Get to forty-five. Airborne Special Forces - the elite of the Russian armed forces 45th Guards Special Purpose Brigade
45th Separate Special Purpose Regiment of the Airborne Forces
Special forces units are separate divisions troops that are intended to perform special tasks and operations. They can be part of the navy, ground and air forces, or part of the police and internal authorities. They use special tactics and means to carry out operations.
One type of special forces is the airborne special forces. This is a special forces unit that is part of air- airborne troops. The Airborne Special Forces were formed in Russia in 1994. On the basis of two special purpose battalions - the 901st OBSpN and 218 OBSpN, a single 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was formed. By July 1994 it was fully equipped. Already in December, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was sent to the war in Chechnya to destroy armed gangs.
Separate units of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment took part in hostilities until February 1995, and from March to June of the same year, a free detachment of the regiment continued to operate in Chechnya. The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is considered one of the most legendary in military history Russia - many of its soldiers and officers were awarded medals and orders, including the titles of Heroes Russian Federation.
Airborne special forces weapons
Airborne special forces are equipped with higher quality equipment, technology, and weapons than other parts of the troops, and this requires a lot of funding. Airborne special forces use weapons that are rarely available to conventional troops. For example, the SVD rifle is often used, which is very powerful and reliable. There is a known case when a good shooter shot down a jet attack aircraft with an SVD rifle, hitting the pilot.
Very often the so-called “Vintorez” is used - a silent sniper rifle. With its help, a well-trained sniper can hit a target at great distances. The Vintorez rifle is so powerful that it can penetrate a steel helmet at a distance of up to 400 meters. The first use of Vintorez occurred during the First Chechen War. Vintorez is available only to special forces units; regular troops do not have access to this weapon.
Many countries use the Steyr AUG universal rifle to equip special forces. This weapon is designed for combat in urban environments and for performing lightning-fast combat missions. The rifle's magazine is made of translucent material, which even allows you to visually control the number of cartridges remaining in the magazine.
The Steyr rifle is automatic - it is also possible to install a grenade launcher, which makes it truly universal and indispensable for carrying out tasks by special units. It is not for nothing that at the end of the 19th century, Austria-Hungary adopted the very first sniper rifle of this company - the Steyr Mannlicher. This already indicated at that time that the weapon was reliable and effective. Since then, the rating of Stair's weapons has not decreased. Stair rifles entered service with the Airborne Special Forces quite recently, but they have already earned the respect of soldiers for their fighting qualities.
One of the types of weapons that are supplied to airborne special forces soldiers is the AS “Val”. This machine gun is a silent weapon, which is why it is used by special forces in sabotage operations. AS "Val" has the ability to attach night and sniper sights to it, which allows you to identify targets at a distance of up to 300 meters. AS "Val" is usually transported in a special case; its assembly takes from 30 to 60 seconds, depending on how prepared the shooter is.
Many countries purchase Russian export, so-called “hundredth” versions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. This list also includes the AK-103 assault rifle. This weapon is much more effective than a conventional Kalash, and is therefore used by the armies of many countries. Moreover, the AK-103 is also used by some special forces units.
One more interesting version The modernization of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is the AK-74M assault rifle. The AK-74M has the ability to mount an optical and night sight, and a stock that can be folded to the side. It is possible to use an attached grenade launcher, which is very important and convenient for special units. This is why the AK-74M is used by many special types of troops.
Also notable among the modifications is the AKS-74 model - a shortened Kalashnikov assault rifle. Moreover, the mobility and compactness of the machine gun does not make it worse in terms of characteristics in comparison with versions with a long barrel. The AKS-74 is complete in every sense, and is capable of hitting a target at a distance of more than 400 meters.
But of all the versions of Kalashnikov weapons, the most powerful, of course, remains the machine gun. Moreover, there are so many variations of the Kalashnikov Machine Gun that it is used from weapons of transport to infantrymen. The Kalashnikov machine gun was developed back in the 60s of the last century, but its popularity and the popularity of modified versions has not faded to this day. Many countries use the Kalashnikov machine gun, including for arming special units.
If conventional troops are armed with the well-known Kalashnikov assault rifle, then special forces use the PKM - a modernized Kalashnikov machine gun. The power of the PKM is significantly greater than that of a conventional machine gun and therefore the machine gun is used in special forces for assault operations.
Another popular weapon among all airborne special forces weapons is the Pecheneg machine gun. The Pecheneg machine gun is developed on the basis of the PKM and is suitable both for destroying enemy personnel and for hitting firing and transport positions and air targets. Widely used in many countries, Russia actively exports the “Pecheneg” machine gun.
In addition to the Kalashnikov assault rifle, a very similar weapon, the AN-94 Abakan, is widely used. This machine gun is created according to the classic design, with a clip in front, like the Kalash. The AN-94 Abakan is distinguished by its particular accuracy and accuracy of shots. For example, from a distance of one hundred meters, a good shooter can hit the same point on the target with two shots. This makes the AN-94 Abakan suitable for special combat operations, where the lives of many people depend on the accuracy of the shot.
