long - they appeared in 1979.
Participation in hot spots, operations
For the first time, the special forces of VV Vityaz showed themselves during the elimination of riots in Ordzhonikidze. In the same year, but already in December, the “knights” freed the hostages who had been captured in Sarapul. In the fall of 1982, the fighters were involved in eliminating the riots that were initiated by conscripts from the Caucasus.
The first time the existence of the special forces VV Vityaz showed the need for the selection and training of new fighters from among the recruits. For this reason, a special training staff was introduced in 1984. In November of the same year, the “knights” took part in the investigation of the “Uzbek case”, and in July 1985 the company was on duty during the performance of the “World Festival of Students and Youth”, which was held in Moscow. In September 1986, the "knights" performed a complex operation related to the need to liberate the airport in Ufa.
The year 1988 turned out to be very tense for the VV Vityaz special forces. So, in February-March, special forces participated in the elimination of riots that took place on the territory of the Azerbaijan SSR in relation to the local population of the city of Sumgayit. Special Forces VV Vityaz carried out the seizure of stolen valuables from the militants, guarded key points of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs, searched for and seized weapons. In the same year, the special forces had to take part in unblocking the airport in Yerevan. But the difficult year did not end there: in September, the special forces stopped the riots in the Azerbaijani capital, and in November-December they were thrown into Armenia, where the "knights" organized and supported the state of emergency.
The year 88 also became notable for the fact that Sergey Lysyuk then had the idea of taking an exam for the possibility of wearing a maroon beret. It may seem surprising, but then this initiative was not supported by most of the command; over time, all the actions of the VV Vityaz special forces in operations and their moral hardening proved the need for such tests, and in 1993 they decided on the need to pass the exam. Approved the provision on the need for special tests Anatoly Kulikov - the head of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
In addition to the content of the exam, the ritual of presenting the maroon beret was subsequently created, which at the same time symbolized steadfastness, skill in battle, courage, and also the high professional qualifications of the fighters.
Despite all the changes, the history of the VV Vityaz special forces continued. So, in May 1989, the "knights" worked in the operation to free the hostages who were captured by prisoners in the colony of the city of Kizel. In June of the same year, the special forces VV Vityaz took part in the elimination of violent riots based on ethnic intolerance in the Ferghana region. After the resolution of interethnic conflicts, it was decided that it was necessary to increase the number, improve the structure and strengthen the training of units. As a result, in 1989 a special-purpose training detachment was created.
In 1990, the special forces of VV Vityaz mainly performed tasks in the territory of the Transcaucasus. In January, the detachment supported the border guards in protecting the border in the Nakhchivan region (at that time extremists from the Popular Front of Azerbaijan were detained). In April of the same year, the special forces confiscated hail-breaking installations from Armenian militants, and also successfully completed an operation to free the hostages in Ijevan (an entire base was destroyed). In July, the Knights disarmed about 50 militants using helicopter patrols (by the way, this is one of the most successful operations in the history of the detachment).
This is not all the merits of the VV Vityaz special forces. To date, the spetsnaz also includes a group of divers, which already has experience in performing complex tasks in Baikal, the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Japan, as well as in some water bodies of the Moscow region. In the special forces of VV Vityaz there are also groups of hang gliders, electronic intelligence, etc.
In recent years, the special forces of VV Vityaz have been actively mastering mountaineering and parachuting; special forces soldiers VV Vityaz participated in the Glacier Patrol mountaineering competition in the Alps and managed to win prizes.
Popular Pages.
History of the Vityaz detachment1977
Autumn. Preparatory measures for the formation of a special unit to ensure security during the Olympics-80, the fight against terrorism and other particularly daring criminal manifestations.
December 29th. The Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR, General of the Army Shchelokov N.A. a decision was made by March 20, 1978 to form the first special forces unit in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of the 9th company of the 3rd battalion of the 2nd regiment of the OMSDON named after M. F. Dzerzhinsky.
1978
January February. Recruiting a company with officers, coordinating platoons, compiling a curriculum, organizing classes and training.
9th of March. Order of the head of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR No. 032 of March 9, 1978 “On the formation of a special-purpose training company OMSDON”.
March-May. Preparation at the OMSDON training center for a demonstration lesson for the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR.
By special order for the company's military personnel, 25 maroon berets were sewn.
June 1st. Demonstrative occupation for the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR.
1979
Introduction of full-time positions of instructors for special training.
1980
June 6th Fulfillment of the task of ensuring security in the area of Vnukovo airport, where the An-24 crashed.
July. Combat duty during the Olympic Games.
1981
October. Participation in a special operation to eliminate riots in the city of Ordzhonikidze (Vladikavkaz).
December 18th. Participation in a special operation, together with group “A” of the KGB of the USSR, to free hostages taken by criminals in one of the schools in the city of Sarapul, Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
1982
July. Participation in activities to eliminate the consequences of a plane crash near Vnukovo.
