Damask blade of law
Employees of this unit were among the first to encounter a powerful wave of organized crime that swept the country in the early 90s. They got the most difficult part of the work - the Moscow region, every centimeter of which was a tasty morsel for the bandits. However, despite the chaos in the criminal circles, the difficult situation in the country, the absence of any tactical developments at the time, the detachment was able to adequately declare itself and become a formidable force.According to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation 1 in January 1993, a special rapid response department of the Organized Crime Control Department in the Moscow Region was established under the GDCOC of the Ministry of the Interior of Russia. 5 March of the same year dated the first order of the unit, and that day is considered the day of the detachment. In 2000, the squad was given the name Bulat.
First steps
The first officers of the squadron were the 70 fighters from the riot police near Moscow, which was then based in the city of Vidnoe. The best, physically strong officers were selected from the division, and they were to create the backbone of the then special police force. In September of the same year, the detachment received a permanent registration in the territory of the city of Dolgoprudny. From the first days it became clear: the former specifics of work in the riot police, and the tasks of the SOBR are two different things. Special training techniques were absent.
The experience came with the first departures, with the first encounters with the criminals. The commandos gradually understood what to do and how, what to prepare for, what to pay more attention to. For example, after analyzing gun clashes with the use of firearms weapons Squad officers concluded that 90 percent of such cases is a fire contact at a distance of 10 meters and closer. The methods of fire training both from pistols and machine guns changed accordingly, instructors began to pay more attention to firing at short distances. Made their adjustments to the preparation and the first trips to the North Caucasus. Then the SOBRs were often used as ordinary infantry. Therefore, we had to learn the basics of combined-arms tactics. Over time, the mountain training was added to the list of disciplines. The SOBR has always been a universal division - its employees were distinguished by flexibility in training, and if necessary, the staff members are always ready to perform new tasks for themselves.
The tasks facing the squad today have not changed. The main one is power support of operational activities conducted by the services of the criminal police unit. Including: the release of hostages, the neutralization and destruction of armed criminals, the fight against gangs, the fight against terrorist groups. The detachment is attracted to work in the most serious situations, when the criminal represents a real threat and forceful resistance on his part cannot be avoided.How to get to "Bulat"
SOBR has always been the only officer unit. A prerequisite is higher education. Preferably - military and sports universities, as well as educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The main requirement is the high level of physical and psychological preparation. Physical training tests - as tough as possible. The commando is first and foremost a person who loves his job and is ready to give himself up entirely, without a trace. Despite stringent admission requirements, there are always a lot of people willing to join the squadron. Often people are transferred from other divisions.
After testing, the candidate must pass a probationary period - 3 month. Sometimes the term can be extended up to six months.
Deputy commander of SOBR “Bulat” Colonel of Police Nikolai Grebennik of the Moscow Region Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Moscow Region: - A very important question is how a person can work in a team. In spetsnaz, there are no “ordinary” people. Here everyone is a personality, an individuality in itself, with character, because the characterless cannot fight. But we do not care what his complex character. It is important that he understands - he is part of the detachment, the team, and in special forces - the team is above all. The ability to work in a team, mutual assistance, self-sacrifice, strong male friendship and a feeling of elbow are above all here! I can say that I am proud of our team. Wonderful people, officers, and patriots of their homeland came to us. And what is important: over the years we have managed to preserve this team, create the right atmosphere. For the unit officer the squad is the second family. And the worst thing is not a difficult exit, not even injuries and injuries. The worst thing - to bring a friend, the one who is near. And that's why we never have to force anyone to do anything. People themselves aspire.
Combat way
In the middle of 90, criminal gangs began to divide among themselves the Moscow region, which was a tasty prey. In those years, all the questions were solved by gangsters by crude, primitive methods. The detachment had to work more than ever to free the hostages. At the beginning, almost all detachments of the detachment were “combat” - it was possible to manage without very forceful seizure during the arrest in very rare cases. The criminals were in a state of euphoria from impunity, and for them the appearance of military units of the police special forces came as a surprise. In these years, special forces worked as hard as possible.