In addition to all those used by special forces and Airborne troops rifles, machine guns and machine guns, RPG-26 grenades are widely used. These grenades were developed back in the 80s of the last century and since that time have been in constant service with the army. This once again confirms the effectiveness of RPG-26 grenades both against manpower and equipment and various fortifications and positions. RPG-26 grenades generally play a big role in the conduct of any combat operations, which is why they are used so widely in any wars.
Features of special forces units
Airborne special forces troops have a special status due to their specific activities. Each special forces mission requires special weapons, equipment, and equipment. Therefore, the financing of the units special purpose significantly more than the funding of other troops. The preparatory level of soldiers has an enhanced training base and special training centers. The most powerful centers train special forces for the Airborne Forces.
Usually, they serve in the airborne special forces under a contract. The contract is due to the high cost of the exercise and preparatory tests. As a rule, a contract in the Airborne Forces is concluded for no less than three years. The special forces of the Airborne Forces have a very high level of moral, physical, ideological and psychological training, which is due to the need for future special forces soldiers to work in special conditions.
Airborne special forces require special weapons and equipment, as mentioned earlier. This is due to the specific operating conditions of the departments. Therefore, the equipment and weapons of the troops are of a very narrow profile. Reconnaissance companies, battalions and other special forces perform tasks autonomously and in extreme conditions. This type of unit is also engaged in reconnaissance. Usually special forces are thrown behind enemy lines, where the most important strategic points and centers are located.
Special forces of the Airborne Forces (Russian landing forces) travel very long distances on foot and carry all the equipment and equipment on themselves, which requires special training under a contract in the Airborne Forces. Our military store offers a wide selection of paratrooper symbols, which can be purchased at the best prices. Photo of a soldier of the 45th Separate Special Forces Special Forces:
A brief history of airborne special forces
There were no official special forces of the USSR Airborne Forces. Similar units in Russia date back to the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment in 1994. After the withdrawal of these troops from Chechnya in 1995, a monument was unveiled in Sokolniki in honor of those killed during military operations. In May of the same year, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was awarded a diploma from the President of the Russian Federation, and the regiment took part in the parade on Poklonnaya Hill in honor of the victory over the Nazis 50 years ago.
From the winter to the spring of 1997, a detachment of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment took part in peacekeeping operations in Gudauta, the zone of separation of forces of Abkhazia and Georgia. In the summer of the same year, 45 Guards. OPSPN were presented with the Battle Banner and a certificate of the Order of Kutuzov, 3rd degree. From the autumn of 1999 to the spring of 2006, a detachment of the regiment participated in operations against terrorists in the North Caucasus. In the summer of 2001, a memorial was opened in Kubinka in honor of the fallen soldiers of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment. Every year, Days of Remembrance for fallen soldiers take place within the regiment. The glory of the Airborne Forces comes precisely from such heroes, in whose honor the monument was erected.
In February 2008 it was renamed the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment of the Order of Alexander Nevsky. In the summer of the same year, individual units participated in operations to persuade Georgia to peace. Officer Anatoly Lebed was awarded the Order of St. George, IV degree. In the spring of 2010, a group of regiment soldiers carried out tasks for the security of Russian citizens on the territory of Kyrgyzstan. In 2012, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment participated in joint exercises with the Green Berets in America, at Fort Carson.
Creativity associated with airborne special forces
Many films have been made and many songs have been written about the heroic exploits and operations of the special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces. Many materials are also presented in the Voenpro informational feed. Read about this in our numerous articles. Watch movies and listen to music - Voenpro has it all. The airborne special forces in Chechnya went through a lot and greatly influenced the course of the war. Therefore, war veterans deserve eternal memory and respect. Many documentaries tell about what it was like for soldiers in Chechnya. They talk about the horrors they saw and what they went through.
A huge number of songs are still written about veterans of the Chechen war and about those who died in it. Comrades sing songs in honor and memory of their fallen friends, in honor of those with whom they were in conditions of life and death. There are also many amateur films on the Internet, both of combat operations and other special operations. The special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces are extremely popular among young people and many also want to serve in it.
Facilities mass media created a certain cult of airborne special forces, which is why it is so popular today. Young people are simply “dizzy” at the thought that they can freely use weapons and kill people. Computer games and television are filled with murder and violence, and people turn into animals ready to tear to pieces the enemy.
So, many films related to the actions of the airborne special forces in Chechnya can be found here. Videos of airborne special forces can be found, for example, this landing video:
An interesting clip was made about the special forces of the Airborne Forces “Leshy” - Vyacheslav Korneev. This clip can be viewed at the following link:
45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment - soldiers of the future
Oddly enough, in Chechnya the special forces are well remembered and known about it. Only the information that special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces would soon approach forced the militants to leave their positions and leave their place of stay. When the first Chechen war took place, the leadership of the Chechen militants promised a huge bonus to anyone who could bring at least one soldier of the 45th regiment into captivity. But no one received such a prize, because during those hostilities, not a single special forces soldier of the Russian Airborne Forces ended up with the Chechens, either dead or alive.