October. Elimination of riots caused by conscripts from the North Caucasus, who followed the train through Moscow to Yaroslavl.
1983
A hand-to-hand combat manual has been prepared.
1984
July. Introduction to the staff of the URSN training platoon for the training of young soldiers.
November. Fulfillment of a special important task to assist employees of the USSR Prosecutor General's Office during the investigation of the so-called Uzbek case.
1985
July. Combat duty during the World Festival of Youth and Students.
August. Development of a methodology for conducting qualifying competitions for the title of "excellent hand-to-hand combatant".
1986
September 21. Participation in a special operation, together with group “A” of the KGB of the USSR, to free an aircraft hijacked by terrorists at the airport in Ufa.
1987
The first trial tests for the right to wear a maroon beret.
1988
January. The origin of the tradition associated with conducting qualification tests for the right to wear a maroon beret.
February March. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan SSR. Prevention and elimination of riots, suppression of pogroms, robberies and terrorist acts against the local population, search for weapons in places of illegal storage, seizure of valuables from criminals, protection of critical facilities, the leadership of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs in places with a difficult operational situation.
July. Yerevan. Participation in a special operation to unblock the Zvartnots airport.
September. Yerevan. The use of URSN as a deterrent in the liquidation of riots.
November December. Baku city. Ensuring the state of emergency, participation in a special operation to liberate the square named after. Lenin from extremist-minded persons.
1989
May. Release of hostages taken by criminals in the pre-trial detention center in the city of Kizel, Perm region and in the corrective labor colony of the village. Lesnoye, Kirov region.
June. Fergana region of the Uzbek SSR. Participation in the operation to suppress nationalist terrorism, unprecedented in scale and cruelty, liquidate riots, disarm extremists, escort columns with refugees.
June. Mangyshlak region of the Kazakh SSR. Elimination of riots.
July. Abkhaz ASSR. Prevention of clashes on ethnic grounds, seizure of weapons from the population.
November. Moldavian SSR. Participation in the activities of law enforcement agencies to restore public order.
December. Formation of a special-purpose training battalion on the basis of the URSN.
1990
January. Nakhichevan Autonomous Region of the Azerbaijan SSR. Assistance to border guards in protecting the state border.
Baku city. Joint actions with group “A” to detain extremists from the Popular Front of Azerbaijan.
March. Formation of an experimental contract company for special purposes.
A special operation to free the hostages and liquidate the terrorist base near the city of Ijevan.
April. Armenian SSR. Seizure of hail-killing guns in the area of Yerevan.
June. A trip to the base of the special team "Cobra" of the Austrian Federal Gendarmerie in order to exchange experience.
July. Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Helicopter patrolling the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Disarmament of a gang of 50 people near the village. Vagudi, Sisian region of Armenia.
Elimination of the consequences of a plane crash near the city of Stepanakert.
August. Sukhumi. Carrying out, together with group “A”, a unique operation to free hostages and neutralize armed criminals in a temporary detention center.
November. Stepanakert. Security of government agencies. Special operations to check the passport regime, the disarmament of militants. Protection of the commandant of the area of emergency.
Escort in Nagorno-Karabakh of the President of Russia B. Yeltsin and the Minister of Internal Affairs Barannikov.
The first internship in the special team "Cobra" of the Austrian Federal Gendarmerie.
1991
April. South Ossetian Autonomous Region. Conducting a food convoy through the Roki Pass, breaking through the economic blockade of the city of Tskhinvali. Disarmament of militants.
May. Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR No. 033 of May 5, 1991 on the formation of the Vityaz special forces detachment on the basis of the UBSN.
June. SSR Moldova. Actions to verify intelligence on the preparation of extremists to conduct illegal actions.
November. Grozny. Protection of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs blocked by extremists.
December. Vladikavkaz. Ensuring law and order in a complex operational environment.
1992
February 24 - April 20. Makhachkala Dagestan.
May 25 - July 26. Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia. Protection of the representative office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, protection of the television center, intelligence of the Tskhinvali region.
May. Vladikavkaz. Seizure of illegally stored weapons from the population. Detention of militants from O. Teziev's group, which was preparing terrorist acts.
July-September. city of Nazran. Protection of the representative office of the Supreme Council of Russia in the Ingush Republic.
Aug. Sept. Karachay-Cherkessia. Carrying out reconnaissance and search activities with the aim of detaining and disarming Chechen fighters who were trying to penetrate into Abkhazia.
September October. Kabardino-Balkaria. Participation in preventive measures in the conditions of armed confrontation. Liquidation of riots in the pre-trial detention center in Nalchik. Detention of especially dangerous criminals in Tyrnyauz.
October 31 - November 9. Beslan North Ossetia. Airport security. Ensuring negotiations between the leadership of Ossetia and Ingushetia.
Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria.
