218 battalion. The difference between the special forces of the GRU and the special forces of the airborne forces. Russian paratroopers in Chechnya

A report by a correspondent who was lucky enough to get into the location of a unit of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Brigade.

In the special forces random people no, they come here only of their own free will. At the same time, not everyone who has expressed a desire to become a special forces soldier is accepted into the special forces unit.

“The selection of future special forces from among the conscripts begins with the study of their personal files,” says lieutenant colonel Vladimir Fridlender, deputy commander of the brigade for work with personnel of the guard. - The officers of the brigade for this purpose specially go to the military registration and enlistment offices. If possible, already there, on the ground, with those young men who have expressed a desire to serve in the special forces, conversations are held, their moral and business qualities are studied, and the level of physical fitness is checked.

Before being called up to other units, recruits do not pass physical training standards. However, the 45th Special Forces Brigade of the Airborne Forces is a special unit, with much higher requirements for strength, speed, agility and endurance of a fighter.

As you know, conscripts in military registration and enlistment offices undergo psychological tests. However, upon arrival from the military registration and enlistment office to the 45th brigade, each recruit is tested again. It is extremely important to identify in advance the guys who are not up to the task of falling to the lot of a fighter of a special forces unit. After all, they will be able to master another military specialty in the Airborne Forces or another form or branch of the military Armed Forces. Rigid selection is in the interests of both conscripts, and the 45th brigade, and the army as a whole.

Productive selection for special forces is facilitated by the active interaction of the brigade command with the military-patriotic clubs of the country, especially with the main military-patriotic organization - DOSAAF of Russia. For example, in the Belgorod region, young men are successfully trained for service in the Airborne Forces; Belgorod graduates of the DOSAAF school last year staffed a whole company of the 45th brigade.

Those wishing to enter the 45th airborne brigade under the contract, if before that they served in other airborne or airborne assault units, they know the requirements of the special forces "input control" from the very beginning, since the officers of the brigade, leaving for other units and formations of the winged guard, talk about them in detail. It is more difficult for those who come from units of other branches of the armed forces and types of the Armed Forces or from a “civilian”.

Upon arrival at the brigade, the contract candidate passes physical training, then psychological testing is immediately carried out with him. The main task when accepting physical training tests is to objectively reveal the possibilities and potential of the candidate. After exercises for speed (running 100 m), strength (pulling up on the bar) and endurance (3 km), three fights are held in sparring for three minutes. This is where strong-willed qualities are revealed: this is when a candidate, having missed a blow, falls, but then gets up and continues to fight to the end.

“There are quite a lot of cases when we have to report to the military enlistment office that the recommended candidate is not suitable for us,” Lieutenant Colonel Fridlender says with regret. - The military registration and enlistment offices should be more strict in the selection of candidates for our brigade.

Careful selection of personnel, a healthy moral situation in the brigade units and, of course, care from the state contribute to the fact that about 90 percent of contractors enter into repeated contracts.

Of the benefits - an increased salary, taking into account various allowances (for the implementation of the skydiving program, for the successful completion of physical training standards, etc.), the possibility of distance learning at Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov and other leading universities in Moscow, the right to a mortgage after the conclusion of the second contract. On average, an ordinary under a contract, having served for three years, receives 35-40 thousand rubles a month.

To serve in the special forces from year to year as a private or contract sergeant or an officer without a love for military craft is almost unrealistic. In addition, having fully experienced the hardships and hardships in training sessions, when you have to hide in an ambush for several days, and when performing combat missions, special forces groups become monolithic teams from which you don’t want to leave. Does the average young compatriot have many friends and acquaintances with whom you can go on reconnaissance? In the dominance of correspondence communication by phone, Skype or social networks, young people have forgotten how to not only be friends, but have forgotten how to communicate live. Getting into trouble, they may think about the value of friends who can rush to the rescue, especially if there are no such friends. And in the special forces group, everyone is ready to pull a wounded comrade out of hell or even lay down their lives for their friends.

And in general, the brigade is one family, where they never leave their own. And after being wounded, many are looking for a position, in every possible way helping to find a worthy and feasible job again. So it was, for example, with the cavalier of two Orders of Courage, ensign Vadim Selyukin, who lost his legs while performing a combat mission. Now he is the captain of the Russian Paralympic sledge hockey team.

Practice convinces: even the advanced technology of the 21st century will not completely replace ground-based deep reconnaissance, it will not diminish the possibilities and role

To heaven - with a "soft jellyfish"

In the special forces they jokingly say: “Arrived at the place - everything is just beginning”.

Ejection behind enemy lines by parachute is just one of the options for delivering scouts to the place of the mission. Of course, this method is not easy and requires concentration from the soldier when studying a set of actions called airborne training.

The brigade makes parachute jumps D-10, "Crossbow-1" and "Crossbow-2", and the last two systems have a planning dome-"wing" Landing by parachute in the special forces of the Airborne Forces is taught on any surface: field, forest, roof of a building , a pond ... Jumps are made during the day, at night and in difficult weather conditions. Therefore, airborne training in the 45th brigade is one of the main subjects of training. Combat training begins with her as an ordinary paratrooper, as well as a commando of the Airborne Forces.

- Airborne training includes the study of materiel - a parachute and safety devices, packing a parachute and classes at an airborne complex, where elements of a jump, actions in the air, preparation for landing and the landing itself are practiced, - explains the deputy commander of the airborne training brigade Guard Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Rekun.

Recruits, as well as those who decided to link their fate with the special forces of the Airborne Forces, signed a contract, but had never jumped with a parachute before, they are preparing for the first jump for two weeks.

The laying of the D-10 parachutes takes place in 6 stages, the paratroopers lay the parachute together, the dynamics of the laying is controlled by the commanders of the units and the officer of the Air Force. At each stage, triple control is mandatory, almost like in the preparation of an astronaut. There is no room for error, because in the air a person will be alone and there will be no one to tell him anything there.
Of the two parachute systems used by the brigade, the D-10 is easier to stow and operate in the air. The technique of preparing for jumping with this parachute has long been worked out.

- A soldier, leaving the aircraft, has a neutral canopy, that is, a parachute that does not move horizontally or (in the wind) almost does not move, - Lieutenant Colonel Rekun explains to the guards. – Accordingly, the paratrooper's drop point differs little from the landing point: it is a vertical. By and large, nothing depends on the parachutist: where he was thrown, there he will land.

"Crossbow" has a different quality. From a kilometer of height, you can go 4–5 km to the side, using only the performance characteristics of a parachute, in complete calm. At strong wind a paratrooper from a kilometer height will be able to move away from the drop point by 6–7 km.

D-10 is designed for mass landing. And any special forces soldier first masters self-control in the air on this parachute.

In the future, according to the instructions of the commander of the Airborne Forces, Hero of Russia, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov, after 25 jumps on the D-10, the serviceman is allowed to operate the Crossbow. At the same time, at least seven jumps must be long.

“Preparation for jumping with Arbalet-2 lasts about 20 days,” says Oleg Dmitrievich. - Special Forces soldiers study materiel in a new way, learn to pack a parachute and master airborne operations on the airborne complex.

Owning "Crossbow" in the 45th brigade as much as it should be. There are virtuosos among them. From a height of about 4000 m, they flew, planning, for 17 kilometers. Currently, pilot operation of oxygen equipment is being carried out, which in the future, when put into service, will allow landing from a height of more than 4 km. Accordingly, the planning distance will also increase.

“In addition to the Arbalet-1, the brigade also has the Arbalet-2 parachute system, which is easier to operate,” Lieutenant Colonel Rekun continues the story of the guard. - A stabilizing system is rigidly mounted on it, which works automatically, which guarantees the parachutist who has left the plane or helicopter, in case of emergency, rotation only in the horizontal plane. Random falling with vertical rotation is thus excluded.

But on the "Arbalet-1" instead of the stabilizing system, the so-called " soft jellyfish”, which the parachutist puts into action himself, after which the opening of the main parachute begins. And for jumping on the "Crossbow-1" a soldier needs to be prepared even longer, taking into account the fact that the paratrooper is thrown out with weapons, equipment and cargo containers.

Military tests of the Arbalet-2 parachute system took place on the basis of the 45th brigade. In the equipment of each specialty that is in the Airborne Forces, taking into account the characteristics of its weapons and equipment, they made at least 10 jumps. That is, the special forces dressed either as signalmen, or as sappers, or as grenade launchers, etc. There were fewer people in the selected group than there were specialties. As a result, each during the tests performed about 180 jumps. Well, the unconditional record holders are members of the non-standard sports parachute team of the formation. It consists of four Honored Masters of Sports, one of them has already made more than 11 thousand jumps.

The combat training program requires each member of the special forces brigade to complete at least 10 jumps per year. "Crossbowmen" jump with their parachutes, the rest - from the D-10. The tasks involved are very different.

Without noise and fire

In the 45th brigade, the unit commanders insistently remind the fighters: "Where shooting begins, reconnaissance ends there". Especially deep. It is the collection of intelligence that is the main task of special forces groups. Quietly, observing the rules of camouflage, detecting an object without noise and shots, transmitting its coordinates and leaving in the same silent way - this is the spetsnaz handwriting.

However, today it is possible to detect the desired object of the enemy with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles or from satellites. Can the advanced technology of the 21st century replace ground-based deep reconnaissance?

– Absolutely unlikely. Firstly, a special-purpose group will still direct strike weapons at a number of strategic facilities, ”said Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Seliverstov, deputy commander of the 45th brigade, Hero of Russia Guards. - Secondly, after air operations and artillery preparation, a ground operation will still begin, where special forces will be involved in the first place, which will have sabotage and ambush operations. Special forces always work targeted...

- IN last years the list of tasks assigned to the special forces has increased significantly, - continues Vladimir Vyacheslavovich. “Some I never thought before that they would become ours.

Basic qualities of a paratrooper

The expansion of the range of tasks affects the content of combat training, it is changing. However, the main basis of the special forces has been and remains unchanged. This, according to the deep conviction of the Guard Lieutenant Colonel Seliverstov, is discipline. Fire, physical, tactical-special, engineering training in relation to discipline is a superstructure. With insufficient, for example, tactical and special training, special forces are bad. In the absence of discipline, there is no special forces at all.

“Discipline,” says the deputy brigade commander, “is accuracy, punctuality in everything: in time, place and actions.

In the 45th separate guards brigade discipline is not stick - conscious. Including because every commando knows that violators are not kept in this part. As the commander of the brigade Hero of Russia Guards Colonel Vadim Pankov later explained

A serviceman who has to be punished for misconduct should not and will not serve in the 45th Special Purpose Brigade.

Another quality that a special forces officer must possess is initiative, a willingness to make decisions.

The principles of teaching are known: from theory to practice, from simple to complex. Practical classes are held on different terrain day and night. A spetsnaz soldier spends at least half of his working time in the field.

Traditions and innovations of the Airborne Forces

Of the new weapons in the brigade - BTR-82A, drones and something else. Everything is in perfect working order.

“What was in the 45th regiment ten years ago and what has appeared now is heaven and earth,” Lieutenant Colonel Seliverstov, who served in the 45th “economy” for 15 years, ascertains the guards.

When in the early 2000s the unit solved problems in the Caucasus, the officers invested personal funds in the equipment of the fighters, Vladimir Vyacheslavovich recalls. Now the personnel are fully provided with clothing and equipment.

“The equipment is very decent,” notes the deputy brigade commander. - Of course, there is no limit to perfection, but even now a fighter, for example, has a choice of uniforms, taking into account weather conditions, which allows both the task to be completed and health to be maintained. The same can be said about nutrition. In clothing and food provision, shifts are noticeable to anyone.

Episodes of recent history

• In August 2008, the personnel of the brigade participated in the operation to force Georgia to peace.
• At that time, the story of the capture of off-road vehicles that the Americans supplied to the Georgian army received a great response. So, these trophies are on the account of the special forces of the Airborne Forces.
• In April 2010, the battalion tactical group of the brigade ensured the safe evacuation of our fellow citizens, including members of the families of military personnel and civilian personnel, due to unrest on the territory of Kyrgyzstan.
• In the spring of 2014, the personnel of the brigade, as part of a separate reconnaissance detachment, took part in the operation to return Crimea to Russia.
• The names of 14 Heroes of Russia are inscribed in the annals of the 45th brigade. Four of them continue to serve in this glorious unit. Five servicemen of the 45th brigade were awarded three Orders of Courage.

Valery K., sergeant of the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment of the special forces of the Airborne Forces, grenade launcher of the 4th reconnaissance group of the 1st reconnaissance company of the 901st separate battalion of the Special Forces.

By the time I was drafted into the army (June 1994), I already had a sports category in rock climbing and prizes at youth competitions in Apatity Murmansk region I lived there until the mid 90s. That’s why they took me to the 45th regiment, I didn’t fit in height, they took guys with a height of 180 cm, but in those years there was a wild shortage of people, besides, I already had several parachute jumps, we jumped in the winter of 1989 year at the airfield "Murmashi". In general, a kid came with jumps and climbing ranks - almost a ready saboteur. The military commissar said to me: "You are not tall enough, but with your sports training we can send you to the special forces. Understand, it will be very difficult for you ... Are you ready?" And in the parachute club where we trained, the instructors were Afghans, healthy, cheerful men in vests, some with military awards. Of course, I also wanted to be like them! I say: "Of course, I can handle it!" And from the very beginning, I was determined to go to the combat company, and not to support. So I ended up in the 45th regiment.

901 SEPARATE SPECIAL PURPOSE BATTALION

The 45th regiment at that time consisted of two battalions - 218 separate battalions (commander - Major Andrei Anatolyevich Nepryakhin, future Hero of Russia) and 901 separate battalions (commander - Major Nikolai Sergeevich Nikulnikov), three-company composition of 4 reconnaissance groups in each company. The regiment also included auxiliary units - a communications company (signallers were scattered among reconnaissance groups), a special weapons company, an armored personnel carrier driver and gunners, and ACS crews. In the reconnaissance company, the number was 52-54 people, so that a combined detachment of about 150 people operated in Grozny: 2 company (commander - Captain Andrey Vladimirovich Zelenkovsky) 218 ​​Special Forces, 1st (commander - Senior Lieutenant Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Nikolaevich) and 3rd ( commander - captain Cherdantsev) of company 901 obSpN.

I can characterize all my direct commanders as very professional, cruel and very funny people (such a complex combination). I am immensely grateful to them, and to this day, a quarter after the battles in Grozny, I remember them. But this is never forgotten...

"Healthy, bald, their appearance and in their habits they were more like bandits than officers of the Red Army. It was not in vain that at that time citizens in black Mercedes were constantly grazing at the checkpoint with offers to earn extra money - to fill up someone in Moscow ... " 1

I now understand that, by and large, all our officers were real Soviet officers, in the best sense of the word. One of my acquaintances served ten years later in 2005 in the intelligence service of the GRU, and he told how their company commander made exactions from the personnel. So, in principle, this could not have happened to us, the consciousness of people in that early post-Soviet period did not allow it.

