Spetsnaz GRU

Spetsnaz (Russian: Войска специального назначения, (спецназ, pronounced [spʲɪtsˈnas]) tr: Voyska spetsialnogo naznacheniya; pronounced [vɐjsˈka spʲɪtsɨˈalʲnəvə nəznɐˈtɕenʲɪjə]) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "special purpose forces". The term can specifically refer to any elite or special purpose units under the command of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Internal Troops of Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the units controlled by the military intelligence service GRU.

Currently, the term is also used to describe any special purpose units or task forces of other ministries (even the Emergency Situations Ministry special rescue unit). Foreign special forces are also commonly referred to as Spetsnaz on Russian television, with US special forces referred to as "American Spetsnaz" for example. Spetsnaz specialists have trained the Republican Guard of Syria, Angola, Cuba, Vietnam and Ethiopia and have been involved in training other special forces units across the world.

The original conception of special forces strategy and tactics is attributed to the Russian military theorist Mikhail Svechnykov (killed in Stalin's purges of 1938), who envisaged the development of unconventional warfare capabilities in order to overcome disadvantages that conventional forces may face in the field. However, implementation of these theories was initiated by Ilya Starinov, known as the "grandfather of the Russian Spetsnaz".

Spetsnaz carry out reconnaissance and "special warfare" missions in peacetime as well as in war.[citation needed] The primary function of Spetsnaz troops in wartime is infiltration/insertion behind enemy lines (either in uniform or civilian clothing), usually well before hostilities are scheduled to begin and, once in place, to commit acts of sabotage (such as the destruction of vital NATO communications logistics centers)and the assassination of key government leaders and military officers. According to Vladimir Rezun, a GRU defector who used the pseudonym "Viktor Suvorov", there were 20 Spetsnaz brigades plus 41 separate companies at the time of his defection in 1978. Thus, the total strength of Spetsnaz forces was around 30,000 troops at the time. Currently, their numbers are classified.