Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991 (Elite, 197)

"Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991" is a superb introduction into the proliferation and use of specialized security units in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. In this Osprey Elite Series book, author Mark Galeotti makes sense of the many heavily-armed and specially-trained paramilitary organizations created to police dissidents and demonstrations, defeat terrorists and criminal groups, and conduct counterinsurgency inside and outside the borders of Russia. The old Soviet Union had a variety of specialized security units designed to help the regime maintain internal control. The fall of the Soviet Union created new instabilities and threats to order. The institutional response has been to create and equip units capable of armed response to threats. The MVD or police, the Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service, and other government agencies each have their own specialized units. These specialized units resemble SWAT teams, heavily-armed police, special forces, commandos, or even conventional military units. The book has an excellent selection of photographs, illustrations, and color plates to specify the uniforms, equipment, and identifying insignia of security and paramilitary units. The author cites a number of case studies, including the Chechen campaigns, the 2004 Beslan Massacre, and the Dubrovka Theater hostage crisis, as examples of unit operating methods. "Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991" is especially impressive given the constant changes in the naming conventions and subordination of some units; highly recommended.

This is one of the best Osprey books I've seen. My thanks to Osprey and to the author Mark Galeotti for putting out a book on this subject. Everything about Russian history is fascinating, especially their military, police, and security organs. As for the photos and color plates, they are some of the best I've seen. The color plates alone are worth the price of the book. My highest recommendations.

I think author Mark Galeotti has done a fine job of giving the reader a lucid overview of the often confusing security situation in post-communist Russia. This is an Osprey book and has all the usual excellent photos and color plates. Good color artwork by Johnny Shumate too. The author begins with a short review of secret police since the communist revolution and subsequent state security (or, oppression, actually) apparatus as well as the confusing situation when the evil empire collapsed. The new government and the challenges it faced required a new look at internal police and security requirements. It didn't always rationally make good decisions. There were units retained from the Soviet era, new units created (but not fully funded), expanded roles for other services. Like in the US, where SWAT teams have proliferated among federal agencies (even the Forest Service has a SWAT team), many of these units are created to have an "elite" unit and get more funding. Some of these units were thrown into combat in Chechnya as a result of the implosion of the Red Army and subsequent Russian conventional army. Interior ministry troops, state police, spetsnaz (from different agencies...yeah, confusing, isn't it?) and had to struggle with poor training, scsnty resources and an effective opponent. The Beslan massacre and the Dubrovka Theater are covered briefly and give a good idea of the effectiveness of these units. One will note the often conflicting and confusing jurisdictions and overlapping responsibilities. The book ends with a brief, but decent, inventory of weapons used by these units. On the whole, a good intro to the subject and I do recommend it with four stars.

the subject of russian security is too big for a little book like this cover in depth. but this is a pretty good overview . . . . . with lots of pictures

It is a fascinating book if you find Russian security forces and interesting topic. Just enough detail to wet your whistle.

This book covers all the layers of the Russian security forces.History and weapons are the best covered items in this book. After reading the information covered in this book about the Russian and Chechen conflict I understand the forces deployed. This book covers the units of the security forces during this conflict

It's a fun read, especially for anyone interested in international law enforcement. It's a little light on info but it's got great photo's & illustrations.

This is an outstanding book. I have several hundred Osprey products, but this takes the cake. Great pictures and first hand knowledge create a clear picture of a complicated and convoluted security/police organ. I recommend this book to anyone for any area of interest.

Within the limits of the standard Osprey format, Galeotti has produced a valuable, concise, and clear overview of the plethora of competing Russian police and paramilitary units that keep Putin in power, which fought in Chechnya, and which have been reported as participating in Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Going beyond a dry recitation of facts, this book gives an insight into the motivations and attitudes of these units as they evolved through the post-Soviet corrupt chaos to the corrupt "stable" autocracy of Putin's regime. Written several years before many of these forces were incorporated into the Rosgvardiya (Russian National Guard) this book is still a valuable introductory text, as reporting of Russian casualties in Ukraine indicates that the component units seem to have retained their original names and roles. Highly recommended

While even the Soviet Union possibly employed more non-army paramilitary units than would be common in the West, these practically exploded in the years after the collapse. As such the book is a very timely and useful guide to provide the more casual observer a structured overview of the current situation in Russia. Over the last 25 or so years various agencies, from the police, border guards, to forestry and fishery protection units all spawned various special units with varying degrees of combat / military potential. While some of the more notorious will be possibly known to non-Russian observers, there are many that the majority will not have heard of, in spite of their prominence and use in the last decades. As the Russian military was historically more geared towards mechanized operations against NATO, there has also existed a higher need for light infantry forces more proficient in counter insurgency operations - as became apparent in Afghanistan - which has been often fulfilled by the paramilitary forces described in this book in the last decades. The book covers the agencies / paramilitary organizations, providing for each a brief history, role, structure / deployment, equipment / armament and for some a brief summary of some missions they have been involved in. The concluding sections cover the general proliferation of arms in post Soviet Russia, the elements of organized crime, as well as the most frequently used weapons (many being shared amongst the services). As is usual in the 'Elite' series, you will also get lots of photographs, and colour drawings, allowing a better recognition as well as providing some useful help for modellers. The book - in keeping with the standard format of the series - is short but definitely packed full of information and a very handy guide for all but professional military / intelligence personnel, who are likely to have access to much more comprehensive material on the subject. It works really well in conjunction with USMC Publication on the SPETSNAZ, FMFRP 3-201, 1991 , which covers the Russian military special forces (albeit in a more Soviet time frame) and will allow the reader a much fuller appreciation of the current Russian environment.

veramente un buon libro, ottime immagini e disegni, eccellente per chi è appassionate di equip e unità russe, consigliato a tutti

Since the collapse of the WP there has been massive changes to the Paramilitary Policing structure of the former USSR now Russian Federation, this small book written by an authority on the subject sheds much needed light on the Russian Paramilitary set up, including links, affiliations and divisions and tactics, it is also generously furnished with photographs and the Osprey publishing's, as always, superb drawings of Personnel and their uniforms and equipment, highly recommended if you are interested in the subject of modern Russian Military

Una lettura utile ed obbligata per comprendere le dinamiche e l'organizzazione di un mondo complesso ed oscuro come quello degli apparati di sicurezza Russi, unica pecca è che lo spazio del formato è tiranno e la lettura si chiude con molte curiosità e domande inevase