The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is, one might say, the youngest unit Russian army. The regiment was created from two battalions in order to be ready to fight the Cold War. The units were supposed to conduct active reconnaissance and sabotage operations, mainly behind enemy lines. They also had to prepare a place for the landing of landing troops. Considering that the airborne special forces were created after “ cold war“, he is still able to solve such problems and prevent such situations.
Ever since the Soviet troops were brought into Afghanistan, the Russian Armed Forces have been constantly involved in resolving various conflicts. Therefore, when the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was formed, there was already enough experience to make the soldiers universal and truly prepared for war. In addition, many foreign developments and technologies were introduced, which only had a positive impact on the quality of the created special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces. Therefore, the main goal and purpose of the special forces soldiers of the Russian Airborne Forces is to resolve any military conflicts and problems of a local nature.
Consequently, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is a unique combat unit in Russia, which has all the necessary weapons, equipment, and devices to accomplish its missions. In addition to the battalions directly comprising the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment, it also has a detachment aircraft, which do not need pilots, a special purpose detachment for solving extremely important tasks, and a detachment for performing psychological operations.
The main task of the psychological detachment of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is to demoralize and disorientate the enemy troops - that is, to destroy his faith in victory, in the meaning of resistance. Moreover, the detachment can turn “for” neutral civilians who have not yet decided which side to defend. And this is especially important in our information era. Therefore, the psychological detachment of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment, among other things, also has a compact television station, which provides the opportunity to broadcast programs within a radius of ten kilometers. That is, the influence on the civilian population is thus intensified.
The capabilities of the special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces are enormous. The core of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment are special units. These units did not arise, naturally, without reason - the battalions combined into one regiment already had accumulated experience under their feet. Battalion fighters fought during the Transnistrian conflict, and regimental fighters took part in operations during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. Basically, during the Georgian-Abkhaz war, the special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces ensured the safety of civilians and refugees.
But it was not only in the war that the fighters showed their worth. For several years, during international competitions of special units that take place in Bulgaria, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment has taken first place, beating the Green Berets and British special forces.
But the goal to achieve the status of a universal airborne special forces soldier is not so close. If previously ordinary conscripts entered the school, now there are few of them. Consequently, there is no one to choose soldiers from. Previously, almost all applicants had sports categories in several categories, but now there are only a few such conscripts.
Basically, people enter service under a contract in the Airborne Forces, and from these recruits it is practically impossible to choose anyone sensible. A few only have higher or specialized education, while the majority have completed secondary education. And then there is joy - if it is completed. But even such applicants are turned into real Russian special forces. First of all, the applicant undergoes many psychological and physical tests to determine his readiness and ability to serve in these troops.
After they determine your personal characteristics, they tell you what military specialty you are heading to. For example, people of a very calm and balanced character are better suited than anyone else to work as a sniper or sapper of the airborne special forces. The remaining part of the recruits who were not distributed anywhere are transferred to support units or to other military units.
After this type of selection there is a quarantine, an oath, and then, naturally, they move on to the exercises. To say that it is very difficult to serve in the airborne special forces, for example, in military unit 33842, is the same as remaining silent. Constant training is replaced by forced marches and night shooting, facade mountaineering is replaced by tactical exercises or sapper training. And so constantly in a circle.
Naturally, not all potential special forces fighters of the Russian Airborne Forces can withstand such loads and pace. Therefore, after about six months, only about forty percent of those new students who entered are left. Moreover, the number is decreasing for various reasons. Some people develop health problems from such stress, some cannot stand it physically, some are kicked out by commanders due to poor performance. Those places that remain from the departed airborne special forces are filled with the best paratroopers. As a result, after the first year of training, nobodies turn into real airborne elite fighters who are fluent in weapons and various devices.
But it should be noted that, despite the complexity of the training and workload, there are no fewer people willing to serve in the special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces. All this is because the service is very interesting and useful for guys. There is no hazing here, and service in the 45th Special Operations Division is an excellent start for work and service in other structures of the internal bodies of the state. After finishing your service, you will be gladly hired into any type of security, security and protection, or secret units. The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment offers excellent military and career prospects for a young man who can endure difficult service and workloads.
The result of your studies may be, if you wish, participation in hostilities. Although the experience accumulated by previous generations is little used as usual in our country, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment resolves many issues independently. The soldiers have manuals that are printed by some regiment officers, which leads to the correspondence of what is written with reality. Nowadays, when the main actions in Chechnya have ended, the role of the airborne special forces, which can very usefully carry out reconnaissance, search and all sorts of raid missions, is significantly increasing. Therefore, the complete withdrawal of special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces from Chechnya is not yet planned in the near future.
