OSNAZ (ОСНАЗ) is an acronym for voiska osobogo naznacheniya (войска особого назначения) or "special purpose detachments", and are special forces troops within the KGB (its predecessors and its successor, Federal Security Service) and the MVD. The OSNAZ was controlled by the secret police for use on internal enemies, while SPETSNAZ was formed by army intelligence GRU for external use.

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 even being accorded "Guards" status.

KGB/FSB OSNAZ

The known KGB OSNAZ units were as as follows:

• Alpha Group or Spetsgruppe A - formed in 1974 in the Seventh Chief Directorate
• Beta Group or Spetsgruppe B- also formed in the Seventh Chief Directorate, time unknown
• Vympel or Pennant - formed in 1981 in the First Chief Directorate as a "diversionary" unit and reached 500 personnel by 1989.
• Kaskad or Cascade - formed in the 8th Directorate, time unknown
• Grom or Thunder - VIP/VVIP Protection Unit
• Delfin or Dolphin - a combat diver "incursion" unit similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs.

It is known that several have survived the fall of the Soviet Government and still exist, with the Alpha Group being the most famous or infamous, depending on point of view.

MVD OSNAZ

The Ministry for Internal Affairs (MVD) has an OSNAZ unit called OMON, also known as the "Black Berets". A sub-group of OMON could be called SOBRE.

SVR OSNAZ

Zaslon is a possible name for a suspected and highly secret OSNAZ organization within the SVR.

See also

• Spetsnaz
• Special Forces
• commando This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.