Spetsnaz

The Soviet Special Forces, or Spetsnaz, was a team of highly trained soldiers in the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They were considered the best of the Soviet Army because their training is so harsh.

In 1957, during the height of the Cold War, a group of Soviet Special Forces under the command of Colonels Irina Spalko and Antonin Dovchenko infiltrated Hangar 51 in the American state of Nevada. They stole the remains of an unknown pilot who crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947.

The group later journeyed to Akator in South America while attempting to gain the ability to control American minds through psychic research. However, the group was eliminated by the power at the Temple of Akator.

Notable members

 * Antonin Dovchenko (colonel)


 * Soviet Driver
 * Unidentified Akator Russian 1
 * Unidentified Akator Russian 2

Behind the scenes
A major factor in the deadliness of the Spetsnaz was their indoctrination in Sambo, a Russian Martial Art created during the Bolshevik Revolution to fight the Tsar Nicholas II's soldiers. Sambo is a synthesis of techniques from multiple Chinese and Japanese Martial-Arts, with an emphasis on grappling, brutal joint locking-and-breaking, restraints, takedowns and throws that complement the inherent size and strength of its massive Russian practitioners.



Many of the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull's disguised Soviets share names with US presidents. In the film's "Making of" documentary, director Steven Spielberg posed with seventeen Soviet soldiers. In a closeup, the name tags of some of them are visible.

Appearances

 * Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
 * Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull novel
 * LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues