At the end of 1950, a diplomatic conflict broke out between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. As a result, the military leadership of the USSR had to carry out a reorganization in the districts bordering the Mongolian People's Republic and the PRC. As a result of these measures, the Turkestan military district since 1960 already consisted of two: Turkestan and Central Asian. The latter required new military formations responsible for combat and logistics support. So, in 1976, the 22nd separate special-purpose brigade of the Main Intelligence Directorate (22 ObrSpN GRU) was created. Information about the history of the creation of this formation, participation in special operations and leadership can be found in the article.
Introduction
The General Staff of the GRU of Russia has 15 special-purpose army units. Among them are 22 ObrSpN GRU. According to experts, this military formation is the only one that was awarded the title of "Guards". It is noteworthy that it was assigned only to thoseformations of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army, who showed heroism and especially distinguished themselves during the Great Patriotic War.
About unit formation
In March 1976, Directive No. 314/5/00359 was created, according to which, by August of this year, a special forces brigade for the new Central Asian military district should be formed. 22nd Special Forces GRU was created in the city of Kapchagoy (Kazakh SSR) in a military camp in which the 1164th anti-aircraft artillery regiment was stationed. Later it was reorganized into a missile one. The first brigade commander I. K. Moroz took up the arrangement of the unit. To create 22 ObrSpN, the GRU transferred one battalion of special forces and radio communications, which was previously listed as the 15th separate brigade in the city of Chirchik (Uzbek SSR). The 22nd Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade was formed in July 1976. Replenishment was carried out under the leadership of V. A. Voinov.
Inception
As retired colonel Boris Kerimbaev recalls in his article "Kapchagay Battalion", in the first months the infrastructure in the unit was not up to standard. Due to the lack of barracks, the soldiers lived in tents. To keep warm, the soldiers were forced to constantly train. For this reason, the cold was regarded as a plus. Despite the fact that the 22nd separate brigade of the GRU of the General Staff had only one parachute company, special attention was paid to parachute jumps from the very beginning. As B. Kerimbaev recalls, training in this area was completed by almost every fighter. Soon, the Kapchagoy 22nd ObrSpN GRU General Staff became the best in the military district and the country.
Commanders and awards
The command of the soldiers of the 22nd Guards ObrSpN GRU was carried out by the following military men with the rank of colonel:
- from 1976 to 1979 I. K. Frost;
- from 1979 to 1983 S. I. Gruzdev;
- from 1983 to 1987 D. M. Gerasimov;
- from 1987 to 1988 Yu. A. Sapalov.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the military personnel of the 22nd ObrSpN were led by Colonel S. Breslavsky (1994-1995), from 1995 to 1997. - Popovich A. M., from 1997 to 2002 - P. S. Lipiev.
The brigade received the following awards:
- Challenge Banner of the SAVO Military Council.
- "For courage and military prowess" in 1987.
- In 2001 she was awarded the title of "Guards".
Formation of the 177th detachment
The separate 22nd Special Forces Brigade became the base for the formation of the 177th Separate Special Forces Detachment (177th Special Forces). The formation was intended to carry out reconnaissance and sabotage activities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC. For this reason, 300 servicemen of Uighur nationality were recruited into the 177th detachment. Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and Turkmens were taken to the positions of officers. Judging by the numerous reviews, in the 22nd ObrSpN GRU, 70% of the 177th separate detachment consisted of Turkic-speaking graduates of combined arms schools. The officers studied Chinese in an accelerated course. The staff included three reconnaissance companies and additional ones: a grenade launcher, an engineer-flamethrower (or an engineer-mortar) and a transport company. The battalion staff was also equipped with an anti-aircraft artillery group, repairplatoon, headquarters security group and medical platoon. According to military experts, there have not yet been army formations with such a complete set, equipment and organizational structure. This measure was taken in order to increase the firepower of the unit in the event of hostilities. In 1981, the hour came for the dismissal of conscripts. A new set was required. The detachment was trained to work in Afghanistan.
Operations in Afghanistan
According to experts, Amin's regime in December 1979 was overthrown not by local rebels, but by the Soviet special forces of the State Security Committee, namely the fighters of the 22nd separate battalion. The soldiers arrived in complete secrecy. The place for their deployment was first chosen by Maymen, and then the Panjer Gorge. The Salang Pass near Kabul and Jalalabad, the outskirts of the city of Bagram, became the place for carrying out combat missions.
In 1984, the military command of the Soviet Union decided to eliminate the channels through which weapons and ammunition were supplied to Afghanistan for the Mujahideen. The special forces soldiers were tasked with controlling the routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Soviet units destroyed caravans, reconnaissance was carried out. The soldiers of the 22nd separate brigade destroyed 5 thousand Afghan Mujahideen. For the entire period of service, the brigade suffered losses: 199 people were killed.
Operations in Russia
In 1992, the 22nd brigade from Azerbaijan was relocated to Rostov. 22 ObrSpN GRU involved during the Ossetian-Ingushethnic conflict. The fighters carried out raids and blockaded areas. In December 1994, servicemen of the 22nd separate brigade arrived in the Chechen Republic. In Ichkeria, the OBRSpN was establishing constitutional order.
In 1998, the General Staff of the Armed Forces analyzed the situation in Dagestan. The 22nd separate brigade was also sent there. The fighters carried out reconnaissance of the area, studied the security warning system operating on the border with the Chechen Republic. In addition, special forces soldiers monitored the channels through which oil products obtained illegally were sold.
Channels of trade in narcotic substances, ammunition and weapons were identified with law enforcement officers. During the rebellion of the Wahhabis, the troops received the necessary intelligence from the special forces. In 2008, servicemen of the 22nd brigade were sent to South Ossetia. 500 soldiers received state awards, 8 more were awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Our days
Today they are serving in the 22nd Special Forces of the GRU under a contract in the village of Stepnoy, Rostov Region. Composition presented:
- company in charge of logistics;
- commandant's company;
- special communications unit;
- special weapons company;
- a platoon whose duty is to provide technical support to the brigade;
- engineeringengineer platoon.
The brigade has Typhoon-K and Tiger armored vehicles. There are also 122 mm D-30A towed howitzers produced in 1963 in the amount of 11 pieces.