Hazing was also very cruel. The officers approached this phenomenon in different ways: someone tried not to pay attention, someone, like the political officer of the company Bannikov, fought as best he could (in the evening he climbed into the window of his office on the ground floor, and when, after lights out, they began to press the young, jumped out of office with a rubber stick and dispersed the old-timers), one of the officers, on the contrary, tried to put this phenomenon to his service. Our commander of the 4th group, Captain Vladimir Vladimirovich Glukhovsky, was engaged in serious education, and he turned our group into a really well-coordinated team.

"Army friends ... All this is a myth, fiction, do not believe anyone who says that only in the army you can find real friends. Who can be called a friend here? in prison? The crazy Tatar Zimadeev, who is also a karateka? He knows how to jump somersaults over the fence and at the same time shoot from a machine gun. He has one argument for all domestic disputes - a kick in the head. A Kazakh named Batyr, who speaks Russian with difficulty? Or my countrywoman from Peter Kokorin, who spent all his childhood in a special boarding school and did not know the multiplication table at the age of twenty? They could not be my friends. " 1

“In the part where they didn’t take guys less than a meter eighty and where there was a cult of physical strength, they began to hate me immediately, simply because of my short stature.

With the advent of night, after lights out, the idea came to the old-timers that it was I who should clean their boots and hem their collars. Of course, because it seemed to them that it was much easier to morally break a person who was chest-high and thirty kilograms lighter.

All attempts to "negotiate" ended with a simple beating.

I didn’t say anything afterwards, I just approached and hit back once, knowing that in a few seconds I would be examining the interior of the barracks from some unusual angle, lying with my head turned between the bedside table and the bed.

But I had to make this blow from time to time.

They were a little discouraged by the fact that I packed the parachute faster than anyone in the company, accurately navigated the map, could translate phrases in English from the manual on interrogation of prisoners of war, pulled myself up most of all on the crossbar and never died on forced marches.

Who issued a grenade launcher to this petty nerd? Completely crazy? - officers from another battalion reacted to me. After all, in addition to the machine gun, I also had to carry a grenade launcher with ammunition.

Everything is fine! Are your grenade launchers dying on the march? - Lieutenant Pastukh protected me with the lock of our reconnaissance group.

Well, they die, the fighters constantly carry them in their arms ...

And ours does not die! He's the only "undying" one of us! - The shepherd alone believed in me, maybe because he was just as short and thoughtful.

I was stubborn and patient, and after a year, even those who hated me started to respect me." 1

Hazing is a complex mutual phenomenon, in which not only old-timers are to blame, and not all forms are bad. And those who haven't seen it will never understand. In the future, reconnaissance groups tried to form the guys of the same call, but this did not always help.

“Being a soldier of the smallest stature, and even serving in the fourth reconnaissance group, means always and everywhere being the last in line.

To the bathhouse, to the dining room, to get uniforms.

And now, I was standing in the central aisle in front of the supply room, looking with concern as a pile of tattered pea jackets was melting.

A year ago, our unit left Abkhazia, and the thrifty company commander took out a whole truck from there, as it seemed then, unnecessary junk. These jackets have come a long way and if they could speak they could tell a lot.

What are these, bullet holes? - A colleague of my call, standing in front of the window to the light, looked at the mysterious holes in the newly received pea jacket.

What is this, blood? .. - he turned to us, showing strange brown spots on the fabric.

I won't wear it!!

Take it! Don't wander! - severely threw one of the "old men" - at night it will become cold in the forest, put it on, and you will be glad!

The first three-day reconnaissance exit awaited us, and since we were called up in June, we were not supposed to wear a winter uniform.

In the army, everything is on schedule.

The transition to winter uniforms is scheduled for October 15, which means that until that moment everyone wears summer camouflage, and it doesn’t matter that it’s already the end of September and frost in the mornings.

And you're out of luck! - the company commander said cheerfully, pointing to the empty shelves of the rack, he personally gave out these pea coats.

Maybe ... maybe, at least what kind of shot was left?

There are no more peacoats! Take a raincoat from the OZK, everything will be warmer for the night - he handed me a rubber bundle.

It was a very cold three days.

Going to bed, I covered myself with this cloak with my head, and from breathing it was covered from the inside with perspiration, which turned into frost by morning.

On the third day of continuous trembling, I heard, I practically felt a strange click in my head, as if some kind of toggle switch had been switched.

And with that click, I suddenly stopped shivering and became warm.

I will acquire the ability to freeze again only seven years after my discharge from the army. 2

"EVERYONE WAS READY IN THREE DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE"

I remember very well how the dispatch took place in Kubinka, to the battalion's PPD. In the twentieth of November 1994, on Saturday, we were in the garrison cinema on the territory of the tank unit. During the film show, a messenger ran up and shouted into the hall: "First company, go out!"

We ran out and went to the location of the company. There were already fees. They announced that a combined reconnaissance group was moving to Chechnya. The first reconnaissance group was assembled from us, they laid out equipment in the central aisle for inspection. The mood before the departure was combative, they turned to the company commander with a request to include us in the combat formation. To which he replied: "Don't worry, we'll all fly there soon." (One couple, however, dristanul. And the most rocked and bullish. In one night, they turned from centers into chmoshniki. But then no one condemned them. But they remained outcasts until the end of the service.) Then he was formed new composition forward detachment, which included our group. Before departure, everyone was ready in three days, and slept on rolled mattresses. The bed linen was handed over, and we were lying with weapons on some shell nets. Before sending, they wrote letters to their parents that we were going to jump in Pskov. Maybe in Moscow (the 218th battalion was stationed in Sokolniki.) There were parents at the checkpoint, but we didn’t have anyone. On the 27th of November there was a departure. Upon arrival in Mozdok, we spent the night at the location of the military unit. This night was very memorable, because the VV-shnikovs in the barracks had a TV on the wall, and the singer Freddie Mercury was spinning there. Then we moved to the checkpoint at the airfield, and soon everyone else arrived, and we moved to the boathouses near the take-off. On the very first night, my grandfathers poked me a little with a knife in order to withdraw cash, but that's bad luck - I had no cash! Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that during the hostilities in Grozny hazing disappeared completely, in those conditions hazing was impossible.

Upon arrival in Mozdok, they immediately took up guard duty to protect the personal train of Defense Minister P. Grachev, as well as his helicopter and the plane on which he flew to Moscow. So they changed constantly: on guard - from guard, to classes, to shooting. In Grozny, we operated with three companies, the other two were replacements, and one company was in reserve. Reserve companies guarded Grachev's train.

"Winter. Mozdok. A dank wind with sleet. We have been on it for the third day already. There is nowhere for us to hide from it, because we are at the airfield.

My friend and I are on guard duty. There is no one to replace us, since our company is chasing the Chechen reconnaissance group through the forests.

The day before yesterday we guarded the aircraft of the Minister of Defense, yesterday we guarded the helicopter of the Minister of Defense, today we guard the mobile headquarters of the Minister of Defense.

We wait for the inspector to leave, take off our helmets and sit in them, like in pots. Back to back. So warmer. Falling asleep, I think that a Chechen reconnaissance group will find us and cut our throats. "And then everything will end ...", - I think, even with some relief, and fall into a dream. The snow covers us with a wet blanket." 1

Of course, in addition to guarding the facilities, the personnel of some reconnaissance groups carried out reconnaissance missions for approaches to Grozny.

Once, my 4th reconnaissance group was on a mission to search for a Chechen reconnaissance group that had been spotted. True, they could not be found.

