Vympel to the FSB

“The most secret unit of the country” 40 years ago, a unique special forces were created in the USSR.

Forty years ago, on August 19, 1981, the Vympel special forces group appeared under the KGB of the USSR , which became one of the most secret special forces in the country. Even the officers who served in it did not know the exact name of the group, which was called special intelligence. One of the veterans of Vympel, reserve colonel of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia Valery Kiselev told Lente.ru about how the legendary special forces soldiers were trained, in what famous operations they had to participate and what tasks the group performs today .

“The Soviet Union needed such special forces”

How did the Vympel special forces appear in the KGB of the USSR?

Valery Kiselev: Once again, the need to create special forces that could solve specific tasks abroad arose in September 1973, when, as a result of a military coup in Chile, the socialist government of Salvador Allende, friendly to the Soviet Union, was overthrown . Among the thousands of people captured by the junta was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Chile, Luis Corvalan.

After that, demonstrations took place in all countries of the socialist bloc demanding the release of Corvalan, and he himself was given the Lenin Peace Prize. At the same time, the Soviet command understood that Louis could well suffer the fate of thousands of other communists and socialists who were destroyed during the days of the coup.

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Therefore, the USSR considered various options for the release of Corvalan. He himself was held in Tres Pinos prison [“Three pines” – approx. “Tapes.ru” ] on the island of Dawson in the Strait of Magellan. This prison itself was very similar to the famous French Fort Boyard.

And so the 1st Main Directorate of the KGB received an order to prepare an appropriate group of agents [for the release of Corvalan]. People were selected carefully, every little thing was taken into account, especially after the failure of a group of Cuban comrades who flew to the aid of Salvador Allende and were going to take him out of the country by plane.

This group was identified by the security service of General Pinochet among other passengers at the airport: they were betrayed by the knuckles of fists. At that time, those who practiced karate and martial arts had a fashion to do push-ups on their fists, and then beat boards and bricks. So all the Cubans, whose knuckles were stuffed, were immediately taken aside literally upon arrival.

In addition to such nuances, it was necessary to select a group capable of operating both in the ocean and on the coast, with good Spanish and operational skills. The unit needed a doctor, a signalman, a mine-blasting specialist and a sniper. Of course, we had candidates – but their additional preparation would take a couple of months.

True, the special operation was not needed in the end: Luis Corvalan was exchanged for the dissident Bukovsky. But it became clear: the Soviet Union needed such special forces, which would always be on alert and be able to carry out covert operations anywhere in the world.

“The main task was illegal intelligence”

How did you end up at Vympel?

I graduated from the Higher Border Military-Political School of the KGB of the USSR, and then, in 1977, I went to serve on Sakhalin – I was then 22 years old. In 1979, I was transferred to the territorial Directorate of the KGB of the USSR for the Sakhalin Region . I was instructed, among other things, to train operational-combat detachments in all regions of the island: such detachments were formed in case of war, so that there would be someone to protect people if police and KGB cadres were called.

The detachments included those who were not subject to conscription either for health reasons or because of their special value for service, but on the whole were able to fight

I worked with these units for five years. At the same time, I was appointed deputy commander of the Nabat detachment: he was supposed to act in the event of an aircraft hijacking. In the event of an emergency, the legendary Alpha special forces would have traveled to Sakhalin for a long time, and therefore it was Nabat that was assigned the task of freeing the hostages on the island.

The commander of the detachment was Vladimir Tsvetkov , a special reserve officer. In 1979, he went to Afghanistan and became one of those who stormed Amin’s palace in Kabul . Then Tsvetkov received 27 wounds, for several months he was between life and death, and in general he was treated for about a year.

Vladimir Tsvetkov – in the center, in the foreground. In the background is Amin’s palace.
Vladimir Tsvetkov – in the center, in the foreground. In the background is Amin’s palace.

When the Vympel group was created on August 19, 1981 (the legendary name is the Educational Training Center of the KGB of the USSR, Separate Training Center), Vladimir Tsvetkov was invited to the post of head of the department. But by that time he realized that he had fought, and recommended me, his deputy. In 1982, I met with the commander of the Vympel, Hero of the Soviet Union Evald Kozlov.

