102nd Separate Operational Purpose Brigade
Executive Summary
The designations provided—102nd Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (military unit 6752), 375th and 376th Separate Operational Purpose Battalions (military units 6688 and 5389), 8th Separate Artillery Squadron (military unit 6815), and 16th Special Purpose Detachment "Skif" (military unit 6760)—correspond to nomenclature commonly used for formations and subunits of Russia’s National Guard Troops (Rosgvardiya), originating from the former Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). As of October 2024, authoritative public sources do not conclusively confirm the existence, exact locations, or command relationships of these specific unit-number pairings. The structure implied by the list (a brigade with operational battalions, an artillery subunit, and a special-purpose detachment) matches documented compositions of Rosgvardiya operational-purpose brigades. Where precise unit-level facts are not verifiable in open sources, this assessment describes the standard roles, infrastructure, and capabilities of such formations, and explicitly notes information gaps.
Organizational Attribution and Legal Framework
Russia’s National Guard Troops (Rosgvardiya) were established in 2016 via presidential decree and subsequent federal law (e.g., Federal Law No. 226-FZ of 3 July 2016). Operational-purpose brigades and battalions are successors to Internal Troops formations, tasked with internal security, critical-site protection, convoy and area security, counterterrorism support, and stabilization operations. Special-purpose detachments (spetsnaz-type units) conduct high-risk operations, including direct action, hostage-rescue support, and high-value target raids, often in coordination with the FSB, MVD, and Ministry of Defense (MoD) forces. The nomenclature “Separate” indicates organic support and administrative independence within a higher formation.
Assessment of Unit Designations and Numbering
Russian military unit identifiers (voinskaya chast, v/ch) are typically five-digit numbers in the MoD system; Internal Troops and later Rosgvardiya have used varied numbering schemes, including four-digit sequences in some periods. Open-source, authoritative rosters correlating the specific four-digit numbers 6752, 6688, 5389, 6815, and 6760 to named Rosgvardiya units are not publicly available as of October 2024. The titles—“Separate Operational Purpose Brigade/Battalion,” “Separate Artillery Squadron” (likely a translation of artillery divizion), and “Special Purpose Detachment” with a codename—are consistent with Rosgvardiya/Former VV MVD naming practices.
102nd Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (military unit 6752) — Role and Structure
No publicly verifiable source confirms the garrison or detailed order of battle for a 102nd Separate Operational Purpose Brigade associated with v/ch 6752 as of October 2024. In Rosgvardiya practice, a brigade of operational purpose typically includes: brigade HQ and staff; 2–4 separate operational-purpose battalions; a separate artillery divizion (howitzers and/or mortars); reconnaissance, engineer/sapper, communications, electronic warfare/counter-UAS elements; medical, logistics, maintenance, and training companies; and a military police or guard company. Such brigades provide scalable internal security forces and can support combat operations in rear areas during wartime.
375th Separate Operational Purpose Battalion (military unit 6688) — Functions
Open sources do not conclusively attribute v/ch 6688 to a confirmed location or parent formation as of October 2024. In general, a Rosgvardiya separate operational-purpose battalion performs area security, convoy escort, checkpoint and cordon duties, riot control, and counterterrorism support. Typical internal structure comprises several motorized companies (often on armored personnel carriers or protected trucks), a command and support company, and a heavy-weapons/mortar platoon. The battalion is designed for rapid deployment within its region of responsibility and can be attached to a brigade or operational group as required.
376th Separate Operational Purpose Battalion (military unit 5389) — Functions
As of October 2024, there is no open-source confirmation linking v/ch 5389 to a specific garrison or higher command. Functionally, separate operational-purpose battalions mirror each other in role: internal security, protection of critical infrastructure, and support to law enforcement and counterterrorism operations. They commonly train for urban operations, convoy defense, and quick reaction in support of other security agencies. Equipment generally includes small arms, machine guns, grenade launchers, light anti-armor systems, and organic mortars, together with armored or protected mobility.