IN given time Airborne special forces in Chechnya operate as a free detachment near the village of Khatuni. The importance of this place is very great for the state, and therefore special forces have enormous tasks and responsibilities on their shoulders. The combined detachment also includes units of the FSB, special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and others. Everyone has their own tasks within the overall goal. Fire training of fighters in this operation is especially important, so the exercises train fighters as needed. The loads are enormous, because of this, fighters lose five or even eight kilograms in a couple of months, even taking into account the fact that the nutrition here is enhanced.
Moreover, the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB sometimes have to perform tasks that are not within their competence. Therefore, they work together with the airborne special forces in Chechnya, which specializes in this type of combat operations. All these parts of the squad are friends with each other and actively help and support each other in difficult situations in order to achieve a common goal. No one pays attention to departmental subordination in this situation.
Some part of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is stationed in Sokolniki. There they are in the barracks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. And this unit is very actively fighting to be part of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, according to all official documents. And there are several reasons for this.
Historically, the Preobrazhensky Regiment is the first regiment of regular weapons in Russia. And the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment - one might say, the first regiment new army Russia, regiment of the future. And the attitude towards fighters is completely new, compared to the old views. Now every airborne special forces soldier is a valuable asset into which a lot of finance and other resources have been invested. Previously, fighters were cannon fodder without much specific training, whom no one valued or counted in the war.
Now the fighters are highly professional and qualified. Now the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is the place where experienced and skilled special forces personnel are trained. Many of those who went through this school serve in internal organs, Alpha, Omega and many other promising places. But it is worth noting that after many years of service in the regiment, most officers do not want to be transferred to other places for a service that is more promising. This is because over the years, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment has truly become a family and home for them, which they cannot and do not want to leave.
The regiment itself has developed special psychological and moral principles that make its officers friendly and brotherly. This can be seen from the fact that those officers who retired and settled well regularly sponsor those fighting in Chechnya. It is interesting to note that veterans of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment help not only with material means.
It happened that when we had to replace fighters in the Caucasus in 1999, there was no suitable replacement. Then the reserve officers decided to come to the aid of the regiment. They abandoned their lucrative official and career positions and formed their own detachment of veterans, which went to the Caucasus. Their very first task was to occupy an important height and ensure that they would repel enemy attacks for four hours. At this time, the regiment was able to train new special forces soldiers of the Russian Airborne Forces to send them to the Caucasus.
Over all the years of existence of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment, its officers have not stopped fighting. All conflicts that occurred in Chechnya, Bosnia, Dagestan, Kosovo were resolved with the help of special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces. During this period, there were awards from the minister and awards to five soldiers of the regiment as Heroes of Russia. And, oddly enough, various accusations were also present in the history of the regiment. But, be that as it may, the airborne special forces are still the real elite of the Russian army.
His warriors performed excellently during all conflicts and wars. A bunch of enemy weapons and drug warehouses were found, many civilian lives were saved, and many disasters were prevented. As a result, the officers have earned their proud existence with a strong and resilient body, and the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment is truly a regiment of the future.
News related to airborne special forces
There is news that the special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces recently adopted a foreign Steyr Mannlicher rifle. Their total number that the soldiers received was more than thirty units. The representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense for the Airborne Forces, Alexander Kucherenko, spoke about this news. He says these are the first Mannlicher rifles of foreign origin to enter the regiment. In general, the purchase of Austrian weapons began in 2010.
Moreover, they say that the supply of Austrian sniper rifles will not end there, and the regiment will be provided with them regularly. The soldiers have already completed all the necessary training courses on the use of these weapons at the centers of the Ministry of Defense and are ready to use them. They do not specify which model of the Mannlicher rifle was adopted. Before this, the airborne special forces used the SVD sniper rifle.
They also say that the replenishment also affected equipment. The number of aircraft that do not require a pilot has increased significantly. Again, it does not say which devices were received. The Airborne Special Forces also received about two dozen reconnaissance location stations, more than three dozen other reconnaissance devices and several ground observation stations.
More about what's new
It was recently reported that an airborne special forces detachment destroyed a monument to the fallen SS soldiers in Lithuania. The state is trying by all possible means to prove that no such order was officially submitted from the headquarters. They're still trying to figure out what's going on.
According to the first information, it turns out that the commander of the airborne special forces detachment took all the blame upon himself. It seems that he, having gotten drunk, gave the order to his detachment, which at that moment was on training exercises in the Pskov region, to cross the border with Lithuania and destroy the SS monument there. The state confirms this version, citing the fact that there was no communication with the headquarters during the exercises, and therefore he could not give such an order for objective reasons. The airborne special forces commander himself is under guard and cannot comment on this matter.
The fact is that no one would probably have known that it was the special forces of the Airborne Forces who destroyed the monument, but surveillance cameras recorded the crime. But the detachment worked so quietly that not a single civilian and not a single policeman saw the action itself. In addition, microphones were installed on the cameras.