The commander of the SOBR “Bulat” of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow region, police colonel Igor Butranov: “Alas, but in many cases justice ended for the gangsters immediately after the arrest — in 90-s, corruption also flourished along with organized crime. The detained criminals, after a few hours after their arrest, were already quietly walking free. They simply "bought" their freedom. Often there were cases when criminals were given a sentence or two for serious crimes for banditry! We participated in the case only as witnesses and, unfortunately, could not influence the situation. In this sense, work was hard. It was bitter to watch the villains leave punishment.
Since the creation of the squad managed to spend more than one successful operation. Here are just a few examples. In 2005, Bulat detained a large armed gang. After the discovery of criminals in a private house, an attempt was made to capture, during which the fight began. The bandits put up armed resistance. During the battle, criminals used hand grenades. As a result of the assault, the bandit group was completely destroyed.
In 2011, Bulat worked delicately in an operation to apprehend a gang that robbed gas stations in the Moscow region. The criminals acted brazenly and cruelly. During the 3 months, the operatives tried to track down the criminals, the special forces arranged ambushes in the places of the alleged raids. One of the ambushes worked. When the robbers realized that they were ambushed, they opened fire. Three criminals were killed by response fire, two gangsters managed to be detained.
The next victory in the fight against crime commandos won recently. In 2012, Bulat neutralized the Wahhabi group, which carried out armed robberies of entrepreneurs. When detained, they offered serious resistance. As one of the officers of the detachment remembers, the capture was more like a full-scale battle in a hot spot.
Many believe that all operations are knocking out doors and shooting at criminals. However, in reality it is rather an extreme measure. The main special forces weapon is professionalism. Higher skill - to take the offender is not something without shooting, but in general without the use of physical force. An example is the case in the town of Elektrougli, when an armed man opened fire on people from a hunting edge, barricaded himself in his apartment and resisted the policeman who arrived alongside. The bulatovs who came to the call for three hours negotiated with the criminal, as a result of which he voluntarily laid down his arms and surrendered. By the way, the fine science of negotiating the squad staff is taught in special courses.Work sobrovtsam enough. According to statistics for the year - almost 200 "combat" calls.
Until recently, the detachment performed another task — physical protection. Special Forces officers carried out the protection of participants in particularly important trials. To perform these functions, one of the detachments of the detachment was completely reoriented to physical protection.
Unfortunately, there was enough work not only in the Moscow region. In December, the 94 of the year, the special forces went on their first trip to the Caucasus. The detachment was in the most that the mouth of that strange and terrible war. SOBR "Bulat" took part in the infamous New Year's assault on Grozny. Then the special forces went into battle side by side with Vimpel, who fell into disgrace, who was reassigned by the Interior Ministry and renamed Vega. Sobrovtsy worked on a par with the professionals of sabotage war, not hitting the face in front of more experienced colleagues.
In the middle of 90's, up to a third of all personnel was in the North Caucasus. Confusion with the leadership, the lack of clear goals and objectives, lack of understanding of the command, how to use special forces in the war. In January, 95 th “Bulat” fought near Bamut, serious battles were fought near the settlements of Asinovskaya, Tolstoy-Yurt. In the same year, the country was shaken by the terrorist attack in Budyonnovsk. The gangsters, hiding behind women and children, shot the special forces storming the hospital. Bulatov stormed auxiliary facilities of the hospital, covering their colleagues from the "Alpha".
In the 96 squad, he took part in an operation to seize Raduyev’s gang, which took hostages in the village of Pervomayskoye.
In 99, fighting in the Caucasus resumed. And again Moscow Region special forces were away on a business trip - now to Dagestan. Since that time, one of the squad's combat units has been constantly on a business trip. During combat missions, the Moscow region sobrovtsy took part in special operations, search and reconnaissance activities, captured and neutralized the leaders of the bandit underground, eliminated illegal oil mini-factories, accompanied troop columns, ensured the personal security of the command of the group, members of the Government of the Russian Federation and heads of the Interior Ministry.The secret of success
Today, the training system for SOBR “Bulat” is carried out in several main areas, standard for police special forces units. First of all, it is physical, fire and special tactical training, as well as a number of other special disciplines. Explosives, snipers and high-altitude workers are trained separately, although at the basic level every employee must possess these disciplines. The focus of the training is on those elements that are most relevant. In particular, now a lot of attention in class is paid to the entrance to the building being inspected. An analysis of the activities of special-purpose units shows that it is at this stage that, as a rule, the greatest number of injuries, including fatal ones, occur. Understand all aspects: equipment, order of combat groups, movement tactics. For the training of personnel in the squad there is a department of combat and professional training, which includes the most trained and experienced officers, as a rule, from among those who served in 10 special forces and more than a few years.