December. Zone of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. Fulfillment of service and combat tasks in the city of Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia to ensure the state of emergency. Disarmament of extremists, liquidation of illegal armed formations, prevention of clashes between warring parties.
1993
May-July. Zone of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. Elimination of bandit formations in the area with. Ali-Yurt.
May 31. The commander of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia approved the Regulations “On qualification tests for the right to wear a maroon beret”.
October. Moscow city. Defense of the Ostankino television center, participation in measures to restore law and order in the capital.
1994
September 17 - December 11. Reconnaissance and search activities on the border with the Chechen Republic. Study of the area. Posting of columns of the Ministry of Emergency Situations with humanitarian cargo.
December 11 - 30. Assistance to servicemen of the Nizhny Novgorod Operational Regiment, of which a group of soldiers was taken hostage by militants.
Destruction of the Chechen checkpoint under Art. Ischerskaya.
Participation in military operations to eliminate bandit groups in Art. Ischerskaya.
1995
January. Escorting an armored train and carrying out search activities in settlements along the Mozdok-Chervlennaya-Grozny railway line.
March. Participation in operations to liberate the city of Argun and the city of Gudermes from militants.
April. Participation in the operation to destroy the gang in the village. Samashki.
Participation in the battles near Bamut.
May. Fight for height 541.9.
1996
January. Storm with. Pervomaisky, captured by Raduev's gang.
February. Participation in the battles to destroy the gang of "irreconcilables" in the village of Novogroznensky.
the 14 th of July. Opening of the memorial "Knights" who died in the line of military duty.
1997
Work to improve the educational process, taking into account the experience gained in the performance of combat missions in Chechnya.
1998
March-May. Fulfillment of combat missions in the areas bordering Chechnya.
1999
March. Formation of the 1st Red Banner Special Purpose Regiment "Vityaz".
5 May. Presentation of the Battle Banner to the personnel of the 1st Red Banner Regiment "Vityaz".
July August. Preparation of a group of an officer company in the highlands of the North Caucasus.
year 2000
June-December. Fulfillment of combat missions during the counterterrorist operation on the territory of the Chechen Republic.
September 18th. Resumption of qualifying competitions for the title of "excellent hand-to-hand combatant".
year 2001
February. Captured the commander of the southwestern front of Chechnya.
November December. Fulfillment of combat missions in the Chechen Republic.
2002
January-May. Fulfillment of combat missions in the Chechen Republic.
Reorganization of the 1st regiment into the special forces detachment "Vityaz".
October 23-26. Participation in a special operation to free the hostages seized in the theater center on Dubrovka by Chechen terrorists.
1st Red Banner Special Purpose Detachment (1 Special Forces) of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which existed until September 1, 2008. Structurally, the detachment was part of a separate operational division (ODON).
One of the main tasks of the detachment was the fight against terrorism and the release of hostages.
The symbol of the Vityaz fighters is a maroon beret.
On September 1, 2008, on the basis of the Vityaz detachment, by merging with the special purpose detachment Rus, the 604th Special Forces Center of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was formed.
The following tasks were assigned to the detachment:
participation in the disarmament and liquidation of illegal armed formations, organized criminal groups, in the suppression of riots accompanied by armed violence, the seizure of illegally stored weapons from the population;
participation in the suppression of acts of terrorism;
participation in the neutralization of persons who took hostages, important state facilities, special cargo, facilities on communications, as well as buildings of state authorities;
participation in ensuring the security of officials and individual citizens of the Russian Federation in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Symbolism, the emblem of the "Vityaz" briefly and clearly demonstrates strength and confidence - this is a fist depicted on top of a machine gun. Most of the special forces units have borrowed this emblem, replacing only the name of the unit with their own.
Creation of the special forces detachment "Vityaz"
The creation of special forces capable of fighting terrorism at the highest professional level was first seriously discussed during the preparations for the 1980 Olympics. Life itself hurried with the creation of a system of special forces in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. And such a decision was made. In accordance with the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR of December 29, 1977, on the basis of the 9th company of the 3rd battalion of the 2nd regiment of the OMSDON named after. F. Dzerzhinsky of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR began to form a special forces unit, currently known under the name "Vityaz".A unit, at that time called URSN (training company for special purposes), was DESIGNED to ensure the security of the Olympics-80. But this was not the only purpose of its creation. It was important on the basis of the URSN to develop and test curricula for the training of special forces units in the system of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs.
By the spring of 1978, maroon berets appeared in the company. At the direction of the deputy commander of the internal troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lieutenant General A. Sidorov, one of the rear officers was seconded to the city of Gorky, from where he brought 50 berets: 25 maroon and 25 green. Wearing berets was allowed only during ostentatious classes.