And the Lithuanian government heard everything that the Russian airborne special forces said about those who allowed the installation of the SS monument. In general, at first the Lithuanian government was at a loss, because it is not every day that a special forces detachment of the Russian Airborne Forces destroys a monument in the center of a Lithuanian city. It couldn't even believe it if it weren't for the video. The Russian government did not initially give any comments, but was forced to do so under the influence of photographic evidence provided to it. Now all the details of the circumstances are being clarified.
One day of training
The Airborne Special Forces detachment moved very secretly and quietly through the dense forest. On all sides the detachment had gun muzzles sticking out, ready to fire at any necessary moment. The soldiers walked, covering each other, constantly observing and analyzing the situation around them. It was necessary to constantly listen and sniff everything around.
It was already the third day of training, and the scouts of the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment were actively preparing for the previous competitions. The main composition of the detachment is soldiers who are under contract in the Airborne Forces and young conscript soldiers. The instructor said that in order to fully train a full-fledged airborne special forces soldier, it takes at least three years. It turns out that the conscripts were of no use, and they do not support the group in any way. Although, the detachment commander said that the conscripts have shown themselves very well in recent days and they are not a burden.
In addition to the detachment commanders, the group also included snipers, demolitions and signalmen. Of course, each has his own type of activity, task and specialization, but in the case of a missing link, each of the fighters is able to replace the other in a full-fledged manner. The special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces are, indeed, universal soldiers capable of performing a wide variety of tasks.
The detachment's weapons were very diverse. Some fighters had in their hands sniper rifles SVD, others received Vintorez as their weapon. Some of the fighters were also armed with Kalashnikov machine guns. Of course, all fighters are trained to master bladed weapons in an excellent manner, so everyone must have a blade. In addition, everyone has pistols, and in some cases - with a silencer.
On this day of exercises, the tasks were very diverse and varied. At first, airborne special forces fighters had to carefully move through the forest, well camouflaged and preparing for possible attack. After this, it was supposed to simulate the injury of one of the fighters and provide him with first aid. After this, it was necessary to capture the car, taking the enemy from it, and at the end it was necessary to overcome the water barrier.
The squad members had a wide variety of clothing and equipment, but mostly of high quality. In general, the airborne special forces soldiers wore what they didn’t mind and what was cheaper and better. This was explained primarily by the fact that the soldiers dressed entirely at their own expense. But, since the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment are universal soldiers, they are accustomed to working in the most diverse and specific conditions.
The shoes attracted particular attention. It was, oddly enough, non-standard, but, apparently, comfortable, high quality and expensive. What also aroused interest was what the airborne special forces soldiers use - socks or foot wraps. It turned out that there is no special law; you can wear both the first and the other. The only difference is which one is more convenient to use. Shoes are very important for airborne special forces, because they have to carry weight on themselves, sometimes reaching forty to fifty kilograms, but in this case they told me that the weight was about twenty to thirty kilograms.
After the detachment left the forest, the fighters crossed the road and successfully clashed with an unexpected enemy, as a result of which one of the special forces soldiers of the Russian Airborne Forces was seriously wounded. The wound was in the lower limb, and another bullet hit the eye. Everything was complicated by the fact that there was active bleeding that needed to be stopped.
The injured Airborne Special Forces soldier had his leg tied with a tourniquet and his head heavily bandaged. After this, it was necessary to inject the drug into a vein. The injection was done for real, only instead of cardiac stimulants, ordinary harmless glucose was injected.
Before capturing the enemy, the airborne special forces detachment split up on different sides of the road. As the truck approached the required distance, bags of paint flew into the windshield.
Under real conditions, bullets would have flown, but since there were exercises, bags of paint were flying. After this, the detachment successfully captured the prisoner. This took about thirty seconds. The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment, as always, worked promptly and professionally. What aroused interest was what they do with the prisoner, because he can also remain silent, as we often see in films. But I was informed that such situations when a prisoner is silent practically never happen in history.
If a prisoner refuses to speak, such psychological and physical methods are applied to him by the airborne special forces that his will breaks and he gives out everything he needs. After interrogation, the fate of the captured person can be decided in two ways. The first is that he will be left alive if the Russian Airborne Forces special forces command still needs him. Then his will is limited, but he remains alive. If there is no longer any need for the prisoner, he can be destroyed.
When the time came to carry out the last task, that is, to cross the river, the soldiers were noticeably happy. The airborne special forces took off everything except their hats and T-shirts. In combat conditions, black fins are used for swimming, but during exercises - yellow ones, so that if they are lost they can be found. After completely collecting the things and packing them in special waterproof bags, the airborne special forces tied weapons to them. Next, a rope is tied from plastic bottles.
Two swimmers swim to the other side, and the rest prepare for swimming and defend themselves. When two special forces soldiers of the Russian Airborne Forces crossed, the next two floated, using a rope made of bottles to facilitate movement. And so the swimming continues. After all the soldiers of the detachment moved to the other side, everyone was very tired and hungry. The commander said that the detachment had four to five hours to rest, and after that they could move on. If, of course, it is necessary.
