3rd Guards Red Banner Warsaw Berlin. How to get into the GRU (special forces)? Special Forces of the GRU of Russia

3 Guards OBRSPN GRU General Staff of the Ministry of Defense (military unit: 21208, previously 83149)−3rd Guards Separate Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov III degree brigade special purpose... (Samara, PrUVO) (military unit 21208, earlier military unit 83149).

Formed in 1966 by the Directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany on the funds of the 26th Separate Special Forces Battalion in the Werder Bremen garrison with the participation of personnel from the 27th Separate Special Forces Battalion of the Northern Group of Forces, 48 ​​and 166 separate reconnaissance battalions. The brigade began to be formed by Lieutenant Colonel R.P. Mosolov, appointed to the post of deputy commander of the brigade of the guard.

During the existence of the brigade, it was commanded by:

• guards Colonel Grishakov Alexey Nikolaevich 11.1966-09.1971
• guards Colonel Yatchenko Nikolay Mikhailovich 09.1971-11.1975
• guards Colonel Zharov Oleg Mikhailovich 11.1975-09.1978
• guards Colonel Bolshakov Vyacheslav Ivanovich 09.1978-11.1983
• guards Colonel Starov Yuri Timofeevich 11.1983-01.1986
• guards Colonel Manchenko Vladimir Andreevich 01.1986-11.1988
• guards Colonel Ilyin Alexander Sergeevich 11.1989-01.1992
• guards Lieutenant Colonel Chernetsky Alexander Artemievich 01.1992-09.1995
• guards Colonel Kozlov Vladimir Andreevich 09.1995-02.2004

• 83149, then 21208, then (possibly) 21353 - brigade management.
• 21209 - 503rd ooSpN
• 21353 - 509th ooSpN
• 33473 - 330th ooSpN

Composition:

• - brigade management
• - 330th ooSpN (2nd bn)
• - 501st ooSpN
• - 503rd ooSpN
• - 509th ooSpN (1st bn)
• - 510th ooSpN
• - 512th ooSpN
• - school of junior specialists (shms)
• - a logistics company (RMO)
• - a company of special weapons (RSV). Recreated since 2000
• - autorot

PPD: 1966-1992 - Neu-Timmen (Neu-Brandenburg district, former GDR), GSVG-ZGV. Until 1975, part of the brigade's units were located in Neusterlitz. Later, the city of Neutimen became the location of the brigade. January 1991-June 2002 - The 330th ooSpN was stationed in Riga, Latvia. Then he was taken to Russia in the village of Roshchinsky. 1992-present - the village of Roshchinsky, the garrison of Chernorechye, Samara region, PURVO.

History:

The history of the brigade dates back to March 1944. The brigade began to be formed by Lieutenant Colonel R.P. Mosolov, appointed to the post of deputy commander of the guard brigade. In 1957, the 26th separate battalion of the Special Forces was formed in the GSVG (commander - Lieutenant Colonel R.P. Mosolov). The brigade was formed in 1966 by the Directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the GSVG on the funds of the 26th separate battalion of the Special Forces (which, in turn, was formed on the basis of the 26th Guards Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 3rd class motorcycle regiment) in the garrison of Werder with the participation of personnel from the 27th a separate battalion of the Special Forces of the SGV, the 48th and 166th separate reconnaissance battalions. In the 80s, one of the main tasks of special forces groups was the detection and destruction of enemy missiles. In addition, the SPN collected information for the GRU. Only the brigade could deploy about 48 reconnaissance groups. In addition to scouts, signalmen and sappers were included in the groups (depending on the tasks assigned). The brigade was one of the first in the GSVG to switch to the form of the Airborne Forces (vests and berets). In May 1990, from the city of Furstenberg (Neu-Timmen) of the GDR, the brigade was redeployed to the Chernorechensky military town, the village of Roshchinsky, Chernorechye of the Volzhsky district of Samara. The day of the part is March 26.

Commanders: 09.1971-11.1975 - Guards. Colonel Yatchenko Nikolai Mikhailovich 11.1975-09.1978 - Guards. Colonel Zharov Oleg Mikhailovich 09.1978-11.1983 - Guards. Colonel Bolshakov Vyacheslav Ivanovich 11.1983-01.1986 - Guards. Colonel Starov Yuri Timofeevich 01.1986-11.1988 - Guards. Colonel Manchenko Vladimir Andreevich 11.1988-01.1992 - Guards. Colonel Ilyin Alexander Sergeevich 01.1992-09.1995 - Guards. Lieutenant Colonel Chernetsky Alexander Artemievich 09.1995-2003 - Guards. Colonel, Major General Vladimir Kozlov 2003-present - Guards. Colonel (since 2005 - Major General) Kersov Alexey Nikolaevich

Management: The brigade commander is Major General Aleksey Nikolaevich Kersov, Deputy. brigade commander Colonel Vydrov deputy. brigade commander for educational work Antonov Yuri Anatolyevich

Heroes of Russia: 1. Guards. Sergeant Major Ushakov A.B. (1972-1995), posthumously. 2. Guards. Art. l-t Dergunov A.V. (1979-2003), posthumously.

THE USSR: The brigade was deployed around the wartime state. 1985-1990: 3 reconnaissance. battalion, 1 battalion of communications, autorot, headquarters company, rmo, special weapons platoon, special mines company.

Tajikistan From September 1992 to March 1993, the brigade took part in hostilities in Tajikistan. Dushanbe, Kulyab. Detachments "Pyandzh", "Moskovsky", also the Dusti region and partly Kalaikhumb. SM together with RU FPS in the interests of the group, protection of the ambassador and family members, events for the Vovchiks and the most radical Yurchiks.

Losses in Kosovo: Andrey Kuzovov (Ulyanovsk), died in Kosovo, May 2001.

1H: From January to June 1995, the 509th separate special-purpose detachment of the brigade fought in Chechnya. On January 17, 1995, the 509th separate special-purpose detachment of the 3rd separate special-purpose brigade on the Il-76 was transferred from Samara to Mozdok, and then to Khankala on the BMP-1, in a column. The detachment was engaged in reconnaissance of the vicinity of the city of Argun, even when the battles for Grozny were just going on. The reconnaissance group reconnoitered the ford across the Argun River, where after that the equipment was transported to encircle the city. Serious trials fell on the detachment near the village of Komsomolskoye (near Argun), where the detachment stormed a high-rise for a marine regiment. On the night of March 20-21, 1995, the troops of the United Group "North" launched an operation to disarm illegal armed groups in the area of ​​Argun and Mesker-Yurt. By night operations, the detachment and reconnaissance company of the 165th infantry battalion moved forward and by 6.00 captured the mark. 236.7 (Goiten Court). From 6.00 165 pm, two battalions crossed the Argun River and began to create the outer and inner ring of the encirclement. Subsequently, the detachment fought near Gudermes and Shali. In late May - early June 1995, the detachment was withdrawn to the point of permanent deployment. For military distinctions, 176 brigade men were awarded orders and medals, and the guard sergeant major Anton Borisovich Ushakov was awarded the title of Hero Russian Federation(posthumously). 4 people died in Chechnya.

The first special-purpose military units were created back in 1764 at the suggestions of A. Suvorov, M. Kutuzov, P. Panin. These units were called jaegers. The soldiers were engaged in tactical exercises, conducted military operations in the mountains, carried out ambushes and raids.

How did it all begin?

In 1811, the Separate Corps of Internal Guard was created, which was engaged in the protection and restoration of order within the state. In 1817, thanks to the actions of Alexander I, a rapid reaction detachment of mounted gendarmes was opened. The year 1842 was marked by the appearance of battalions of plastuns from the Cossacks, who, with their military actions, trained many generations of the future special forces.

Spetsnaz in the 20th century

The twentieth century began with the creation of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs - GUGSH (Main Directorate of the General Staff). In 1918, intelligence and special-purpose units were formed under the command of the Cheka. In the 30s, airborne troops and sabotage squads were created.

The new special detachments were faced with serious tasks: reconnaissance, sabotage, the fight against terror, disruption of communications, power supply, transport and much more. Of course, the fighters were supplied with the best uniforms and new equipment. The preparation was serious, individual programs were used. The special forces were classified.

In 1953, mouths occurred. And only 4 years later, 5 separate special-purpose companies were created, to which in 1962 the remnants of the old ones joined. In 1968, they began to train professional intelligence officers, then, by the way, the well-known company number 9 appeared. Gradually, the special forces turned into a powerful force standing in the defense of their state.

these days

Now the GRU is a special body of the foreign intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the purpose of which is to provide intelligence information, necessary conditions implementation of a successful policy, as well as assistance in the economic, military-technical development of the Russian Federation.

The GRU includes 13 main departments, as well as 8 auxiliary ones. The first, second, third and fourth main Directorates deal with issues of interaction with different countries... The Fifth Directorate is a point of operational intelligence. The sixth department deals with the seventh division solves the issues that have arisen with NATO. The remaining six departments of the GRU are engaged in sabotage, the development of military technology, the management of the military economy, strategic doctrines, nuclear weapons and information warfare. Also in the intelligence department there are two research institutes, which are located in Moscow.

