Who are the Men Behind the Masks? A Look at the Omega Special Forces Tasked With Fighting Terrorism
Today, the Omega rapid-deployment unit (SOBR) from Samara is celebrating its anniversary. For 25 years, its soldiers have been fighting criminals and terrorists fulfilling the most dangerous tasks. They risk their lives anonymously.
Ruslan Bikbulatov has the details.
Masked faces and classified names. They make decisions in a flash and execute them in a matter of seconds. They fulfill the most complicated special ops and there's no mission they can't accomplish. They conduct different drills and are ready for the most unexpected scenarios be it a city street or deep in a forest a building or a busy highway.
Armed and dangerous criminals are trying to escape in this car. The objective is to take the culprits alive and gets even more difficult due to a hostage being in the car. The road is blocked by an armored vehicle and SOBR soldiers appear almost from nowhere.
"Some people ride snowboards or skydive. Our adrenaline comes from this".
They take part in all major arrests. A criminal group suspected of armed bank robbery was one of the latest. They are charged with murders and the theft of dozens of millions of rubles.
"We jumped out in a fraction of a second and knocked him out. He's down and unable to resist. We had to restrain him not to let him pull out a grenade or a gun."
Samara rapid-deployment unit was created 25 years ago in the early 90s.
Alexey Tarakanov blew himself up on a mine during one of the operations. Despite losing his foot he's still in SOBR but in Crimea. He trains recruits and plans to publish a new book — a textbook for special forces units.
Alexey Tarakanov, SOBR: "A detailed guide on how to perform certain tactical moves that builds a general tactical plan".
SOBR soldiers are the law enforcement elite. Each of them passed a harsh trial. Degrees, athletic titles, perfect health, and spotless personal record but most notably — personal qualities.
During these 25 years, eleven soldiers were decorated with Orders of Courage and more than 300 with medals.
Ruslan Bikbulatov, Daniil Yakimov, and Alexander Bazhenov Vesti, the Samara Region.