“Bulat” constantly exchanges experience with other departments. Joint seminars, command and staff exercises are held with the participation of the leaders and employees of the detachments.
The commander of the SOBR “Bulat” of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow region, police colonel Igor Butranov:
- I am familiar with the commanders of many units. With many friends. And if I learned that the operation had taken place, in which the special forces unit had participated, then we would definitely call each other and share information. Moreover, we often meet with the commanders of the detachments and analyze the most significant operations. And we analyze it in detail: we draw diagrams, see who stood where, watch the videos, analyze what the success of the operation was achieved or, on the contrary, where some mistakes were made. The same "work on the bugs," we will certainly carry out inside the unit.
Much attention in the detachment is paid to the selection of equipment and weapons. There are no indifferent detachments. Yes, and how they can be, if the life of an employee often depends on the equipment. Alas, the supplied equipment often does not correspond to the realities of modern armed clashes. Special attention is paid to weapon tuning - today it is no secret to anyone that a good collimator, a target designator or a muzzle brake can significantly increase the effectiveness of shooting. That is why sobrovtsy conduct real research work. Especially fanatical in this regard are the officers of the department of combat and professional training, who literally accumulate all the new information. As a result - today, in terms of equipment, Bulat is one of the best units in the country.
The armament of the detachment is a standard weapon, which is used in their work special purpose units. These are primarily Kalashnikov assault rifles, mainly the 74 series, as well as the entire nomenclature of special and silent weapons. There is also a heavy rifle armament, such as Pecheneg machine guns, as well as sniper rifles of both domestic and foreign production. In the near future, it is expected that the AK 100-series automatic weapons will be commissioned. Of the vehicles at the disposal of SOBR “Bulat” there are armored vehicles “Tiger”, armored trucks “Ural”.
Twice a year, the entire squad leaves for the field 10-day exit. As a rule, in the course of such training, tasks are performed mainly in the North Caucasus: orientation, search, detection and destruction of bandit groups operating in wooded and mountainous wooded areas, work as part of groups, ambush actions. Such exits involve not only combat groups, but also rear and headquarters units, which work out their tasks - ensuring the detachment, preparing operations, and setting up the subunit at the place of permanent deployment.The Moscow-based commandos are known and respected by colleagues from other departments, and their work receives the highest marks at all levels. Under the auspices of the detachment organized by the military-patriotic club, led by one of the employees of the unit. “Bulat” patronizes the Zhukovsky cadet class. The officers of the detachment conduct lessons of courage with the children, come to visit, sometimes invited to their place. The sobrovtsy have done all they can to help two orphanages with whom the division’s management maintains constant contact.
Forged from steel
Since the founding of the squad more than 500 employees of SOBR “Bulat” have been awarded government awards. More 100 special forces were awarded the Order of Courage. Three active officers have been honored with this high award three times. One of the employees has the 4 Order of Courage. Three sobrovtsev marked the high title of Hero of Russia.
Deputy commander of SOBR “Bulat” Colonel of Police Nikolai Grebennik of the Moscow Region Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Moscow Region:
- You know, there are people who have done something once and then talk about it all their lives. We have a different way. Each of our officers has several business trips behind them, almost all were awarded orders and medals. Now in the squadron serves as an employee, awarded the Star of Hero of the Russian Federation. He is the commander of the fighting compartment. He goes on military trips, on business trips. The specialty of the special forces officers is that for them the rewards are not the main thing. For them, there is Debt, Honor, Conscience. All the rest is secondary.
