| Revision as of 19:40, 31 March 2010 edit188.123.237.4 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:53, 3 April 2010 edit undoPhoenix and Winslow (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,909 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| '''Vympel''' ({{lang-ru|Вымпел}}, meaning "]" from German "Wimpel", also known as ''' ''KGB Directorate "B"'' ''','''Vega Group''' or '''Spetsgruppa V''', '''Group B ( |
'''Vympel''' ({{lang-ru|Вымпел}}, meaning "]" from German "Wimpel", also known as ''' ''KGB Directorate "B"'' ''','''Vega Group''' or '''Spetsgruppa V''', '''Group B (Cyrillic for V)''') is a ]n ] unit. | ||
| The exact lineage is not known but the unit was formed in 1981 by the ] Gen. Drozdov within the ] of the KGB as a dedicated ] unit specialised in deep penetration, ], universal direct and ], protection of Soviet ] and ] ] activation in case of war. Most of the Vympel operatives mastered two or three foreign languages, for they were |
The exact lineage of Vympel, is not known but the unit was formed in 1981 by the ] Gen. Drozdov within the ] of the KGB, as a dedicated ] unit specialised in deep penetration, ], universal direct and ], protection of Soviet ] and ] ] activation in case of war. Most of the Vympel operatives mastered two or three foreign languages, for they were intended to act in foreign countries, deep behind enemy lines. | ||
| Vympel quickly gained the reputation of being among the best Soviet special forces |
Vympel quickly gained the reputation of being among the best Soviet special forces units, surpassing its ] and ] counterparts. However, after the collapse of the USSR, Vympel was decimated by endless re-organisation and re-definition. It passed under the aegis of the Security Ministry before being receded to the GUO( the two institutions were short-lived offspring of the ex-KGB during the ] era) and finally passed to the MVD (Interior Ministry). However, the '']'' had no use for such a unit. The bulk of the Vympel operatives could not stand the humiliation of being subordinated to the police, and duly resigned: of 278 officers, only 57 chose to remain within the MVD. The unit was re-named "Vega." | ||
| In 1995, the ] Special Operations Center (TsSN FSB) has been granted control over Vympel. The group regained its original name and was re-integrated in the Intelligence Service structures. The emphasis shifted from covert and clandestine sabotage operations to ] and nuclear safety enforcement. Vympel operatives undergo special training related to improvised or special explosive devices, permitting them to use |
In 1995, the ] Special Operations Center (TsSN FSB) has been granted control over Vympel. The group regained its original name and was re-integrated in the Intelligence Service structures. The emphasis shifted from covert and clandestine sabotage operations to ] and nuclear safety enforcement. Vympel operatives undergo special training related to improvised or special explosive devices, permitting them to use "terrorist-like" tactics to carry out their operations. Physical training includes close hand combat, parachute training, diving, underwater combat techniques, climbing, and alpine rope techniques. Regional groups of Vympel were deployed in cities with especially important nuclear facilities. | ||
| Vympel (i.e. the Directorate "V" of the TsSN FSB) is still a classified and secretive unit. It took part in Russia's ] and in storming of the ] building during the ]. Little is known about its current operations and activities, the exception being the capture of the Chechen militant leader ] in March 2000 and ] in September 2004. | Vympel (i.e. the Directorate "V" of the TsSN FSB) is still a classified and secretive unit. It took part in Russia's ] and in storming of the ] building during the ]. Little is known about its current operations and activities, the exception being the capture of the Chechen militant leader ] in March 2000 and ] in September 2004. | ||
Revision as of 17:53, 3 April 2010
- See NPO Vympel for the Russian air-to-air missiles designer
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Vympel" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Vympel (Template:Lang-ru, meaning "Pennant" from German "Wimpel", also known as KGB Directorate "B" ,Vega Group or Spetsgruppa V, Group B (Cyrillic for V)) is a Russian special forces unit.
The exact lineage of Vympel, is not known but the unit was formed in 1981 by the KGB Gen. Drozdov within the First Chief Directorate of the KGB, as a dedicated spetsnaz unit specialised in deep penetration, sabotage, universal direct and covert action, protection of Soviet embassies and espionage cell activation in case of war. Most of the Vympel operatives mastered two or three foreign languages, for they were intended to act in foreign countries, deep behind enemy lines.
Vympel quickly gained the reputation of being among the best Soviet special forces units, surpassing its GRU and MVD counterparts. However, after the collapse of the USSR, Vympel was decimated by endless re-organisation and re-definition. It passed under the aegis of the Security Ministry before being receded to the GUO( the two institutions were short-lived offspring of the ex-KGB during the Boris Yeltsin era) and finally passed to the MVD (Interior Ministry). However, the militsiya had no use for such a unit. The bulk of the Vympel operatives could not stand the humiliation of being subordinated to the police, and duly resigned: of 278 officers, only 57 chose to remain within the MVD. The unit was re-named "Vega."
In 1995, the FSB Special Operations Center (TsSN FSB) has been granted control over Vympel. The group regained its original name and was re-integrated in the Intelligence Service structures. The emphasis shifted from covert and clandestine sabotage operations to counter-terrorism and nuclear safety enforcement. Vympel operatives undergo special training related to improvised or special explosive devices, permitting them to use "terrorist-like" tactics to carry out their operations. Physical training includes close hand combat, parachute training, diving, underwater combat techniques, climbing, and alpine rope techniques. Regional groups of Vympel were deployed in cities with especially important nuclear facilities.
Vympel (i.e. the Directorate "V" of the TsSN FSB) is still a classified and secretive unit. It took part in Russia's Chechen campaigns and in storming of the Supreme Soviet building during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis. Little is known about its current operations and activities, the exception being the capture of the Chechen militant leader Salman Raduyev in March 2000 and the assault on the school in Beslan in September 2004.
See also
- Alpha Group, a sister KGB/FSB unit specialised in counter-terrorism
References
External links
- Boris Volodarsky, License to Kill, Wall Street Journal, 20 December 2006