OSN Saturn

OSN Saturn
ActiveApril 29, 1992
CountryRussia
TypePolice tactical unit
RoleAir assaultAnti-prison riotBomb disposalCBRN defenseClose-quarters combatCold-weather warfareCounterterrorismCrowd controlDesert warfareDirect actionExecutive protectionForce protectionHostage rescueLaw enforcementManhuntMountain warfareParachutingPatrollingPSYWARRaidingReconnaissanceRiot controlSpecial operationsSpecial reconnaissanceUrban warfare
Part ofFederal Penitentiary Service
Garrison/HQMoscow, Russia
Commanders
CurrentcommanderBoris Nikolaev

OSN Saturn (ОСН Сатурн УФСИН России по г. Москве; Otdel Spetsialnogo Naznacheniya Saturn) is the Moscow department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN)'s OSN special purpose unit.

History

Saturn was formed in April 1992 as a part of the Moscow Department of Punishment Execution (UIN) under the Ministry of the Interior.

In 2006, the UIN system (including all regional departments and special purpose units) was renamed the Federal Penitentiary Service, and was moved from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior to the Russian Ministry of Justice.

The Saturn unit is also often called "Jail Spetsnaz".

Function

Current duties:

  • Anti-prison riot actions in detention facilities
  • Control and protect criminals while carrying out legal procedures
  • Counterterrorism actions in detention facilities
  • Hostage rescue in detention facilities
  • Personal security for Ministry of Justice and court officials
  • Preventing crimes in Moscow detention facilities
  • Providing security detention facilities at risk of attack
  • Psychological operations to reduce violence in detention
  • Search and arrest of escaped criminals
  • Securing special operations
  • Support military operations

Operations

The Saturn unit participated in the First Chechen War, including the storming of Grozny in December 1994 to January 1995, and in the Second Chechen War.

In summer 2000, Saturn officers protected PACE delegates during their visit to the Chechen Republic.

Saturn participated in the hostage rescue operation in Kapotnya investigative isolation ward No. 9 in September 2006.

It provided protection and convoy support during both Mikhail Khodorkovsky cases.

Saturns provide illegals program agent protection in Moscow.

Training

  • Airborne training
  • Anti-prison riot
  • Cold-weather warfare
  • Counterterrorism
  • Crowd control
  • CQB/CQC
  • Defusing and disposal of bombs
  • Desert warfare
  • Executive protection
  • Fast-roping
  • Marksmanship
  • Mountain warfare
  • Hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting
  • Hostage rescue
  • NBCR on operations in contaminated environments
  • Psychological warfare
  • Rappelling
  • Reconnaissance
  • Riot control
  • Small unit tactics
  • Tactical emergency medical
  • Tracking
  • Weapons handling
  • Urban warfare
Saturn officer with a silenced 9A-91 carbine assault rifle

Equipment

Vehicles

Small arms and Light weapons

Model Origin Type
Makarov PMMSoviet UnionSemi-automatic pistol
MP-443 GrachRussia
GSh-18
Glock 17Austria
Glock 19
CZ 75Czechoslovakia
AEK-919K Soviet UnionSubmachine gun
PP-91 KEDRRussia
PP-19 Bizon
PP-19-01 Vityaz-SN
KS-23M DrozdSoviet UnionShotgun
AEK-971Assault rifle
AN-94
9A-91Russia
AK-74M
AK-103
RPK-74Soviet UnionLight machine gun
SVDSniper rifle
SVURussia
OSV-96
GP-25Soviet UnionGrenade launcher
RPG-7
6G-30
AGS-30Russia

See also