Hero of the Russian Federation Police Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Golovashkin:
- This is our common merit, we are one team. That day I worked this way only because my comrades were next to me. I was just doing my job. We were in Dagestan, it was one of the most intense business trips. And one day we worked on finding a gang. As part of the summary group, the address was combed, and on the second floor of the building, in one of the last corridors, we were met by fire fighters. In the assault group, except for me and my deputy, all are young employees, they have little combat experience. Therefore, I decided to take the shield and first enter the room where the militants took refuge. My deputy went number two. When we entered the premises, the fighter threw half the store into us with a meter and a half. Then they looked - the helmet bleed, two bullets in the collar of the vest, several bullets in the shield. Lucky for surviving - fate. Another fighter in us rolled out two grenades from the next room, which exploded under our feet. My face hurt, my friend got a shrapnel wound. As a result, we called the fire on ourselves, and our comrades destroyed them.
History The detachment knows many examples of heroism and courage shown by the officers of the unit. Unfortunately, not all of them returned home. Since the founding of 6, the unit’s staff members have died in the service post.
18 August 1994, during the detention of a large gang, Lieutenant Sergei Vladimirov was killed. Arriving at the scene of gang warfare in the city of Reutov, Moscow Region, the Sobrovtsy engaged in a battle with the criminals who had a large quantity of weapons with them. One of the scum shot at the special forces, and from a wound to the head, he died in hospital on the same day. Awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).
16 January 1996 of the year during a combat operation in the village of Pervomayskoye, lieutenant colonel Valery Sysoev was killed. During the assault, he provided fire to cover his comrades and went to the rear in the group. During movement on a dangerous site of the village, the officer of the detachment was hit by a sniper's bullet of militants entrenched in the village. Awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).
5 July 2000, Major Oleg Kazakov was killed during a stripping operation in the city of Grozny. A group of SOBR officers, in which the officer was located, came under heavy shelling of militants. In the course of the ensuing battle, the commando received a bullet wound to the head, incompatible with life. Awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).
March 17 March 2001 as a result of a gang ambush in the city of Grozny, Major Viktor Matveyev was killed. The BTR-80, on which the SOBR combat group moved, was undermined. Special Forces soldiers immediately came under heavy crossfire. Matveyev was seriously wounded during the battle, but he did not come out of the battle and within a few minutes he covered his fire with his comrades. From his wounds, the officer died in hospital. Awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
4 February 2001 in the city of Grozny as a result of a shootout with militants killed Captain Alexei Gurov. The SOBR group, of which he was a member, came under heavy shelling while traveling in a Ural vehicle. During the skirmish, Gurov closed a comrade from the fragments of a exploding grenade, resulting in a wound incompatible with life. Awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).
24 April 2004, the senior lieutenant Vyacheslav Savelyev died during an operation to detain especially dangerous gang members. During the arrest the gangsters put up fierce armed resistance. Covering his comrades with automatic fire, Saveliev received a fatal gunshot wound, which subsequently died. Awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).
The hero of the Russian Federation, Farvat Yakupov, was awarded his Star for an operation in the village of Samashki, when, risking his life, he covered the group’s withdrawal and was seriously wounded in the head, but did not come out of the battle and continued to lead the actions of subordinates. After returning from a mission, the officer went through a series of complex operations. Recovering from injury, Yakupov continued to work in the detachment. However, the deteriorated health manifested itself, and he was forced to resign from the service, and after several years of desperate struggle with the disease, the commando died at the age of 50 years. Those who knew Farvat say that it was not age, but only the most flourishing. The hero under two meters tall, oblique sazhen in the shoulders, with an inflexible character ...Eternal memory to those who until the end remained faithful to the holy duty.
The detachment does not forget their fallen comrades. A memorial was erected on the detachment’s territory, on the marble slabs of which the first and last names of the dead are stamped. In “Bulat” they sacredly honor their history, remember and support the veterans of the detachment and the families of the deceased employees.
The commander of the SOBR “Bulat” of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow region, police colonel Igor Butranov:
“I remember the 90s, when we were just starting our journey.” The first business trips, sheer confusion, difficult conditions. Then, of course, it was much more difficult. There was neither knowledge, nor equipment, nor, of course, the richest experience that is now. I am grateful to our veterans. They forged the glory of the division. They did everything to ensure that the squad became a formidable force in the fight against crime.
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