OSN Saturn (ОСН Сатурн УФСИН России по г. Москве; Otdel Spetsialnogo Naznacheniya Saturn) is the Moscow department of the

Federal Penitentiary Service The Federal Penitentiary Service (, FSIN) is a federal agency of the Ministry of Justice of Russia responsible for correctional services. The FSIN is the federal authority for the detention of suspected and convicted persons, the security an ...

(FSIN) special purpose unit (police tactical unit).

History

Saturn was formed in April 1992 as a part of the Moscow Department of Punishment Execution (UIN) under the Ministry of the Interior. In 2006, the UIN system (including all regional departments and special purpose units) was renamed the Federal Penitentiary Service, and was moved from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior to the

Russian Ministry of Justice The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation () is a Ministry (government department), ministry of the Government of Russia responsible for the Legal system of Russia, legal system and Prisons in Russia, penal system. The Ministry of Justi ...

. The Saturn unit is also often called "Jail

Spetsnaz SpetsnazThe term is borrowed from rus, спецназ, p=spʲɪtsˈnas; abbreviation for or 'Special Purpose Military Units'; or () are special forces in many post-Soviet states. Historically, this term referred to the Soviet Union's Spet ...

Function

Current duties: * Anti-prison riot actions in detention facilities * Control and protect criminals while carrying out legal procedures * Counterterrorism actions in detention facilities * Hostage rescue in detention facilities * Personal security for Ministry of Justice and court officials * Preventing crimes in Moscow detention facilities * Providing security detention facilities at risk of attack * Psychological operations to reduce violence in detention * Search and arrest of escaped criminals * Securing special operations * Support military operations

Operations

The Saturn unit participated in the

First Chechen War The First Chechen War, also referred to as the First Russo-Chechen War, was a struggle for independence waged by the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria against the invading Russia, Russian Federation from 1994 to 1996. After a mutually agreed on treaty ...

, including the storming of

Grozny Grozny (, ; ) is the capital city of Chechnya, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the 2021 Russian census, 2021 census, it had a population of 328,533 — up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Russian Census, 2002 ce ...

in December 1994 to January 1995, and in the

Second Chechen War Names The Second Chechen War is also known as the Second Chechen Campaign () or the Second Russian Invasion of Chechnya from the Chechens, Chechen insurgents' point of view.Федеральный закон № 5-ФЗ от 12 января 19 ...

. In summer 2000, Saturn officers protected PACE delegates during their visit to the Chechen Republic. Saturn participated in the

hostage rescue A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized—such as a relative, employer, law enforcement, or government—to act, o ...

operation in Kapotnya investigative isolation ward No. 9 in September 2006. It provided protection and convoy support during both

Mikhail Khodorkovsky Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky (, ; born 26 June 1963), sometimes known by his initials MBK, is an exiled Russian businessman, Russian oligarchs, oligarch, and Russian opposition, opposition activist, now residing in London. In 2003, Khodork ...

cases. Saturns provide

illegals program The Illegals Program (so named by the United States Department of Justice) was a network of Russian sleeper agents under unofficial cover. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) culminated in the arrest of ten agents on ...

agent protection in Moscow.

Training

* Airborne training * Anti-prison riot * Cold-weather warfare * Counterterrorism * Crowd control * CQB/CQC * Defusing and disposal of bombs * Desert warfare * Executive protection * Fast-roping * Marksmanship * Mountain warfare * Hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting * Hostage rescue * NBCR on operations in contaminated environments * Psychological warfare * Rappelling * Reconnaissance * Riot control * Small unit tactics * Tactical emergency medical * Tracking * Weapons handling * Urban warfare

Equipment

Vehicles

* KAMAZ 43269 Vistrel * Ford E-series armored prisoners van * Armored Volkswagen T5 Transporter TDI * KAMAZ-43114 * Toyota Land Cruiser 100 * Nissan Patrol GR (Y60) * VAZ-2131 Niva * GAZ-2217 Barguzin passenger van

Small arms

External links

* {{Official website, http://osnsaturn.ru
Rappelling training photos

Armored vehicle and weapons photos

Saturn cars and armored vehicles photos

Saturn KAMAZ-43269 Vistrel walkaround
Special forces of Russia Government of Russia Penal system in Russia