Special Forces Brigades

The GRU special forces brigades are considered the most trained units in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 1962, the first special forces detachment of the GRU was formed, whose tasks included the destruction of nuclear missiles and deep reconnaissance.

The second separate brigade was formed in the period from September 1962 to March 1963 in the city of Pskov. The composition successfully participated in the exercises "Horizon-74" and "Ocean-70" and in many others. The commandos of the second brigade were the first to take part in the airborne training "Dozor-86"; they went through the Afghan and Chechen wars. One of the detachments took part in the settlement of the conflict in South Ossetia from 2008 to 2009. Permanent location - Pskov and Murmansk regions.

In 1966, the 3rd Guards Separate Special Forces Brigade of the GRU was created. The composition took part in battles in Tajikistan, in the Chechen wars, in Afghanistan, in a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Since 2010, the brigade has been located in the military town of Togliatti.

In the city of Stary Krym in 1962, the 10th GRU special forces brigade was formed. The military took part in the Chechen wars, in the 2008 Georgian-Ossetian conflict. In 2011, the brigade was awarded a state award for merit in the development and conduct of military operations. The place of deployment is the Krasnodar Territory.

The 14th brigade, which was created in 1963, is located in. The personnel were repeatedly thanked for the excellent conduct of the exercises, for their participation in the hostilities in Afghanistan, the Chechen wars.

The 16th Special Forces Brigade of the GRU was formed in 1963. In 1972, its staff took part in extinguishing fires in the Central Black Earth Zone, for which it was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. In 1992, a detachment of the brigade was engaged in the protection of state facilities on the territory of Tajikistan. The 16th special forces brigade took part in the Chechen wars, peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, performed with ostentatious exercises in Jordan and Slovakia. The place of deployment is the city of Tambov.

The year 1976 was marked by the appearance of the 22nd Guards Separate Special Forces Brigade of the GRU. The location is the Rostov region. The train took part in the Chechen and Afghan wars, in the Baku events of 1989, in the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In the Chita region in 1977, the 24th separate brigade was formed. Spetsnaz took part in the Chechen war, several units fought in Afghanistan. By orders of the heads of the Soviet Union in the 80-90s. the brigade carried out covert operations in hot spots. At the moment, the train is located in the city of Novosibirsk.

In 1984, on the basis of the 791st company, the 67th separate special forces brigade was created. The personnel took part in hostilities in Chechnya, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Karabakh. Previously, the unit was located in Kemerovo, now they are talking about its disbandment.

Special Forces of the GRU of Russia. Primary selection

How to get into the GRU? Spetsnaz is the dream of many boys. Dexterous, fearless warriors, it would seem, are capable of anything. Let's face it, joining a special forces unit is difficult, but possible.

The main condition for the possibility of considering a candidate is military service. Then a series of selections begins. Basically, officers and warrant officers are taken into the special forces of the GRU of the Russian Federation. The officer must have a higher education. Recommendations from reputable employees are also needed. It is advisable for a candidate to be no older than 28 years old and have a height of at least 175 cm. But there are always exceptions. As for physical training, the quality of its implementation is strictly monitored, rest is minimized.

Basic requirements for the physical training of the applicant

The physical standards that must be passed successfully are as follows:

1. Run 3 km in 10 minutes.
2. One hundred meters in 12 seconds.
3. Pulling up on the bar - 25 times.
4. Exercises for the press - 90 times in 2 minutes.
5. Push-ups - 90 times.
6. A set of exercises: press, push-ups, jumping up from the squatting position, transition from the support by squatting to the support while lying down and back. Each individual exercise is done 15 times in 10 seconds. The complex is performed 7 times.
7. Hand-to-hand combat.

In addition to passing the standards, work is carried out with a psychologist, a complete medical examination, research on the "lie detector". All relatives must be checked, in addition, it will be necessary to obtain written consent from the parents for the candidate's service. So how to get into the GRU (special forces)? The answer is simple - you need to prepare from childhood. Sport must firmly enter the life of the future fighter.

I'm in the special forces. What's in store for me? The psychological side

From the first day to the soldier by all possible ways suggest that he is the best. As the coaches say, this is the most important point... In the barracks itself, fighters often arrange secret checks of each other, which helps to always be on alert.

