Ministry of Interior (MVD) Special Units

With a somewhat similar role to the KGB Border Guards, is the MVD (Ministry of Internal Security). Although their role has changed somewhat since the Cold War, their principal responsibility is still law enforcement, as well as fire fighting, and riot suppression. The MVD's original role was anti-dissident suppression, the guarding of food stockpiles and large munitions and weapons caches. Small MVD battalions provide a backing force for local militia (police) units in small cities. But the MVD's major role is (was) the guarding of the Soviet political prisoner system, the Gulag. Begun by Stalin, these camps kept steadily growing until 1953, when Stalin died. When Nikita Krushchev succeeded his predecessor, he began to reduce the number of the camps, but they still remained in large numbers. Only after the fall of Communism in 1989 did Gorbachev completely dismantle them, and according to a March 1990 issue of National Geographic Magazine, one of the last camps, located near Perm, is releasing the last of its 38 prisoners steadily. Today, 1998, to the extent of my knowledge, all of the Gulag "correctional facilities" have been abandoned and/or phased out. An estimated 15 to 20 million died in the Gulag.

Vnnutreye Voyska (Interior Army)

First established in 1919, the Vnnutreye Voyska (Interior Army) was under the control of the NKVD. In 1934 they were incorporated into the expanded NKVD. In 1954, after the establishment of the MVD, the Interior Troops were placed under its control. The interior troops were comprised of conscripts, which had to serve for two years. The MVD also accepted recruits from the armed forces as well as the civillian population. There were four MVD schools for training officers and one for political officers. As noted before, the Interior Army's main role was to support the police (militsia) in crowd control, riots and "anti-dissident" suppression. These included many deployments to labor strikes or anti-government demonstrations. Also, the Interior Army guarded important food, ammunition and weapons stockpiles, as well as state factories and research facilities. In case of a nuclear accident the MVD would also provide support. Its last function was the guarding and escorting of prisoners, and forced-labor institutions. Click here to read about V/CH 7461 Escort Guard Company, a MVD unit charged with escorting prisoners.

MVD troops wear uniforms depending on the climate, but basically it's the standard Soviet Army uniform. Sergeants are better clothed in the MVD. The MVD can be told apart from regular Army soldiers by the the letters "BB" in Cyrillic, or "VV" which stand for Interior Army. Also, a red band beneath the brim of their peaked caps, denotes a MVD soldier. Weapons can be expected to consist of the AK family, pistols, and many new weapons systems that are emerging from Russia, for example the Saiga shotguns. Light tanks, APCs and artillery and helicopters are also available.

OMON

OMON Photo Gallery

OMON Patches

Prior to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, the Soviets decided to create a counter-terrorist unit to prevent a possible repeat of the massacre at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. The responsibility fell to the MVD, and they created OMON, which stands for "Special Operations State Militia." Supplied with Russian weapons, the team practices much like any other counter-terrorist unit in the world with CQB skills, rapelling, firearms training and other drills.

In 1993, the MVD troops, now separate from the Armed Forces, numbered about 234, 000 men. These were supported by light tanks and motorized divisions. Also, during numerous counter-narcotics operations, the MVD troops were supported by helicopters. In addition, MVD special troops have been active in the former Baltic republics, and in the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

- With a drug-cultivation problem in the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union that evokes comparisons with Colombia, 1991 reports indicated that Ministry of Internal Affairs Militia Detachments of Special Designation, or OMON, were being employed in drug-eradication efforts. OMON units gained notoriety for their repressive and lethal activities in the Baltic republics and are based in many other republic areas. Created to deal with terrorist incidents, serious criminal activities and the maintenance of public order," they are organized like SWAT teams or light infantry, depending on their roles. With rapidly increasing poppy and marijuana cultivation, the continuing problem of wild and cultivated hemp, and the growing phenomenon of armed traffickers, at least some Central Asian republics are now using OMON forces. In Tajikistan, for example, OMON elements are delivered by helicopter to "plantations." OMON forces destroy the crops manually, break down fences around the plots and destroy homemade watering systems. The loosening control of central authorities, the desperate need for hard currency and the move to a market economy are expected to result in an explosion of narcotics problems. As a consequence, "Soviet" or republic counternarcotics efforts may acquire an increasingly militarized character.

The following text is currently being edited.

In OMON the young people (till 30 years), served a urgent service in army (2 years) are collected. In the beginning candidates pass the medical control, plenty of the tests on psychological suitability, reaction, reason. If the medical control and tests passed, the candidate hands over physical examination: at first run - 7-10 kms. in bodyarmor 12 kgs. Further - wringing out (50 times), pulling up (18 times), test of Cooper. Then - hand-to-hand battle (5 opponents from among the employees of OMON, with each opponent - 3 minutes, having rummaged between battles - 1 minute). In first fight the candidate should show, that he is able in hand-to-hand fight, others 4 battles - to hold on and to not refuse battle. The candidate hands over this examination, if he has shown good abilities of hand-to-hand battle, has held on all 5 battles and has not refused battle or has received knock-down (has lost consciousness) or has received a trauma. In the basic battles, in which t!
he candidates has not refused battle, come to an end knock-down or extreme physical exhaustion of the candidates (when he can not rise on legs any more, him ask, whether he will continue battle, he answers: "yes"). Rules of duels: all impacts by hands, except for impacts in eyes, on a neck, on a back, all impacts by legs, except for impacts in a groin, on a back, all captures and throws are permitted. Do not beat fallen. The battles will be carried out in boxing gloves. The candidates, passed this test, are enlisted in OMON by the trainees. Term of training - 4 months. At this time by him the weapon, form does not give out. The trainees carry out all functions of the employees of OMON, but do not work in battle operations. In 4 months the trainees are sent in the educational centre (as a rule, in the same city). At the educational centre the trainees study the right, laws, fire preparation, general-militia subjects, physical preparation, and also specialized subjects: special tactics and arms, special means. At receipt in the educational cent
re the trainees receive the militia form. The training proceeds 4 months. After training the trainees come back in its subdivision, receive the weapon and special form. To the employees of OMON, as well as employees of other subdivisions of militia keep ranks received in army. The posts of the militiamen in OMON are held by the employees in a rank from the private up to praporshik (warrant officer). Posts of the commanders of branches - from the sergeant up to the grown-up praporshik. Posts of the commanders of platoons - lieutenant or grown-up lieutenant. Posts of the commanders of companies - captain or major.

FAS Intelligence Resource Program - MVD - An excellent excellent website on the subject.

CIA Electronic Document Release Center - A website where you can search for declassified government documents. Some info on the MVD.