Editing Spetsnaz (section)

==== Federal Security Service (FSB) ====
[[File:Medvedev at FSB special forces centre in Dagestan.jpg|thumb|Then-Russian President Medvedev visiting Dagestan regional FSB special forces base in [[Makhachkala]], 2009]]

The Centre of Special Operations of the FSB TsSN FSB, ''центр специального назначения ФСБ'') is officially tasked with combating terrorism and protecting the constitutional order of the Russian Federation. The TsSN FSB consists of estimated 8,000 operators and personnel<ref name="sakwa_p98">{{cite book |title=Russian Politics and Society |last1=Sakwa |first1=Richard |edition=4th |page=98}}</ref><ref>Sakwa R. Russian Politics and Society (неопр.). — 4th. — P. 98.</ref> in at least 7 operative divisions:
* [[Alpha Group|Directorate "A"]] (''Spetsgruppa Alpha'')
* [[Vympel|Directorate "V"]] (''Spetsgruppa Vympel'')
* Directorate "S" (''Spetsgruppa Smerch'' – Special Operations Executive – SOE) – TsSN of [[Moscow]] city and [[Moscow Oblast]]
* Directorate "K" (''Spetsgruppa [[Caucasus|Kavkaz]]'') – formerly Special Purpose unit for the city of [[Yessentuki]]
* Directorate "T" (''Spetsgruppa [[History of Crimea|Tavrida]]'') ([[Crimea]], previously – 2nd service "SN" of FSB)
* Special Weapons Combat Use Service (SV) - testing of new weapons in high-risk conditions
* Directorate "X" (Hacker) - ensuring cybersecurity of structures

TsSN FSB headquarters is a large complex of buildings and training areas, with dozens of hectares of land and scores of training facilities. The average training period for a TsSN officer is about five years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kozlov|first=Sergei|url=http://www.agentura.ru/english/spetsnaz/FSBspecialforces/|title=FSB Special forces: 1998–2010|publisher=Agentura.ru|date=8 September 2010|access-date=2 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118123943/http://agentura.ru/english/spetsnaz/FSBspecialforces/|archive-date=18 January 2013}}</ref>

Spetsgruppa 'A' ([[Alpha Group]]) is the premier [[counter-terrorism]] unit of the FSB. Consisting of about 720 personnel, of which about 250–300 are trained for assault operations and the rest are support personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/17563421|title=Russian Military Forces of the MVD, the Border Troops, and the Special Forces |website=Academia |last1=León-Borja|first1=Lajos Szászdi}}</ref> These are dispersed in five operational detachments, including one permanent detachment in the [[Chechen Republic]]. Other units are stationed in [[Moscow]], [[Krasnodar]], [[Yekaterinburg]] and [[Khabarovsk]]. All Alpha operators undergo airborne, mountain and counter-sabotage dive training. Alpha has operated in other countries, most notably [[Operation Storm-333]] on a mission to overthrow and kill Afghan president [[Hafizullah Amin]]).{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Spetsgruppa "V", abbreviation of the Directorate в (Russian Cyrillic for V), also known as "Vega" in period 1993–1995, was formed in 1981, continues the lineage of two elite [[Cold War]]-era KGB special units—Cascade (Kaskad) and Zenith (Zenit). Its modern function is the protection of strategic installations, such as factories and transportation centers. With its Alpha counterparts, it is heavily used in the [[North Caucasus]]. Vympel has four operative units in Moscow, with branch offices in nearly every city containing a [[nuclear power plant]].

Spetsgruppa "S", abbreviation of the Directorate C (Russian Cyrillic for S), also known as Smerch, but also known as the Special Operations Executive (SOE), is a relatively new unit formed in July 1999. Officers from Smerch are frequently involved with the capture and transfer of various bandit and criminal leaders who help aid disruption in the North Caucasus and throughout Russia. Operations include both direct action against bandit holdouts in Southern Russia as well as high-profile arrests in more densely populated cities and guarding government officials. Because of its initials, this group is casually referred to as "Smerch". With the Centre of Special Operations and its elite units, many FSB special forces units operate at the regional level. These detachments are usually known as ROSN or ROSO (Regional Department of Special Designation), such as [[Saint Petersburg]]'s ''Grad'' (Hail) or [[Murmansk]]'s ''Kasatka'' (Orca).