Beyond the Iron Curtain: The First American Contractor to Train Spetsnaz

In 1994, during a pivotal moment in history following the collapse of Russian communism, the era of Glasnost—an official Soviet policy of openness and transparency—had created a brief period of improved relations between the United States and Russia in the wake of the Cold War. It was during this time that Tom Sotis became the fourth American to venture deeply into Russia, embarking on a martial research expedition to Ufa without an official invitation—a journey that led to a series of extraordinary events.

Upon his arrival, he was unexpectedly greeted by Abbas Gallyamov, who was assigned as his translator, and introduced to his host, Vladimir Labonov. On the second day, Tom conducted a seminar for Karat - Vladimir’s security and bodyguard company. By the third day, he was interviewed by the Minister of Internal Affairs and subsequently challenged by the Spetsnaz. On the fourth day, Tom visited the Spetsnaz training compound, where he was assessed by instructors from various fighting disciplines. As a result, he became the first American to train Russian Special Forces—a relationship he continued over multiple return visits to further their training.