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May the Special Forces Be With You: Day of Russian Spetsnaz

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Russian Special Forces Day is a professional holiday of the Special Purpose Forces, or Spetsnaz, celebrated annually on October 24. The history of these units dates back to March 1918, when during the Civil War the Red Army created a special intelligence department mainly engaged in reconnaissance and diversionary work behind enemy lines.

The modern Spetsnaz carries out anti-terrorist operations, searching out and detaining especially dangerous and armed criminals, dismantling of criminal groups, hostage release and other perilous operations.

© Sputnik / Nikolay HiznyakSoldiers of the Central Military District’s Special Purpose Units pass the tests for the right to wear a blue beret at the Samara training center. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV).
Soldiers of the Central Military District’s Special Purpose Units pass the tests for the right to wear a blue beret at the Samara training center. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV). - Sputnik International
1/20
Soldiers of the Central Military District’s Special Purpose Units pass the tests for the right to wear a blue beret at the Samara training center. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV).
© Sputnik / Georgiy ZimarevA sniper is seen during the Southern Military District’s Special Purpose Brigade drills in the Krasnodar region.
A sniper is seen during the Southern Military District’s Special Purpose Brigade drills in the Krasnodar region. - Sputnik International
2/20
A sniper is seen during the Southern Military District’s Special Purpose Brigade drills in the Krasnodar region.
© Sputnik / Alexander KapustyanskiySoldiers that stormed the Reichstag, Reconnaissance platoon of the 674 Infantry Regiment, 150th Infantry Division of Idritsa of the Red Army.
Soldiers that stormed the Reichstag, Reconnaissance platoon of the 674 Infantry Regiment, 150th Infantry Division of Idritsa of the Red Army. - Sputnik International
3/20
Soldiers that stormed the Reichstag, Reconnaissance platoon of the 674 Infantry Regiment, 150th Infantry Division of Idritsa of the Red Army.
© Sputnik / Sergey MamontovSoldiers on a military boat during the opening ceremony of the 7th International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg.
Soldiers on a military boat during the opening ceremony of the 7th International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg. - Sputnik International
4/20
Soldiers on a military boat during the opening ceremony of the 7th International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Vladimir VyatkinParatroopers of the reconnaissance platoon in Chechnya rest after combat operations.
Paratroopers of the reconnaissance platoon in Chechnya rest after combat operations. - Sputnik International
5/20
Paratroopers of the reconnaissance platoon in Chechnya rest after combat operations.
© Sputnik / Oleg LastochkinSoldiers of the Russian Northern Fleet’s Underwater Sabotage Forces and Means (PDSS) perform a combat mission in the Barents Sea.
Soldiers of the Russian Northern Fleet’s Underwater Sabotage Forces and Means (PDSS) perform a combat mission in the Barents Sea. - Sputnik International
6/20
Soldiers of the Russian Northern Fleet’s Underwater Sabotage Forces and Means (PDSS) perform a combat mission in the Barents Sea.
© AP Photo / Sergey PonomarevA Special Forces soldier carries a baby after a school was liberated from militants in Beslan, North Ossetia. The Beslan school siege started on September 1, 2004, and lasted three days. Over 1,100 people were taken hostage, including 777 children; at least 385 people died in Russia's worst ever terrorist attack.
A Special Forces soldier carries a baby after a school was liberated from militants in Beslan, North Ossetia. The Beslan school siege started on September 1, 2004, and lasted three days. Over 1,100 people were taken hostage, including 777 children; at least 385 people died in Russia's worst ever terrorist attack. - Sputnik International
7/20
A Special Forces soldier carries a baby after a school was liberated from militants in Beslan, North Ossetia. The Beslan school siege started on September 1, 2004, and lasted three days. Over 1,100 people were taken hostage, including 777 children; at least 385 people died in Russia's worst ever terrorist attack.
© Sputnik / Valeriy MelnikovSoldiers of the Chechen Republic’ Special Forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) during the training exercise near the North Pole.
Soldiers of the Chechen Republic’ Special Forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) during the training exercise near the North Pole. - Sputnik International
8/20
Soldiers of the Chechen Republic’ Special Forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) during the training exercise near the North Pole.
© Sputnik / Alexandr KryazhevA soldier of the Special Purpose unit of the Federal National Guard Troops Service is seen during a ceremony, held after trials for the right to wear the maroon and dark green berets at the training center "Gorny" in the Novosibirsk region. Maroon and dark green berets are worn by members of elite Ministry of Internal Affairs Spetsnaz units.
A soldier of the Special Purpose unit of the Federal National Guard Troops Service is seen during a ceremony, held after trials for the right to wear the maroon and dark green berets at the training center Gorny in the Novosibirsk region. Maroon and dark green berets are worn by members of elite Ministry of Internal Affairs Spetsnaz units. - Sputnik International
9/20
A soldier of the Special Purpose unit of the Federal National Guard Troops Service is seen during a ceremony, held after trials for the right to wear the maroon and dark green berets at the training center "Gorny" in the Novosibirsk region. Maroon and dark green berets are worn by members of elite Ministry of Internal Affairs Spetsnaz units.
© Sputnik / EshtokinFighters of Sabotage and Reconnaissance Forces of the Russian Navy march during the celebration of the Navy Day.
Fighters of Sabotage and Reconnaissance Forces of the Russian Navy march during the celebration of the Navy Day. - Sputnik International
10/20
Fighters of Sabotage and Reconnaissance Forces of the Russian Navy march during the celebration of the Navy Day.
© AFP 2023 / Yuri TutovA Russian special police soldier (L) carries an injured colleague as two soldiers and two women take cover behind the APC during the Beslan School rescue operation, northern Ossetia, September 3, 2004.
A Russian special police soldier (L) carries an injured colleague as two soldiers and two women take cover behind the APC during the Beslan School rescue operation, northern Ossetia, September 3, 2004. - Sputnik International
11/20
