Editing Spetsnaz (section)

==== Foreign Intelligence Service ====
The [[Foreign Intelligence Service (Russia)|SVR RF]], formerly the [[First Chief Directorate]] of the KGB of the USSR, has its own top secret elite special force within the Operations Department of Directorate Z known as {{Interlanguage link|Zaslon (SVR)|ru|3=Заслон (спецподразделение)|lt=Zaslon}} (Заслон) (meaning Screen, Barrier or Shield) about which extremely little is known. Formerly in [[First Chief Directorate|PGU KGB SSSR]] called [[Vympel]] (e.g. French counterpart; [[Action Division]]).

However, mere existence of such group within SVR is denied by Russian authorities. Nevertheless, there were some rumors that such group does indeed exist and is assigned to execute very specific special operations abroad primarily for protection of Russian embassy personnel and internal investigations. It is believed that the group is deep undercover and consists of approximately 300–500 highly experienced operatives speaking several languages and having extensive record of operations while serving in other secret units of the Russian military.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vietnamdefence.com/Home/tinhbaoanninh/chiendichtinhbao/Pho-Thu-tuong-Nga-bat-can-tiet-lo-don-vi-dac-nhiem-hanh-dong-cua-tinh-bao-Nga/20145/53688.vnd|title=Vietnamdefence.com – Tin Quân sự 24h|access-date=31 July 2015|archive-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218012519/http://vietnamdefence.com/Home/tinhbaoanninh/chiendichtinhbao/Pho-Thu-tuong-Nga-bat-can-tiet-lo-don-vi-dac-nhiem-hanh-dong-cua-tinh-bao-Nga/20145/53688.vnd|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatpolitics/2013/05/10/special-force-deployment-to-syria-may-signal-moscows-doubts/|title=Special force deployment to Syria may signal Moscow's doubts|work=BLOUIN BEAT: Politics|access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-zaslon-special-operations-2013-5|title=Russian Zaslon Special Operations – Business Insider|date=19 May 2013|work=Business Insider|access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref>