16th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade

The 16th Separate Guards Spetsnaz Brigade (Russian: 16-я отдельная гвардейская бригада специального назначения) is a spetsnaz military formation of the Russian Federation subordinate to the Spetsnaz GRU. It is garrisoned in Tambov, Tambov Oblast. Its military unit number is 54607.

On January 26, 2019, the unit was given the title of "Guards" by presidential decree.

History
The unit was formed on January 1, 1963, in Chuchkovo, Ryazan Oblast.

During the Soviet-Afghan War at least one special purpose detachment was active from March 1985 to August 1988.

They participated in the First Chechen War from late 1994 onwards and in the Second Chechen War from 1999 to 2006.

In 2003 the unit changed garrison from Chuchkovo to Tambov.

The unit participated in a peacekeeping mission in Abkhazia shortly after the Russo-Georgian War. They were deployed there from December 2008 to October 2009.

Structure
Structure of the unit as of 2019:


 * 273rd Special Purpose Detachment
 * 370th Special Purpose Detachment
 * 379th Special Purpose Detachment
 * 664th Special Purpose Detachment
 * 669th Special Purpose Detachment