GRU

The GRU (pronounced as "Groo") "Гла́вное Разве́дывательное Управле́ние" or "Main Intelligence Directorate", was established in 1918 by Vladimir Lenin. The GRU was assigned the role of handling military intelligence and was intended to be an agency for the Soviet military. They were granted full independence from other organizations within the Soviet Union, and at the time of its conception, Lenin specifically told the other groups to not get involved with the activities of the GRU.

As a result, a fierce rivalry developed between the GRU and KGB (State Security Committee). Little was known about the very existence of the GRU during the time of the Soviet Union, though after the collapse of the Soviet bloc, its presence became well known throughout Russia. At the present day, the GRU continues to be a critical part of Russian Intelligence, deploying six times as many agents in foreign countries as the SVR, the KGB intelligence successor.



In Metal Gear Solid 3, GRU operatives under the command of Colonel Yevgeny Volgin were ordered to capture Nikolai Sokolov, a weapons scientist who was working on an experimental nuclear tank. Colonel Sergei Gurlukovich of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was also a Colonel within the GRU. Revolver Ocelot was also said to be part of the GRU during the Cold War, though it was more likely that this was just a cover of his espionage activities for the American Philosophers, now known as the Patriots.

During the Virtuous Mission, the way to the abandoned warehouse where Sokolov was being held is guarded by soldiers of the KGB. To avoid an international incident, Snake had to sneak into the warehouse without being detected. However, when Snake left the warehouse with Sokolov, he was surrounded by KGB troops. Before they could apprehend the two, Ocelot arrived to take Sokolov for himself. Ocelot slaughtered the whole unit using his impressive shooting and ricochet skills, then surrounded Snake with his own elite Ocelot Unit, which was comprised of outstanding GRU soldier from the Special Forces unit known as Spetsnaz. Despite this, Snake defeated the whole Ocelot Unit single handedly and escaped with Sokolov.

Ocelot Unit


The Ocelot Unit are members of Spetsnaz, the GRU's Special Forces squadrons, who work directly under Major Ocelot. They carry heavy weaponry and dress much like Ocelot himself, only wearing a balaclava on their face. They answer only to Ocelot, and when he makes a specific cat call, they all appear. The Ocelot Unit encounter and are subsequently defeated by Snake at several occasions during the events of the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater.

Notable Members

 * Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin
 * Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov
 * Sergei Gurlukovich
 * Olga Gurlukovich
 * Revolver Ocelot
 * Vulcan Raven
 * Shotmaker
 * Red Blaster