Vityaz Special Forces: professionalism multiplied by courage
35 years ago, 29 December 1977 of the year, on the basis of the third battalion of the Second Motorized Rifle Regiment, a special purpose training company was formed on the Dzerzhinsky Separate Special Purpose Motorized Division. Its creation was necessary because it was important to provide forces and means that could ensure security during the period of the Olympics in Moscow. Therefore, the task was set quite concretely: to learn how to effectively deal with armed terrorists. In March, 1978, a special order was signed on the formation of a training company OMSDON.
The first commander of the special operations was Captain Vladimir Maltsev, who performed his duties until 1981. As for the personnel, in this unit soldiers were selected on a voluntary basis from among the best athletes. In addition to good physical fitness, candidates had to have psychological stability.
The daily routine of the military unit was extremely tough: it began with an enhanced charge, consisting of a mandatory cross-country on 3-5 kilometers, hand-to-hand combat, horizontal bar, bars, obstacle course. Classes began immediately after the morning check, before automatism blocks and strikes, grabs and throws, protection from a knife and other things were practiced. weapons, elements of acrobatics. After lunch, it all started over again ...
History units are eventful. And the quiet life of the “Vityaz” fighters was not even dreamed of.
In early June, the 1980 of the company fighters successfully completed combat missions related to providing security in the Vnukovo area, the airport where the crash occurred, in which the An-24 crashed. Then, a month later, the company provided security during the Olympics. In 1981, the Vityaz fighters took part in a special operation to eliminate unrest in Ordzhonikidze, then, together with the A group of the KGB, in December the unit’s fighters took part in a special operation aimed at freeing hostages - children who were captured by criminals in one of the Sarapul schools are cities in the Udmurd ASSR.
And then began the "hot" business trip, on which you can study the map of the USSR. In 1982, riot was eliminated by special forces forces that were organized by draftees from the North Caucasus, traveling from Moscow to Yaroslavl. In 1984, they had to assist the investigative team of the prosecutor's office, which was to accompany and protect the values associated with the so-called “Uzbek case” - bribery, corruption and abuse of power.
In 1986, the unit fighters together with Group A participated in the operation to free the plane hijacked in Ufa. Two years later, the suppression of robberies, pogroms and terrorist acts in Sumgait, conducting special operations in Baku and Yerevan. In 1989, the special forces participated in the elimination of riots in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Abkhazia, Moldova and Azerbaijan, and in 1990, they released the temporary detention center who was in the city of Kizel and was captured by armed criminals.
In the spring of 1991, the battalion was reorganized into a special forces unit "Vityaz". From this moment begins the most dangerous and difficult work. "Vityaz" had a lot of war. In addition to participating in the Afghan war, they were engaged in disarming militants in South Ossetia, carrying out operations to detain militants preparing terrorist acts in Vladivostok, engaged in search and reconnaissance activities and Karachay-Cherkessia, the purpose of which was to detain and disarm Chechen gangs who tried to penetrate on the territory of Abkhazia. In addition, the detachment fighters engaged in the detention of highly dangerous criminals in Kabardino-Balkaria.
During 1992, the special forces took an active part in resolving the Ossetian-Ingush military conflict.
One of the most difficult special operations in which the “knights” had to participate was the release of the Ostankino television center in 1993. Then the fighters arrived at the site in 16.00, and the Protestants arrived at the stolen cars literally right away. The battle lasted more than an hour. During this time, the Protestants attacked the building three times, throwing it with Molotov cocktails. Special Forces all attacks successfully repulsed. And only by eight o'clock the help arrived ... Then a young soldier, who turned only 19 years old, died - Nikolay Sitnikov. He was awarded posthumously the title of Hero of Russia, and his name will forever remain on the lists of Vityaz personnel.
Then again there was a war, this time the Chechen war, in which the special forces had a very difficult time, because initially a unit was created to fight terrorism. In the Caucasus, the “knights” had to perform completely different functions, which caused regular loss of personnel. From the very first days, in December 1994, the enemy’s checkpoint near the Ischerskaya village was destroyed by the unit’s fighters.
In the early spring of next year, they took part in special operations to liberate Argun and Gudermes, and also oppose the militants of the Raduev gang near the Dagestan village of Pervomayskoye and free the village of Novogroznensky from the gangs.
In March, 1999, the detachment was reformed into the First Red Banner Special Forces Regiment "Vityaz". His commander was appointed Colonel M.A. Melikov. And only a few months later, in August, the fighters were to go on a new military operation in Dagestan, which was captured by Chechen militants. Then the bandits managed to dislodge the captured territory. During the operation, Major S. Basurmanov died, who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. Sergeant S. Burnaev, who also became a Hero of Russia, was killed at the post as well.
In October 2002, the Vityaz took part in a special operation to free the hostages, who were captured by Chechen rebels in the theater center on Dubrovka.
Today, Vityaz is not only a highly mobile military unit. This is an association where a large role is given to former military personnel. So, for example, the Social Security Association of the Brown Berets is successfully functioning, the head of which is Colonel S. Lysyuk, Hero of Russia. He served in the 16 squad of years. “Brotherhood of the spotted berets Vityaz became the initiator of the opening of the monument to the fallen soldiers of the unit. In addition, the Association actively protects the rights of special forces.
The special-purpose squad "Vityaz" has its own long-standing traditions. So, almost from the very beginning of its existence, the notion of “maroon beret” appeared, which became sacred for the soldiers. And then it was decided that the berets should not just be handed, but should be earned. Thus, the delivery of the krapovy beret turned into a real ritual, and each special forces had to prove that he was worthy to wear it.
By the way, the test is extremely difficult. First of all, applicants must overcome the many kilometers cross on rough terrain with water barriers. Then - to cope with the obstacle course and stand in fights with proven warriors. Therefore, the unit stand. It is to them that they get the honor of getting a maroon beret.
For an ordinary person who is far from the military sphere, the concept of “special forces” is associated with cruelty and unsociability. But about the soldiers of the detachment "Vityaz" this can not be said. They are taught not to be cruel, but to survive in critical situations, to help people who are in trouble. And for the Vityaz fighters, the notion of friendship is very valuable, because they also refer to each other among themselves as little brothers.
This year, the unit is 35 years old. It remains only to congratulate those people who are related to this elite unit, which is rightly considered the real pride of the country. And I really want to hope that the state will remember those people who are always on guard of security and are ready to give their lives at any time to save others.
Rehearsal of the demonstration program at the Interpolitex-2012 exhibition
Materials used:
http://www.calend.ru/event/4834/
http://wiki-linki.ru/Citates/1770566/2
http://zhurnal.lib.ru/g/galanin_a/1.shtml
http://www.proza.ru/2007/04/02-242
Information