Draft:Special Operations Group (Estonia)
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| Special Operations Group | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1994-1999 |
| Disbanded | 1999 |
| Country | Estonia |
| Allegiance | Estonian Defence League Headquarters Intelligence Department Guard Battalion Commander of the Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Johannes Kert |
| Type | Special Operations Forces |
| Role | Special Operations Forces Special Operations Close Protection |
| Size | 10-30 (exact unknown) + Reserve |
| Nickname(s) | SOG |
| Commanders | |
| Former Commander | Captain Andrei Ambros |
The Special Operations Group (SOG) was a special unit of the Estonian Defence Forces, initially operating within the Intelligence Department of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence League,[1] later as part of the Guard Battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces and under the direct authority of the Commander of the Defence Forces, Johannes Kert,[1] from 1994 to 1999.
History
[edit]Formation
[edit]In 1993, Andrei Ambros joined the Estonian Defence League.[1] He came to the Estonian Defence League with the idea of SOG and in 1994 he already started to select members.[1] The core was formed by four members of the Estonian Defence League's Harju regional unit, who had already been involved in training the units' intelligence group for a few years. Ambros also brought modern Hokutoryu ju-jutsu to Estonia. He had met its creator Auvo Niiniketo in Finland and went to study it with him in Finland. He then taught it in Estonia, according to unconfirmed information, to members of SOG. At first, he recruited members for the Estonian Defence League from the Estonian Defence League and later sought them out himself from among the security guards.
Ambros was the first to start receiving a salary from the Estonian Defence Forces, later Ragnar Reitsakas and others.[2] The members were on the lists of various military units and received a salary from them, but by order they were directed to work at the Estonian Defence League's Headquarters.
Disbanding
[edit]SOG was disbanded after one of its members, Sergeant Indrek Holm, participated in an attempted armed robbery in Jõelähtme rural municipality in 1999, using a SOG service weapon.[1] Because of the incident, General Johannes Kert, the head of the defense forces at the time, submitted a resignation request to President Lennart Meri, but Meri did not accept it.[1] According to Riho Ühtegi, the later Commander of the Special Operations Command, the development of the Estonian Defence Forces' special operations capabilities was halted for several years as a result of the incident.[1]
Former members believed that one of the reasons for the decline was the lack of strict control over the members of the special unit. They also blamed the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces for the decline of the unit, which allegedly did not take SOG seriously enough.[2]
Personnel
[edit]SOG consisted of up 10-30 members, in addition to the reserve.[1]
The special unit included its leader, Junior Lieutenant Andrei Ambros, Ragnar Reitsakas, Indrek Holm and others. Andrei Ambros was the only member of the unit who showed himself to the public. Initially, members were recruited to the unit from the Estonian Defence League, but since there was not enough choice there, Ambros himself began to look for men from outside the Estonian Defence League. Some came from his training group from Mustamäe, some of whom were security guards.[citation needed]
Johannes Kert and Sergei Bõstrov were also involved with SOG.[3][1]
Activity
[edit]According to former members of SOG, there was no strict military discipline in the special unit, but rather a friendly attitude. If Ambros said something, the matter was discussed among themselves and it was known that in the end the matter was done. Ambros had been trained by the famous Jim Short. In addition to the money he received from the defense forces, he received additional money by providing security services. Ambros got a job through the IBA(International Bodyguarding Accociation)[2] and protected famous people, such as Michael Jackson and Alla Pugacheva at their concerts, from which he received decent service.[4]
In 1995, SOG participated in an international bodyguard competition in Germany, which they won.[4]
The names and ages of most of the members of the special unit were classified, and the activities of the special unit were also classified.
Equipment
[edit]SOG's armament and equipment were first-class compared to the regular units of the Estonian Defence Forces at the time. In addition to weapons of Soviet and Russian origin, the SOG's arsenal included, for example, Galil assault rifles, pump-action rifles, Mini-Uzi and MP5 submachine guns.[4][1] The sniper weapons used were Sig Sauer sniper rifles. The unit also had one BTR-70 armored personnel carrier.[1]
Refrences
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ühtegi, Riho (April 2017). "Inglid või kangelased? Erioperatsioonide väejuhatuse lugu". Kaitse Kodu! (in Estonian). p. 23. Retrieved 28 May 2025 – via Issuu.
- ^ a b c Oolo, Antti (19 May 1999). "Eriüksusel lasti tegutseda omapäi". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Eesti välisluure käsutab salajast eriüksust" [Estonian Foreign Intelligence commands secret special forces unit]. Delfi. 13 December 1999.
- ^ a b c Saksatamm, Markus (2021). SOG: eesti eriüksuse lugu [SOG: The story of the Estonian special forces unit] (in Estonian). Tallinn: Rahva Raamat. ISBN 978-9916-14-017-8. OCLC 1301998812.