Spetsnaz GRU

Spetsnaz GRU
The Spetsnaz GRU logo
Active	1949–2012, 2013–present
Country	Soviet Union (1949–1991)  Russian Federation (1991–present)
Branch	GRU KSSO
Type	Special forces
Size	Classified[1]
Part of	Soviet Armed Forces (1949–1991) Russian Armed Forces (1991–present)
GRU Headquarters	76 Khoroshyovskoe shosse, Khodinka, Moscow
Patron	Saint Alexander Nevsky
Motto(s)	"Only the stars are above us" («Выше нас только звёзды»)[2]
Mascot(s)	Bat
Engagements	Cold War Vietnam War Operation Danube Soviet–Afghan War Civil War in Tajikistan East Prigorodny conflict War in Abkhazia First Chechen War Invasion of Dagestan Second Chechen War Insurgency in the North Caucasus Russo-Georgian War Russian military intervention in Ukraine Russian military intervention in Syria Russian invasion of Ukraine

Spetsnaz GRU, formally known as Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, (Russian: Части и подразделения специального назначения Главного управления Генерального штаба Вооружённых сил Российской Федерации) is the special forces (spetsnaz) of the GRU, the foreign military intelligence agency of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.