Delta Zoo

On 11 March 1990, a year before the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare itself independent. On January 13, 1991, Soviet forces stormed the Parliament building in Vilnius along with the Vilnius TV Tower. Unarmed civilian Lithuanians confronted Soviet paratroopers and tanks. Fourteen people were killed and seven hundred injured. In 1991 the Soviets continued their aggression towards Lithuania with frequent attacks on Lithuanian police, army deserters, border controls, customs offices, and other groups. Reacting to Soviet aggression, newly re-established Lithuanian Army Command decided to create the first-ever national crack commando unit of special-forces operatives known as Francas’ Zoo.