On December 30, Captain Glukhovsky gave the order to prepare for a flight to the mountainous regions, which was supposed to take place tomorrow, December 31. In addition to the ammunition load, we were given forty different charges of explosives for each kilogram, it was assumed that we would have to deal with undermining some bridges, the details were not specified. On the 31st, we were ready to take off, and at approximately 14:15 a consolidated detachment of about 30 people boarded two Mi-8s. But an hour later, the takeoff was canceled, nevertheless, the order was given to be at the airfield. At 17-18 hours the team came to load again, and this time we took off. We were in the air for almost an hour. We were covered by three Mi-24s. In the mountains, at the moment of landing, the pilot found a Chechen armored personnel carrier standing in the bushes, and our helicopter, having sharply soared, left the landing point. The militants, apparently, were afraid of the Mi-24 and did not open fire. For a long time it was a mystery to me where they wanted to send us for the first time, and after 20 years from some source, I found out that it was planned to land on the central stadium of Grozny, just where the reserve of Dudayev's forces was located. We were very lucky that the flight was cancelled.

“We were left with about 20 people from the special operations department. Guys from the 45th intelligence regiment were supposed to act with us. They raised us again in alarm, brought us to Mozdok to the airfield to be delivered by helicopters to the center of Grozny, to the stadium. that we will take Dudayev's palace in much the same way as we took Amin's palace in December 1979.<...>We never flew to the center of Grozny. As they say, as above, so below. A terrible inconsistency in the actions of different branches of the armed forces was revealed. It turned out that the helicopters could not take off, because one helicopter pilot had not yet had lunch, the other had not yet refueled, and the third was on duty at all. As a result, already on January 1, at 00:10, we were given the order: "By cars!" - the city was to be entered by land.<...>By the evening of that day, having already entered the city with a tank column, we learned from our scouts that by the time of that failed landing, the stadium planned as a springboard for it was full of well-armed and at the same time obeying no one people: it was on December 31 that the weapons available in the warehouses were distributed there without restrictions to everyone who wanted to defend "free Ichkeria". So our three helicopters, most likely, would have been burned over this stadium." 3

The leadership developed a "brilliant plan": when we begin to send troops into the city from the north, the militants will "get scared" and run to the south, and there, on the main routes, they will be expected by pre-set ambushes. It was these ambushes that we had to organize, and this explains the issuance of 40 kilograms of explosives for each.

We are near the boathouses after the failed landing in the mountains, celebrating the new year. Somewhere out there in the dark in the ranks - I am.

Returning to Mozdok on the evening of the 31st, we immediately took over the protection of the Grachev train. New Year I met guarding this train. There were posts of VV officers across the field, and when the chimes struck, they opened fire with tracers in our direction, apparently believing that there could be no one in the field. My friend and I fell behind a thick poplar tree, branches cut down by bullets fell on us, he took out a can of beer stolen from an "officer's" gift, and lying behind a poplar tree, we drank it in honor of the upcoming New Year.

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By the way, here is a very good video taken by an officer from the 901st battalion. Here are all our officers, almost all the guys from our group. I will comment on this video, summing up the "peaceful" part of the service - from the checkpoint in Kubinka to the location in boathouses at the Mozdok airfield. There were a lot of videos on the web on the shelf, but these videos disappear from time to time, perhaps the owners delete accounts.

Loading before departure on the central parade ground of the battalion.

01:00. Battalion commander Nikulnikov and the commander of the 3rd company Cherdantsev stands with his back.

01:46. Senior Lieutenant Konoplyannikov, commander of the first reconnaissance group. January 5, 1995, in the hospital, he will receive a bullet in the head, he will be saved by "Sphere": the bullet will pierce steel, Kevlar, lining, all layers, and breaking through the skin, will stick into the skull, but all the consequences are a hefty lump.

01:53. A high officer is Major Cherushev, in my opinion he will later become a battalion commander after Nikulnikov.

14:21. Boxes with gifts from Menatep bank. Black round hats we called "menatepovki". Ironically, just before the storming of Grozny, they sent us gifts from "Menatep" - such cardboard boxes, they were brought on the 30th. The boxes were "officer's" and "soldier's". They all had writing utensils: notebooks, pens, and sweaters and hats like that. The "officer's" boxes still contained a bottle of champagne and a can of imported beer. The one who made these sets was very well versed in what a soldier needed. Many years later, to be honest, I am stunned, knowing the arrogance of the current oligarchs: to send a gift to a soldier and also to consult with a knowledgeable specialist what exactly the soldier needs. It had to come down ... The fact is that a fucking soldier's helmet fits only on the top of the fur army earflaps, and the whole point of the helmet disappears, but here they sent hats - the consultant clearly understood the situation.

So we ran in these hats. In general, it turned out that all uniforms and equipment are very poorly suited for active combat operations. Upon arrival at the PPD in Kubinka, these hats were taken by order to the warehouse.

A few years later, in the St. Petersburg metro, I saw a man in such a hat. I stood and looked at him for a long time, trying to understand whether he was in Grozny...

15:41. On the right in the frame is Lieutenant Andrei Gridnev, the future Hero of Russia. I remember how Gridnev just came to the unit from the school as a young lieutenant, he was only 21 or 22 years old, he was assigned to our company as Konoplyannikov’s deputy, he was immediately very motivated to serve. Gridnev from the first days was seriously engaged in the preparation and education of the guys from the group, they regularly ran with him, ran additional crosses, and every evening he came and forced them to douse themselves with ice water (actually, hot water we didn’t have in the company then). They called it "Karbyshev's bath". He gave the impression of a very tough person. But I remember when his wife arrived at the unit, when he had already settled down in the officer's dormitory, and we helped him bring in furniture and things, he secretly took a box with jars of raspberry jam from his wife, and in the darkness around the corner of the dormitory slipped it to us, saying : "Here, guys, eat jam!" I remember being very touched. After Konoplyannikov was wounded on January 5, Gridnev would take command of the reconnaissance group and lead it successfully. The guys from the group recalled that he was very groovy in battle, they laughed, saying: "The battle is being fought by Lieutenant Gridnev and ten of his squires," because he was constantly running from one fighter to another, firing from a grenade launcher, then from a machine gun, then he would take away the rifle from the sniper, the guys were neighing that if they started to give him shells, he would throw shells even without a gun at the positions of the militants. And when I found out that he was given the star of the Hero, I was not surprised at all.

15:53. The company commander Nikolakhin and on the left in a winter hat and camouflage uniform are the commanders and the commander of the consolidated group of snipers (including fighters armed with SVD and VSS) Konstantin Mikhailovich Golubev, who will die on January 8, 1995. They were friends, and Nikolakhin was very worried about his death.

16:11. Our political officer Bannikov is waving his hand.

16:15. A big mustachioed man is the main demolition officer of the battalion, I don’t remember his name. When classes on subversive training were held, he said: "Explosives can be made from last year's leaves, whoever remains on a contract, I'll tell you how." Behind him is a healthy guy - our machine gunner Yura Sannikov, from Siberia, a very kind guy, one of two in the company with a higher education.

The camera moves to the right, and we again see Gridnev and Lieutenant Gonta, a tough man, on the second trip he will be the commander of a combined reconnaissance group, in which I will be, we will destroy the ambush at height 970 in the Serzhen-Yurt area under his leadership. Then I have a good relationship with him. In Grozny, he was the commander of the second reconnaissance group. At the very edge of the frame on the right - Dima T., a sergeant from our reconnaissance group, after the storming of Grozny was transferred to the RMO. Now in Europe as a chef in one of the hotels.

