The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation [a] (FSB) is the principal security agency of Russia and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union's KGB; its immediate predecessor was the Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK) which was reorganized into the FSB in 1995.

GRU, FSB and MVD spetsnaz operators conducted a myriad of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, including targeted killings of separatist leadership, in the meantime inflicting heavy casualties among Islamist separatists.

Spetsgruppa "A", also known as Alpha Group, officially Directorate "A" of FSB Special Purpose Center (Russian: Спецназ ФСБ "Альфа"), is a sub-unit of Russian special forces within the Russian Special Forces Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Russian Spetsnaz MVD. In addition to the security forces’ spetsnaz troops mentioned above, there is also the well-known Vityaz, the special operations forces of the MVD’s special Dzerzhinsky division.

Nov 19, 2007 · According to a 1998 statute, the FSB, MVD, Service of External Intelligence (Sluzhba vneshney razvedki: SVR), the Federal Protection Service (Federalnaya sluzhba okhrani: FSO) and the Ministry of Defence are all tasked with fighting terrorism.

Oct 9, 2024 · Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution or equivalent. The FSB is a federal agency within the executive branch of the Russian government responsible for internal security and counterintelligence. In practice, this means ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and protecting and guarding the country’s borders.

Apr 11, 2025 · FSB and MVD officers frequently resort to intimidation, blackmail, and bribery of opposition politicians, journalists, and activists. Depending on the situation, compromising materials, the threat of criminal charges, or financial incentives are used to coerce individuals into public collaboration with the authorities.

Sep 26, 2014 · Russian forces will include one army brigade as well as operational groups from other militarized agencies — the MVD, FSB, FSO, and MChS.

Spetsnaz is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "special purpose forces". Historically, the term referred to the military special units controlled by the military...

The MVD runs local police forces across Russia, among other functions, and operates separately from the FSB, one of Russia’s largest and most powerful security organs that works on everything from counterterrorism to counterintelligence and border security.