Spetsnaz GRU
| Spetsnaz GRU | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1949–2012, 2013–present |
| Country |
 Soviet Union (1949–1991) Russian Federation1991–2010 (under the GRU) 2010–2012 (Non-GRU) 2013–present (under the GRU) |
| Branch |
 GRU
|
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role |
Special reconnaissance Direct action |
| Size | Classified |
| Part of |
 Soviet Armed Forces(1949–1991) .svg){kind=small} Russian Armed Forces(1991–present) |
| GRU Headquarters | 76 Khoroshyovskoe shosse, Khodinka, Moscow |
| Mascot(s) | Bat |
| Engagements |
Cold War conflicts Soviet War in Afghanistan Civil War in Tajikistan East Prigorodny conflict War in Abkhazia First Chechen War Invasion of Dagestan Second Chechen War Insurgency in the North Caucasus Russo-Georgian War Syrian civil war |
GRU Spetsnaz are the elite military formations under the control of the military intelligence service GRU. It was the first Soviet/Russian spetsnaz (special forces) force, more than two decades older than its KGB/FSB and MVD counterparts. The full acronym is GRU GSh (Russian: ГРУ ГШ) or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye Generalnovo Shtaba (Russian: Главное Разведывательное Управление Генерального Штаба) meaning Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (of the Russian Federation). The acronym, however, is usually shortened to just GRU (Russian: ГРУ) which stands for Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye (Russian: Главное Разведывательное Управление) (English: Main Intelligence Directorate). The word "Spetsnaz" is often written in all capital letters ("SPETSNAZ").
In 2010, following Russian military reforms, Spetsnaz GRU were disbanded and instead placed into different divisions of the Ground Forces of the Russian Military; in 2013, however, some units were reassigned to GRU divisions and placed under GRU authority once more.
The concept of using special forces tactics and strategies was originally proposed by the Russian military theorist Mikhail Svechnykov (executed during the Great Purge in 1938), who envisaged the development of unconventional warfare capabilities in order to overcome disadvantages that conventional forces may face in the field. Practical implementation was begun by the "grandfather of the spetsnaz" Ilya Starinov. During World War II, reconnaissance and sabotage forces were formed under the supervision of the Second Department of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces. These forces were subordinate to the commanders of Fronts.
...
Wikipedia