Rus' (Russian Русь) was a special forces unit (spetsnaz) of the Interior Troops (VV), of the interior ministry (MVD) of the Russian Federation. It was a unit in the Independent Operative Purpose Division (ODON).
Rus was created on August 1, 1994.[1] It traces its roots from the OMSBON, the Independent Motorized Infantry Battalion of Special Purpose, which was created in 1964 from the 4th Battalion of the OMSDON. The dedicated role of the unit is counter-terrorism and direct action in times of crisis. Officers and members of the unit regularly travel abroad to meet their foreign counterparts (especially in Israel, Austria and Germany) in order to share and gather their common experience and training techniques.
Rus actively participated, along with other MVD units, in the military and paramilitary operations in Chechnya. Since 1999, the unit is involved in active counter-terrorist operations there, along with other FSB, MVD and GRU special forces units. According to official data, the unit claims the destruction of hundreds of hidden weapons caches and hideouts. The liquidation of a certain number of terror cells, or rebel groups, is also claimed to be a collective work of FSB, GRU and MVD units operating alongside Rus.
Rus is one of the most decorated Spetsnaz (special forces) units in Russia. Since its creation, eight hundred Rus servicemen have been decorated for courage, six have been awarded the title Hero of Russia (three posthumously). A monument commemorating the fallen members of the unit was unveiled on February 25, 1997 at the home camp of the unit (location unknown).
In 2005, the unit was said to be still operating in Caucasus.
On September 1, 2008, Rus and Vityaz were deactivated and then merged into a single unit, the 604th Red Banner Special Purpose Center of the MVD of Russia, on the direct command of ODON