17:20. Formation of officers of our 1st company. The highest in the ranks - Glukhovsky! Vladimir Glukhovsky, at the age of 27 at that time, was already a very experienced officer, who commanded a reconnaissance group in Pridnestrovie in a separate 818th special forces company, reporting directly to the commander of the 14th army, Lebed, who performed complex combat missions, and after the withdrawal from Pridnestrovie disbanded. Glukhovsky was sent to our regiment, and it so happened that he, the captain, the former commander of the group, who was already wounded, fell under the command of senior lieutenant Nikolahin, junior in rank. Glukhovsky was a man of character, very energetic and treated war as a sport. I never saw him frightened or tired, although he sometimes slept less than ours.

Behind Glukhovsky, his last deputy in the ranks. Vadim Pastukh. On his second trip in the summer of 1995, Pastukh will be the commander of the drone support group. And the commander of this unit will be Sergei Makarov, the second in the ranks. In the event that a drone was shot down by militants, Pastukh's group was supposed to ensure its search and return.

"THE CITY WAS DESTROYED, MANY HOUSES BURNED"

I don’t remember exactly, but it seems that on January 1, 1995, on the Urals, we advanced to Grozny with two companies: the 2nd 218th battalion and our 1st 901st battalion. The second company under the leadership of Major Nepryakhin was the first to enter. The third company of our battalion entered Grozny one or two days later than us.

I always thought that they entered the city on the first of January late in the evening. On the eve there was a turmoil: departures, arrivals, train security ... Perhaps one day (December 31, 1994) flew out of my memory.

Before leaving for Grozny, near the sheds, we tied boxes of sand around the Urals, and it was during the day, I remember exactly. The thaw began, and, by the way, they brought helmets - "spheres" by car, which the officers immediately snapped up, but they brought few helmets, so not even all the officers had enough. Apparently, this happened on the afternoon of January 1, and we moved out, respectively, on the second, because on December 31 we were busy with these attempts to fly somewhere, and the Urals were not tied with boxes that day. But I was always sure that the entrance to the city took place on the first of January.

On the video - the metal farms of the cannery, there were infantry machine gunners on all the platforms, who began to fire bursts at any sound.

Then, if the 218th battalion reached conservation at about the time indicated on the timer in the video frames of Lyubimov's film, then, it turns out, our company pulled itself up by night after them. Nepryakhin on the video says that they came in with a fight. And then we, the first company of the 901st battalion, moved separately (our column was not large, only a few cars). Grozny is only about 100 kilometers from Mozdok.

We moved in a column behind the second company of the 218th battalion, already in the dark. The city was destroyed electric lighting was not, but many houses burned. At one point, a mortar mine exploded in front of our Ural. The driver stopped, and immediately a second mine lay behind the car. I saw how Glukhovsky, who was sitting at the edge of the body, ran to the cab and began to pound on it with his fist, shouting: "Forward!". The driver pulled away, and where we were standing, the third mine exploded. One of the mines lay in a private house, which was in the direction of travel on the left side. We entered the cannery on January 1 late at night. The company was located in a two-story building on the second floor. My comrade and I were immediately placed on guard duty, guarding the Urals. The mortar shelling continued and several mines exploded nearby.

The plant already had infantry, the remains of some units. In the dark, we met a surviving ensign from the Maikop brigade, who told us about the death of their convoy, about how the Chechens shot the crews of vehicles leaving the burning equipment. The cannery was generally a safe place, despite occasional shelling. All the tales about compote from this plant - however, we drank compote all the time, no one broke these cans (clearly referring to the scene from feature film A.G. Nevzorova "Purgatory", 1997: "Why are you destroying banks, are you?")

Over time, the plant became a kind of springboard, where suitable parts were pulled up.

"[The plant] was a series of barrack-type rooms, but built very thoroughly. Some of them housed the headquarters of the units, others - the units withdrawn from the battle, and their armored vehicles. Some of the warehouses were still filled with canned juices and compotes. To them a human stream constantly stretched, carrying away canned jars. 4

After entering the canning factory, Glukhovsky ordered to find wooden pallets, and from these pallets to build a floor for sleeping in the two-story building where we settled down. It must be said that Glukhovsky took the organization of life very seriously and always forced the most comfortable conditions possible to create for sleep and rest. He immediately sent one of our fighters to make lamps from shell casings. It turned out that this ancient tried and tested way of lighting has no alternative. Later, when the building is under mortar attack, we will move to the basement, and there, too, our commander will force us to equip sleeping places, build a stove from a barrel and make a dozen lamps from shells. This habit of equipping locations as comfortably as possible will remain with us until the end of the service.

On the same day, a captured artillery spotter will be brought in. Then there was a version about a "captain dressed in uniform", I don't know if these people are different or not. But the spotter is not a myth, and I saw it myself.

Officer 22 obrSpN Vyacheslav Dmitriev:“For some time we were pestered by mortar shelling, from which there was no escape. This continued until the spotter was caught. Some of the sentries noticed a man of Slavic appearance in the uniform of a captain Russian army, who alone entered, then again left the territory of the cannery. It was checked, the part number in the documents did not match any number military units who entered Grozny, and the artillery compass and the Japanese radio station dispelled all doubts. During interrogation, it turned out that he was a Ukrainian mercenary. Further fate its unknown. Some said that he was sent to Mozdok to the filtration point of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, others that they shot him right there, behind the barracks. In those circumstances, both could be true." 4

The captive spotter will flaunt: "Welcome to hell!" There were rumors that the infantrymen took him on the roof of either a five-story building, or a nine-story building nearby, he had a walkie-talkie with him, but this is also unlikely, rather he "rummaged around" near the plant, and apparently lost his scent from impunity. He was a Chechen with a big nose, unshaven, spoke with an accent, was dressed in black trousers and a long black leather jacket with pockets. I now think that this was a mercenary, but most likely one of the locals, such as a surveyor or a retired military man, you cannot teach a simple shepherd to use a compass so quickly. I will see him the next day. The spotter was kept in the basement of the house where we lived at first. There, near the porch, the next morning I saw him and did not recognize him, his face was very badly broken, he cried and said: "Do not kill me, I am a soldier like you!" A tall thin general was talking to him frowningly.

It became psychologically difficult already on January 2: constant lack of sleep, knee-deep mud, shelling from mortars, snipers. Even to smoke - it was necessary to hide.

On January 2, if I am not mistaken, the first reconnaissance group was ordered to advance to the Petropavlovsk Highway area (but this is not accurate information). The fact is that troops were planned to approach along the highway, and the militants set up ambushes there, and it was necessary to carry out counter-ambush measures.

Major Sergey Ivanovich Shavrin, FSK Special Operations Department:"The task of the commander (commander of the 8th Guards AK, Lieutenant General L.Ya. Rokhlin) entrusted us with a difficult task: to ensure the safety of the column routes along which military equipment and troops advanced. This is Lermontovskaya street (Lermontov street, adjacent to the Petropavlovsk highway). There, on the one hand, there are houses, the private sector, and on the other, modern buildings. The militants in groups of 5-6 people made their way into the houses and fired at the columns. And the street is completely crammed with military vehicles, tankers, vehicles with ammunition. In general, every shot is a hit and a lot of damage, losses. From our joint team with commando paratroopers, we formed four groups and cleared the bandits from the quarter. They set up ambushes, and when militants were found, they went into battle. The bandits are afraid of an open battle, they avoid it. They have one tactic: bite-run away, bite-run away... They soon realized that there were ambushes, there were special forces, it was not safe there. And the bandit raids stopped. Several blocks along the road were free." 3

On one of the night exits, machine gunner Sergei Dmitruk, from the first reconnaissance group, died, number 3 or 4, I don’t remember exactly. The first loss in our company.

