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In my opinion the men in the picture are not Spetsnaz.

I have mentioned many times on this list that I was formerly in the Special Forces, and while that was over 30 years ago most tactics do not change. Additionally, the Spetsnaz have the Bumblebee which I am not familiar with, but understand the principle. IT IS VERY OBVIOUS TO ME WHY THEY HAD IT ON THE SCENE.
You might recall many years ago an embassy in London was seized by terrorists, and the SAS regained control. The SAS threw stun grenades into the building a couple of seconds prior to assaulting the building. In any operation of this sort it is necessary to distract the terrorists for just a few seconds and also create a state of confusion.
It is also necessary to provide those assaulting the building cover, and in my opinion the Bumblebee laying down a smokescreen PERFECTLY fills that need. It would NOT be used unless the commander on the scene gave the order. They might also have a tank or armored vehicle on the scene, but that does not mean it was to be used. I honestly think way too much is being made of this.

One by one, men in civilian clothes call on the inhabitants of the surrounding homes, asking them not to talk too much. Police officer Aleksandr P. said that after the assault, he was brought in for questioning: "They said to me: in one of your houses there were some television people. Where is the cassette? And I said: you should ask the them. But they kept demanding the cassette anyway."

Maybe the Russian should announce to everyone exactly what tactics they used so the terrorists will know exactly how to respond in the future. After what happened in Moscow every Chechen terrorist is going to come prepared with a gas mask, and that is exactly what happened at Beslan.