So I ended up in a group that was just beginning to be created: I was appointed a senior officer. Then there were no more than a hundred people in Vympel. Among them were those who went through Afghanistan and gained valuable combat experience there.

Why was the group called that way – “Vympel”?

I did not know this name until 1990. Only a few people knew about him: the head of the KGB and, possibly, a couple of his deputies, the head of the First Main Directorate (PGU of the KGB of the USSR) and the head of illegal intelligence. Because it was illegal intelligence that was our main operational leader. At the same time, for all colleagues, we were just a kind of Separate KGB Training Center.

Almost no one knew what we were doing and what we were really called, but we were paid one and a half times more than our colleagues, and we had a year and a half of service. And if there were business trips, our salaries even doubled.

“Personnel found out who you are and what to expect from you”
What are the requirements for spetsnaz candidates?

First of all, this is higher education – and not only military, but also civilian. The latter is necessary to form a “legend”, under which you will then work abroad. It is also necessary to be fluent in a foreign language, and it is better not just one. For example, I had English. Later I passed the language minimum in Spanish.

But among my colleagues there were people who knew five foreign languages, as well as native speakers who came to our unit after specific foreign work – they can be called illegal intelligence officers. Those who spoke particularly rare languages, say Swahili or Lao, were considered the elite of Vympel.

Training of special forces soldiers “Vympel”

As for physical training, a candidate for Vympel is at least a master or a candidate for master of sports. I had the titles of a master in kettlebell lifting and skiing, a candidate master of sports in pistol and revolver shooting, as well as a brown belt in karate. Operational work at the same time also had to be at the highest level.

And to all this, psychological selection was added – now this did not depend on the candidate: it was carried out by personnel officers. They studied you from all sides and found out who you are and what to expect from you. It mattered how and with whom you make friends, what you eat and drink, what you love. As a result, 300 people were found for Vympel from all over the Soviet Union in a few years.

The selection of candidates for the special forces “Vympel”

How was the training of fighters in Vympel itself?

I cannot disclose this data, it is classified information. Let me just say that the training of one fighter took about five years. This is, let’s say: “before preparation.” After her, Vympel officers were ready for any operations anywhere in the world.

“Three to five people are enough for the operation”
Can you tell us about your first operation?

Unfortunately, even today this is not possible. Each Vympel operation is top-secret: when employees are instructed to prepare for it, an extremely narrow circle of people knows about it. Of course, the fighters are forbidden to say where and what they are going to do. Before the start of each operation, they are informed of the concept of the operation and the operational situation in the country of operation.


The fighters leave for the Center (PSU KGB of the USSR) forest, where they receive instructions. At home they say that they left for training, at work they say that family matters are being decided. And then, when they return from the operation, they have no right to tell anyone anything. Even if a fighter is given a reward for a completed task, he will receive it only a year or two later in a closed office – these are the rules of conspiracy.

How many fighters do you need to successfully complete one task?

For this, 3-5 people are enough. I myself participated in some operations. Considered a good professional. And the commander knew that I was a generalist

Are there Vympel operations that you can talk about?

I think there is one. In 1986, I was summoned by the commander of the OUC, Rear Admiral V.A. Khmelev is a former Soviet resident in Japan. He set a task for me and two other people: we were to escort a plane with relatives of the top leadership of the Afghan People’s Democratic Party to Afghanistan .

Their wives, daughters and grandmothers were with us in Sochi at that moment: they were taken to the south to rest on the sea

After the realities of life in those years in Afghanistan, it was, of course, unforgettable for them. However, operational information was received that they were preparing to seize the plane with them and forcibly hijack it to Pakistan.

We were given the task of preventing capture, identifying intruders and detaining them. We coped with this task: the plane landed in Kabul, and the alleged terrorist was detained. Having completed the mission, we returned home.

“Infiltrate secret bases before the war”
The name “Vympel” in the media and literature often coexists with the name of another legendary special forces – “Alpha”. What is the difference between these divisions?

We are not special forces in the usual sense of the word, like Alpha. We are special intelligence. “Vympel” is not engaged in the fact that it runs faster than anyone and shoots better. His fighters are operatives who, before the start of the war, must penetrate the territory of the enemy and his secret bases.

