Polish soldiers and officers closely follow the world's armed conflicts. Especially erstwhile it happens in the immediate vicinity of Poland. However, the deficiency of access to information is mostly a problem in specified situations.
It would seem that a non-commissioned officer on a combat squad should receive materials in which, for example, peculiar tactics are analysed by Russian forces. On the another hand, officers on the “flash” all erstwhile in a while are tasked with “briefing” their subjects as to the current situation on the front. However, in the WP specified scenes are closer to science-fiction literature.
So you gotta do things differently. In the early days of the war, we received quite a few calls: “You, who is worth watching on Twitter to know what's going on in Ukraine?” On the interior groups of individual units are mass-listed videos appearing on the Internet. Plus, individual out there heard that on the front...
So we decided to make it easier for you. We have collected all the materials we have encountered so far, analyzed them and summarized them in 2 texts. Just consider that the conflict involves “a fog of war” that makes it hard to measure it, and the information that appears in public circulation is incomplete or unconfirmed.
Some of the things we could not write, either, as this could put individual in problem or even danger. Therefore, our article may be modified in the future. However, we tried to best represent the operation of Russian peculiar forces in the first phase of the war in Ukraine.
Training, experience, weapons – elite formations are meant to constitute the country's business card and its approach to safety matters. Anyway, there's a reason. As a rule, they are the best qualified and trained people in terms of physical fitness, teamwork, intellectual resilience, weapon handling, or specialized equipment.
However, the “Specialism” is frequently attributed to the superhuman ability to carry out their tasks independently. Completely forgetting that they are 1 of respective components of the armed forces that must cooperate with each another to accomplish their objective. The usage of elite troops can so be game-changer, but it should follow certain rules.
Firstly, peculiar forces must act in accordance with their destiny and in their preferred way. Secondly, their operations should be part of a larger plan at strategic, operational and tactical level. The 2 principles referred to above must be further supported by government and existing doctrines/plans.
Otherwise, we hazard sending "price resources" (unable to be rapidly reproduced) to tasks that individual individuals previously failed to execute and under conditions for which they were not able to prepare. The possible of peculiar forces is then wasted, which in another circumstances could prove deadly to the enemy.
Meanwhile, in the first phase of the invasion of Ukraine, we witnessed Russia's very "frivolous" usage of its elite formations, which frequently resulted in the demolition of full divisions by Ukrainian soldiers.
We will first effort to present to you the short characteristics and intent of the individual components of peculiar forces available to Moscow. Then we will discuss how it was planned to usage these units and how it actually looked on the battlefield to implement these plans.
‘Specialists’ in Russian military structures
Some people asked about the name of the Russian peculiar unit answer: “Specnaz”. And everything's okay, just... which peculiar "Specnaz" is it? And the answer to that question is different. The meaning of this word is more akin to that utilized in Poland by the word "Special War".
Name * this * Specnazu was traditionally assigned sub-group entities. It is 7 “classical” brigades of Specnazu (2rd, 3rd, 10th, 14th, 16th, 22nd, 24th), as well as a brigade (45th) operating within the framework Airborne Army (VDV). In addition, all 4 fleets have their own branches of Specnazu.
There is besides an experimental brigade, which on paper is classified as designation (100-tn), but there are indications to include it in Specnazu's forces (e.g. likely at least temporary subordination to the GRU). It is simply a remnant of experiments with the brigade structure, which were later considered unsuccessful.
Therefore, this unit will most likely evolve towards “classical” Specnazu unless it is already treated this way. Each of these units has about 1,400 – 1,700 soldiers. The exception is marine components, which are much little numerous. comparatively recently, the 25th Specnazu Regiment was besides formed. It will most likely be enlarged to the brigade level over time.
These units, which are part of the military intelligence executives, carry out a number of tasks, ranging from reconnaissance, marine reconnaissance and diversion, to organizing and training “separatist groups”.
However, it is worth noting that only any Specnazu brigades are full professional. In most of them, about 10-30% of soldiers inactive represent a recruit (although they are most likely the best recruits from a given period). As a whole, however, Specnazu forces are more like American Rangers.
Only their selected elements (e.g. reconnaissance companies) can be compared to ‘classical’ Western unit-style peculiar forces Navy SEALwhether US Army peculiar Forces. Function of Tier 1 unit (equivalent Deltas, whether Seal squad Six) is full established in 2009. peculiar Operations Forces straight Subjected KSSO (Special Operations Force Command) And the General Staff.
