February 27 — Day of the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year, on February 27, Russian Special Operations Forces Day is celebrated – a professional holiday for military specialists who perform tasks of particular complexity where extreme training, stealth, accuracy and readiness to act in high-risk conditions are required. In 2026, the date falls on Friday. Read about its history, traditions, and examples of congratulations in the Izvestia article.

Russian Special Operations Forces Day — 2026: the history of the profession

The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (SDF of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) is one of the youngest, but at the same time strategically important formations of the modern Russian army. Its creation was a response to the changing nature of the armed conflicts of the 21st century, where mobility, accuracy, controllability and minimization of collateral damage play a key role.

The professional holiday was established in 2015 by Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The date was not chosen by chance — on the night of February 27, 2014, Russian MTR units conducted an operation in Crimea, during which they blocked units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in their locations and took control of strategically important objects of the peninsula.

This episode was the first publicly known example of the large-scale application of the MTR in real conditions and demonstrated their willingness to act quickly and effectively.

The formation of the unit began much earlier — back in 2009 as part of a large-scale reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces), shortly after Putin's speech at the 43rd Munich Security Conference on February 10, 2007, where the need to abandon the unipolar model of the world and move to a multipolar architecture of international security was outlined.

On the basis of military unit No. 92154 in the Moscow region, the Directorate of Special Operations was established, subordinated directly to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This step meant the emergence of a fundamentally new model of the use of military force — through compact professional contingents that solve specific combat tasks without involving large-scale groups.

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In March 2013, the creation of the Russian Special Operations Forces was officially announced. By this time, the structure had passed the stage of organizational formation and actually took shape as an independent element of the military command system.

The MTR units also provided security for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014, and took part in anti-terrorist operations in Syria and other regions.

Today, the SDF is a specially trained mobile army group equipped with modern technology and equipment. The structure includes reconnaissance, sabotage and anti-terrorist ground, air and naval units.

Unlike the existing small-scale special forces, such as Alfa or Vimpel, which belong to other law enforcement agencies, the Special Operations Forces are a full-fledged army formation within the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The personnel is made up exclusively of military personnel under contract. The selection is multi—stage, and the training is continuous. The fighters undergo comprehensive training, from the possession of modern weapons systems to actions in non-standard and rapidly changing conditions. The units are in a state of constant combat readiness.

The main purpose of the MTR is to perform tasks that require special training, non—standard thinking and application in conditions where the use of conventional military formations is impossible or impractical.

Traditions of celebrating the Day of Special Operations Forces

February 27th in Special Operations Forces units takes place without excessive publicity — the specifics of the service do not imply an external scale. Solemn formations are organized in military units, where the results of service are summed up, orders are read out, commendations are announced, state awards and departmental insignia are awarded to military personnel who have shown courage, professionalism and efficiency in carrying out tasks.

Commemorative events, ceremonies of laying flowers and wreaths at memorials and graves of fallen servicemen are also held on this day.

Demonstrations are being held in a number of regions, military personnel demonstrate elements of hand-to-hand training, tactical actions of small groups, and work with modern weapons and equipment. Such events contribute to the popularization of military service among young people.

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Who and how to congratulate on February 27th — best wishes

On February 27, the Day of the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation, congratulations are received by active military personnel, veterans, participants in military operations, as well as officers and support specialists, instructors. Izvestia has prepared several examples of how this can be done.:

Gifts with meaning for the Day of the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation:

• a watch or bracelet with a personal engraving, such as a wedding date.;
• a high-quality travel bag or backpack, a practical gift with a personal accent;
• a professional video greeting from the family for those who are often away from home;
• a letter in an envelope with the signature "Open when it's difficult" from children with a couple of phrases of encouragement written by hand;
• personal tactical diary, high-quality, with strict design and personal engraving;
• certificate for professional massage, vacation in the countryside with health care.

Best wishes for the holiday:

"Congratulations on Special Operations Forces Day. You work in a place where composure and precision are especially important. May the decisions always be verified, the tasks doable, and the return be the invariable outcome of any mission!"

"Happy professional holiday! Thank you for your discipline, forbearance, and the ability to make decisions when others are in doubt. May fate be kind to you, and the main reward will be the peace of your loved ones. Happy Special Operations Forces Day!"

"Congratulations on the Day of the Russian Special Operations Forces! Your service is a responsibility that cannot be seen from the outside. We wish that your inner balance remains your main support, and that the risk is carefully calculated. May the respect for your work be constant, and may your life be long and peaceful!"

"Happy SSR Day! You know how to act accurately and be responsible for the result. Let professionalism always outstrip circumstances, the team remains reliable, and the house is the place where they always wait!"

"Congratulations on the Day of the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation! May your health be strong, your path smooth, there will be more simple, peaceful days in your life without anxiety, and there will always be people you can trust without reservations."

Earlier, cosmonauts from the ISS congratulated the Russians on Defender of the Fatherland Day.