112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade
Unit Identification and Designations
The following National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardiya) formations are identified by the provided designations and military unit (v/ch) numbers: 112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (v/ch 6914), including its Headquarters element; 144th Special Motorized Regiment (v/ch 6915); 42nd Separate Motorized Operational Purpose Regiment (v/ch 6916); 751st Separate Special Motorized Battalion (v/ch 6919); and the 35th Special Purpose Detachment "Rus" (v/ch 6922). The nomenclature (operational purpose brigade/regiment, special motorized regiment/battalion, and special purpose detachment) and the v/ch format correspond to Rosgvardiya/legacy Internal Troops unit naming conventions.
Organizational Context and Chain of Command
Rosgvardiya was established by Presidential Decree No. 157 of 5 April 2016 and Federal Law No. 226-FZ of 3 July 2016, consolidating the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and certain special police units under a unified command. Separate Operational Purpose Brigades (OBON) are formation-level units within Rosgvardiya’s troop component. They typically report to a Rosgvardiya regional district command and integrate regiments, battalions, and special purpose detachments with organic support (signals, engineer, medical, logistics, and training elements). The 112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (v/ch 6914) designation indicates a brigade-level headquarters with subordinate maneuver and support units.
Nomenclature and Military Unit Numbers
Russian v/ch numbers are administrative identifiers assigned to specific military and National Guard units. Clusters of sequential numbers are frequently associated with units that are co-located or belong to the same formation. The sequence 6914, 6915, 6916, 6919, and 6922 aligns with a formation-centered numbering pattern, consistent with a brigade headquarters (112th OBON, v/ch 6914) and multiple subordinate elements. Precise physical addresses associated with these v/ch identifiers are not provided here; such details are not consistently public and may vary across sources.
Mission Profiles and Roles
Operational purpose formations of Rosgvardiya perform internal security, public order, convoy and cargo escort, protection of critical state facilities, counter-sabotage patrols, and reinforcement of law enforcement during heightened security events. In conflict theaters, Rosgvardiya units are employed for rear-area security, checkpoint operations, area control, detention support, and stabilization tasks after military advances. Special purpose detachments (OSN), such as the 35th "Rus," provide higher-end direct action capabilities, high-risk arrest support, assault teams, and specialized reconnaissance in support of counter-terrorism and complex security operations, typically coordinating with the Federal Security Service (FSB) and police.
Typical Structure of an Operational Purpose Brigade
An Operational Purpose Brigade customarily comprises a brigade headquarters and staff; two or more maneuver regiments or battalions (motorized/operational purpose); a special purpose detachment for assault and specialized tasks; and integral combat support and combat service support units (reconnaissance, sniper, engineer/sapper, signals, electronic support, medical, maintenance, supply, and training companies). The unit designations listed—two regimental-level formations (144th Special Motorized Regiment; 42nd Separate Motorized Operational Purpose Regiment), a separate special motorized battalion (751st), and a special purpose detachment (35th "Rus")—fit within this established brigade framework.
Capabilities and Equipment Baseline
Rosgvardiya operational units are equipped for light mechanized and motorized operations. Typical holdings include 7.62 mm and 5.45 mm small arms (e.g., AK-74M/AK-12 series, PKM/PKP machine guns, SVD/SVDM designated marksman rifles), 40 mm automatic grenade launchers (AGS-17/30), RPG-7 series anti-armor weapons, and 82 mm mortars at battalion level. Mobility assets commonly include armored personnel carriers (BTR-80/82A), 4x4 protected vehicles (GAZ Tigr-M and comparable types), and general-purpose trucks (Ural and KamAZ families). Units employ secure tactical radios (e.g., R-168 family), night vision/thermal optics, and may use small unmanned aircraft systems for local reconnaissance. Specific tables of equipment vary by subunit and are not uniformly public.
Garrison Infrastructure and Site Characteristics
Brigade and regimental garrisons typically comprise a headquarters compound with command-and-control facilities; barracks and support accommodation; motor parks and maintenance depots; weapons storage and armories; engineer and signals workshops; medical and training facilities; and small arms ranges. Operational purpose formations commonly maintain on-site training infrastructure for urban operations and close-quarters battle, driver training circuits, and parade/assembly areas. Perimeter security features usually include controlled entry points with vehicle checkpoints, fencing, lighting, and guard posts, consistent with Rosgvardiya site security practices. Specific facility layouts and locations for the units listed are not disclosed here.
