| 2nd Guards Separate Special Purpose Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 2-я отдельная бригада специального назначения | |
 Shoulder sleeve patch | |
| Active | 1962–Present |
| Country |  Soviet Union (1962–1991) Russia (1991–Present) |
| Branch |  Spetsnaz GRU |
| Type | Special forces |
| Size | Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Promezhitsy, Pskov Oblast |
| Engagements | First Chechen War Second Chechen War Russo-Georgian War 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine (claimed by Ukraine) Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Konstantin Bushuev |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | Order of Zhukov |
The 2nd Guards Separate Special Purpose Brigade (Russian: 2-я отдельная бригада специального назначения) is a Spetsnaz GRU brigade of the Russian Armed Forces based in Promezhitsy, Pskov Oblast.[1]
History[edit]
As part of increases to the GRU's Spetsnaz, on July 19, 1962, General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces Directive No. 140547 was issued, by which the 2nd Spetsnaz Brigade was to be formed in the Leningrad Military District. The creation of the brigade began on September 17, 1962 and ended on March 1, 1963.
Until 2008[2] or 2013, Dmitry Utkin served as lieutenant colonel and brigade commander of a unit of special forces of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the 700th Independent Spetsnaz Detachment of the 2nd Independent Brigade.[3][4][5]
The Brigade is reportedly taking part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[6] On July 11, 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin awarded the unit the honorific unit status ''Guards'' for its actions in Ukraine.[7]
Structure[edit]
The brigade comprises:[8]
- Headquarters
- Signals Battalion (2x Company)
- Support Company
- 70th Special Purpose Detachment (roughly battalion equivalent)
- 329th Special Purpose Detachment
- 700th Special Purpose Detachment
- Training Battalion (2x Company)
References[edit]
- ^ "2nd independent Special Forces Brigade". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ "Putin Chef's Kisses of Death: Russia's Shadow Army's State-Run Structure Exposed". bellingcat. 14 August 2020.
Wagner Group – which does not exist on paper – got its name from its purported founder and commander
- ^ Vaux, Pierre (29 March 2016). "Fontanka Investigates Russian Mercenaries Dying For Putin In Syria And Ukraine". The Interpreter. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ Gostev, Aleksandr; Coalson, Robert (16 December 2016). "Russia's Paramilitary Mercenaries Emerge From The Shadows". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ Из Молькино в Пальмиру: как тренируют российских наемников 31 March 2016. (in Russian)
- ^ "Командир псковського спецназу відмовився виконувати накази – розвідка". 16 March 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ Rob Lee. "Putin awarded the Guards status to the GRU/GU's 2nd Spetsnaz Brigade and 17th Army Aviation Brigade". Retrieved 2022-07-12.
- ^ "1 Декабря День Рождения 2 ОБр.СпецНаз ГРУ. - 30 Ноября 2012 - "Союз десантников" г.Локня".