What is "spetsnaz"

Spetsnaz , abbreviation for Войска специального назначения, tr. Voyska spetsialnogo naznacheniya ( or Special Purpose Military Units), is an umbrella term for special forces in Russian and is used in numerous post-Soviet states.

Historically, the term referred to special military units controlled by the military intelligence service GRU ( Spetsnaz GRU). It also describes special purpose units, or task forces of other ministries (such as the Ministry of Emergency Situations' special rescue unit) in post-Soviet countries.

As Spetsnaz is a Russian term, it is typically associated with the special forces units of Russia; but other post-Soviet states often refer to their special forces by the term as well since they inherited their special purpose units from the now-defunct Soviet security agencies. The 5th Spetsnaz Brigade of Belarus or the Alpha Group of the Security Service of Ukraine are both such examples of non-Russian Spetsnaz forces.

Spetsnaz (named for the Russian word for "Special Forces") is an EBM duo, formed in Örebro, Sweden by Stefan Nilsson and Pontus Stålberg in 2001.

Inspired by pioneering artists such as Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Die Krupps and DAF, Spetsnaz was formed as a reaction against Futurepop and to revive what Nilsson and Stålberg saw as "old school" EBM music.

In November 2006, the duo cancelled their then upcoming tour with And One. Side-Line and other members of the alternative music press reported that they had split, citing differences between the two members. However, only a day later, their record company Out of Line posted a news story denying the split. They have since "reunited" for a gig with DAF.Partei, and released "Deadpan" in November 2007.

In 2008, Pontus Stålberg formed the side project Turnbull A.C's with Lars Karlsson and released the album Let's Get Pissed!, which sounds very similar to Spetsnaz but with a more raw feel. The band name was taken from one of the street gangs in the 1979 film The Warriors.

Spetsnaz is a 2002 Russian TV miniseries directed by Andrei Malyukov.

Spetsnaz is an umbrella term for special forces in Russian.

Spetsnaz may also refer to:

• Spetsnaz (band), Swedish band
• Spetsnaz (miniseries), 2002 Russian TV miniseries