ODON is a Russian National Guard operational division responsible for rapid deployment, public-order support, and protection of important state facilities and events.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
ODON, formally the Separate Operational Purpose Division, is a large Russian internal-security and rapid-deployment formation currently subordinate to the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation. The designation is associated with the division's modern Russian abbreviation, while the formation is also widely identified with its historical name, the Dzerzhinsky Division. It is a military and security organization rather than a commercial consumer brand, and its activities include public-order support, protection of strategically important facilities, ceremonial duties, operational deployment, and the provision of specialized units. The formation traces its institutional history to the First Automobile Fighting Detachment of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, created in February 1918 to protect senior Soviet government officials and provide secure transport. After the Soviet government moved to Moscow, the detachment participated in Kremlin security alongside other designated guard formations. It was subsequently reorganized and transferred between the security organs of the early Soviet state. In 1921, the detachment became part of the VChK, and in April of that year the VChK formed an OSNAZ battalion from armored-car, rifle, cavalry, and support elements. The security service later became the OGPU, and the unit's organizational identity changed with it. On 17 June 1924, the OSNAZ battalion, an OGPU rifle battalion, and an OGPU rifle regiment were combined to create the Special-Purpose Division of the OGPU Troops. The formation was renamed after Felix Dzerzhinsky in 1926 and expanded during the remainder of the decade. It became a full army-style division in 1929, acquired an armored regiment in 1931, and passed into the NKVD system after the 1934 reorganization of Soviet security institutions. During the Soviet period, elements of the division served in the Winter War against Finland and in the defense of Moscow during the Second World War. Other elements remained responsible for guarding important sites, patrolling the capital, and countering infiltration and disorder. Division personnel also performed protective duties at the 1945 Yalta Conference. In preparation for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the formation developed a specialized group trained in special-forces methods; the core of that group later became associated with the Vityaz unit. The division became known as OMSDON, the Independent Special-Purpose Motorized Rifle Division of the Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was renamed the Independent Operational Purpose Division, or ODON, in 1994. The Dzerzhinsky designation was restored in 2014. In 2016, following the creation of the Russian National Guard, the formation was transferred from the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the National Guard Forces Command and received its current institutional title. ODON's reported structure includes operational-duty regiments, a special-purpose center, training and security battalions, communications and engineering units, medical support, radiation, chemical and biological protection, an honor guard, a military band, and other administrative and technical elements. The division has been described as having more than ten thousand personnel and substantial armored and artillery support, although detailed current strength figures are not established here. Its public-facing responsibilities include security at major national ceremonies and sporting events. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, units provided public-safety protection in Moscow and Kaliningrad. In March 2024, a Russian presidential decree awarded the division the Order of Suvorov, and the formation marked its centennial during 2024.
History
The institutional lineage of ODON begins in February 1918 with the First Automobile Fighting Detachment of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Its initial responsibilities were close protection for senior Soviet state officials and the provision of secure vehicles. After the government moved to Moscow, the detachment helped guard the Kremlin. It was renamed the First Armored Car Detachment named after Yakov Sverdlov in 1919 and transferred to the VChK in 1921. In April 1921, the VChK combined the armored-car detachment with rifle, cavalry, and support elements to create an OSNAZ battalion. The security service became the OGPU in 1922, and the unit's designation changed accordingly. On 17 June 1924, the OSNAZ battalion, an OGPU rifle battalion, and an OGPU rifle regiment were combined into the Special-Purpose Division of the OGPU Troops. The division was renamed after Felix Dzerzhinsky in August 1926. Expansion continued through the decade, and in 1929 it was reorganized as a full division. Its armored-car detachment became an armored regiment in 1931. When the OGPU was absorbed into the NKVD in 1934, the division entered the NKVD system. It fought in the Winter War against Finland. During the Second World War, some elements participated in the Battle of Moscow, while other elements guarded important installations, patrolled Moscow, and helped identify infiltrators and other security threats. The division also participated in the October 1941 Revolution Parade on Red Square. Its cavalry and later motorized infantry formations included notable sniper elements. After the war, division personnel performed protective duties at the Yalta Conference. The organization continued to evolve during the postwar Soviet period. Ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, an elite group within OMSDON was trained in special-forces tactics. This group became the nucleus of the Vityaz formation, which gave the division an enduring association with specialized intervention capabilities. By the end of the Soviet period, the formation's official designation was OMSDON, the Independent Special-Purpose Motorized Rifle Division of the Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1994, during the Russian Federation period, OMSDON was renamed the Independent Operational Purpose Division, commonly abbreviated ODON. The Dzerzhinsky name was restored to the official title in October 2014. The formation was subsequently incorporated into the National Guard Forces Command when Russia created its National Guard in 2016. Its contemporary role combines rapid deployment, public-order assistance, protection of important facilities and state events, specialist training, communications, engineering, medical support, and ceremonial duties. The reported structure includes the 604th Special Purpose Center, operational-duty regiments, an honor guard, training and security units, command and communications elements, engineering and repair units, medical support, radiation, chemical and biological protection, a military band, and other garrison organizations. In 2018, its units supported public safety during the FIFA World Cup in Moscow and Kaliningrad. In 2024, the division received the Order of Suvorov under a presidential decree and marked one hundred years since the creation of its 1924 organizational predecessor.
