24th Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade

The 24th Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces originated from a GRU special forces company established on October 1, 1961, in the Transbaikal Military District with 117 personnel. It was expanded into a brigade by November 1, 1977, initially stationed at Nara-Byrka, Chita Oblast, later moving to Kykhta (2002) and Novosibirsk (2012). The brigade comprises several specialized units, including the 281st, 297th, 641th detachments, and the "Vega" detachment.

Historically, the brigade played a role in key conflicts. In 1984, its 281st unit was deployed to Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. It also participated in the First Chechen War (1994-1996) and conducted operations in the North Caucasus from September 2000 to December 2006. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade was granted Guard status by Vladimir Putin and reportedly played a significant role in battles around Lyman and the Pokrovsk offensive.