40th separate special forces detachment

The 40th separate special forces detachment is a special-purpose formation within the structure of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya). It is the successor designation of the unit historically known as the 17th Separate Special Purpose Detachment «Avangard» (17 ОСН ВНГ «Авангард»), which was formerly called «Edelweiss». The unit's permanent deployment point is the city of Mineralnye Vody in Stavropol Krai, and it is composed of four special-purpose groups (GSN) with differing operational specializations. The detachment was formed in October 1998 on the basis of special-purpose companies (RSN) drawn from operational regiments of the 54th Operational Purpose Division of the Internal Troops: the special-purpose company of the operational purpose regiment in Nalchik, the special-purpose company of the 59th Operational Purpose Regiment in Zelenokumsk, the special-purpose company of the operational purpose regiment in Neftekumsk, and the special-purpose company of the operational purpose regiment in Blagodarny. Unofficially the 17th OSN was also called the «Ermolovsky detachment» or simply «Minvody», after its place of deployment. Since 2016 the detachment has been named the 17th OSN VNG «Avangard». Its missions include participation alongside the internal affairs agencies of the Russian Federation in protecting public order, ensuring public security and states of emergency; participation in disarming and eliminating illegal armed formations and organized criminal groups, suppressing mass riots accompanied by armed violence, and confiscating illegally stored weapons from the population; participation in the fight against terrorism and in maintaining the legal regime of a counter-terrorism operation; participation in the territorial defense of the Russian Federation; guarding important state facilities and special cargo; neutralizing persons who have taken hostages, important state facilities, special cargo, communications structures, and buildings of state authorities; ensuring the security of officials and individual citizens in accordance with Russian legislation; and assisting the border agencies of the Federal Security Service in guarding the State Border of the Russian Federation. From 2006 the 17th OSN was regarded as the best special-purpose detachment of the Internal Troops of the MVD in Russia and the CIS, winning championships of the Siberian Regional Command in 2006, the Central Regional Command in 2008, and the Ural Regional Command in 2010, and winning competitions of special-purpose and reconnaissance platoons of the Internal Troops in 2014. One of the detachment's main tasks is the fight against terrorism. Its combat path has included reconnaissance and search operations, targeted checks, and the liquidation of illegal armed formations.

The detachment was formed in October 1998 on the basis of special-purpose companies (RSN) of operational regiments of the 54th Operational Purpose Division of the Internal Troops. These constituent companies were the special-purpose company of the operational purpose regiment (PON) in Nalchik, the special-purpose company of the 59th PON in Zelenokumsk, the special-purpose company of the PON in Neftekumsk, and the special-purpose company of the PON in Blagodarny. The unit's permanent deployment point is the city of Mineralnye Vody, and it consists of four special-purpose groups (GSN) with different task specializations. Unofficially, the 17th OSN was also called the «Ermolovsky detachment» or simply «Minvody», after its place of deployment. From 2006 the 17th OSN was considered the best special-purpose detachment of the Internal Troops of the MVD in Russia and the CIS. It won the championship of the Siberian Regional Command of the Internal Troops in 2006, the championship of the Central Regional Command in 2008, and the championship of the Ural Regional Command in 2010. In 2014 it was the winner of competitions of special-purpose and reconnaissance platoons of the Internal Troops. One of the detachment's main tasks is the fight against terrorism. Since 2016 the detachment has been named the 17th OSN VNG «Avangard». The unit is a formation of special purpose in the structure of the Internal Troops of the MVD of the Russian Federation and Rosgvardiya. Its combat path has included reconnaissance and search measures, targeted checks, and the liquidation of illegal armed formations (NVF).

• 2016

  Renamed the 17th OSN VNG «Avangard».

• 2014

  Winner of competitions of special-purpose and reconnaissance platoons of the Internal Troops.

• 2010

  Won the championship of the Ural Regional Command of the Internal Troops.

• 2008

  Won the championship of the Central Regional Command of the Internal Troops.

• 2006

  Won the championship of the Siberian Regional Command of the Internal Troops.

• 1998

  Formed in October on the basis of special-purpose companies of the 54th Operational Purpose Division of the Internal Troops.

Special-purpose military formation within the Russian National Guard, focused on counter-terrorism and internal security operations.

1. 1Росгвардия. ЧР95.rosguard.gov.ru
2. 240th separate special forces detachmentwikidata.org
3. 3Отряд специального назначения «Авангард»ru.wikipedia.org