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The 45th regiment is one of the youngest units of the Russian army; it was formed on the basis of the 218th and 901st special forces battalions, which celebrated their tenth anniversary this year. During the Cold War, when troops were preparing for a "fight on full blast", using weapons mass destruction, army special forces had to solve the corresponding problems. These units were intended for in-depth reconnaissance and sabotage (primarily against nuclear facilities) behind enemy lines. And if necessary, they could ensure a landing on enemy territory. Despite the fact that the Airborne Special Forces were created after the end of the Cold War, they are fully prepared to solve such problems in the interests of the Airborne Forces. But this is only one side of the coin.
Non-lethal weapons
Since the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, our Armed Forces have continuously participated in various wars and conflicts. So, by the time the formation of the 45th regiment began, the airborne reconnaissance officers had accumulated a wealth of combat experience. And this experience, together with rethought foreign developments (a lot was borrowed from the British SAS, including the motto “The strongest wins”), was fully implemented when creating the new part. So the main task of the Airborne Special Forces is to solve any problems in local conflicts. In this sense, the 45th regiment is unique, the only unit in the Russian Armed Forces that has everything necessary for this. In addition to two special forces battalions, it includes a detachment of unmanned aerial vehicles, a detachment of psychological operations, and a special detachment, staffed only by officers, warrant officers and contract soldiers, designed to solve extremely complex and especially important tasks. Including anti-terrorist ones. A sort of “mini-Alpha” for destroying terrorists at Ministry of Defense facilities.
The purpose of psychological operations is to disorient, demoralize the enemy, undermine faith in victory, and force him to stop resistance. In addition, the target of psychological operations may be the population of the combat area, neutral or hostile. The importance of psychological influence on the enemy has been great throughout military history, but it has especially increased in our information age. Moreover, in “low-intensity” conflicts, where there is no front line, and the definition of people according to the principle of “friend or foe” can be very conditional. This is well understood, for example, by Americans who annually spend on " non-lethal weapons"several times more than nuclear weapons. And this approach justifies itself. Take, for example, the actions of US troops in Panama and Haiti, where psychological operations forces played a decisive role.
The Russian Armed Forces are seriously behind the West in these matters. All the more valuable is the unique experience of the psychological warfare unit created within the 45th regiment.
In addition to the field printing press and equipment with sound amplification equipment, the psychological operations squad has a television station capable of broadcasting and rebroadcasting programs within a radius of 10 km. There is a small studio where you can edit and dub a TV program. All equipment is located in GAZ-66 kungs, which ensures high mobility and efficiency of work. Thus, the detachment has serious opportunities to influence public opinion in a combat zone.
What are special forces capable of?
But the core of the 45th regiment is, of course, special forces units. In this sense, the part did not arise out of nowhere. The 218th and 901st special forces battalions brought together already had considerable experience and brilliant victories behind them. So the soldiers of the 218th battalion carried out the “peace enforcement” operation, which, in fact, put an end to the bloody Transnistrian conflict. The 901st battalion was stationed in Sukhumi just before the start of the Georgian-Abkhaz war, and immediately found itself in the very epicenter of the unfolding events. The paratroopers ensured the evacuation of refugees - mainly vacationers caught up in the war.
But, fortunately, special forces have the opportunity to prove themselves not only in such a dramatic situation. For several years in a row, at international special forces competitions held in Bulgaria, soldiers of the 45th Regiment have taken first place, leaving both the Green Berets and the SAS team far behind.
Universal Soldier Forge
The main contingent of special forces battalions are conscript soldiers. If a few years ago regiment officers had the opportunity to choose the best from conscripts, today the situation has changed. A quota has been established for the Airborne Special Forces - up to 10% of conscripts sent to the regiment may have a criminal record. The regiment's officers state that, compared to previous years, conscripts are increasingly less able to meet the level required for service in special forces. Until recently, almost all recruits had sports ranks, but today there are only a few of them. Previously, almost every third person had a higher or secondary technical education. And now a recruit with a completed secondary education is already a gift.
But even from such problematic material, the regiment is made into a super soldier in the full sense of the word. First of all, the recruit undergoes a series of psychological tests and physical tests to determine his level of readiness for service in special forces. Depending on his personal characteristics, his future military specialty is determined. For example, people who are calm, balanced and psychologically stable, phlegmatic, are ideally suited to work as a sniper or sapper. Some recruits are eliminated immediately - they end up in support units, or are transferred to other units.
Then the training begins. To say that service in special forces is “not honey” is, in general, to say almost nothing. Marching throws are replaced by night shooting, flowing into tactical training, which ends with frontal mountaineering, or, say, sapper training. Not everyone can withstand such a rhythm either. As a result, after six months, no more than 40% of the “young” remain in the special forces companies: some themselves begin to ask for transfer to another unit, others are expelled by the commander. Any vacancies that arise are filled with the best fighters of the airborne divisions. And by the end of the first year of service, the green “newcomers” turn out to be competent fighters, capable of completing any task, fluent in weapons, communications and demolition equipment.