To strengthen the spirit and form the character, the recruit is taught hand-to-hand combat. From time to time he is put into battle against a stronger opponent in order to teach him how to fight even with an opponent who is obviously superior in preparation. Soldiers are also taught to fight using all kinds of improvised means, up to a tightly rolled newspaper. Only after a warrior has mastered such materials does he train on striking technique.

Every six months, fighters are checked for readiness for further service. The soldier is left without food for a week. Warriors are in constant motion, they are not allowed to sleep all the time. Thus, many fighters are screened out.

The physical side of the service

The warrior trains every day, without days off and holidays. Every day you need to run 10 km in less than an hour, with additional weight on your shoulders (about 50 kg).

On arrival, it takes 40 minutes. This includes push-ups on the fingers, on the fists, and jumping up from a sitting position. Basically, each exercise is repeated 20-30 times. At the end of each cycle, the fighter pumps the press a maximum of times. Hand-to-hand combat training takes place every day. The blows are practiced, dexterity and endurance are brought up. The training of the GRU spetsnaz is serious, hard work.

Special Forces Outfit

The GRU special forces uniform has different types, to match the ongoing tasks. At the moment, the important parts of a fighter's "wardrobe" include belts and shoulder-belt systems. Functional vests include several types of equipment pouches. The belt can be adjusted in volume; a synthetic insert is used to increase its strength. The shoulder strap system includes shoulder straps and straps that are designed to distribute the load between the hip joint and the shoulders. Of course, this whole unloading system goes in addition to everyday uniform and body armor.

How to get into the GRU (special forces)?

Only guys with excellent health and excellent physical fitness get into the special forces. A good help to the draftee will be the presence of the mark "Good for the Airborne Forces". Some experienced fighters to the question: "How to get into the GRU (special forces)?" answer that you need to go to the nearest Intelligence Agency and declare yourself.

For officers, general military training is conducted at the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School, and special training takes place at the Military Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The Academy includes Postgraduate Studies and Higher Academic Courses. Higher education is a mandatory requirement for inclusion in the ranks of officers.

The scheme of functioning of the intelligence organizations of the state is always incomprehensible to the layman due to secrecy, in the first place, as well as the variety of tasks and areas of activity. In addition, the system of foreign and military intelligence presupposes the mutual integration of specialists from different structures within the framework of a single combat mission.

The main thing intelligence agency The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia is the main organ of military intelligence, the tasks performed by the GRU units are characterized by the utmost degree of secrecy. The current military personnel, in addition to the officials coordinating the work of the main headquarters, consists of operational officers who make up the agent network of the organization and combat units of special forces.

The list of combat missions represents actions to collect secret information and samples of equipment that are valuable for the country, secret operations to eliminate or neutralize persons who threaten state security, and recruit new employees. Combat divisions of the GRU are special forces units, the elite of the internal troops of the Russian Federation. Since time immemorial, sabotage and reconnaissance activities have been carried out by the armies of different states, while the first prototypes of modern special units were the brigades of reconnaissance saboteurs within the NKVD, created during the Second World War.

The reconnaissance special forces acquired a formalized appearance and structure in the middle of the last century, the existence of this type of troops has been counted since October 24, 1950, when the USSR Minister of War signed a secret directive on the creation of "deep" reconnaissance units. From the first days of their existence, these units have been in the department of the Main Intelligence Directorate, which, by the way, resumed its activities a year before. The head of this department was then Marshal of the Soviet Union M.V. Zakharov.

So, the GRU special forces are subdivisions of the regular army, first of all prepared for solving sabotage and reconnaissance tasks. The black bat is a symbol of the military intelligence of Russia and the Soviet Union. The flag is a blue cloth with a white circle in the center, on top of which a bat and the corresponding inscription are depicted.

The initial stage of creating the structure of special forces of military intelligence consisted in the formation of separate companies of special forces, each with 120 personnel, 46 such combat units were created in 1950. Only in 1961 did the creation of separate brigades of the GRU special forces and the corresponding educational institutions... The impetus for this process was the Decree "On the training of personnel and the development of special equipment for organizing and equipping partisan detachments."

In 1961, the first courses for junior command personnel for special forces of the GRU were opened. In 1964, the first large-scale exercises were held on the basis of the Belarusian, Baltic and Leningrad military districts. Within the framework of military schools and universities, faculties are being created to train qualified personnel. One of the most famous training centers is the Ryazan Airborne School's Special Intelligence Faculty, opened in 1968.

Despite the fact that the GRU spetsnaz system had already existed for 18 years by that time, it was the first official training center for spetsnaz officers. The Soviet military campaign in Afghanistan - one of the most unpleasant chapters in the history of the Russian internal troops - became the main reason for an in-depth analysis of the state of the army.

He was subjected to the level of graduates of military schools, the results of which showed that the training was a cut above any other military school in the country. However, the spetsnaz formations in Afghanistan as a whole acted more than confidently.

The system of separate spetsnaz brigades is still in operation. From 1961 to the present day, dozens of such military units have been created and disbanded. The structure began to form in 1961; by 1963, the GRU had 10 special forces brigades at its disposal. As of 2012, the active army consists of eight separate special forces brigades.

Among them is the renowned "3rd Guards Separate Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class, Special Purpose Brigade." Formed as a single military unit in 1966, it was created on the basis of the fifth separate motorcycle regiment, which, in turn, has been leading history since March 1944 on the basis of the 238th tank brigade.

The 5th motorcycle regiment demonstrated high combat training from the first days of participation in hostilities, the result of its activities as part of the 1st Belorussian Front was the awarding of the Red Banner Order in August 44th, December of the same year was marked by the assignment of the title "Guards". In January, the regiment was the first to enter the capital of Poland - Warsaw. He graduated from the Great Patriotic Regiment in Berlin, since 1945 it began to be called the Berlin and Warsaw Regiment, in October of the same year, the Order of Suvorov of the III degree was awarded.

At the end of World War II, the regiment was part of the grouping of Soviet troops in Germany and was based in the city of Werder Havel, in 1957 the 26th battalion of intelligence special forces was formed on its base. The third separate spetsnaz brigade was created by the amalgamation of the 26th and 27th special forces battalions by the directive of the GSvG commander in 1966. The first commander was Colonel A.N. Grishakov.

The creation of the 3rd Special Forces Brigade (3rd Special Forces Brigade of the GRU) fell on the height of the Cold War. The main task of the special forces was to fight similar NATO units. In the face of a constant nuclear missile threat, the GRU special forces units as part of the German Group of Forces focused on the fight against sabotage groups of a potential enemy that were engaged in installing mobile missile systems and destroying the latter.

Of course, the brigade's sabotage and reconnaissance activities were not limited to countering enemy saboteurs on their territory. There is no doubt that in the 70s and 80s, fighters performed many tasks outside the ATS countries, but the details of these operations are unlikely to soon become the property of the general public.

The personnel of the brigade made it possible to deploy up to 48 reconnaissance groups at a time. The 1970s also became a period when the brigade was one of the first to fly under the flag of the USSR Airborne Forces - the nature of the tasks performed corresponded precisely to this branch of the regular army.

The brigade also included communications and sapper companies. The GRU spetsnaz training system in the form it is now - of course, with the exception of particulars related to the development of weapons and changes in the geopolitical situation - was formed in the early 70s of the twentieth century.

In addition to compulsory combat training, training in signalman skills and sapper business, a compulsory study appeared foreign languages... In 1977, on the basis of the military academy. Frunze, where an intelligence faculty already existed, courses are being created for the training of officers of special forces, where a systematic integrated approach and deep all-round training are practiced.

1979 begins fighting in Afghanistan - a separate page for both the Soviet armed forces as a whole and the special forces of the GRU. The third separate brigade of the GRU special forces continued to be based in Germany and did not officially take part in hostilities, however, separate companies for the period of the war became part of the units that took an active part in the Afghan epic.

In April 1985, 186 separate special forces detachment began military activity in Afghanistan, which, among other things, included fighters from the personnel of the 3rd OBRSPN - this unit was recognized as one of the most effective according to the results of the campaign. For the first time, the squad's scouts captured a sample of the American Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile system. Until the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the brigade fighters were part of various military formations.

In 1990, the famous fall of the Berlin Wall took place, marking the unification of the GDR and the FRG into a single Germany. On January 1, 1991, the withdrawal of units of the Soviet group of forces from the country began. Thus, in April 1991, the 3rd Guards Brigade was redeployed to the territory training center"Chernorechye" in the Samara region, subordinate to the command of the Volga-Ural military district.

As a result of the collapse of the USSR, independence was proclaimed in the former Soviet republics and elections were held. The results of the elections in Tajikistan provoked an armed conflict in 1992 between the opposition and supporters of the official government. The 3rd brigade of the GRU Special Forces took part in the hostilities, the main duties of the special forces were to ensure the safety of members of the government of the republic and employees of the Russian consulate and the protection of strategic facilities. The units were deployed in Dushanbe and Kulyab from September 1992 to March 1993.