8th Separate Artillery Subunit (military unit 6815) — Capabilities
The term “artillery squadron” is not standard in Russian ground-force terminology for artillery; the likely intended term is artillery divizion (battalion-sized artillery unit). There is no authoritative open-source correlation of v/ch 6815 to a named Rosgvardiya artillery unit as of October 2024. Documented Rosgvardiya brigades and regiments maintain organic indirect-fire support, historically including 122 mm D-30 towed howitzers, 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzers in some units, and 120 mm mortar batteries (e.g., 2B11). Such subunits provide suppressive and defensive fires in support of internal security operations and rear-area protection. They typically include a fire-direction center, survey and meteorological support, and ammunition supply elements.
16th Special Purpose Detachment "Skif" (military unit 6760) — Characterization
No open-source, authoritative listing as of October 2024 confirms v/ch 6760 or the formal existence and stationing of a 16th Special Purpose Detachment under the codename "Skif". Within Rosgvardiya, special-purpose detachments (OSN) are trained for high-risk tasks: reinforced urban assault, CQB, sniper operations, cordon-and-search in complex terrain, and counter-sabotage actions. Codenames (e.g., historical examples such as “Vityaz,” “Rus,” and others) are used across Russian special-purpose units. Equipment for such detachments typically includes enhanced personal protection, breaching tools, night-vision/thermal optics, marksman and sniper systems, and protected mobility.
Infrastructure and Site Features — Brigade-Level Garrison
An operational-purpose brigade garrison generally comprises: secure perimeter fencing and controlled access points; HQ/command buildings with communications nodes; barracks, dining and medical facilities; motor pools and maintenance workshops sized for armored personnel carriers and protected trucks; fuel and lubricants (POL) storage; ammunition storage in earth-bermed or blast-mitigated bunkers; training infrastructure such as small-arms ranges, obstacle courses, a CQB/urban training complex, and driver training circuits. Artillery subunits require gun parks with tow vehicles or SPH bays, ammunition transshipment points, and surveyed firing areas or access to a regional training range capable of accommodating indirect-fire safety templates.
Infrastructure and Site Features — Battalion and Detachment Areas
Operational-purpose battalion areas typically include company-level barracks and arms rooms, vehicle sheds, riot-control gear storage, and a battalion command post with secure communications. A special-purpose detachment area usually adds CQB houses, breaching ranges, sniper lanes, climbing/tactical towers, and equipment vaults for specialized weapons and optics. Secure evidence rooms and temporary holding areas may exist when units support law-enforcement operations. These site features are widely documented across Rosgvardiya facilities and are consistent with the training demands of operational and special-purpose units.
Personnel Strength and Training
Public sources describe Rosgvardiya operational brigades as multi-battalion formations typically fielding several thousand personnel when at full strength, though exact headcounts vary by unit and period. Operational battalions generally consist of several hundred personnel each. Training cycles emphasize riot-control tactics, convoy and checkpoint procedures, marksmanship, communications, first aid, and, for specialized elements, breaching and sniper courses. Artillery subunits train in gunnery, fire-direction procedures, and coordination with supported maneuver elements. Special-purpose detachments undergo advanced CQB, airborne/airmobile insertion, demolitions/breaching, and night-operations training.
Equipment Holdings Typically Seen in Comparable Units
Documented equipment across Rosgvardiya operational formations includes: armored personnel carriers (e.g., BTR-80/82A), protected trucks (e.g., Ural-VV, KamAZ-5350), MRAP-type vehicles (e.g., KamAZ-53949 Typhoon-K) in some units, and light armored utility vehicles (e.g., GAZ Tigr). Organic heavy weapons commonly include 12.7 mm machine guns (e.g., Kord), 30 mm automatic grenade launchers (AGS-17/30), RPG-7 and disposable anti-armor weapons, 82/120 mm mortars, and, in artillery subunits, 122 mm D-30 towed howitzers and, in some formations, 2S1 self-propelled howitzers. Special-purpose detachments utilize enhanced optics, night-vision/thermal imagers, designated marksman and sniper rifles, ballistic shields, and mechanical/ballistic breaching tools.
