§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest information about the Russian special forces Spetsnaz.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Soviet Union's special purpose forces — SPETSNAZ — are subordinate to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Soviet General Staff. They are organised into brigades, each of which can field a number of relatively small teams trained to conduct special or covert reconnaissance and sabotage operations. In wartime they would operate far behind the enemy lines, most units providing reconnaissance and target marking, others mounting sabotage attacks on selected important installations and depots, airfields, air defence and command, control and communications facilities. SPETSNAZ forces make a significant contribution to Soviet combat capabilities.