Editing Spetsnaz (section)

==== Second Chechen War ====
{{main|Second Chechen War}}
Russian special forces were instrumental in Russia's and the Kremlin backed government's success in the [[Second Chechen War]] after learning lessons from the mishandling of the [[First Chechen War|first war]]. Under joint command of ''Unified Group of Troops (OGV)'' formed on 23 September 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://russiandefpolicy.com/tag/ogvs/|title=Simmering War|publisher=Russian Defense Policy|date=15 September 2018}}</ref> GRU, FSB and MVD spetsnaz operators conducted a myriad of [[counter-insurgency]] and counter-terrorism operations, including [[targeted killing]]s of separatist leadership, in the meantime inflicting heavy casualties among Islamist separatists. Some of these successful missions were directed against separatist leaders such as [[Aslan Maskhadov]], [[Abdul Halim Sadulayev]], [[Dokka Umarov]], [[Akhmadov brothers]], [[Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev]], [[Akhmed Avtorkhanov]], [[Ibn al-Khattab]], [[Abu al-Walid]], [[Abu Hafs al-Urduni]], [[Muhannad (mujahid emir)|Muhannad]], [[Ali Taziev]], [[Supyan Abdullayev]], [[Shamil Basayev]], [[Ruslan Gelayev]], [[Salman Raduyev]], [[Sulim Yamadayev]], [[Rappani Khalilov]], [[Yassir al-Sudani]]. During these missions, many operators received honors for their courage and prowess in combat, including with the title [[Hero of the Russian Federation]]. At least 106 FSB and GRU operators died during the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyguy.com/chechen_war_two.html|title=The Second Chechen War|work=The History Guy|access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref>