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18 Moscow SWAT In the Caucasus

Moscow SWAT In the Caucasus

Posted on April 6, 2012 by team


Recently news agencies told that a gunmen group was destroyed in Ingushetia. Two of the gunmen had suicide bomber belts on. Most of us know work of the Moscow riot police only by political meetings. Though dispersal of demonstrators is not their main task. And hardly you know that these people have been constantly going to the North Causasus for missions for more than 15 years.

In the end of March another group of fighters came back from the North Caucasus. Their work is rarely covered by media, but they really risk their lives almost every day. It is thanks to them a lot of arms and explosives are withdrawn.

We are publishing this post on the eve of the memorial day, April 7th, when fighters of the Moscow SWAT centre come to cemeteries where their friends and colleagues are buried. These people stopped bandits and terrorists at the cost of their lives.

The photos in the post are exclusive. They were taken by a Moscow SWAT group during special operations. These faces are not to be shown. Usually during an operation it’s a sniper to photograph or shoot a video. Journalists are not allowed.

This group is one of the most well-prepared, they have the best equipment and arms. In Moscow this group mainly assist the criminal investigation department in capture of armed criminals. Fighters of such groups always do sport being the elite of the special detachment. By the way the average salary of such an employee is only 40 000 rubles (1330 USD).

White ribbons are used to identify your partners in the battle. Many gunmen wear the same uniform.

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18 Responses to “Moscow SWAT In the Caucasus”

  1. Alain says:
    April 6, 2012 at 2:05 am

    Why was the picture of Medvedev blurred on the second pic ?

    Reply
  2. Iggy says:
    April 6, 2012 at 2:31 am

    Why is face of Medviediev blurred? Is he spec ops too? ;-)

    Reply
  3. Testicules says:
    April 6, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Not much difference between the police and army in Russia.

    Reply
    • ayaa says:
      April 6, 2012 at 10:54 pm

      There are three distinct organisations in Russia. The militia/police, the MVD/ex-KGB and the actual armed forces.

      These OMON and SOBR troops are officially part of the police, but they usually take orders from the MVD and they get counter-terrorist training.

      Reply
      • bobb says:
        April 13, 2012 at 5:58 pm

        Hey it’s off topic but scince it’s fresh… I wanted to ask to some things, you were a tanker and seem to know what you talk about.

        I want to talk about tanks :

        – T-80 variants seem to be the widest used MBT, T-80bV being the most numerous variant, it’s true ? Now it’s frustrating, scince it’s not a very well protected tank.

        – How many T-80U in service, that’s my absolute problem i can’t seem to find exact figures, this tank (along with the T90) is the more potent russian tank.

        – What exactly means T-80U in today russian army ? Are they all modernized or some are still the firt type ?

        – How many T-80UD in service ?

        – How many late type T-80UM and what is exactly the T-80UM ?

        man the T80 is my absolute favorite tank it’s a pity russia did not choose it like ukrainians.

        What is the future of T-80 in russia ? Will they be all modernized with K-5/relikt, 2A46M5 and overhauled to T-80UM level, with potent thermal etc… ? or will they be destroyed, scraped… :(

        Also if you know about the T72 please discuss,

        – how many T-72bM with K5 and modernized stuff are actually in service, compared to the mass of aging T-72bV ?

        Sorry for such a long post, but i’m really desperate for an answer, or please can you tell me if you are on any armor-discussion forum or anything ?

        thanks

        Reply
        • ayaa says:
          April 13, 2012 at 9:57 pm

          Wow. That is a long post. I’ll try to answer.

          “T-80 variants seem to be the widest used MBT, T-80bV being the most numerous variant, it’s true ? Now it’s frustrating, scince it’s not a very well protected tank.”

          The most built T-80 is the T-80B. But the most commonly used T-80 in Russia is the T-80U and its sub-variants.

          The T-80 is very well protected actually. Compared to a western tank it may not have massive volumes of composite armor, but it more than makes up for it by using ERA, APS systems (arena/drozd) and PPS systems (shtora). This also makes it a hell of a lot lighter and faster.

          “How many T-80U in service, that’s my absolute problem i can’t seem to find exact figures, this tank (along with the T90) is the more potent russian tank.”

          As for numbers we are on the same boat, you and I. I have no idea as to the exact total. But it is estimated at some 1300 active and 4700 reserve T-80s, with most of the active ones T-80Us. The T-90 is somewhere around 600 units at best.

          An armored battalion has four tank companies, each with ten tanks, plus the battalion command tank, so total 41 tanks per battalion. Three armor plus one infantry battalion makes a tank brigade. One armor plus three infantry battalions make a motor rifle brigade. In theory, only the tanks should get T-80s, while the motor rifles get T-72s. But two of the tanks have T-90s, while the other two have T-80s. A lot of the motor rifles also have T-80s, while the most prestigious motor rifles also get T-90s. There are four tank brigades and some thirty-five motor rifles so a total of 47 armor battalions. You are going to have know visit each one to see what tank they use to deduce the actual number, and even then there are the training tanks (usually older version T-80s and T-72s which the crews use to train to avoid fatiguing their real tanks) and the massive reserve. So numbers are a bit of a dilemma.

