Vityaz (MVD) - History

History

Vityaz was created on May 5, 1991, on basis of the pre-existing Soviet Internal Troops OSNAZ unit 6th OSN within the OMSDON, which was formed in 1997 and was involved in a variety of operations and incidents through the 1980s, often in co-operattion with the KGB's Alpha Group.

In November 1991, Vityaz was a part of Internal Troops contingent sent to restore the Kremlin's control over Grozny, but their deployment was blocked by the Chechen separatists immediately after the landing and then flown back following a standoff at the Grozny Airport, without even disembarking from their planes. In 1992-1993, it was sent to the East Prigorodny conflict to fight against the ethnic Ingush militias.

On October 3, 1993, during the Russian constitutional crisis, Vityaz gunned down the crowd of anti-Yeltsin protesters and onlookers at the Ostankino TV center in Moscow, killing scores of people (at least 46 fatalities, including Rory Peck and three other journalists). The unit's commander, Colonel Sergei Lysyuk, was awarded the titles of Hero of the Russian Federation for his actions at Ostankino, that were credited with saving Yeltsin's rule from the opposition.

Later, it was active in the Chechen Wars, including in the federal assaults on Argun and Gudermes and possibly during the Samashki massacre in 1995, as well as against insurgents in the greater North Caucasus area. It also participated in the Kizlyar-Pervomayskoye hostage crisis in 1996 and in the Moscow theater hostage crisis in 2002.

On September 1, 2008, Vityaz and Rus were deactivated and then merged into a single unit, the 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Center of the Interior Ministry, under direct command of ODON.