Operational Employment Patterns (2014–2024)
Open reporting since 2014 shows Rosgvardiya and predecessor Internal Troops assigned to: internal security and counterterrorism support in the North Caucasus; security and law-enforcement functions in Crimea after 2014; and, since February 2022, rear-area security, convoy protection, critical-site guarding, filtration and detention support, and stabilization tasks in areas of military operations in Ukraine alongside MoD, MVD, and FSB organs. Artillery organic to Rosgvardiya has been used for defensive fires and base-area protection in conflict zones. These patterns are documented at the institutional level; attribution to the specific units listed here is not established in open sources.
Command and Control Relationships
Rosgvardiya operational-purpose brigades report through regional commands aligned broadly with Russia’s federal districts. Brigades oversee their subordinate separate battalions, artillery divizions, and special-purpose detachments, with attachments as required for particular missions. In joint operations, coordination occurs with the MoD’s operational commands, MVD police elements, and the FSB’s regional directorates. Tactical communications and deconfliction are standardized through Rosgvardiya and interagency procedures that have been developed since the Internal Troops era.
Known Analogues and Reference Units
While the specific units listed are not independently corroborated in open sources, well-documented analogues illustrate structure and roles: the 1st Operational Division (ODON) named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky (Balashikha, Moscow Region) is a multi-regiment/brigade-level Rosgvardiya formation with extensive internal security capabilities; the 46th Separate Operational Brigade (Grozny, Chechen Republic) is a documented Rosgvardiya brigade with organic combat support, including artillery, used for security and counterterrorism tasks in the North Caucasus. These examples align with the functional descriptions provided for the units cited in this report.
Site Security and Access Control Measures
Rosgvardiya garrisons employ layered security: controlled entry points with ID checks, perimeter fencing (often double-fenced in sensitive areas), surveillance cameras, guard towers, and patrolling. Arms rooms and ammunition bunkers are protected with alarmed, restricted access. Vehicle parks and POL sites are segregated with spill containment and firefighting equipment. Training with riot-control gear and nonlethal munitions is stored and accounted for separately from live ammunition. These measures are consistent with documented Russian military and Rosgvardiya base-security practices.
Logistics and Ammunition Storage Considerations
Operational-purpose formations maintain on-site stocks of small arms ammunition, riot-control agents, and explosive ordnance for mortars and howitzers where applicable. Ammunition storage typically employs earth-bermed revetments and distance safety rules. Logistics elements handle wheeled-fleet maintenance and recovery, field kitchens, water supply, and medical evacuation. Artillery subunits coordinate with regional depots for resupply given the bulk and hazard of artillery munitions. Fuel storage is managed in above-ground tanks with spill prevention and fire-suppression systems.
Collection Priorities and Information Gaps
Key gaps include: confirmation that the specific unit-number pairings (6752, 6688, 5389, 6815, 6760) correspond to the named formations; garrison locations; higher-echelon command; current strength and equipment tables. Priority collection avenues in open sources include official Rosgvardiya procurement records and job postings, court and government registry documents, regional press coverage of unit ceremonies, imagery of gate signage displaying v/ch numbers, and satellite imagery identifying artillery parks, CQB facilities, and brigade-scale motor pools. Without such corroboration, assertions about the detailed disposition of the listed units cannot be made.
Confidence Statement
This assessment relies on widely documented structures and practices of Rosgvardiya operational-purpose formations and on the consistency of the provided designations with those practices. Specific facts (location, order of battle, equipment holdings) for the unit-number pairings cited are not verified in authoritative public sources as of October 2024. Conclusions about roles and infrastructure are therefore stated at the typological level rather than as unit-specific claims.