24th Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade

The 24th Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade (24-й отдельной бригады специального назначения) is a special forces (spetsnaz) brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

It had its origins in a separate company of special designation of the Main Intelligence Directorate (the GRU). On October 1, 1961, in accordance with the directive of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces No. OSH/2/347491 dated August 26, 1961, the 806th independent Company of Special Designation (or in Western terms Special Forces) (Military Unit 64656) numbering 117 people was formed in the Transbaikal Military District with direct subordination to the district headquarters.

The 24th Spetsnaz Brigade was established on 1 November 1977 at Nara-Byrka (Yasnaya), Chita Oblast, in the Transbaikal Military District at a former R-16 (SS-7) Strategic Rocket Forces support site, by expanding the previous company. Initially, only a command team and the 1st Battalion were deployed. In 1980, the 2nd battalion was deployed.

In 1988, the brigade was transferred to Kykhta, Buryatia, in 2002, to Sosnovyy-Bor, Buryatskaya and in 2012 to Novosibirsk.

Structure

 * Brigade HQ
 * Signals Company
 * Special Weapons Company
 * Logistics Unit
 * 281st Special Purpose Detachment
 * 297th Special Purpose Detachment
 * 641th Special Purpose Detachment

Afghanistan
In 1984, the 281st separate special forces unit was formed on the basis of the 24th obrSpN and sent to fight in the Soviet–Afghan War.

Chechnya
The 281st separate special forces unit fought in the First Chechen War in 1994-1996.

North Caucasus
The brigade formed a combined unit that conducted reconnaissance and combat operations in the North Caucasus from 5 September to 26 December 2000. After a six-month deployment to the North Caucasus, the detachment (1st b-n) returned to the place of permanent deployment in December 2006. As of October 2012, the combined battalion was deployed to Ingushetia.

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
This brigade participated in the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On 31 May, President Vladimir Putin granted Guard status to the GRU/GU's 24th Spetsnaz Brigade. The brigade reportedly played a key role in the fighting in Lyman.