Spetsnaz GRU

Spetsnaz GRU
Spetsnaz GRU
	The Spetsnaz GRU logo
Active	1949–2012, 2013–present
Country	Soviet Union (1949–1991); Russian Federation (1991–present);
Branch	GRU
Type	Special forces
Size	Classified
Part of	Soviet Armed Forces ; (1949–1991); Russian Armed Forces ; (1991–present);
GRU Headquarters	76 Khoroshyovskoe shosse, Khodinka, Moscow
Patron	Saint Alexander Nevsky
Mottos	"Only the stars are above us"; («Выше нас только звёзды»)
Mascot	Bat
Engagements	Cold War; Operation Danube; Soviet–Afghan War; ; Civil War in Tajikistan; East Prigorodny conflict; War in Abkhazia; First Chechen War; Invasion of Dagestan; Second Chechen War; Insurgency in the North Caucasus; Russo-Georgian War; Russian military intervention in Ukraine; Russian military intervention in Syria; Russian invasion of Ukraine;

Spetsnaz GRU, formally known as Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, (Russian: Части и подразделения специального назначения Главного управления Генерального штаба Вооружённых сил Российской Федерации) is the special forces (spetsnaz) of the GRU, the foreign military intelligence agency of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Spetsnaz units are operationally commanded by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, and are sourced to the Russian Ground Forces, the Russian Navy, and the Russian Airborne Forces. Spetsnaz troops are used for reconnaissance and sabotage, and are not special operations forces. GRU spetsnaz are separate from the Special Operations Forces Command (KSSO). Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, most Ground Forces-sourced spetsnaz brigades have been assigned to Ministry of Defense groups of forces.