A Russian special police soldier (L) carries an injured colleague as two soldiers and two women take cover behind the APC during the Beslan School rescue operation, northern Ossetia, September 3, 2004.
© Sputnik / Nikolay HiznyakSoldiers of the Central Military District’s Spetsnaz hold blue berets and blue-and-white striped vests after passing the qualification tests for the right to wear a blue beret at the training center’s base in the Samara region. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV).
Soldiers of the Central Military District’s Spetsnaz hold blue berets and blue-and-white striped vests after passing the qualification tests for the right to wear a blue beret at the training center’s base in the Samara region. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV). - Sputnik International
12/20
Soldiers of the Central Military District’s Spetsnaz hold blue berets and blue-and-white striped vests after passing the qualification tests for the right to wear a blue beret at the training center’s base in the Samara region. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV).
© Sputnik / Vitaliy AnkovMarines of the Pacific Fleet participate in the "Race of Heroes" in Vladivostok at the Gornostai military training grounds. The "Race of Heroes" is a sports project with simulated combat operations.
Marines of the Pacific Fleet participate in the Race of Heroes in Vladivostok at the Gornostai military training grounds. The Race of Heroes is a sports project with simulated combat operations. - Sputnik International
13/20
Marines of the Pacific Fleet participate in the "Race of Heroes" in Vladivostok at the Gornostai military training grounds. The "Race of Heroes" is a sports project with simulated combat operations.
© Sputnik / Vladimir VyatkinSoldiers of the Alpha special troop control the entrance to the Supreme Council building in October 1993. Alpha was one of the Soviet and Russian special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Soldiers of the Alpha special troop control the entrance to the Supreme Council building in October 1993. Alpha was one of the Soviet and Russian special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.Soldiers of the Alpha special troop control the entrance to the Supreme Council building in October 1993. Alpha was one of the Soviet and Russian special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. - Sputnik International
14/20
Soldiers of the Alpha special troop control the entrance to the Supreme Council building in October 1993. Alpha was one of the Soviet and Russian special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
© Sputnik / Nikolay HiznyakSoldiers of the Central Military District’s Special Purpose Units pass the trials for the right to wear a blue beret at the training center’s base in the Samara region. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV).
Soldiers of the Central Military District’s Special Purpose Units pass the trials for the right to wear a blue beret at the training center’s base in the Samara region. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV). - Sputnik International
15/20
Soldiers of the Central Military District’s Special Purpose Units pass the trials for the right to wear a blue beret at the training center’s base in the Samara region. Blue berets are traditionally worn in the Russian Airborne Forces (paratroopers, or VDV).
© Sputnik / Vladimir VyatkinSoldiers of the special reconnaissance platoon of the 45th regiment of the Russian Airborne Forces during an operation to identify and destroy Chechen militant camps in a mountain gorge at the Bass River in the Vedensky District of Chechnya.
Soldiers of the special reconnaissance platoon of the 45th regiment of the Russian Airborne Forces during an operation to identify and destroy Chechen militant camps in a mountain gorge at the Bass River in the Vedensky District of Chechnya. - Sputnik International
16/20
Soldiers of the special reconnaissance platoon of the 45th regiment of the Russian Airborne Forces during an operation to identify and destroy Chechen militant camps in a mountain gorge at the Bass River in the Vedensky District of Chechnya.
© Sputnik / Julia ChestnovaMember of the Open Championship among Special Forces troops on the practical shooting from small arms at the shooting range in the village of Yavas, the Republic of Mordovia.
Member of the Open Championship among Special Forces troops on the practical shooting from small arms at the shooting range in the village of Yavas, the Republic of Mordovia. - Sputnik International
17/20
Member of the Open Championship among Special Forces troops on the practical shooting from small arms at the shooting range in the village of Yavas, the Republic of Mordovia.
© Sputnik / Sergey PyatakovSoldiers of the reconnaissance platoon during ski training in the mountains of Dagestan.
Soldiers of the reconnaissance platoon during ski training in the mountains of Dagestan. - Sputnik International
18/20
Soldiers of the reconnaissance platoon during ski training in the mountains of Dagestan.
© Sputnik / Alexander ZemlyanichenkoSpetsnaz soldiers prepare to storm a hospital in Budyonnovsk in the Stavropol Krai. The Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis took place on June 14-19, 1995, when a group of Chechen separatists attacked the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk, killing 129 people and injuring 415.
Spetsnaz soldiers prepare to storm a hospital in Budyonnovsk in the Stavropol Krai. The Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis took place on June 14-19, 1995, when a group of Chechen separatists attacked the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk, killing 129 people and injuring 415. - Sputnik International
19/20
Spetsnaz soldiers prepare to storm a hospital in Budyonnovsk in the Stavropol Krai. The Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis took place on June 14-19, 1995, when a group of Chechen separatists attacked the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk, killing 129 people and injuring 415.
© AP PhotoRussian Special Forces officers descend on a Russian coast guard "seized" ship during joint Russian-Korean maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean near the far eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on August 2, 2007.
Russian Special Forces officers descend on a Russian coast guard seized ship during joint Russian-Korean maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean near the far eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on August 2, 2007. - Sputnik International
20/20
Russian Special Forces officers descend on a Russian coast guard "seized" ship during joint Russian-Korean maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean near the far eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on August 2, 2007.
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