The next important stage in the activities of the special forces of military intelligence was the Chechen campaign of 1994-1996. The collapse of the USSR led to a drop in the overall level of combat readiness of the internal troops, as a result, in the first year of the war, military intelligence special forces units were forced to perform unusual tasks - participation in assault operations, ordinary military reconnaissance, escorting automobile convoys.

Coupled with the gross miscalculations of the command, such activities caused unprecedented losses of personnel of special forces - this period is considered the most tragic in the history of special forces brigades. In January 1995, the 509th separate detachment of the 3rd reconnaissance brigade of the airborne forces of the GRU special forces was transferred to Mozdok by an IL-36 aircraft, then redeployed to Khankala.

Here they were engaged in intelligence activities in the vicinity of Argun, in March they took an active part in the operation to encircle and neutralize a large group of illegal gangs. Until June 1995, when the detachment was withdrawn from Chechnya, the special forces fought in the vicinity of Gudermes and Shali. Losses of the brigade amounted to 4 people, among whom the guard foreman A.B. Ushakov, who was awarded the title of Hero of Russia posthumously for his selfless actions. 176 scouts from the brigade were awarded orders and medals.

In July 1999, the combined detachment 3 of the General Intelligence Directorate of the GRU (3 separate brigade of the special forces - at ch 21208) was transferred to Kosovo to carry out a peacekeeping mission, the activity of the detachment as part of the Kosovo group of forces continued until October 2001, losses during that period were avoided.

The official date for the start of the second Chechen war is September 30, 1999, when troops were brought into Chechnya, this was preceded by the invasion of militants into Dagestan and various separatist actions on the territory of the republic. Spetsnaz formations took part in the campaign from the very beginning, providing the regular army with intelligence data, were engaged in blocking the channels for the sale and transportation of weapons, and in the fight against sabotage detachments of international terrorist organizations.

Servicemen of the 3rd special forces brigade were transferred to Chechnya in 2002 and regularly served until January 2007. In December 2002, the units of the unit were transferred to the Tsumandinsky district of Dagestan, where a gang of field commander Ruslan Gelayev was discovered.

The gang was pursued in remote mountainous areas, one of the conscripts, senior lieutenant of the GRU special forces A.V. Dergunov made an attempt to save the subordinate, but fell down with him and died. Alexei Dergunov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. In general, during the "Second Chechen" period, the brigade's personnel losses amounted to 14 people.

Since 2010, the 3rd Guards Separate Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov III degree special purpose brigade (3rd Guards brigade) has been deployed on the basis of the former Togliatti Military-Technical Institute of Logistics. Now it is here, over the military unit 21208, that a personalized flag flies, which is a blue-green cloth with the image of a parachute, a black bat and the name of the brigade. It combines in itself the symbols of the Airborne Forces and military intelligence, because the servicemen here consider themselves equally to these two types of troops.

https://youtu.be/JhRUb6JTD50

Video description
Interrogation of a captured saboteur - sergeant of the 3rd Guards. OBRSPN GRU General Staff of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation by scouts ORR 92 OMBr of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the town of Shchastya, Luhansk region, Ukraine.
05/16/2015 Soldiers of the 5th company of 1 battalion in the area of ​​the "facade" - a bridge across the river Severskiy Donets N of the item Schastye - two servicemen of the Russian Federation, Sergeant Aleksandrov Aleksandrov Anatolyevich and Captain Erofeev Yevgeny Vladimirovich, were detained.
Just before that, they killed our Vadik Pugachev with six bullets. As a result of return fire, injured and captured

Supreme Commander-in-Chief Putin V.V., he is also an international terrorist, he is also a deceitful bastard,
the captured soldier leaked you.
Why was it necessary to convince your subordinates that the Ukrainians cut out the kidneys of the prisoners?
The kidneys were not cut out and the soldier told everything.

The vile lies of Putin's lackeys will not help their master avoid a tribunal:

UPD.
05/16/2015 at about 14:30 in the area of ​​the Luhansk TPP (the town of Schastya, Luhansk region), there was a clash between the combat group of the SBU Counterintelligence Department (performs tasks approved by the SBU leadership in the ATO area) and a unit of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade (military unit B6250 , Chuguev, Kharkiv region, performs tasks of protecting the station) with a reconnaissance detachment of special forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (up to 30 people).

During the battle, two Russian servicemen were wounded and taken prisoner. On the Ukrainian side, the losses were: 1 killed (APU) and 1 wounded (DKR SBU). As a result of the interrogation of these persons by the DKR officers, their belonging to the personnel of the 3rd separate guards brigade of special purpose of the GRU General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was established (3rd separate guards Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov, III degree, special purpose brigade, military unit 21208, St. Togliatti, brigade commander - Guard Colonel Shchepin S.A.).

An AK assault rifle ( Russian production). Now the detainees are in the city hospital in Kramatorsk (Donetsk region). From the testimony of Captain E.V. Erofeev. and Sergeant Aleksandrov A.A., they arrived in the territory controlled by the militants in March 2015 as part of a subdivision of their brigade and carried out combat reconnaissance and sabotage missions against the ATO forces.

On May 16, they were tasked with reconnaissance of the territory of the Luhansk thermal power plant, to find out the state of its protection for the subsequent capture by units of the "LPR" militants. Additionally, facts were established confirming the Russian citizenship of the detainees, in particular, their addresses of residence, study and work (in the past), as well as information about close relatives who live in the Russian Federation.

Reconnaissance group commander, captain Yerofeev Evgeny Vladimirovich
(18.01.1985, native of Kuibyshev, RF, call sign "Dolphin")

Senior Scout, Contract Sergeant Alexandrov Alexander Anatolievich
(07.01.1987, native of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, RF, call sign "Alex")

On May 18, a message appeared in the news feed that a popular gathering was held in Togliatti against the war in Ukraine. The reason was the detention of Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov by the Ukrainian security forces. Both introduced themselves as active servicemen of the 3rd brigade of the GRU special forces.Journalist Dmitry Pashinsky went to Tolyatti to find out the circumstances of the incident.

The "polite people" from the Togliatti GRU do not differ in manners. “This is a secure facility! I went to ... from here! ”, - shouts the duty officer of the central checkpoint. He turns on the walkie-talkie and informs the authorities about my arrival, not according to the regulations.

"There is still a murky passenger, are we working?" I stand in the sun and take pictures of the military base of the 3rd brigade of the GRU, guarded so zealously that attempts to figure out what is happening in it resemble an army joke: "The part was so secret that the soldiers could only tell that they served in boots."

"The commanders covered themselves with reports"

But in fact, a little more is known about this part. The 3rd brigade appeared in 1966 and changed addresses more than once. For a long time she was in the village of Roshinsky, Samara region, and since 2010, it has been deployed in Togliatti on the site of a former military school.

“It's a part within a part, you know? There are external borders, where conscripts are on duty, and behind them begin internal - closed objects, where special forces are on duty and preparations are underway for combat missions. There are about 2,500 people in total, "Alexander Obukhov, a former conscript of the Togliatti brigade, explains to Medialeaks. The last time he was here was at the beginning of March at an open day.

“I walk in, and there is no one around. I ask a familiar sergeant, where is everything? And everyone in Crimea - both conscripts and "double basses" - left for medals. " Alexander does not communicate with his colleagues. Although many signed a contract with his call. "We were actively agitated to stay in the army, put leaflets on bedside tables and beds, played films, brought various contractors and they told how well they are being served."

Those contract soldiers could well have been Captain Yevgeny Erofeev or Sergeant Alexander Alexandrov. On May 16, near the village of Schastye, Luhansk region, they were captured and interrogated by the 3rd brigade of the GRU special forces.

The Russian side does not recognize them as such. A month before the news about the captured soldiers, President Vladimir Putin made it clear during the "direct line" that it is impossible to speak seriously about the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine.

When in May it became known about the captured special forces, the Ministry of Defense gave an explanation: they were there of their own free will, having previously resigned from the ranks of the Armed Forces.

“We have checked the information of the Ukrainian side - these guys have actually served in one of the formations of the RF Armed Forces and have military training. Moreover, I can confirm that we were approached by the leadership of the Association of Veterans of Special Forces with a request to go through official channels to the General Staff of Ukraine in order to stop bullying their wounded comrades by the SBU officers in the course of knocking out favorable testimonies, ”said an official representative of the Ministry of Defense. Major General Igor Konashenkov.

Now in Ukraine, now former military personnel are facing charges of terrorism, which could result in 15 years of imprisonment for them.