It must be said that, despite the enormous workload, there are no fewer people wanting to get into the 45th. Firstly, young guys here are simply interested. Secondly, the prestige of serving in the Airborne Special Forces is very high. And thirdly, there is no “hazing” here in its classic form. The officers of the regiment are convinced that human dignity and self-respect are necessary qualities of a special forces soldier, who, due to the specifics of his service, is obliged to take responsibility and show initiative. And the person is broken, psychologically depressed, and is ballast for reconnaissance. And finally, the very fact of serving in the 45th Separate Division is an excellent recommendation for joining other law enforcement agencies to work in the security service or security structure.
From Chechnya to Sokolniki
The precious combat experience accumulated by the regiment, as is usually the case with us, is almost not in demand. But the regiment command resolves this issue independently. Fortunately, the psychological operations detachment has its own printing house - special forces soldiers print their own instructions and manuals. In addition, a certain training center has emerged on the basis of the regiment, where not only paratroopers are trained.
Today, when full-scale hostilities in Chechnya have ceased, the role of special forces capable of effectively conducting raids, search and other reconnaissance activities is increasing many times over. Consequently, the withdrawal of the 45th regiment from Chechnya is not expected in the foreseeable future.
Now the special forces are operating as part of a combined detachment stationed in the mountainous part of the republic near the village of Khatuni. This place, where the Vedenskoye and Sharoargun gorge connect, has a very great importance. Therefore, the responsibility is great, and the range of tasks solved by the combined detachment is wide. In addition to Airborne Special Forces fighters, it includes units of the FSB, special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Internal Troops and the Ministry of Justice. All have their own functions within the framework of a common task. Combat coordination begins in preparation for a planned replacement, at the base of the 45th regiment. The main emphasis is on tactical-special and fire training, as well as on life support issues. The loads are quite significant - during three months of training, fighters lose from 5 to 8 kg of weight, despite the fact that they receive enhanced nutrition.
It is known that SOBR and OMON in the Caucasus very often have to perform tasks that are not typical for them. As the experience of the “Khatuninsky” detachment shows, employees of police special forces, after joint training with their fellow paratroopers, successfully operate in emergency, “non-police” situations. In addition, having met and made friends before arriving in Chechnya, and having worked out in detail all aspects of the upcoming operations, people act as a single team. Regardless of departmental subordination.
Some of the regiment's units are stationed in Sokolniki in the barracks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. But not only this circumstance forces the special forces to fight for the high honor of being officially called the “Preobrazhensky Regiment.”
As you know, the Preobrazhensky Regiment was the first regiment of the regular army of Russia. And the 45th is also, in a sense, the first regiment of the Armed Forces of the future, which has yet to be created. This is a completely new, comprehensive approach to solving problems, and a completely different attitude towards personnel, not as consumables, but as professionals of enormous value. It is known that Peter I considered his “amusing” men as the backbone of the future Russian army. A separate reconnaissance regiment of the Airborne Forces, like the old Preobrazhensky Regiment, became a forge of experienced special forces officers. Many of those who went through his school serve today in Alpha, Vympel, Omega, and other special forces of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB, and Federal Border Guard Service. But at the same time, officers who have served in the regiment for several years do not want to be transferred to other units, even though career opportunities in the regiment are severely limited. After all, for many, he is a real family, with which they cannot and do not want to break ties.
A special psychological climate has developed in the unit, the leading values of which are absolute professionalism, corporate spirit, one might even say nepotism in the best sense of the word. This is best seen in the example of those who went into reserve. Those of them who managed to get a good job in life took upon themselves for today material support fighting in Chechnya. Thanks to their “sponsorship,” the special forces are probably the best equipped in the group: jackets and trousers made of membrane fabrics, light, warm sleeping bags, comfortable waterproof boots, modern optics and night vision devices, and communications equipment.
But the regiment veterans help not only with money. There was also such a case: by the winter of 1999, the time had come to replace the fighters who had been fighting in the Caucasus since the rebel invasion of Dagestan. But there was actually no one to change. During the "interwar period" the regiment was reduced by one battalion, and most of personnel was in Chechnya. The situation is critical: you won’t send newly drafted and untrained soldiers to war?
Then, the veterans of the regiment who had retired to the reserve decided to “kick back the old days” and help their native regiment. Leaving prestigious, highly paid places, concluding six-month contracts, and forming their own special group, they went to the Caucasus. The first thing for them was the battle near Zandag, where the “veteran” group occupied an important height and repelled fierce enemy attacks for four hours. Thanks to the veterans, the regiment was able to replenish its strength and qualitatively train replacements.
Over the entire ten years of its existence, the Airborne Forces special forces have not emerged from wars. Transnistria, Abkhazia, Dagestan, both Chechen campaigns, Bosnia, Kosovo - not a single armed conflict can occur without the participation of fighters from the 45th separate. During this time, everything happened: the pennant of the Minister of Defense “for courage and military valor” and five heroes of Russia from among the soldiers of the regiment. There were, oddly enough, also moments when various accusations were made against the unit.
