2nd Guards Spetsnaz Brigade

2nd Guards Separate Special Purpose Order of Zhukov Brigade
2-я отдельная бригада специального назначения
Shoulder sleeve patch
Active1962–present
CountrySoviet Union (1962–1991) Russia (1991–present)
BranchSpetsnaz GRU
TypeSpecial forces
SizeBrigade
Garrison/HQPromezhitsy, Pskov Oblast
Engagements
DecorationsGuards unit GuardsOrder of Zhukov Order of Zhukov
Commanders
CurrentcommanderKonstantin Bushuev

The 2nd Guards Separate Special Purpose Order of Zhukov Brigade[a] is a Spetsnaz GRU brigade of the Russian Armed Forces based in Promezhitsy, Pskov Oblast.[2]

History

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[3] 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.[4][5][6]

The Brigade participated in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7] On July 11, 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin awarded the unit the honorific unit status Guards for its actions in Ukraine.[8]

Structure

The brigade comprises:[9]

  • 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)

Notes

  1. ^Russian: 2-я отдельная гвардейская ордена Жукова бригада специального назначения, romanized2-ya otdelnaya gvardeyskaya ordena Zhukova brigada spetsialnogo naznacheniya

References