“The commanders have long covered themselves with reports on the dismissal of soldiers. The papers are neatly stacked on their desk. Now this is a common practice in any military unit of this level, ”says Vyacheslav Tolstov, once an employee of the GRU and now a criminal defense lawyer. We are sitting in his spacious office in the center of Samara. On the walls - not a hint of the past of Tolstov - scout and veteran Afghan war... He calls the incident a moral downfall of the army and its officers, who split during interrogation: “When I served, we all carried a grenade next to us, because there are many ways to untie our tongue — torture, blackmail, chemistry. In Afghanistan, a dose of heroin was enough for this. "

According to Tolstov, this is not the first trip of the 3rd brigade to Donbass as instructors of the militia from the DPR and LPR. “Did they go there voluntarily? Of course not! - he answers. - In the army, nothing is done voluntarily. From above came the order to send a combined unit to Ukraine. They stopped letting people out of the unit, waited until the rest came from leave, at night by trucks and to the military airfield. In return, they promised apartments, cars, bonuses. And families - to be silent, otherwise no one canceled the article for treason ”.

Many years ago, lawyer Tolstov fought off 30 million rubles in court - this is a bonus unpaid to Samara policemen for military missions to Chechnya. “They were also promised apartments. And as a result, free prostheses were not made. Guys five times in the mountains wandered ... ".

Invisible meeting

The video of the interrogation of Erofeev and Aleksandrov appeared on Sunday, May 17. The next morning, in Togliatti, a spontaneous rally of relatives of other GRUs who were sent to Donbass allegedly took place. But there is still no clear evidence of the action, except for the words of an anonymous eyewitness who told Novaya Gazeta journalist Natalya Fomina about what he saw: “At about ten o'clock in the morning, people, about ten people, both men and women, approached the building of the military registration and enlistment office near the checkpoint. ... They began to shout slogans. I would not like to repeat it word for word, because I don’t want to stir up, but the point was that there was nothing for the Russian army to do in Ukraine. Then two men took turns throwing something at the wall. Paper bombs or eggs. Five or seven minutes later they were dispersed, and the police immediately came from somewhere. No one was detained, they were simply ordered to disperse. "

Later, he promised to send photos of the action, but suddenly disappeared and stopped communicating, afraid to be revealed, Fomina suggests.

The search for other eyewitnesses to the action did not bring success. Passers-by either openly ignored me, or answered that they knew nothing and accelerated their pace. An overweight man in a military uniform does not believe rumors of a rally, but hears about captured special forces for the first time. Finally, he advises me to be treated for hallucinations or to get out of the city as soon as possible, otherwise something might not work out.

This is a threat?

Friendly advice, says the man with the holster.

The same evening, I meet with a human rights activist from the Golos association, Lyudmila Kuzmina. In her opinion, there could be no planned protest action: “For this you need to have civic consciousness and courage, but here - neither one nor the other. Most likely, nine or ten saw their husbands' colleagues on TV and rushed to the unit to find out what was wrong with the rest. Then they were quickly processed. They are also on a mission: husbands are ordered to fight, and wives are ordered to cover up with lies from the rear. "

The GRU dormitory next to the base. Shabby panel skyscraper. Inconspicuous, like a good scout. On the porch, a tipsy local jokes that he is ready to fight even in Antarctica in order to move out of here. He shows how to find the apartment of Ekaterina Alexandrova, the wife of one of the prisoners. In an interview with the Russia 24 TV channel, she said that her husband had retired from the army back in December 2014. But for other journalists, including me, Ekaterina did not open the door. For some reason, her suspicious neighbors do not remember either names or faces.

Young mothers with strollers are walking on the playground.

Do you live in a hostel? - I am interested.

They correct me with a call:

Actually, this is a residential building! Who are you? What you need?

I introduce myself. I explain why I came.

Ah, we've got the press here! Call the police! - shouts one of the mothers, while the other calls for help from the nearest checkpoint. - For help! Here! Faster!

I ask who frightened them so. But my question dissolves into a woman's cry and a child's cry. A sergeant runs up to me - the cap is on the back of the head, the belt is loose. The awkward look meets its requirements:

Young man, leave the yard immediately!

On what grounds? This is a courtyard, not the territory of the GRU, - I object.

This is the territory of the GRU. Leave now!

The verbal skirmish lasts about five minutes. A policeman is parked on the side of the road. I cross the road, get in the car and drive away. The sergeant takes pictures of the rooms and shouts that the Intercept plan has been announced. Hopefully without a helicopter.

I return to Togliatti a day later. Distinct footsteps and voices are heard in Alexandrova's apartment. I knock - there is no call.

Ekaterina, are you at home?

(silence).

I am a journalist from Moscow. May I ask a few questions?

(silence).

Facebook and special forces of the GRU

The special forces of the GRU are the elite of the Russian army, the secrecy regime is appropriate there. Information from the unit to the outside world practically does not leak. But there are already people on social networks who talk about the brigade in Togliatti.