Spetsnaz - Nomenclature in The USSR and Russia

Nomenclature in The USSR and Russia

• Soviet/Russian Ministry of Defence special forces:
  • Various Spetsnaz units (under GRU, later the Russian Ground Forces)
  • 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment (Russian Airborne Troops)

• State security (KGB/FSB) special forces:
  • Special Operations Center (TsSN): Alpha, Vympel, Special Purpose Service
  • Regional FSB special forces
  • Barrier (Foreign Intelligence Service)
  • Other, now-defunct KGB units, such Cascade, Omega, Zenith
  • Special Purpose Regiment (Kremlin Regiment)
  • Border Troops

• Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) special forces:
  • Internal Troops' Independent Division of Operational Purpose (OMSDON / ODON)
    • Rus and Vityaz (merged into the 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Center)
  • Various other OSNAZ units of the Internal Troops
  • Militsiya/Police:
    • OMON
    • SOBR (OMSN)
    • "Kadyrov's spetsnaz"

• Ministry of Justice special forces:
  • Dozens of various independent detachments, such as Saturn.