OREANDA-NEWS. March 21, 2011. The President reviewed the weapons, special equipment and gear used by the special purpose police units and watched the Zubr detachment’s tactical and special operations exercises.

Mr Medvedev also presented state decorations to some Zubr detachment officers and commended all of the personnel for their service.

Following the state decoration award ceremony, Dmitry Medvedev discussed reforms in the Interior Ministry and social benefits for ministry servicemen with the detachment’s commanders and personnel.

The Zubr detachment is an independent unit within the Russian Interior Ministry. It was formed in February 2006 through reorganisation of the special purpose police unit of the Moscow Region Department of the Interior Ministry established in 1988.

Along with the Rys [Lynx] special police detachment and an aviation detachment, Zubr [Bison] is part of the Interior Ministry’s Interregional Centre for Rapid Reaction Special Forces.