Of course, given the significance and complexity of the tasks assigned to the URSN, the weapons and equipment of the special forces were rather meager even by the standards of that time. However, everyone in the company, from an ordinary soldier to a commander, understood that the main thing for them was to demonstrate the capabilities of a person in extreme conditions, to show and prove the expediency and necessity of creating such a unit.
The special forces TRAINING company began training on January 1, 1978. When compiling the training program, the training methodology of the West German border guard GHA-9 and the police group "Bear" from Finland was used. The GSG-9 group was well equipped with equipment and special equipment, and the "Bear" was famous for its well-trained snipers. Ours borrowed from the Germans the principles of their technical equipment and some methods of storming a building and other objects, and from the Finns - the methodology of fire and sniper training.
Classes and trainings were held daily from morning to evening with short breaks for lunch and rest. Classes in the gym were led by the sambo coach of the division named after. F. Dzerzhinsky Valery Nikolaevich Khardikov.
What the URSN fighters demonstrated at demonstration classes could be compared with a magnificent circus program, all participants of which masterfully performed their tricks. Only this program was paramilitary - with maximum risk, high dynamics, huge physical and psychological stress, with the use of military weapons.
In parallel with the classes in the gym, there were classes in firearms training. A group of twenty fighters faced an equally important and difficult task - a demonstration of a demonstration lesson in the section of special firearms training. The lesson was held in ten directions, on each of which the fighters performed various special exercises. Here, psychological preparation, and demonstration of the capabilities of weapons, and shooting "in Macedonian style", and throwing live grenades ... Not all exercises have stood the test of time and the practice of special forces. In particular, in the future, the Vityaz unit refused to allow snipers to shoot at the windows of an aircraft, and to land from a moving vehicle. But then, in the late seventies, these exercises required great dedication, dexterity, endurance from the fighters, and they looked spectacular when performed by special forces.
In such a tense regime, both URSN platoons conducted training and preparation for demonstration classes from January to June 1978, after which the premiere of military special forces took place in front of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR and the leadership of the ministry. The minister gave a very high assessment of what he saw. All servicemen who took part in demonstration exercises were awarded the 1st degree badge "For Distinction in Service", which was the first official recognition of the skill of the special forces. And most importantly, the main task facing the personnel of the company was completed - to achieve recognition of the need for the existence of a special forces unit in the system of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. And it was done with honor.
AFTER the successful demonstration classes, it was decided to form another, first platoon, as part of the URSN. The task is to work out actions in a populated area, prepare for demonstration exercises to capture a building and work on a fire-assault strip.
The 1st platoon of the URSN was formed on the basis of the same 2nd Regiment. 60th anniversary of the VLKSM OMSDON, as well as on the basis of the 1st platoon of the 8th motorized rifle company.
By the summer of 1978, a fire-assault zone was created in the training center of the Novaya village. It was intended for the moral and psychological training of the personnel of the URSN. In one of the sections of the OShP, a mesh was stretched forty centimeters from the ground, on top of which automatic fire was fired with live ammunition and tracer bullets.
Under real fire, the fighters crawled through this area, after which they threw live grenades and fired blanks at targets imitating the enemy. In addition to overcoming the OSHP, the 1st platoon also practiced actions during the assault on the building.
By that time, the company already had a staff of 113 people and included three special-purpose platoons. Each of them prepared for demonstration exercises, having a strictly defined task: the 1st platoon - storming the building and overcoming the fire assault strip, the 2nd platoon - hand-to-hand combat, the 3rd platoon - fire training. Of the special-purpose weapons in the company, there were several AKM with PBS, RPK machine guns and standard AKM assault rifles. Makarov nine-millimeter pistols and RPG-7 grenade launchers were also used for training practice. From the URSN armored vehicles, three BTR-60 armored personnel carriers were attached.
The entire curriculum, the entire life of the company was now aimed at preparing for the security of the Olympics-80. At the end of 1978, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR issued an order "On the Enactment of Instructions for the Detention of Armed Criminals." This document established what the capture groups should be, clearly defined the tasks of each unit participating in the conduct of a particular operation. And if earlier the training of each URSN platoon was built purposefully, was of a special nature, then with the issuance of the minister's order, all divisions of the company switched to training according to a single methodology. This applied to fire, and to physical, and to special training.
The level of preparation for the summer of the eightieth among the military personnel of the URSN was very high. For example, a group of four fighters with the help of mutual insurance and a pole penetrated the second floor of the stormed building in just 20 seconds. The capture group, which also consisted of four fighters and was in its original position five meters from the object, using two assault ladders, climbed to the third floor in 22 seconds! The soldiers of the company had a good command of hand-to-hand combat techniques. At that time, it was based on karate combined with elements of acrobatics, defense techniques against knives and firearms, various throws, trips and sweeps.
When the Olympic Games began, the URSN was constantly on combat duty, being part of the combat crew of forces ensuring the safety of the Olympics. Within 10 minutes after receiving the appropriate signal, the company was supposed to leave for the scene.
The Olympic Games were held without incidents, but the URSN was still in full combat readiness until the very end.
The FIRST half of the eighties passed for the URSN in intense military everyday life. Using the accumulated practical experience, the fighters of the company were actively engaged in combat and special training, improving their significantly increased professional skills. The commander of the URSN, Captain V. Bulatov, his deputy for special training, Captain S. Lysyuk, and other officers of the unit creatively approached the organization of the training process for subordinates, and tried in every possible way to improve the training methodology.
Along with intensive training, the URSN fighters increasingly had to perform combat missions related to the suppression of particularly daring crimes. In the summer of 1981, two conscripts committed a daring hostage-taking in a school near Izhevsk. By barricading themselves in the classroom and holding the children at gunpoint, the criminals tried in this way to force the local authorities to comply with their demands. A group of special forces of the KGB of the USSR to combat terrorism and a group of servicemen of the URSN were urgently sent to the scene. As a result of their skillful and well-coordinated joint actions, the criminals were neutralized, none of the schoolchildren were injured.
In the autumn of that year, alarming news came from the south of the country. On October 21, in the city of Ordzhonikidze (now Vladikavkaz), mass clashes took place on ethnic grounds between Ossetians and Ingush. The bloody tragedy that resulted in the death of people, contributing to a surge in crime and national terrorism, required urgent action. To solve this complex problem, a group of URSN servicemen was sent to North Ossetia among the special forces of the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR. The task is to identify the instigators of mass riots and neutralize them, search for and confiscate weapons. The business trip to North Ossetia became for the URSN fighters the first experience of performing combat missions in the face of a sharp aggravation of interethnic conflicts.
In 1985, the XII World Festival of Youth and Students was held in Moscow. The training company of special forces also took part in ensuring public safety, which, as part of the duty unit, was in 10-minute readiness to leave on any alarm signal. However, the use of special forces, fortunately, did not have to.
This happened a little later, when in the city of Ufa, three conscripts made a daring attempt at an armed seizure of an aircraft, shooting several police officers in the process. Group "A" of the KGB of the USSR and the URSN were urgently sent to the scene of the tragedy.
The situation turned out to be so difficult that the special forces had to use all the means in their arsenal to neutralize the terrorists.
During this period, practical measures began to be taken to exchange experience and organize interaction between various special forces units of the KGB and the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. Particularly close contacts were established at the special forces company of the F. Dzerzhinsky division with group "A" of the KGB of the USSR, as well as the group "Vympel". Their interaction played a positive role in the formation of the special forces of the internal troops.
In February 1988, one of the first acts of the national tragedy took place in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgayit. The monstrous massacre, killings of civilians, pogroms and robberies perpetrated by criminals under nationalist slogans became a terrible tragedy not only for Sumgayit, the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples, but for the entire country.
Internal troops were thrown into the thick of the bloody civil strife. The tasks performed by the URSN while serving in Sumgayit were varied. If at the initial stage it was the prevention and elimination of riots, pogroms, robberies and terrorist acts, then later the special forces soldiers were engaged in searching for weapons in places of illegal storage, liquidating gangs, seizing valuables from criminals, guarding the leadership of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs and especially important objects in places with a difficult operating environment.
Sumgayit once again convincingly demonstrated the ability of the special forces to successfully cope with problems of this kind, which undoubtedly played a role in the further involvement of the URSN in resolving ethnic conflicts.
On July 4, 1988, in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, criminals provoked a large-scale terrorist act to seize and block the Zvartnots airport. The lives of people were under threat, there was a real danger of destruction and failure of important facilities that ensure the vital activity of the airport.
To suppress the riots, law enforcement forces were urgently sent to Yerevan. One of the first to arrive there was a special-purpose company of the division named after. F. Dzerzhinsky. The use of the URSN as a deterrent played a big role in normalizing the situation in Yerevan.
In November, the URSN, together with other units and units of the division named after. F. Dzerzhinsky was involved in the performance of service and combat missions in the city of Baku. For a long time, thousands of people have been rallying in support of the demands for resolving the conflict in the NKAR in the central square of the capital of Azerbaijan.
Local authorities decided to introduce a state of emergency and a curfew in Baku, to liberate the square from the protesters. For this purpose, significant forces of internal troops, including a special-purpose training company, were transferred to Baku.
Tasks for the URSN were set similar to those performed by the special forces in Yerevan. And in Baku, the fighters of the company carried out the search for terrorists, the search and detention of criminals, especially during the curfew. In addition, the URSN was entrusted with the protection and escort of the investigative teams of the USSR Prosecutor's Office.
On December 5, an operation was carried out to clear the square from protesters. URSN played a special role in this action. The fighters did everything possible to prevent bloodshed, confiscated cold and firearms from the criminals, and detained instigators and provocateurs. The skillful and decisive actions of the special forces were highly appreciated by the leadership of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In the second half of the eighties, one of the main directions in the activities of the URSN was the fight against terrorism, which was increasingly acquiring a nationalistic character. In June 1989, another conflict flared up in the cities of Ferghana, Kokand, Margelan and others - between Uzbek extremists and Meskhetian Turks living in this part of the Uzbek SSR. Bloody showdowns, people burned alive, robberies, murders, bullying, rape - all this was completely enough in Uzbekistan.
Soldiers of law and order stood up to protect innocent people. As a result of the skillful actions of the URSN, the lives of hundreds of people of different nationalities were saved, many crimes were prevented, a large number of cold and firearms were seized, many instigators of the riots were arrested, and gangs preparing terrorist attacks against civilians were liquidated. This is not a complete list of tasks that have been successfully completed by the special forces unit to restore law and order in the Fergana Valley.
By the end of the eighties, the special forces company had already accumulated considerable experience in operating in difficult, sometimes extreme conditions. But it became more and more difficult for the "maroon berets" to cope with the official workload - the number of combat missions performed was growing rapidly, and their nature had undergone significant changes. The command of the internal troops, having carried out analytical calculations, came to the conclusion that in the near future it is necessary to increase the organizational and staffing of the special forces unit.
As a result, it was decided to create as part of one of the divisions of the division. F. Dzerzhinsky battalion of special purpose on the basis of URSN. In December 1989, the unit command began the formation of the UBSN, the organization of the educational process. Major S. Lysyuk was appointed commander of the battalion, Major O. Kublin was appointed deputy for work with personnel, senior lieutenant V. Putilov was appointed deputy for special training, and major S. Zhitikhin was appointed chief of staff.
By January 1990, the UBSN was fully formed and began to study. However, the battalion was soon sent to Baku, where, after the tragic January events, the special forces performed a number of tasks that they had to face for the first time. One of the groups, headed by Major S. Lysyuk, guarded the State Border of the USSR in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Region. The commandos participated in operations to suppress the illegal transport of weapons and drugs, as well as the elimination of illegal armed formations on the territory of Azerbaijan.
IN MARCH 1990, an alarming message was received from Yerevan - the militants committed another terrorist attack, this time against the servicemen of one of the units of the internal troops who were performing official tasks in the capital of Armenia. Several members of the police regiment were taken hostage.
The task of finding and freeing the hostages, neutralizing the terrorists was assigned to the UBSN fighters. Its implementation was hampered by the fact that the bandits could deal with their victims at any moment, and each careless action of the "maroon berets" could hasten the tragic denouement. Another difficulty is determining the location of the gang, its numbers and weapons. It was not necessary to count on the help of local residents, since people were intimidated by terrorists, and it was clear that they would not risk their own lives and the lives of their loved ones. It remained to find the location of the militants' base, where, according to operational data, the hostages were being held.
After many days of persistent searching, luck finally smiled - the militant base was discovered near the city of Izhdevan. A carefully planned and successfully carried out operation by the special forces made it possible to eliminate another nest of terrorists and free the hostages who were there.
ON JUNE 26, 1990, the UBSN was again alerted and sent to Nagorno-Karabakh to perform combat missions of escorting columns with refugees, patrolling the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan by helicopter.
The business trip to Karabakh ended on August 9. A little more than a week has passed, and the special forces, together with Group A, are taking part in an operation of an unprecedented scale to neutralize criminals in the Sukhumi temporary detention center. By the decree of the President of the USSR, 27 servicemen of the UBSN were awarded state awards for the successful conduct of the operation to free the hostages in the temporary detention center of the city of Sukhumi and the courage and heroism shown at the same time. It was one of the brightest pages in the history of special forces.
IN THE BEGINNING of 1991, a very difficult situation developed in the South Ossetian Autonomous Republic. The regional center was surrounded and blockaded by Georgian militants. Essential commodities, foodstuffs, electricity, gas, and water stopped coming to Tskhinval. There was famine in the city. Repeated attempts to deliver food and medicine to the besieged city were unsuccessful. Cars with cargo were either returned back by Georgian militants, or they were looted by them. UBSN special forces soldiers came to the rescue. It was the "maroon berets" that then accompanied the first convoy with food. Having made a 120-kilometer march from Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali through the high-mountainous Roki Pass, overcoming the rubble and mined sections of the road controlled by Georgian militants, the special forces broke through the economic blockade of the city.
Literally the next day after arriving in Tskhinval, the special forces battalion began an operation to disarm the militants. UBSN fighters were in South Ossetia for ten days. As soon as the trip to Tskhinval was over, a new combat mission arrived - to leave for the city of Grozny to carry out an operation to disarm the gangs. The special forces were also assigned to protect the leadership of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs.
After completing these tasks, the UBSN was relocated to Vladikavkaz. The unresolved territorial dispute between the Ossetians and the Ingush gave rise to terrorist attacks, robberies, and violence. The purpose of the special forces on this trip was the protection of citizens, the elimination of illegal armed formations.
The end of 1991 was crowned with a significant event for the UBSN. On the basis of the battalion, a special-purpose detachment was formed as part of the F. Dzerzhinsky division. Lieutenant Colonel S. Lysyuk was appointed commander of the detachment. In addition to its official name, the detachment received another one, which became known to the whole world. "Guys in maroon berets from the Vityaz detachment - this is how the OSN fighters are now called everywhere.
IN THE SUMMER of 1992, the detachment was involved in an operation to detain an armed group led by the Prime Minister of South Ossetia O. Teziev, which was preparing terrorist attacks against representatives of the legitimate authorities. As a result of the skillful actions of the special forces, the operation was successful.
In the same 1992, a Russian representative office was established in the city of Nazran to look for ways to resolve the conflict between North Ossetia and Ingushetia. A group of DOS servicemen headed by Major O. Kublin was assigned to guard the mission. On this mission, the detachment suffered losses for the first time. Senior Sergeant Anatoly Volchenkov, posthumously awarded the Order "For Personal Courage", died while on duty.
In October 1992, the conflict between the Ossetians and the Ingush turned into a real massacre. The special forces of the internal troops became a wall between the warring parties. In those days, the Vityaz fighters performed complex and responsible tasks related to the liquidation of bandit formations, and repelled attacks by extremists on peaceful villages. A lot of effort and time was spent searching for and confiscating weapons from the militants.
The real test for the detachment was the events of October 1993, when unprecedented, bloody clashes took place in Moscow. On the evening of October 3, the epicenter of events moved to the Ostankino television center. Spotted armored personnel carriers with the emblem of the Vityaz detachment arrived here in time. After some time, the special forces with their commander occupied the building of the television center, and then the hardware and studio complex. We quickly carried out measures to organize the defense of the main Ostankino building, and began negotiations.
For courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Lysyuk and Private Nikolai Sitnikov (posthumously) were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Orders and medals were also awarded to other servicemen of the Vityaz detachment.
On SEPTEMBER 17, 1994, one hundred and twenty "knights" headed by the commander of the detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Nikishin, flew to the city of Mozdok. For three months, the fighters of the detachment conducted intensive exercises and training in the mountains, on mountain rivers, studied the terrain. During this time, they managed to acclimatize, settled down in the field, organized life.
In December 1994, the entry into the Chechen Republic of the troops of the Ministry of Defense and internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia began. The command of the troops set the task for the detachment to unblock the roads leading deep into Chechnya.
On December 17, a group of detachment officers headed by Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Kublin arrived in Mozdok to replace the "knights" who were on a business trip. And already on December 20, the “knights” were given the task of knocking down a checkpoint of militants on the Mozdok-Grozny highway near the village of Ishcherskaya. As a result of a short but intense battle, the militants' checkpoint was destroyed. This episode was the baptism of fire "knights" in Chechnya.
Until mid-January 1995, a detachment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Nikishin moved along the Mozdok-Chervlennaya-Grozny railway line, escorting an armored train. During the special operation, 200 machine guns, 50 pistols, and a large amount of ammunition were confiscated from the militants. The task of unblocking the strategically important railway line was successfully completed by the detachment.
On March 15-17, 1995, the detachment carried out a special operation to liberate the settlement of Argun from illegal armed formations. And on March 28-30, the "knights" took part in a special operation in Gudermes. During the operation, two enemy firing points were suppressed, 10 militants were destroyed, and a warehouse of medicines was found.
On April 3-7, during reconnaissance and search activities in the village of Samashki, three strongholds of militants were destroyed, 8 Dudayevites were taken prisoner.
On April 14, the detachment was involved in a special operation to destroy illegal armed formations in a forest area west of the Bamut settlement. When trying to break through a detachment of militants through the battle formation of the 2nd GSN, 17 Dudayevites were destroyed. During the battle, a soldier of the Vityaz detachment, Sergeant Alexander Kisilenko, was mortally wounded. Privates Kibardin and Rasskazov were seriously wounded. On April 18, during a fierce battle near Bamut, the deputy commander of the 4th GSN for work with personnel, Senior Lieutenant Oleg Rasstegaev, was killed, the deputy commander of the platoon of the 4th GSN, warrant officer Gnusov, was seriously wounded.
Hot for the detachment "Vityaz" was the beginning of the summer of 1995. During the assault on height 541.9, four special forces fell on the battlefield: Konstantin Smirnov, Dmitry Rasshchupkin, Valentin Leleka and Private Andrey Arefkin. On June 2, during the battle at the height of Bezymyannaya, Private Sergei Sedin was killed. Sergei covered the actions of the assault group with fire, and his dedication helped the "knights" to complete their combat mission.
