Cobras (Serbia)

The Cobras (Serbian: Kobre / Кобрe) is a military police unit of the Serbian Armed Forces, responsible for counter-terrorism, close protection and special operations. The unit consists detachment of 200 members (as of 2013) and is notably responsible for protection of military officials and the President.[3] It is one of several special forces of Serbia, and the oldest anti-terrorist unit in former Yugoslavia.

Not to be confused with Counter-Terrorist Battalion (Serbia).
Detachment of the Military Police for Special Operations "Cobras"
(Serbian: Одред војне полиције специјалне намене „Кобре“)[1][2]
Одред војне полиције специјалне намене „Кобре“
Emblem of Military Police detachment Cobra
Active14 April 1978 – present
Country Serbia
TypeMilitary Police
Special forces
RoleClose-quarters combat
Close protection
Counter-terrorism
Hostage rescue
Special operations
Size200 (2013)
Garrison/HQBelgrade
ColorsBlack, yellow
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt colonel Vladimir Ušljebrka

The unit was first established by the order of the Secretary of Defense on 14 April 1978. The unit was included in a special 'anti-terrorist department' (Odeljenje Vojne policije za protivteroristička dejstva) within the 282nd battalion of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). In 1985 the department expanded and transformed into a 'anti-terrorist platoon' (Vod za protivteroristička dejstva) which led the Guard Brigades. It continued to exist after the breakup of Yugoslavia as a special unit of the FR Yugoslav/Serbia and Montenegro Armed Forces (1992–2006). It was active in the Yugoslav Wars. In 1992 it was transferred to the Special Units Corps (Korpus specijalnih jedinica), which included the 63rd Parachute Battalion, 72nd Assault Battalion and 1st Guard Brigade. In 2000 the unit was placed under the direct command of the Chief of General Staff. The unit further expanded, much thanks to colonel (pukovnik) Stojan Kljajić who commanded the unit until 2005. In this period the symbol of a winged cobra twisted around a sword was adopted. It was organized as an anti-terrorist detachment 2006, since a component of the Serbian military police. Since 2013 a number of women have been included in the unit.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. "Посета Батаљону војне полиције специјалне намене „Кобре"". Vojska Srbije. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  2. "Кобре – најстарија противтерористичка јединица". mod.gov.rs. Government of Serbia.
  3. Military Police Battalion of the Army of Serbia – Cobra Archived 2015-03-22 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Vuković, Boris. "Kako žive "žene kobre", pripadnice Vojske Srbije: "Lakše nam je na obuci, nego da nađemo momke"". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  5. "SPREMNE NA SVE! Ovo su žene iz Kobri koje će ČUVATI ZGRADU PREDSEDNIŠTVA: "Čast nam je što nas je predsednik pozvao"". www.srbijadanas.com (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 2021-01-26.
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