604th Special Purpose Center "Vityaz" 604 Центр специального назначения "Витязь" | |
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604 Центр специального назначения внутренних войск | |
Emblem of the 604th Special Purpose Center | |
Active | 1 September 2008-present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Special forces |
Role | Internal security |
Part of | Separate Operational Purpose Division |
Garrison/HQ | Moscow |
Beret colour | Maroon |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Alexey Stromakov [1] |
The 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Centre "Vityaz" is a special forces unit of the National Guard of Russia.
The history of the 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Centre "Vityaz" tracks back to the 1970s when, in preparation for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, an elite unit was formed. The personnel was drawn from the Separate Operational Purpose Division troops, and was trained with special forces tactics. The core of this group later became the " Vityaz " unit. [1]
During the 1989 crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the unit was expanded: from the special-purpose training Company it was upgraded into a Battalion, and later the special purpose unit Vityaz was established. [2]
The special forces unit "Rus'" was created on 1 August 1994; it may track its roots from the 4th Battalion of the Soviet OMSBON, the Independent Motorized Infantry Battalion of Special Purpose, later renamed ODON. The dedicated role of the Rus' unit was counter-terrorism and direct action in times of crisis, but actively participated in military and paramilitary operations in Chechnya and the broader North Caucasus region along with other MVD units, such as Vityaz.
After the collapse of the USSR, the North Caucasus became the main point of missions for MVD special forces units. [2]
The 604th Special Purpose Centre was established on 1 September 2008, by merging OMSN "Vityaz" and OMSN "Rus'" spetsnaz units of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. [2] [3] With the establishment of the 604th Special Purpose Centre, subunits for specialised tasks as mine-warfare, parachuting, climbing and diving training were established. [2] The Center itself is the recipient of the Order of Kutuzov. [1]
On 5 April, 2016, the National Guard of Russia was established, resulting in the dissolution of the Interior Troops of Russia and the transfer of command of most armed forces under the MVD to the National Guard.
Reportedly, members of the unit have been killed in Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Forces of the 604th Special Purpose Centre are focused on rural actions and operations, such as liquidation of terrorist cells and heavy raids. However, large scale counterterrorism operations usually involve SOBR, spetsnaz, OMON and FSB units due to the large personnel demands. [4]
Spetsnaz are special forces in numerous post-Soviet states.
The Separate Operational Purpose Division or ODON, formerly called OMSDON, is a rapid deployment internal security division of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR and then the Russian Federation, currently part of the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation. ODON is an initialism for Отдельная дивизия оперативного назначения.
OMON is a system of special police units within the National Guard of Russia. It previously operated within the structures of the Soviet and Russian Ministries of Internal Affairs (MVD). Originating as the special forces unit of the Soviet Militsiya in 1988, it has played major roles in several armed conflicts during and following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Rus' was one of the special forces (spetsnaz) units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MVD). Rus' belonged to the Independent Operative Purpose Division (ODON) rapid deployment division of the Internal Troops of Russia, the gendarmerie force of the MVD, and was assigned primarily to counter-terrorism duties.
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The 1st Special Purpose Unit of the Internal Forces "Vityaz", commonly known as Vityaz, was one of the special forces (spetsnaz) units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MVD). Vityaz belonged to the Independent Operative Purpose Division (ODON) rapid deployment division of the Internal Troops of Russia, the gendarmerie force of the MVD, and was assigned specifically to counter-terrorism duties, with additional roles such as countering civil unrest, prison rebellions, and mutinies of regular army units.
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The special forces of Ukraine are the special forces units of Ukraine. Like all post-Soviet states, Ukraine inherited its special forces (Spetsnaz) units from the remnants of the Soviet armed forces, GRU and KGB units. Ukraine now maintains its own Spetsnaz structure under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and under the Ministry of Defence, while the Security Service of Ukraine maintains its own Spetsnaz force, the Alpha group. In 2016 the Special Operations Forces were created as an independent branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine formed only by special forces units.
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The Central Orsha-Khingan Order of Zhukov Red Banner National Guard District is a regional district of the National Guard Forces Command, National Guard of Russia. It is headquartered in Moscow and under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Popov. General Popov was appointed to the post by a Ukaz of 30 July 2021.