“Specnaz” or “Spetsnaz” in Russian means simply special forces, or more precisely “forces for special assignments”. In the common meaning “Specnaz” indicates merely the Russian élite force. But who are really the Specnaz? Their name is imprinted in the Moscow Dubrovka Theater tragedy. It was October 26, 2002. The theater is left in total darkness The men of the special forces begin to encircle it. Fentanyl gas is released inside the structure. At 6 o’clock snaps the blitz. The first shots are fired. The gas starts its tragic effect: at least 700 people will be poisoned. The commander of the Alpha group so justified this action: “I understand that it is cruel, but when there are two kilograms of plastic explosives tied to a person, we don’t see any other way to make them harmless”. The action was considered by experts as “technically perfect”.
Their story, however, is shrouded in shadow. During the Second World War they were sent behind Nazi lines. Objective: sabotage. The name “Specnaz” appeared for the first time in the 50s. The Soviet commander Georgij Konstantinovič Žukov – decisive Russian strategist during the Second World War – ordered the formation of 46 Special Forces unit: the Specnaz.
Used extensively in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation and to protect ships in waters threatened by piracy, most recently have also been deployed always more frequently in hostage rescue actions, counter-terrorism and the suppression of the riots in prisons, in serious public disorder and fight organized crime and separatist movements They are equipped with sophisticated weapons and equipment, with highly trained operators; like all the elite units of the Russian armed forces, also Specnaz wear the tel’njaška, red lines for assigned to the MVD and cornflower blue for those of the GRU.
The spetsnaz come from all social backgrounds, mainly from public or private military schools, more than a thousand, who recruit tens of thousands of boys from 7 to 18 years, especially among children of military and preferably orphans. Strictly selected for patriotism and reliability, they must possess intellectual, acrobatic and special psychological gifts. They have also demonstrated in a recent demonstration exercise on the outskirts of Moscow, in front of the directors of the Security Services from all over the world, which has impressed the counter-terrorism experts for fantasy and techniques.
Now Specnaz are opening up more to the media, especially the Russian ones. They realize video in which they show how are trained and how they fight. They are also often quoted in newspapers and magazines for the dreadful operations in the territory of the Caliphate. Slogans such as: “MAY GOD HAVE MERCY OF YOU, SPECNAZ WON’T HAVE” are helping to keep alive their myth and their psychological impact.
Main source: Specnaz, le forze speciali russe
SIRIA, ISIS: “CHE DIO POSSA AVERE PIETÀ DI VOI, GLI SPECNAZ NON NE AVRANNO”
For more information: Spetsnaz