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SOBR
The Special Rapid Response Unit (Russian: СОБР — Специальный Отряд Быстрого Реагирования, Spetsialnyy Otryad Bystrogo Reagirovaniya, lit. "Special Unit of Quick Response"), formerly known from 2002 to 2011 as OMSN (Otryad Militsii Spetsial'nogo Naznacheniya, "Special Police Unit"), is a spetsnaz formation within the National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardiya). SOBR units, along with OMON forces, function as elite paramilitary police organizations equipped with military-grade gear, specialized uniforms, and advanced tactical training. Designed for rapid deployment and high-risk operations, they serve a role analogous to police tactical units in other countries and are typically mobilized at the discretion of local police command structures. Similar SOBR-designated formations also operate in other Commonwealth of Independent States, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
SOBR was formed on 10 February 1992, and was subordinated to the "Directorate for combating the Organized Crime" under the Russian Interior Ministry (MVD). SOBR units were composed of senior-ranking police officers, better trained than the members of OMON (which is a cross between riot police and gendarmerie (paramilitary police)), and tasked with PTU operations under the jurisdiction of the MVD. The primary function of SOBR is to combat organized crime, with additional roles including anti-irregular military operations, counterterrorism, executive protection, high-risk law enforcement, and tactical operations in hostage rescue. They also assist in providing security to important government buildings and infrastructure in times of crisis, special operations in dangerous areas, and supporting crowd control operations. They fought during the Chechen Wars and the War in Dagestan.
Russia's first regional SOBR units were formed on 10 February 1992, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) within the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, on the model of the previously established Moscow unit. SOBR units were staffed by senior-ranking police officers and typically received better training than the members of OMON, the paramilitary police (special police) units of the MVD; their personnel were drawn from the OMON units. They carried out police tactical unit operations under the jurisdiction of the MVD, including the apprehension of dangerous criminals and high-profile raids. This was while also participating in anti-irregular forces, conventional warfare, counterterrorism, and high-risk law enforcement and tactical operation situations such as the Chechen Wars..
On 16 September 2002, SOBR was dissolved, and its units were reclassified as OMSN (Russian:отряды милиции специального назначения, Special Purpose Police Units), becoming subordinated to the regional criminal police offices, and since the establishment of the Investigative Committee of Russia, has co-operated with federal investigative authorities. Due to the similarity in function as OMSN, and the popularity of the SOBR name, OMSN was commonly referred to as "SOBR," and the terms were often used interchangeably despite SOBR being officially non-existent.
In 2007, in Russia, there were 87 OMSN units, counting over 5,000 officers stationed in major Russian cities. The most famous unit of the formation is OMSN "Rys" (lynx, Cyrillic ОМСН "Рысь"), established in 1992, which, since its inception has participated in almost all known special operations in Russia.
In 2011, OMSN units were renamed OSN (отряды специального назначения, Special Purpose Unit), but in 2012, the SOBR name returned into existence during reforms of the MVD, as all special forces units under the ministry's command were renamed from OMSN to SOBR.
SOBR "Terek" placed 1st in the 2015 Annual Warrior Competition held annually in Jordan. Other teams participating were a U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion and China's Assault Hawk Commando Unit of the People's Armed Police (PAP), which placed second overall. Overall, 37 teams from 18 different nations participated in the event.
On 5 April 2016, following the establishment of the National Guard of Russia, the Internal Troops of Russia were disestablished, and the command of their units, including SOBR, was transferred from the MVD to the National Guard. According to a statement by General Zolotov, troops from OMON and SOBR received the status of military personnel in 2018.p. 20
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The Special Rapid Response Unit (Russian: СОБР — Специальный Отряд Быстрого Реагирования, Spetsialnyy Otryad Bystrogo Reagirovaniya, lit. "Special Unit of Quick Response"), formerly known from 2002 to 2011 as OMSN (Otryad Militsii Spetsial'nogo Naznacheniya, "Special Police Unit"), is a spetsnaz formation within the National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardiya). SOBR units, along with OMON forces, function as elite paramilitary police organizations equipped with military-grade gear, specialized uniforms, and advanced tactical training. Designed for rapid deployment and high-risk operations, they serve a role analogous to police tactical units in other countries and are typically mobilized at the discretion of local police command structures. Similar SOBR-designated formations also operate in other Commonwealth of Independent States, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
SOBR was formed on 10 February 1992, and was subordinated to the "Directorate for combating the Organized Crime" under the Russian Interior Ministry (MVD). SOBR units were composed of senior-ranking police officers, better trained than the members of OMON (which is a cross between riot police and gendarmerie (paramilitary police)), and tasked with PTU operations under the jurisdiction of the MVD. The primary function of SOBR is to combat organized crime, with additional roles including anti-irregular military operations, counterterrorism, executive protection, high-risk law enforcement, and tactical operations in hostage rescue. They also assist in providing security to important government buildings and infrastructure in times of crisis, special operations in dangerous areas, and supporting crowd control operations. They fought during the Chechen Wars and the War in Dagestan.
Russia's first regional SOBR units were formed on 10 February 1992, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) within the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, on the model of the previously established Moscow unit. SOBR units were staffed by senior-ranking police officers and typically received better training than the members of OMON, the paramilitary police (special police) units of the MVD; their personnel were drawn from the OMON units. They carried out police tactical unit operations under the jurisdiction of the MVD, including the apprehension of dangerous criminals and high-profile raids. This was while also participating in anti-irregular forces, conventional warfare, counterterrorism, and high-risk law enforcement and tactical operation situations such as the Chechen Wars..
On 16 September 2002, SOBR was dissolved, and its units were reclassified as OMSN (Russian:отряды милиции специального назначения, Special Purpose Police Units), becoming subordinated to the regional criminal police offices, and since the establishment of the Investigative Committee of Russia, has co-operated with federal investigative authorities. Due to the similarity in function as OMSN, and the popularity of the SOBR name, OMSN was commonly referred to as "SOBR," and the terms were often used interchangeably despite SOBR being officially non-existent.
In 2007, in Russia, there were 87 OMSN units, counting over 5,000 officers stationed in major Russian cities. The most famous unit of the formation is OMSN "Rys" (lynx, Cyrillic ОМСН "Рысь"), established in 1992, which, since its inception has participated in almost all known special operations in Russia.
In 2011, OMSN units were renamed OSN (отряды специального назначения, Special Purpose Unit), but in 2012, the SOBR name returned into existence during reforms of the MVD, as all special forces units under the ministry's command were renamed from OMSN to SOBR.
SOBR "Terek" placed 1st in the 2015 Annual Warrior Competition held annually in Jordan. Other teams participating were a U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion and China's Assault Hawk Commando Unit of the People's Armed Police (PAP), which placed second overall. Overall, 37 teams from 18 different nations participated in the event.
On 5 April 2016, following the establishment of the National Guard of Russia, the Internal Troops of Russia were disestablished, and the command of their units, including SOBR, was transferred from the MVD to the National Guard. According to a statement by General Zolotov, troops from OMON and SOBR received the status of military personnel in 2018.p. 20
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