Russian Special Forces

Founded in 1949, the Spetsnaz, or 'Special Purpose Military Units' is a recurring, neutral military and government organization mainly controlled by the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). They make up one of the many factions investigating the Abandoned Lab.

Overview
The Spetsnaz are elite units of the Russian armed forces, mostly controlled by military-intelligence GRU. Spetsnaz forces are highly trained in combat, being able to disarm an opponent at close range and subject to extreme mental and physical conditioning. Due to their elite status, Spetsnaz forces in 2042 are given access to far more powerful and effective equipment and tactical training, making them formidable opponents.

Multiple Spetsnaz 'class' variations exist within the canon of Hard Rain, and were deployed to investigate the Abandoned Lab, located in Siberia. Due to this being their primary directive, they are neutral and will not attack unless provoked or threatened, as proven by the presence of non-spetsnaz affiliated characters being left to their own devices or outright ignored by the Russians.

Spetsnaz GRU
Composing the backbone of the Spetsnaz forces, highly trained and well-equipped, the infantry of the Spetsnaz GRU are some of the most dangerous soldiers that Russia has to offer. These soldiers are well informed on small-unit tactics and are highly experienced. The Spetsnaz GRU are the most numerous Russian special forces unit, and have been stationed both inside and outside of the laboratory, and will frequently patrol the corridors and surrounding areas for objects of interest or unauthorized trespassers. Multiple variants are present in the Spetsnaz GRU, with a wide variant of 'classes' available for deployment.

Assault - Class
Armed with assault rifles and submachine guns, Assault - Class Spetsnaz are the most common of the Spetsnaz GRU variants, and are usually found in squads lead by a Heavy - Class or a Support - Class. The assault classes wear a olive green camouflage uniform with kneepads and light body armor of notably less protection when compared to their more heavily armed counterparts. Assault - Class Spetsnaz will either wear a camouflaged 6B47 Ratnik helmet or a more protective, modified K6-3 Altyn helmet, under which they wear a black balaclava and an olive green headset, along with black-tinted combat goggles.

Assault - Class Spetsnaz will often carry the AK-12 or AK-19 assault rifles, though can also be armed with the N.U.E.C. Manufactured NC-75. Submachine guns are also available, either carrying the Protonics Armour Systems KKJ-26 Baison or the AK-74U instead of a rifle. Assault - Class are typically encountered in numbers, and do not pose as much of a threat as other heavily armored or specialized variants of the Spetsnaz. Some Assault - Class may wear the Russian PMG gas mask and an air canister strapped to their back, which supply oxygen when working in hazardous or contaminated environments. Although they are the most common and 'weakest' out of the variants, they still pose a significant threat with their elite training and numerical superiority.