The aforementioned cleansing of the private sector, I don’t know exactly where, maybe somewhere in the area of ​​the Petropavlovsk highway. The voice of the commander of the first reconnaissance group of our company Konoplyannikov: "Seki to the right, Mustafa!" Mustafa is the nickname of a sniper from the VSS Radik Alkhamov from Bashkiria. Radik was very kind and very slow, but he transformed in the ring at hand-to-hand combat competitions. Small in stature, he was very wiry, with relief muscles, like Bruce Lee, Radik was the hand-to-hand champion in the battalion, they put up huge guys against him and he won everyone! When we jokingly asked: "Radik, why are you so slow?", He, drawing out his words, answered: "Sniper must be slow!"

I remember that in the morning I went on some assignment to the plant, and saw how a car was trying to break through the bridge over the Sunzha at full speed - a white "six" with four men in it. I don’t know if they were militants, but this maneuver was tragic for them: it turned out that our tank in a caponier stood opposite the bridge behind a concrete fence and with the first shot at the “six” tore off the engine hood, the driver and passenger in the front seat died, and two passengers jumped out of the back seat and rushed back across the bridge. Immediately, heavy fire was opened on the fleeing from all the metal farms of the plant, and I saw how the bullets began to tear their clothes. I sat with my neck stretched out and looked out over the fence, which infuriated Glukhovsky wildly: "Do you want a bullet in the head ?!" - He hit me with the butt on the helmet.

And the next moment, a mine flew into the territory of the plant and cut off one of our Ural drivers with a shrapnel, he fell as if he had been cut down. The guys immediately grabbed him and carried him to the doctors. Only upon arrival in Kubinka did we learn that he had survived.

SOURCES

1. God comes by himself.-M., Typography "News", 2012.-112 p., ill. Page 107.

2. Valery K. "I can't be an atheist", story. Published in the author's edition.

45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Regiment of the Airborne Forces
45th Separate Guards Orders of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Special Purpose Regiment Airborne Troops(45th Guards OPSN Airborne Forces) was formed in February 1994 on the basis of the 218th ODSHB and the 901st ODSHB.
The 901st ODSHB was formed on the basis of the order of the chief general staff USSR Armed Forces on the territory of the Transcaucasian Military District by the end of the 70s.
Then this battalion was moved to Czechoslovakia, where it was included in the structure of the Central Group of Forces. On November 20, 1979, the Oremov Laz garrison in Slovenia became the new location of 901 ODSHB in Slovenia (some sources indicate the garrison in Riechka as the location).

The battalion was equipped with approximately 30 BMD-1 combat assault vehicles. In March 1989, the number of TsGV troops began to decrease, and this process affected 901 ODSHB. At the turn of March and April, the entire battalion was moved to the Latvian Aluksne, where it was enrolled in the PribVO.

1979 - formed on the territory of the Transcaucasian Military District as the 901st separate airborne assault battalion
1979 - transferred to the Central Group of Forces in Czechoslovakia
1989 - transferred to the Baltic Military District (Aluksne)
May 1991 - transferred to the Transcaucasian Military District (Sukhumi)
August 1992 - transferred to the headquarters of the Airborne Forces and renamed the 901st separate airborne battalion
1992 - transferred as a separate battalion to the 7th Guards Airborne Division
1993 - during Georgian-Abkhazian conflict performed tasks for the protection and defense of military and government facilities on the territory of Abkhazia
October 1993 - transferred to the Moscow region
February 1994 - reorganized into the 901st separate special-purpose battalion
February 1994 - transferred to the newly formed 45th Separate Special Purpose Regiment (VDV)
In 1972, the 778th separate special-purpose radio company of 85 people was formed as part of the Airborne Forces. The main task of this unit was to drive the landing aviation to the drop point, for which the groups of this company had to land ahead of time behind enemy lines and deploy the drive equipment there. In 1975, the company was reorganized into the 778th OR REP, and in February 1980 - into the 899th separate special-purpose company with 117 people. In 1988, the 899th Special Forces Special Forces was reorganized into the 899th Special Forces Company (with a staff of 105 people) as part of the 196th Airborne Forces Ops. Later, the company was deployed to the 218th separate air assault battalion.

July 25, 1992 - formed in the Moscow Military District. The points of permanent deployment were in the Moscow region.
June-July 1992 - took part as a peacekeeping force in Transnistria
September-October 1992 - took part as a peacekeeping force in North Ossetia
December 1992 - took part as a peacekeeping force in Abkhazia
February 1994 - transferred to the newly formed 45th separate special-purpose regiment of the Airborne Forces
By July 1994, the regiment was fully formed and completed. By order of the Commander of the Airborne Forces, in order of historical continuity, the day of the formation of the 45th regiment is indicated to be the day of the formation of the 218th battalion - July 25, 1992.
On December 2, 1994, the regiment was transferred to Chechnya to participate in the liquidation of illegal armed groups. The units of the regiment took part in the hostilities until February 12, 1995, when the regiment was transferred back to its place of permanent deployment in the Moscow region. From March 15 to June 13, 1995, a combined detachment of the regiment operated in Chechnya.

On July 30, 1995, an obelisk was opened on the territory of the regiment's deployment in Sokolniki in honor of the soldiers of the regiment who died during the hostilities.
On May 9, 1995, the regiment was awarded a diploma of the President for services to the Russian Federation. Russian Federation, and the military personnel of the regiment as part of the consolidated airborne battalion took part in the parade Poklonnaya Hill dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany.
From February to May 1997, the combined detachment of the regiment was in Gudauta as part of peacekeeping mission in the zone of separation of the Georgian and Abkhaz armed forces.
On July 26, 1997, the regiment was awarded the Combat Banner and Certificate of the 5th Guards Airborne Rifle Order of Mukachevo Order of Kutuzov III degree regiment, disbanded on June 27, 1945.

May 1, 1998 the regiment was renamed the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment Airborne. The 901st Separate Special Purpose Battalion was disbanded in the spring of 1998;

From September 1999 to March 2006, the combined reconnaissance detachment of the regiment took part in the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus.

On February 2, 2001, the regiment was awarded the pennant of the Minister of Defense "for courage, military prowess and high combat skills."

On August 8, 2001, on the territory of the regiment in Kubinka, in the presence of the commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Georgy Shpak, a new memorial complex was opened in memory of the soldiers of the regiment who died in combat missions. Every year, on January 8, the regiment celebrates the Day of Remembrance for the fallen soldiers.
In April-July 2005, it was decided to transfer to the 45th regiment the Battle Banner, the title of "Guards" and the Order of Alexander Nevsky, which belonged to the 119th Guards Parachute Regiment, which was disbanded in the same year. The solemn ceremony of the transfer of distinctions took place on August 2, 2005.

In 2007, the 218th separate special-purpose battalion was reorganized into a linear one, having lost its numbering and the status of a separate military unit. Since that time, the regiment consists of two line battalions.

The regiment was returned the name of the 45th separate regiment special purpose airborne.

In August 2008, units of the regiment took part in the operation to force Georgia to peace. The officer of the regiment, Hero of Russia Anatoly Lebed was awarded the Order of St. George IV degree.

45th separate brigade special purpose is the youngest military unit in the Airborne Forces (VDV) of Russia, its formation began in February 1994.

The regiment was formed on the basis of two separate special-purpose battalions, each of which, before being included in the regiment, had its own history of formation and development.

The 901st Separate Air Assault Battalion was formed on the territory of the Transcaucasian Military District and was immediately transferred to Czechoslovakia as part of the Central Group of Forces, where from November 20, 1979 it was stationed in n. the village of Riechki.

In March 1989, in connection with the withdrawal Soviet troops from Eastern Europe, the battalion was redeployed to the city of Aluksne, Latvian SSR, and became part of the Baltic Military District. In May 1991, the battalion was transferred to the Transcaucasian Military District and relocated to the city of Sukhumi, Abkhaz ASSR.