In 1996, the detachment participated in special operations in the villages of Pervomaisky and Novogroznensky. During the assault on Pervomaisky, Private Dmitry Evdokimov died, he became the eighth fighter of the detachment who did not return from the war.
During the fighting in Chechnya, more than two hundred fighters of the detachment were awarded orders and medals for their courage, steadfastness and high professionalism. And lieutenant colonels Alexander Nikishin and Oleg Kublin were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
TODAY the "knights" are taking part in the counterterrorist operation in Chechnya. They have hundreds of successful special operations on their account. Unfortunately, there are also losses. During one of the operations, Private Sergei Burnaev was killed. He saved his comrades from death by covering a grenade with his body. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
The war in Chechnya violated the clear system of professional training of soldiers and officers that had developed over the years in the detachment. Previously, each fighter was systematically preparing for six months in a training platoon and often came to a combat group having already passed a difficult exam for the right to wear a maroon beret. During the Chechen campaign, the entire training program was reduced to practically two subjects - combined arms tactical and fire training.
And yet the spirit of the special forces, the traditions of the "Vityaz" in the detachment are alive. Every soldier is proud of his service in the special forces. The maroon beret is still the highest award for special forces. To earn it is the dream of every fighter. As well as the badge "Valor of the special forces", which exists only in the "Vityaz" detachment. It is awarded for outstanding personal merits achieved in the special forces business. Do not forget in the detachment and the good old tradition of patronage of young soldiers. "Vityaz" has always been famous for its solidarity, mutual assistance, well-developed institution of mentoring.
The guarantee that the glorious traditions of the "Vityaz" live on is the advice of the "maroon berets" of the detachment. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the council for the detachment. The range of its activities is huge. These are issues of combat and special training, educational work, military discipline, everyday life and leisure ... And there is no need to talk about his influence on the soldiers. The Council is trying in every possible way to help the commander of the Vityaz, to patch up those holes that the war in Chechnya caused to the combat training of special forces. In "Vityaz" they are gradually returning to their technique worked out to the smallest detail over a twenty-five-year history - high-altitude training, a fire-assault strip, hand-to-hand combat. The detachment returns to its spetsnaz mission. This means that there will be new successes and new victories. And we will hear the proud more than once: "I serve the Fatherland and special forces!"
Magazine "Bratishka" bratishka.ru
Throughout the history of Russia, many units have been engaged in anti-terrorist activities and the release of hostages. One of them was the 1st Red Banner Special Forces Detachment, which is better known as the Vityaz special forces.
When was the division formed?
The holding of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow required the government and law enforcement agencies to take special precautions. Work in this direction began to be carried out since 1978. As a result, a training sports company of the URSN was created in a separate operational motorized rifle division named after F. Dzerzhinsky. Members of the personnel of this unit were supposed to ensure the safety of the highest ranks of the country and guests during the Olympic Games. The special unit included officers, warrant officers, sergeants and conscripts. By order of the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, the selection criteria were: a high level of discipline and physical fitness, as well as the moral and psychological qualities necessary for work. In 1989, this training company became the basis for the creation of a special forces battalion, whose employees were involved in the most difficult combat missions. In May 1991, by order of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, the special forces of the Vityaz VV were formed from the employees of this training battalion.
Functions
Employees who were part of the Vityaz special forces were engaged in the following tasks:
- Stopped terrorist acts.
- The hostages were released.
- They were engaged in the protection of important state facilities, special cargo, government buildings and communication facilities.
Subdivision symbol
After the Vityaz special forces were formed, the question arose of how to distinguish the employees of this unit from others. For this purpose, berets were used by various special forces. The berets of each unit differed from each other in their color. The servicemen who made up the Vityaz special forces wore maroon berets. This color is a symbol of the blood shed by internal service officers during their combat missions. According to many veterans who went through the Chechen campaign, only the best deserve the right to wear maroon berets.
Only well-trained military personnel could achieve a high result. Not a single “krapovik” fell into the hands of Chechen fighters during the entire period of the war, while the Vityaz special forces were performing their tasks on the territory of the rebellious republic. The photo below represents the external design of the beret.
Start of testing
It was possible to determine who is worthy of wearing this headdress by examining military personnel. From the very beginning of the introduction in the division of the maroon beret, such exams were held behind the scenes. This is explained by the fact that the idea of "chosenness" was not welcomed by the high military command. Only in 1993, the commander of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Kulikov, approved the regulation "On the qualification tests of military personnel for the right to wear a maroon beret."
How is the special forces "Vityaz" examined?
What are they teaching?
In the center "Vityaz" instructors teach the following disciplines: legal training, tactical-special, special fire, physical, medical, psychological and route training. The latter consists in the development of special driving techniques by students. In addition, instructors are trained to use special equipment.
The Vityaz special-purpose detachment is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. This anti-terrorist unit went down in history as one of the best.
