OMON (Russian: ОМОН – Отряд Мобильный Особого Назначения, romanized: Otryad Mobil'nyy Osobogo Naznacheniya, lit. 'Special Purpose Mobile Unit', [ɐˈtrʲæt məˈbʲilʲnɨj ɐˈsobɐvə nɐznəˈt͡ɕʲɛnɪjə], previously Russian: Отряд Милиции Особого Назначения, romanized: Otryad Militsii Osobogo Naznacheniya, lit. 'Special Purpose Unit of the Militia') is a system of special police units within the National Guard of Russia. It previously operated within the structures of the Soviet and Russian Ministries of Internal Affairs (MVD). Originating as the special forces unit of the Soviet Militsiya in 1988, it has played major roles in several armed conflicts during and following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union.