Due to the knowledge of languages, understanding of the rules of conspiracy and operational skills, the group, performing the task, prepares and attacks any enemy base – whether it be aviation or even underwater.

At the same time, only five or six fighters should be able to completely destroy this object.

When creating the Vympel, the experience of the Great Patriotic War was taken into account. As you know, in its first days, thousands of Soviet aircraft, equipment, soldiers and industrial facilities were destroyed as a result of German air raids. And Vympel was created just so that enemy planes would not fly and bombs would not fall from them. This is a preemptive strike group.

How was the fate of Vympel during the collapse of the USSR?

Each fighter of the group was selected so that he followed orders and was ready to lie on a grenade without checks, if necessary. The Vympel fighter does not argue and does not ask unnecessary questions: he simply follows the order of the leader. But our chief commander, Mikhail Gorbachev , simply deceived us.

He spoke well and set goals – perestroika, changes. We ourselves wanted changes, we wanted to improve life, but not to destroy our system, country and service. The KGB reported and informed the Central Committee of the CPSU at meetings about what would happen in Central Asia, the Baltic states and the North Caucasus. Specific solutions have also been proposed. But Gorbachev did not even answer all these notes.

Then someone at the top came up with the bright idea to send Vympel fighters to Tbilisi to suppress the riots. They were supposed to be given batons and shields and were told: they say, work – hold back the crowd and guard the building of the Supreme Council. We should be sent there for something else: to infiltrate separatist groups and decompose them, destroy them from the inside. This is how Vympel should act. And we were entrusted with the work of OMON – and then many fighters began to grumble. Or rather, not to understand the ideas of the leader.

“Vympel was the most secret unit of the country”
Tell us about the role of Vympel in the events of August 1991?

We were ordered to storm the White House. To this, our commander Beskov replied: prepare a written order – we will do it. We prepared a report, according to which the operation to completely sweep the White House was supposed to take about half an hour. We pointed out that during its implementation, casualties on both sides are inevitable. No one else insisted on the operation. In Vympel, at that moment, they decided that no one would shoot at their own citizens.

Was there a similar situation in 1993?

No, then Yeltsin directly insisted on the destruction of the Supreme Soviet. Now we can say with confidence that all this was illegal. He said: “Let’s destroy this red-brown bastard.” In Vympel they answered: give a written order, we will develop an operation. 40 minutes – and we will solve the problem.

But the order never came.

After all, Yeltsin understood our moods: it was not in vain that two helicopters were expected for him in case something happened – I don’t know where he planned to fly on them. As a result, 12 officers of Alpha and Vympel came out with their hands up to the White House. They talked with Rutskoi and Khasbulatov, and they made the right decision: they did not fight and saved people’s lives.

They say that Yeltsin never forgave Vympel for that behavior – is that so?

In fact, we were destroyed back in 1991, and in 1994 they finally finished off what was [the Vympel group was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs – ed.]. “Tapes.ru” ]. After all, the name does not matter: “Vympel” can even be called a police detachment, and then talk about the continuity of generations. Then, in the 1990s, the tasks for which we were trained and for which we existed disappeared.

Today, the new special forces are part of the Special Purpose Center (TsSN) of the FSB of Russia and are engaged in counter-terrorism operations and, above all, mainly counterintelligence and counter-terrorism operations at enterprises of special importance. But today’s Vympel no longer has anything in common with the detachment that existed during the Soviet era.

Are there analogues of the Soviet Vympel in Russia today?

At one time, Vympel was the most secret division of the country. Even inside the KGB, practically no one heard anything about the group. We were based in the Moscow region and could leave at any moment anywhere in the world. I’m sure there are similar divisions in Russia today. And they also perform similar important tasks in different parts of the world. But we won’t know anything about them until the time comes.

How do you assess the current situation in Afghanistan?

I do not want to give an assessment of it, but I will say this: before the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, we laid weapons for our friends who remained there. And then for several years they successfully fought and defeated their opponents. But after the US left, everything somehow suddenly fell. Why is hard to say. But I will note that there are still pro-Russian groups in Afghanistan that feel quite normal thanks to the caches that were made by the Soviet military.