          “What exactly means T-80U in today russian army ? Are they all modernized or some are still the firt type ?”

          Most T-80Us that are in active service (as opposed to most T-80Bs which are commonly used as trainers) are unofficially are at UM standard. The T-80UM and the T-72BM were intended to bring those two tanks upto T-90 levels, atleast in terms of onboard equipment. Its not anything drastic, just the same old chassis, body, gun and everything but the electronics, gun controls, comms, etc.. are all the ones used on the T-90.

          “How many T-80UD in service ?”

          Hmm. I was the specialist driver for a T-80UD with the old 4th Tank Guards Division. Some years back I went back to the unit, and got a chance to look at it before it was retired.

          I don’t think there are any sizable UD formations left in Russia. It was built in Ukraine and all the politics mean that once the last UD is retired, its over. Besides, the UM versions more than make up for it.

          “How many late type T-80UM and what is exactly the T-80UM ?”

          Again, I have no idea as to the exact number. The T-80UM is the block upgrade for T-80Us. It gets Buran thermal sights, kaktus/relikt era, 2A46-M4 main gun upgrade and the new versions include blow-out panels and all the new high-tech stuff on the T-90AM. Note that the UM is not a new tank, but it is an modern upgrade to an existing one.

          “What is the future of T-80 in russia ? Will they be all modernized with K-5/relikt, 2A46M5 and overhauled to T-80UM level, with potent thermal etc… ? or will they be destroyed, scraped… ”

          Accordin to the MoD, all serving T-80s will continue to be used until they run out of their service life. For most current tanks that’s in the 2018-2022 window, unless upgraded again. Most active T-80s are or being brought up to UM standard. Their eventual replacement will be the new Armata tank, but according to Rogozin, it will only enter full production in 2017.

          “how many T-72bM with K5 and modernized stuff are actually in service, compared to the mass of aging T-72bV ?”

          Again, none knows the exact number. But plenty of older version T-72s are being overhauled to BM standard. It doesn’t take much. If the tank body isn’t suffering from a lot of metal fatigue then the three man crew alone can fix the new ERA blocks, fine-tune the engine, and anyone with technical experience can install the new electronics, and there, you have a makeshift T-72BM!

          I hang around a lot of military forums, but I go along by a lot of usernames. I’m most popular in this one: http://www.militaryphotos.net/
          If you are looking for a healthy discussion, try this: http://www.russiadefence.net/
          Just don’t go blabbing about me. :D

          Reply
  4. al says:
    April 6, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    Who’s the blurred-out guy in the second photo?

    great shots, by the way

    Reply
  5. Alvis says:
    April 6, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    These men risk their life so others can enjoy the freedom. They deserve all the honors they can get. Bravos

    Reply
  6. George Johnson says:
    April 6, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    Most guys that do this sort of thing, don’t do it for the money. Same with the military. The military doesn’t pay much either.

    Crappy deal, but in the US, a school teacher, who tries to indoctrinate kids all day, make far more than a solider that actually puts his life on the line (And in many cases is severely injured). Is that crazy or what? The difference is the military doesn’t have unions, so can’t go on strike for more money like the “teachers” can. Pathetic.

    Reply
    • Jeff H. says:
      April 6, 2012 at 8:28 pm

      Except teachers in the U.S. are treated like s**t on a stick and servicemen/women receive many benefits that teachers don’t. Wow Bill Maher is right, you guys do live in an effin’ bubble.

      Reply
    • moo says:
      April 7, 2012 at 12:18 am

      Teachers in the US make terrible money. K-12 they make like 40k or less a year. Yea I know they don’t teach all year long but with all the grading at home and everything they work crazy hours compared to the normal 9 to 5 jobs. Plus if you teach in California you probably have to buy your own supply’s for class too…

      Reply
  7. jaap says:
    April 7, 2012 at 6:39 am

    respect!!

    Reply
  8. vla says:
    April 7, 2012 at 7:01 am

    “Moscow SWAT” , pls is this formation of specnaz (8Th OSN VV “Rus” from Moscow) ?

    Reply
  9. bobb says:
    April 13, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    “this is american camouflage” LOL Heh no… all is made in russia. At present almost all NATO camo are made in russia by multiple small companies, aviable to civils and military. Same goes for takticool AK parts, all are made in russia.

    Reply
    • ZF says:
      July 15, 2012 at 1:32 pm

      I have a feeling that the Eotechs and FTS mounts arent russian made. To bad I find the russian optics to be very solid. It looks like a Mako stock in the mix also which are Israeli made.

      Reply

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