In August 1992, the battalion was reassigned to the Command of the Airborne Forces and renamed the 901st separate airborne battalion. Later, as a separate battalion, he became part of the 7th Guards Airborne Division, but the city of Sukhumi remained the point of permanent deployment.

In 1993, during the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, the battalion performed the tasks of guarding and defending important military and state facilities on the territory of Abkhazia from looting and destruction. During this period, eight servicemen of the battalion died, having fulfilled their military duty to the end, and about 20 were injured. For the performance of combat missions, 13 servicemen of the battalion were awarded the Order "For Personal Courage", 21 people - the medal "For Courage" and 1 person - the medal "For Military Merit".

In October 1993, the battalion was redeployed from the city of Sukhumi to the Moscow region, where in February of the following year it was reorganized into the 901st separate special-purpose battalion. With the beginning of the formation of the 45th Ops of the Special Forces, the battalion was included in its composition.

The 218th separate special-purpose battalion was formed on July 25, 1992. By order of the commander of the Airborne Forces, in order of historical continuity, the day of the formation of 45 op Special Forces is considered to be the day the creation of this battalion.

The battalion took part in the implementation of peacekeeping missions in the zones of interethnic conflicts in Transnistria in June-July 1992, in North Ossetia - in September-November 1992, in Abkhazia - in December 1992. Many servicemen of the battalion were awarded for courage and heroism state awards.

Active use of battalions in the solution special tasks in various conflicts showed the need for their unification in the regiment. By July 1994, the 45th op of the Special Forces was fully formed, equipped with personnel, equipment, and began combat training.

On December 2, 1994, the personnel of the regiment left for the North Caucasus to participate in the liquidation of illegal armed formations on the territory of the Chechen Republic.

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 21, 1995, the commander of the special-purpose reconnaissance group, Senior Lieutenant Ermakov V.K. On July 30, 1995, a monument in honor of the dead scouts was opened on the territory of the regiment in a solemn ceremony.

On May 9, 1995, the regiment was awarded a diploma of the President of the Russian Federation for services to the Russian Federation. He participated in the military parade dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

From February to May 1997, the combined detachment of the regiment took part in a peacekeeping mission in the zone of separation of the Georgian and Abkhaz armed forces in the city of Gudauta.

On July 26, 1997, following the glorious traditions of the Armed Forces, the regiment was awarded the Combat banner and certificate of the 5th Guards Airborne Rifle Order of Kutuzov of Mukachevo, 3rd degree, which was disbanded on June 27, 1945.

From September 12, 1999, the combined reconnaissance detachment of the regiment took part in the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus.
In August 2008, units of the 45th Ops of the Special Forces took part in the operation to force Georgia to peace. The officer of the regiment, Hero of Russia Anatoly Lebed was awarded the Order of St. George IV degree.

On July 20, 2009, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 18, 2006 No. 1422, the regiment was awarded the St. George banner.

In April 2010, the battalion tactical group of the regiment carried out a combat mission to ensure the safety of Russian citizens on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of February 9, 2011 No. 170, the regiment was the first in recent history was awarded the Order of Kutuzov. The award was presented on April 4, 2011 at the location of the regiment in Kubinka. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev personally attached the badge and ribbon of the order to the St. George's banner of the regiment.

In May-June 2012, the regiment's reconnaissance platoon participated in joint exercises with the "green berets" of the US armed forces at the American military base of the 10th Special Operations Forces Group, located in Fort Carson.

The paratroopers of the regiment honorably continue the glorious combat traditions of scouts of all generations, proudly carry the high guard rank, because it is not for nothing that their motto is: "The strongest wins."

During the existence of the regiment, five servicemen were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation for their courage and heroism.

On the third day, we managed to get "with a watering can" and a notebook "into the 45th Separate Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Special Purpose Reconnaissance Regiment. Accompanying a group of civilian Arkharov volunteers was the head of the press service of the Airborne Forces, Colonel Alexander Anatolyevich Cherednik. Exceptionally intelligent head of the press service. I suppose it was thanks to his efforts that the visit to the guardsmen-paratroopers turned out to be so eventful.

To begin with, all those who arrived were instructed, then we were given flowers in order to put them on the stones of the monument to the dead soldiers of the regiment. The regiment, as they say, is "at war", but in war there are no losses.

The youngest unit in the Russian Airborne Forces is the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment, the formation of which began in February 1994. The regiment was formed on the basis of two separate battalions, each of which had its own history of formation and development before being included in the regiment. By order of the Commander of the Airborne Forces, in order of historical continuity, the day of the formation of the 45th regiment is considered to be the day of July 25, 1992.

On December 2, 1994, the personnel of the regiment left for the North Caucasus to participate in the liquidation of illegal armed groups on the territory of the Chechen Republic. From December 12, 1994 to January 25, 1995, reconnaissance groups and special-purpose detachments (assault detachments) from the regiment, in cooperation with units of the Airborne Forces, took part in combat operations to capture the most important enemy targets, including in the city of Grozny.

On February 12, 1995, units and subunits of the regiment returned to their permanent deployment points. On March 15, 1995, the combined detachment of the regiment again arrived in Chechnya, continuing to carry out combat missions until June 13, 1995. During this period, as a result of competent military operations, there were no losses in the regiment.

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 21, 1995, the commander of the special-purpose reconnaissance group, Senior Lieutenant Ermakov V.K., was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously) for the courage and heroism shown in the performance of a special task of the command to disarm illegal armed groups. On July 30, 1995, a monument in honor of the dead scouts was opened on the territory of the unit in a solemn ceremony.

On May 9, 1995, the regiment was awarded a diploma of the President of the Russian Federation for services to the Russian Federation. The regiment participated in the parade dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany.

From February to May 1997, the combined detachment of the regiment took part in a peacekeeping mission in the zone of separation of the Georgian and Abkhaz armed forces in the city of Gudauta.

On July 26, 1997, following the glorious traditions of the Armed Forces, the regiment was presented with the Combat banner and certificate of the 5th Guards Airborne Rifle Order of Kutuzov, 3rd class of the Mukachevo Order of Kutuzov, disbanded on June 27, 1945, and stored in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation .

Since September 12, 1999, the combined reconnaissance detachment of the regiment took part in the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus.

From the monument we went to the obstacle course. The strip, not to say that it is very huge, but large enough to be guaranteed to get tired. It imitates a section of a mountainous wooded area and is overcome at a fast pace. So that the fighters on the strip would not get bored, other fighters provided timely detonations of imitator charges and fired at the storming strip with blank cartridges from a machine gun. The paratroopers moved in twos, after overcoming each element of the obstacle course they stopped, looked around and covered their comrade, firing blanks. They moved smartly.

Not far from the obstacle course, other fighters practiced packing parachutes. The film crew of the First Channel worked next to them. Wet from the heat and diligence, the correspondent listened attentively to the commands and explanations of his personal mentor and immediately followed the instructions received. If reports are now prepared in this way, and also end with a jump with a self-laid dome, I take off my hat. The work of a professional. This one certainly won’t tell about the “overlapping of the rafters”.

From the obstacle course we went to the shooting range and looked at various types of small arms available in the state in the regiment. I can’t tell much about the weapon - I fell into unconsciousness, got agitated and lost touch with reality. Repeatedly offered to change at least some of the available samples for his photographic equipment, he even agreed to "his cartridges." But it didn't work out. But he took everything and looked at it.

