Moscow / Agency Caucasus – Russia will form a new military unit in North Caucasus, Russia’s Interior Ministry has recently announced.
One of the three special military units of the Russian Interior Ministry will be built in one of the North Caucasian republics, according to Gen. Nikolai Rogojkin, head commander of the Interior Ministry troops of Russia.
Rogojkin did not reveal which of the North Caucasian republics it would be built in. "There are plans to have a total of three special unitary centres in the army," Rogojkin said, "which will provide us with the opportunity to increase the military capacity of the Interior Ministry troops."
The future military units would share the same fundamentals as those upon which the special ‘Vityaz’ and ‘Rus’ troops were formerly built with the aim of fighting against the resistance in North Caucasus. Rus is a Special Forces unit (OSNAZ) of the Interior Troops (VV), of the Interior Ministry (MVD) of Russia. Vityaza is a Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) unit of the MVD as well, regularly conducting counter-terrorism patrols in Chechnya and along the Caucasus border.
Although the special Interior Ministry troops are usually described by members of the Russian opposition as a gang of death that knows no limits, the Interior Ministry tends to reward them with tokens of heroism. Approximately 75 members of Vityaz have been awarded the title ‘Hero of the Russian Federation’ for their bravery. Since its creation on August 1, 1994, 800 Rus servicemen have been decorated for courage, and six have been awarded the title ‘Hero of Russia’ (three posthumously).
SKVKZ/ÖZ/FT
