Russia

Russia, or the Russian Federation (Российская Федерация), is a large, independent Eurasian state incoporating forty percent of the land in Europe and most of northern Asia. Following the dissolution of the USSR (Soviet Union) in 1991, Russia elected its first president and embarked on a vast number of reforms including privatization, market & trade liberalization aimed to make the former Socialist state a more progressive nation. Although an attempt was made to retain control over the former Soviet Army and transform it into a unified armed force of the new Commonwealth of Independent States, this idea was ultimately rejected by the former republics resulting in the division of assets and the formulation of a new Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Вооружённые Силы Российской Федерации)

Unlike many of the former Soviet states, the new Russian Armed Forces (Вооружённые Силы Россий, or VSR in romanized letters) retained some symbology of the Soviet Army and continued wearing Soviet uniforms for a number of years. With regards to combat uniforms, changes had already been implemented prior to the breakup of the USSR to make a durable and practical camouflage uniform standard issue to all military personnel. Although older Soviet era camouflage patterns and uniforms continued to be issued and worn by some Russian military personnel for years to come, by 1990 a plan was already in place to issue a completely new camouflage pattern for conventional forces. This design, the 1990 3-TsV or simply VSR pattern did not enter widespread service until 1994, but it did become the first camouflage design to be universally issued to Russian military personnel. The pattern was also adopted by a number of ex-Soviet republics, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan. Within a few years, another general purpose camouflage design would be issued, the flora pattern (introduced in 1998), which also populated the armed forces of several former Soviet republics.

Beyond the issue of "general purpose" camouflage, Russia has in fact been one of the most innovative nations in terms of camouflage design, producing a wide variety of unique patterns since 1991, many of which are associated with special units of the VSR or the Ministry of the Interior (MVD). Some of these camouflage designs saw only limited production and distribution, whilst others continue to be worn in one form or another into the present era. This is particularly true of spetsnaz (special operations) units of the Army and Interior Ministry, as well as the multitude of special police and anti-terrorism units.

Russia has also copied or reproduced a number of camouflage designs created in or used by other nations, including the USA, Great Britain, Germany, and Finland.

Russian Armed Forces (VSR) Camouflage Patterns

• Although developed in the late 1980s, the camouflage designs most commonly known simply as VSR (for Russian Armed Forces) or dubok (little oak) patterns did not enter service until 1991, and then only initially by specialized units such as the Airborne Forces (VDV). By 1994, the pattern was distributed universally to most ground units of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as many units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). The VSR 3-TsV is a three-color pattern consisting of vertically aligned irregular shapes in two darker colors over a lighter colored field. As with the Soviet TTsKO three-color "woodland" patterns, the number of color variations of the VSR 3-TsV is quite high. Initial production runs released a green and a brown dominant version, but over time quite a number of variants have been documented. Summer and winter weight uniforms, aviation uniforms, and several accessories have been produced in these patterns. The VSR pattern has declined in usage with the Russian Armed Forces since the introduction of Flora pattern in 1998. Illustrated below are several examples we have collected, including a suitably descriptive title assigned to each.

VSR forest (green & reddish-brown)

VSR light forest (grass green & reddish brown)

VSR desert/mountain (brown dominant)

VSR green & brown

VSR olive green

VSR grey

• Introduced circa 1998, the Flora series of patterns (Arbuz or watermelon in Russian) are in fact a modification of the earlier 3-TsV pattern, in which the drawings have been enlarged and horizontally aligned. As with the earlier VSR pattern, a number of color combinations have been produced, and the uniform has now become the standard general issue camouflage pattern for both conventional units of the Russian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). Illustrated below are several examples we have collected.

Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) Camouflage Patterns

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД or Министерство внутренних дел) comprises agencies for public security, criminal investigations, immigration services, internal security and special operations. Although by no means are all MVD personnel trained for combat duties, a fair percentage of its personnel operate either as police or as a paramilitary force similar in most respects to the regular armed forces. Within the Main Office for Special Technical Actions are a number of special operations units as well. It is these units in particular that have embraced the concept of camouflage not only as a pragmatic method of concealment, but in many cases as a means of standing out to the public and to potential enemies of the state. Indeed, the largest number of camouflage designs that have emerged from Russia are attributed to the elite units of the MVD.

• The old Soviet KLMK (kamuflirovannyi letnyi maskirovochnyi kombinezon) uniform was given a new life in 1992 as a series of camouflage patterns reputedly designed for the Brigades of Special Designation (BONVV) of the MVD. Four different camouflage patterns have been documented: a two-color desert pattern, three-color mountain pattern, four-color tropical pattern, and a four-color European pattern. Printed on the same lightweight fabric as the original uniforms, these spetsnaz KLMK uniforms were issued with a removable hood, face mask, and beret. These uniforms were only issued for a short period of time. The four camouflage patterns are illustrated below.

Spetsnaz KLMK desert pattern

Spetsnaz KLMK mountain pattern

Spetsnaz KLMK European pattern

Spetsnaz KLMK tropical pattern

• A series of special-purpose summer and winter wet weather uniforms called spetsial'nyi maskirovochnyi komplekt (SMK) were also produced for MVD units and printed with a dense, four-color mottled pattern. In addition to the summer & winter weight uniforms, hats, helmet covers and special assasult vests were also issued in the camouflage design. In service through much of the 1990s, the uniforms were worn by MVD spetsnaz (Vitiaz), OMON, & GUKVV counter-terrorist units.

• Introduced in 1992 for use primarily by MVD Special Purpose Brigades (BONVV) and Spetsnaz (Vitiaz) units, the Komplekt kamuflirovannogo obmundirovannogo (KKO) was printed with a series of three camouflage designs loosely based on the US M1948 ERDL or woodland camouflage patterns. Two styles of uniform were produced (Type I and Type II), the former in both a woodland and an urban colorway, and the latter in both of these plus a version using the same coloration as the USA m81 woodland colorway. Accessories for these uniforms included hats, beret, and assault vests.

• A Russian version of tiger stripe pattern was introduced circa 1993 in both a green and a blue (urban) colorway. Referred to in some period literature as the Piatnisto-fioletovoe obmundirovanie (spotted violet uniform) or PFO, the two designs are more commonly referred to as Tigr (tiger) and Ten (shadow). The patterns were initially only worn by MVD OSN (Vitiaz) and OMON, but use has spread to a variety of special units of the MVD. Indeed, the tiger patterns have continued to be worn by Russian forces into the present period, making them one of the longest-lived MVD camouflage designs. Some variations in coloration have been documented, depending on the fabric and manufacturer.