Kalashnikov assault rifle with PBS-1 and underbarrel grenade launcher, modifications of the SVD sniper rifle, gun SR-1 (SPS), VSS "Vintorez", AS "Val", PSS "Vul", knife NRS-2, SME gun, submachine gun SR-2M "Veresk", PY pistol, the legendary APB with a silencer and everything else. All this is necessary not only to be able to use, but to use successfully. Separately, it was told about the presence of a collection of captured weapons, for example, Georgian. It is also closely studied so that the fighters, if necessary, can beat the enemy with his own weapons.

We arrived at the territory of the airborne complex (VDK). This is a decent size playground with all the necessary simulators for a full-fledged training in parachuting. With us, two groups of fighters demonstrated several exercises to separate from aircraft and safe landing. All exercises were carried out as expected: with two parachutes (main and reserve), with weapons and with all standard ammunition.

Soldiers are taught all the necessary actions on mock-ups of real aircraft from which paratroopers jump. There is a full-fledged parachute tower, a simulator has been built for making a training jump from a helicopter. You equip yourself properly, climb the ladder to the tower, enter the troop compartment of the helicopter, fix yourself on the rail and jump down and forward, vigorously pushing off with your feet.

With a decent speed, with a roar and a metallic clang, you rush forward along the guide rail. To increase naturalism, the rail is skillfully curved in several places, so that every trainee is jerked and thrown up as in a real jump. At the end of the training path, a paratrooper is waiting for a group of colleagues with a safety rope. Having grouped, the paratrooper flies with his feet into a specially prepared area with sawdust, and the other two insure the “landed” with a special rope, preventing the excess from flying forward.

Looks like an attraction in the Park of Culture. But during the training jump, the paratrooper does not forget to perform a number of actions, brought to full automatism. As a matter of fact, the very fact of a successful landing, for example, for me is the end of a risky experiment, joy and a desire to immediately drink. And for a fighter - only the beginning. It was me who, after my first jump, went light to the bar, and for him, after landing, a forced march and / or a fight usually follow.

Soldiers-paratroopers live not in the barracks, but in a soldier's hostel. In each compartment, consisting of two adjacent rooms - 4-6 people. Bathroom and toilet. In the corridor, in addition to the soldiers' quarters, there are Gym, lounge, classrooms. Everything inside is clean and cool. At the entrance there are tanks with drinking water and mugs for those who want to quench their thirst. The orderly carefully glares at all incoming and outgoing. In general, a good, comfortable and clean accommodation. I especially remember the wall newspaper, it is documented there below. Laughed.

Not without, of course, without a dining room. No miracles were seen in the dining room - just good-quality male grub. Without frills, arugula and vyazigi, God forgive me, were not served, but you can see right away: the food is hearty and fresh. Without unnecessary frills, he ate everything that was offered. I didn't want any more because it was very hot. The thermometer was rushing to the mark of +40.

To the building of the soldiers' canteen, soldiers march in formation and sing a song. The song was the same for everyone, with intolerant words "we are Russians, Russians are coming!" Some commanders reported to their fighters that they did not hear the units. In response, the unit turned up the volume and brutally stamped the step. very good in total mass fighters of a fresh draft were noticeable. Berets are hoisted on the shaved heads of young guardsmen, but some are not like that. Grated, seasoned warriors, with honor, wear drop-cut berets, which certainly look much more bravo than the “default” headgear.

But the soldier's ingenuity, of course, figured out how best to remake the authorized "airfields" into what is needed: the fighter is stocked with a beret small size, rips out the lining from it. If he takes a suture (i.e. with a seam), the fabric is torn along the seam, all the excess is cut off and sewn again. The sutured beret is wetted with water and dried on a jar of a suitable diameter or directly on the head.

The procedure must be repeated until complete readiness. As soon as the beret is ready, it is necessary to clarify the haircut. "A droplet" on a shaved head in a statutory way looks like it should! A fighter passing by in such a “droplet” additionally explained that if you bother with self-manufacturing I don’t want a beret, then you can just buy ready-made. And he left smiling.

I noticed some discrepancy in the shoes. One of the paratroopers explained that you can use the boots that are given out as shoes, or you can buy for your money the ones you like. This, of course, is not about lacquered boots or cowboy "Cossacks", but about jumping boots for everyday wear. I saw several people in solid American and German boots. And at the shooting range he paid attention to heels. The fighters with weapons lay down in position, so that the soles were clearly visible. A lot of boots with a pretty worn out tread, so they run and jump all the time.

A group of fighters with an officer demonstrated to the audience the main set of weapons and equipment of a reconnaissance fighter. Small arms, ammunition, a knife, hand and grenade grenades, mines, a one-time anti-tank grenade launcher, ropes, wires, adhesive tape, dressing bags, foam, a hat with a sweater, an infantry shovel, explosives in checkers, a minimum of medicines, various detonators and other necessary for autonomous reconnaissance in war conditions.

For ease of understanding: once I had a chance to carry 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Ammo only, no weapons or other equipment. I managed to walk four kilometers. It was very hard. And the fighter has 450+ rounds of ammunition for the machine gun, the machine itself and all of the above. And we must constantly look around, under our feet, be ready to open fire and cover our comrades. And on you - 40+ kilograms of equipment and weapons.

It was especially interesting to learn about the mines that scouts can use to organize ambushes or, for example, evade pursuit if necessary. Just by destroying this very persecution. They showed a MON-50 directional mine and an OZM-72 omnidirectional fragmentation mine jumping out. I met German analogues of OZM-72 more than once, but MON-50 turned it over in his hands for the first time. They said very effective weapon in capable hands, an analogue of the American M18A1 Claymore.

In short: inside the plastic body of the mine in a synthetic resin filler are metal balls and rollers. Pieces 500 approximately. And plastic explosives. When a mine is triggered, a specially curved body of the product makes metal submunitions fly in a sector 54 degrees wide and about 5 meters high. At a distance of 50 meters, the lethal effect of submunitions is reliable. A terrible thing, it mows everything in the working sector. And if you combine it with others of the same kind, mask and complement the effect small arms- there is no salvation at all. Excellent remedy For ambush, including for ambush without direct contact with the enemy.

The jumping mine is a round steel can. At the moment of operation, it throws up, above itself, an internal “glass” with the same balls-rollers, only there are already about 2,500 of them. The glass is tied to a tension cable. A mine worked, the glass flew to a height of about a meter, the cable twitched, the detonator went off, metal balls flew in all directions and wounded and killed everyone, even the lying soldiers.

This mine is perhaps the most powerful of the circular destruction fragmentation mines. Even the OZM-160 mines, which are much larger in size and weight, do not provide such an even distribution of fragments over the affected area, as the OZM-72 mine distributes its ready-made lethal elements.

The experience of using the mine unequivocally indicates that in the zone of continuous destruction (the radius of the zone is 30 meters) there will not be a single object the size of a person who will not receive at least one video. even if it's flat on the ground. The explosion of this mine, due to its screeching sound of flying rollers, is not to be confused with any other. The soldiers nicknamed her "Zlyuka" or "Witch".

From the funny: during his stay at the VDK, Colonel Cherednik told how exactly they use the old ones when training paratroopers car tires. You need to carefully jump over them like this and like that - and immediately demonstrated personally how exactly you need to jump. Jumped, I remind you, the whole colonel. In uniform, with shoulder straps. The faces of young soldiers resting on the sidelines expressed some degree of surprise :).

Some airborne portraits:

Ah, yes. Completely forgot. Of course, all of the above is pure window dressing. Personally, the Minister of Defense from the bushes made sure that we liked everything, and then, in the dining room, he secretly put meat in a saucepan. I noticed him and understood: this is such a secret plan to throw dust in the eyes of soldiers' mothers. Let me!