[GreyDynamics] Zaslon “Barrier or Screen” is Russia’s most secretive special-purpose unit within the Russian external security service, Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki (SVR). It roughly resembles the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) also known as MI6.If the SVR is Russia’s CIA or MI6 then Zaslon is comparable to the CIA’s Global Response Staff (GRS), the CIA’s high-security detail, or the even more secretive E-Squadron. The US Army’s Task Force Orange AKA intelligence support activity (ISA) conducted similar functions, supporting CIA intelligence officers in hostile environments. Incorrectly, some sources claim that Zaslon is the equivalent of the CIA Special Activities Center. Of course, culture and political systems impact doctrine of these organistations so it remains difficult to compare.
According to a Swedish Defence source, Zaslon was established on 23 March 1997 but became operational in 1998 with around 300 members. Most open sources rely on a Komsomolskaia Gazeta report on the 4th of March 1998. Several sources state that Zaslon is attached to the 7th Department of the Center for Self-Security (CSB) of the SVR.
1.1. Responsibilities
“Zaslon” was mainly conceived to protect Diplomats and foreign operations conducted by the SVR.
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Zaslon: 2022-12-24 Russian Perspective: Operation to Denazify Ukraine: Operational Brief December 23rd (updated)
Zaslon: 2022-12-23 Chronology of the war in Ukraine: Thursday, December 22 (updated)
Zaslon: 2022-08-25 Perspective from the Breakaway Republics: Invasion of Ukraine: August 24th, 2022
Zaslon: 2022-12-24 Russian Perspective: Operation to Denazify Ukraine: Operational Brief December 23rd (updated)
Zaslon: 2022-12-23 Chronology of the war in Ukraine: Thursday, December 22 (updated)
Zaslon: 2022-08-25 Perspective from the Breakaway Republics: Invasion of Ukraine: August 24th, 2022