Introduction

Spetsnaz (Russian: Спецназ) is a 2002 Russian TV miniseries directed by Andrei Malyukov.

Outline

The series is set mostly in Russia and follows the adventures of four members of the Spetsnaz GRU (judging by uniforms worn by the characters). The locations also switch frequently and have also included Chechnya, Afghanistan, Dagestan, and Kosovo.

Through the course of the series, the characters have done everything from rescuing shot-down pilots in Chechnya to rescuing the passengers and crew of a hijacked Aeroflot plane grounded in Afghanistan.

Cast

• Aleksandr Baluyev as Major ‘Klim’ Platov, the hardened veteran unit commander.
• Aleksei Kravchenko as Captain ‘Doc’ Vyazemsky.
• Vladislav Galkin as Senior Lieutenant ‘Yakut’ Urmanov.
• Igor Lifanov as Senior Warrant Officer ‘Khrust’ Khrustalyov.
• Vladimir Turchinsky as Lt. Col. Ozornykh.
• Aleksandr Nosik as Senior Warrant Officer ‘Zmey’ Kobrin.
• Andrei Zibrov as Warrant Officer Aleksey ‘Shakh’ Shakhmametyev.

Trivia

• In October 2014 the State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema have banned some Russian films, particularly Spetsnaz, for demonstration and distribution.
• According to the head of agency Pylyp Illenko that decision was caused by events in Ukraine which has made it “improper to show Russian films with obvious propaganda, for example, exaltation of Russian law enforcement and Russia itself, on Ukrainian TV channels now.”

Spetsnaz Series

• Series 01 (2002).
• Series 02 (2003).

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Andrey Malyukov.
• Producer(s): Konstantin Ernst, Anatoliy Maksimov, and Nikolay Suslov.
• Writer(s): Nkiolay Suslov.
• Music: Alexej Grigoriew and Igor Matvienko.
• Cinematography: Vladimir Sporyshkov.
• Production: Svarog Films Company.
• Release Date: 25 March 2002 to November 2003.
• Running Time: 45-50 minutes.
• Country: Russia.
• Language: Russian.