Personnel, Manning, and Training
Rosgvardiya units employ a mix of contract servicemembers and, in some subunits, conscripts serving limited-duration terms under Russian law. Training pipelines include basic military instruction, specialized courses for crowd control and internal security, mechanized/motorized tactics, marksmanship, and unit-specific skills (e.g., breaching, assault, and reconnaissance for special purpose detachments). Brigade-level exercises typically integrate maneuver, communications, engineering, medical evacuation, and logistics rehearsals. Readiness frameworks support rapid deployment within the unit’s regional area of responsibility and, when directed, to national-level contingencies.
Command, Control, and Legal Authorities
Under Federal Law No. 226-FZ and related statutes, Rosgvardiya has authority to protect public order, secure critical facilities, and use force and service weapons within set legal constraints. Operational deployments are directed through Rosgvardiya’s command structure, with coordination alongside the Ministry of Internal Affairs (police), the Federal Security Service, and other agencies as mandated. In wartime or special operations contexts, Rosgvardiya units may be assigned tasks supporting military operations while remaining outside the Ministry of Defense’s organizational structure. The 112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade’s headquarters (v/ch 6914) would perform brigade-level planning, communications, logistics, and personnel management for its subordinate elements.
Operational Activity and Public Record
Open-source reporting since 2014 documents Rosgvardiya unit involvement in internal security missions across the Russian Federation and, since 2022, in rear-area security roles related to the conflict in Ukraine. However, direct, verifiable attribution of specific operations to the 112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (v/ch 6914), the 144th Special Motorized Regiment (v/ch 6915), the 42nd Separate Motorized Operational Purpose Regiment (v/ch 6916), the 751st Separate Special Motorized Battalion (v/ch 6919), or the 35th Special Purpose Detachment "Rus" (v/ch 6922) is not provided here due to the absence of authoritative public documentation tying these particular v/ch identifiers to named operations in the public domain.
Unit-Specific Notes
112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (v/ch 6914): Formation-level headquarters and support hub for subordinate operational and special units; responsible for planning, sustainment, and readiness. 144th Special Motorized Regiment (v/ch 6915): A motorized regiment organized for convoy/cargo escort, public order, and facility protection missions with light mechanized capability. 42nd Separate Motorized Operational Purpose Regiment (v/ch 6916): An operational purpose regiment configured for internal security and light infantry tasks with organic support elements. 751st Separate Special Motorized Battalion (v/ch 6919): A battalion-level unit providing flexible motorized security and reinforcement capacity, typically task-organized for patrol, checkpoint, and escort duties. 35th Special Purpose Detachment "Rus" (v/ch 6922): A special purpose detachment (OSN) providing assault teams and specialized tactical support; the "Rus" moniker is historically associated with MVD/Rosgvardiya special units; current command relationships, exact strength, and equipment are not publicly disclosed.
Identification Markings and Observable Indicators
Rosgvardiya vehicles are commonly marked with the service name and a red diagonal or horizontal stripe; tactical markings may be applied in field conditions and can vary by deployment. Personnel typically wear Rosgvardiya insignia and unit patches; however, specific unit insignia for the 112th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade and its subordinate elements are not standardized across public sources. Military unit numbers—v/ch 6914, 6915, 6916, 6919, and 6922—serve as reliable administrative identifiers in official documentation, procurement records, and some public reporting.
Information Gaps and Verification Notes
Details that are not publicly available or cannot be confirmed here include exact garrison addresses, internal manning levels, unit commanders, specific equipment by subunit, and deployment timelines for the listed units. Verification for such information typically relies on official Rosgvardiya releases, government procurement/tender records, court documents, regional press reports, satellite imagery, and international sanctions lists identifying specific v/ch numbers. In the absence of such authoritative sources for these precise identifiers, only general characteristics and roles consistent with Rosgvardiya operational purpose formations are provided.