- 2024
Awarded the Order of Suvorov
[1]A presidential decree awarded the division the Order of Suvorov during its centennial year.
- 2016
Transferred to the National Guard
[1]The division became part of Russia's newly established National Guard Forces Command.
- 1994
Renamed ODON
[1]OMSDON became the Independent Operational Purpose Division in the Russian Federation.
- 1980
Special-purpose capability expanded for the Moscow Olympics
[1]An elite group was trained in special-forces tactics; its core later became associated with Vityaz.
- 1941
Participated in the defense of Moscow
[1]Elements fought German forces, while other units performed security and counter-infiltration duties in and around the capital.
- 1934
Entered the NKVD system
[1]The division passed into the NKVD structure following the transfer of OGPU functions.
- 1929
Reorganized as a full division
[1]The formation was reorganized on a larger army-divisional basis.
- 1926
Dzerzhinsky name adopted
[1]The division was renamed after Felix Dzerzhinsky.
- 1924
Special-Purpose Division of the OGPU Troops formed
[1]Several OGPU formations were combined on 17 June to create the direct organizational predecessor of the modern division.
- 1921
Transferred to the VChK
[1]The armored-car detachment became part of the Soviet security apparatus and was used in the creation of an OSNAZ battalion.
Products and positioning
A high-readiness Russian internal-security and National Guard formation combining operational deployment, public-order support, facility protection, specialist capabilities, and ceremonial functions.
Special-purpose military unit · 2008
604th Special Purpose Center
A specialized ODON center formed in 2008 through the combination of the Vityaz and Rus special-purpose formations. It provides the division with a dedicated specialist capability alongside its operational-duty regiments and support units.
Operational military units
Operational-duty regiments
ODON's operational-duty regiments form the main body of its deployable force. They support public order, facility protection, emergency deployment, and security operations assigned through the National Guard command structure.
Military support capability
Training and support infrastructure
The division includes training, communications, engineering, repair, medical, chemical and biological protection, command, and security elements. These units enable sustained deployment and maintain the formation's operational readiness.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018FIFA World Cup security
Moscow · Kaliningrad · Russia
ODON units simultaneously supported public safety and event protection in Moscow and Kaliningrad during the FIFA World Cup.
Outcome. The division completed a major multi-city event-security assignment.
- 1980Moscow Olympics security preparation
Moscow · Soviet Union
The division trained an elite group in special-forces methods in preparation for security demands associated with the Moscow Olympics.
Outcome. The group became the core of the later Vityaz unit.
- 1945Yalta Conference protection
Soviet Union
Elements of the division participated in the protection of Allied leaders during the Yalta Conference.
Outcome. The division performed a high-level protective-security assignment.
Brand decisions
2016
Transferred to the National GuardStrategyBackground
Russia created the National Guard Forces Command and reorganized the former Internal Troops framework.
Action taken
ODON was placed under the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation.
Aftermath
The division continued its rapid-deployment, security, public-order, and ceremonial roles within Rosgvardiya.
1994
Adopted the ODON designationStrategyBackground
The post-Soviet formation was reorganized within the Russian Federation's internal-troops system.
Action taken
OMSDON was renamed the Independent Operational Purpose Division.
Aftermath
ODON became the common short designation for the formation until the historical Dzerzhinsky title was restored in 2014.
Sources1 sources
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