The word “Specnaz” has, however, become so popular in Russia that it is now utilized by many individuals (including non-military ones) with a reputation or aspiring peculiar forces. Even troops under the Russian Ministry of the Interior have adopted this phrase.
Specnaz is frequently utilized as a strike force preceding the invasion of regular troops. Its task then is to occupy or destruct elements of critical infrastructure (communication facilities, command stations, power stations, airports, etc.), or to find and destruct political opponents and commanders (military and another services) even before the main Russian forces enter enemy territory.
That's how it started. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979When the Specnazu Battalion was formed from soldiers of Asian descent who spoke local languages. These soldiers, dressed in Afghan army uniforms, were deployed around the office of the government – the Taj-Bek palace – and made an recognition of the full area.
The next day, with the support of another KGB troops and air-desant troops (also disguised as Afghan soldiers), russian forces immediately seized the full palace, killed the incumbent president and in a fewer hours elevated the fresh chief of state to the throne.
With the evolution of the Russian military doctrine, Specnaz has besides become a major force capable of operating below the war threshold. Hence, his function in the activities in Ukraine so far in 2014-2022 was very large. However, it is worth noting that the Russian peculiar forces work well in hidden actions, utilizing the velocity and component of surprise.
They are not intended to carry out dense fighting in urbanized areas or keep control of the area. Therefore, following the seizure of Crimea in 2014, Specnaz was rapidly supported or even replaced by regular forces – 291 Artillery Brigade, or 18 Self-Mechanized Brigade.
Elite interior Units
Russian SOBR units, set up to combat organised crime and combat activities in urbanized areas, are sometimes compared to US SWAT troops.
For most of their existence, SOBR units were subject to MWD (Ministry of Interior), conducting detention operations for members of criminal groups, cooperating with the FSB in counter-terrorism activities (e.g. hostage-taking) and (sometimes) supporting military units in armed activities, e.g. in Chechen wars.
In addition to these activities, in the form of high-profile, SOBR besides includes the protection of persons (VIP) and facilities of peculiar strategical importance. In 2016, SOBR units were transferred from MWD to Rosgwardii, or National Guard. They are thus treated as a military component, although their tasks stay within interior security.
The second most popular force remaining in the interior structures is those under Russian safety service, or FSB. It's about the Alpha groups and the Emporium. Both formations are prepared both for action in the form of high-profile, i.e. in full gutter, as well as low-profile, which means blending in as long as the task requires.
Alpha's duties focus primarily on anti-terrorism activities and physical neutralisation of threats within the country (criminal groups, abroad spies, spiritual extremists, etc.). On the another hand, Wympieł is more frequently active outside Russia, including searching for fugitive agents, eliminating political opponents, conducting diversions and operating in theatre of war activities.
Analyzing the restructuring processes of the interior services, it can be observed that Moscow is trying to keep at least the minimum cooperation of individual peculiar units and the movement of personnel between them.
However, accompanied by changes in organisational chaos and inevitable periodic decline in efficiency does not foster the advanced combat readiness of individual units. This is due, among others, to the impossibility of maintaining continuity of the training process and overdeveloped administrative structures, which are very costly.
These mankaments make it impossible for the officers of these Russian peculiar units to prepare themselves (organisationally and hardware) adequately for the tasks which they have set up, which, with the rest, do not necessarily "match" with their specialization. This resulted in at least partial inefficiency in the first actions in Ukraine.
How Russia planned to usage its “specials” in Ukraine
Now it's important. To measure the usage of Russian peculiar forces in Ukraine, it is crucial to realize Moscow's intentions at the time of its invasion. In the Polish public debate there is now a tendency to fall from 1 utmost to the another extreme.
In the years leading up to the current operation, many people claimed that the Russian army was an amazing ‘cosaki’ due to the fact that “Look what they did in Crimea and then on Donbas”. But now the same troops are even ridiculed and brought to the function of idiots: “How could Ukraine be attacked by specified forces?” You know, heheshes and stuff.
That is why we pay attention to 1 aspect: the Kremlin's intention in 2022 was to usage limited military force to get fast political concessions and avoid escalation. In fresh years, Russian military experts have “head” over how quickly, efficiently and without the request to occupy a given area, to defeat a weaker opponent.
