Everything about Osnaz totally explained
OSNAZ (
Russian:
[voiska] osobogo naznacheniya, ОСНАЗ = [войска]
особого
назначения, "special purpose [detachments]") or
ChON (
Russian:
chasti
osobogo
naznacheniya, ЧОН=
Части
особого
назначения) were
special forces troops within the
KGB (its predecessors and its successor, the
Federal Security Service) and the
MVD. OSNAZ was originally the OMSBON (Otdelnaya Motostrelkovaya Brigada Osobogo Naznacheniya - Independent Special-Purpose Motorized Brigade).
OSNAZ has always been shrouded in a veil of mystery and remains so even to this day. There is no OSNAZ headquarters as the various groups were formed within the various directorates as needed.
During the
Great Patriotic War the OSNAZ of the
NKVD fought on the frontlines against the
Nazi Germany as
VDV in the form of Airborne regiments/Brigades, with some units achieving "
Guards" status at the end of the conflict.
KGB/FSB OSNAZ
The known
KGB OSNAZ units were as follows:
MVD OSNAZ
The Ministry for Internal Affairs (
MVD) has several OSNAZ units, such as
SOBR. Other
MVD units such as
Vityaz and "
Rus" are classed as
Spetsnaz units. They act under the aegis of their corresponding GUVD MVD (Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Interior Ministry). They are not secret or classified units, even if their operations may be classified.
Caveat:
OMON isn't an OSNAZ unit. Regular police forces (
militsiya) also have their special purpose units (
OMSN).
MVD OSNAZ units and MVD Interior operative troops (such as
ODON operatives) usually wear green or olive berets, the most skilled servicemen being awarded with a purple beret (краповый берет,
krapovy beret) after succeeding in a tough competition held every year. The latter OSNAZ members are commonly called
krapoviki.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Osnaz'.
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