In the full Russian concept of the “hybrid war” (although it is simply a terrible term!) the aim is so to weaken them first internally and then only “kill” with military force erstwhile dealing with countries in the area of “near abroad”, and thus by definition with much little possible than Russia. However, the military is only to temporarily control the area.
And that's what Specnaz and VDV were expected to do. any experts (e.g. article Vorobev and Kiselev in the magazine Wojennaja Mysl) states explicitly that in the event of a clash with a symmetrical opponent, the usage of these forces is much little desirable. However, the Russians hoped that, in the case of a "shaky" state, Specnaz would be part of a wider pressure.
This was intended to force the country's government to enter into a Moscow-friendly agreement. The attack on Kiev in 2022 was so to be “Krimem-bis”. And we gotta admit that in context Objectives of the Kremlin It was not without logic. What is the point of conquering Ukraine if you are only curious in its political and military weakness and its neutrality?
In addition, Kiev's tiny distance from the border with Belarus allowed Russian troops to storm the capital of Ukraine. It was to be preceded by rocket fire, and cyber attacks on government infrastructure, causing power outages and communication paralysis (roads, telephone and digital).
Opening actions were intended to make panic among the civilian population, break the morale of Ukrainian soldiers and officers, and “soften” the government in Kiev and prompt it to transfer power without resisting more.
In the next invasion phase, Specnaz was primarily ordered to get designated critical infrastructure facilities, including airports and power plants. In order to strengthen the Kremlovian propaganda and mislead the opponent, Russian soldiers were to dress up in the acquired enemy uniforms and pretend to be anti-government-oriented Ukrainian soldiers.
To this day, it is possible to observe the bands worn by Ukrainian forces, whose colours are changed periodically. This is to prevent the Russians from impersonating Ukrainian forces.
At the same time, GRU officers who had already appeared in Kiev and in east parts of the country were tasked with coordinating the activities of collaborators, as well as locating and reporting information on command stations, weapons and ammunition retention facilities, and possible hiding places of guerrillas and civilians.
The search for tunnels and underground hideouts was besides for Specnaz during the war in Syria. The Russian “specialists” then gave coordinates to specified places that were later destroyed or flooded along with the hiding opponents of president Assad and civilians. It was feared that the same tactics would besides appear in Ukraine.
The precedence was to find and kill president W. Zelenski and his leading colleagues. These tasks were most likely entrusted to the most elite forces, e.g. the KSSO mentioned earlier. Disposing of the political leadership of the state would make it easier for the Kremlin and its people to introduce a fresh power in Ukraine.
Special units SOBR and FSB, and were primarily recruited for delicate tasks related to "maintenance of order" in areas already occupied by the military (e.g. the protection of facilities and persons), and anti-partisan actions against possible resistance. The M.S.A. forces were besides likely to take control of the uniforms.
This would relieve military units (GRU specnaz and air landing units) that could focus on acquiring critical infrastructure facilities and storm operations in another areas of the country. These, in turn, were to make the impression of assuming a massive attack on Ukraine, with much more force.
In the meantime, intellectual warfare was to continue. Its elements were, for example, the placement on social media of films from elite Russian troops ambushes on Ukrainian soldiers, and the acquisition of civilian facilities – as was the case at Kiev, where the Kadyrowks took over the psychiatric infirmary and cut it off from the outside world.
The Russian peculiar units and peculiar services were besides supported by employees of private military companies there. It was, of course, Wagner's Group, but besides many other, much little "media" sub-units.
It seems to us that the biggest anger in Moscow is that the attack on Kiev was carried out besides late. From the position of the Kremlin, therefore, the most failed to admit the minute erstwhile Ukraine achieved the ability to wage a symmetrical war with Russia. The actual tasks of Specnazu so drastically dispelled the first plans.
This resulted in comparatively large losses in personnel and equipment. However, contrary to popular opinions and despite many flaws in the plan of the Kiev assault, as well as its inept implementation, the success of the operation was not as distant as it may seem now. The top uncertainty in the ranks of Ukraine prevailed especially in the first week of the war.
The second part of the article will be published tomorrow. You will find an analysis of what the Russian peculiar forces in the first phase of the invasion of Ukraine actually looked like.
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Ps: Thank you very much Karol Golowski and Darius Materniak for helping collect any of the analysis materials. We urge these twitterers to you!