But, no matter what, the regiment was, is and remains the true elite of the Russian Army. And in the second campaign, the airborne special forces showed their best performance. Dozens of destroyed gangs and discovered militant bases, hundreds of guns, kilograms of explosives and drugs seized from secret warehouses - all this was included in the track record of the Separate Intelligence Unit. This combat unit now lives and develops solely thanks to the enthusiasm, and even “quixoticism” of its officers. The result of their labors is a perfectly functioning combat organism, a universal tool for solving the most complex problems. A real regiment of the future.
Sergey SMIRNOV
The story continues...
In order to preserve military traditions, in September 2005 the regiment was given the Battle Banner, the honorary name and state award of the disbanded 119th Guards Parachute Order of Alexander Nevsky Regiment. Since that time, the regiment began to be called the 45th Separate Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Reconnaissance Regiment.
On February 1, 2008, the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment was reorganized into the 45th separate guards order of Alexander Nevsky special purpose regiment.
In August 2008, units of the regiment took part in the operation to force Georgia to peace. The regiment officer Hero of Russia Anatoly Lebed was awarded the Order of St. George, IV degree, for the skill and courage shown in this operation.
On July 20, 2009, in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 18, 2006 No. 1422, the regiment was awarded the St. George Banner as an official symbol and military relic, the personification of honor, glory and military traditions.
In April 2010, the battalion tactical group of the 45th regiment carried out a combat mission to ensure the safety of citizens of the Russian Federation, including family members of military personnel and civilian personnel, on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.
More than two thousand military personnel were awarded state awards for the courage and heroism shown in carrying out command assignments. 10 servicemen of the regiment were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. These are Lieutenant Colonel Gridnev Vadim Alekseevich, Senior Lieutenant Ermakov Vitaly Yurievich (posthumously), Captain Zhidkov Dmitry Vasilyevich (posthumously), Private Lais Alexander Viktorovich (posthumously), Captain Lebed Anatoly Vyacheslavovich, Lieutenant Colonel Nepryakhin Andrey Anatolyevich, Lieutenant Colonel Pankov Vadim Ivanovich, Colonel Romanov Alexey Viktorovich , Captain Rumyantsev Alexey Viktorovich (posthumously), Major Yatsenko Pyotr Karlovich (posthumously).
The reconnaissance officers of the 45th Separate Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Special Purpose Regiment are faithful to the glorious combat traditions of the Airborne Forces and to their motto: “The strongest wins!”
In April 2011, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the 45th Separate Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Special Purpose Regiment of the Airborne Forces was the first in modern history Russia was awarded the Order of Kutuzov. The regiment was awarded this high award for the successful completion of combat missions of the command and the courage and heroism shown by its personnel.
Russian paratroopers are revered not only in their own country. The whole world respects them. There is a well-known statement by one American general that if he had a company Russian paratroopers, then he would have conquered the entire planet. Among the legendary formations of the Russian army is the 45th Airborne Regiment. It has an interesting history, the central part of which is occupied by heroic deeds.
We are proud of our paratroopers, we honor their courage, valor and willingness to defend the interests of the Motherland at any cost. Glorious pages of the military history of the USSR, and then Russia, appeared largely thanks to the heroic exploits of paratroopers. Soldiers serving in the Airborne Forces fearlessly carried out the most difficult tasks and special operations. The airborne troops are among the most prestigious formations of the Russian army. Soldiers strive to get there, wanting to feel involved in creating the glorious military history of their country.
45th Airborne Regiment: basic facts
The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was formed in early 1994. Its base was separate battalions number 218 and 901. By the middle of the year, the regiment was equipped with weapons and soldiers. The 45th regiment began its first combat operation in December 1994 in Chechnya. The paratroopers participated in the battles until February 1995, and then returned to the Moscow region, to their base of deployment on a permanent basis. In 2005, the regiment received the Battle Banner guards regiment number 119
From that moment of its founding, the military formation became known as the 45th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment. But at the beginning of 2008 it was renamed a special purpose regiment. In August of the same year, it participated in a special operation to force Georgia to peace. In 2010, tactical group of regiment number 45 ensured the safety of Russian citizens during unrest in Kyrgyzstan.
Background
The basis for the formation of the 45th separate guards regiment was the 218th and 901st special forces battalions. By that time, the soldiers of the first battalion had taken part in three combat operations. In the summer of 1992, the battalion served in Transnistria, in September - in the territories where there was a conflict between Ossetian and Ingush militant groups, in December - in Abkhazia.
Since 1979, battalion number 901 was part of the Soviet troops on the territory of Czechoslovakia, in 1989 it was redeployed to Latvia and transferred to the structure of the Baltic Military District. In 1991, the 901st Special Forces Battalion was redeployed to the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992 it was renamed the parachute battalion. In 1993, the formation carried out tasks related to the protection of government and military facilities. In the fall of 1993, the battalion was redeployed to the Moscow region. Then the 45th Russian Airborne Regiment appeared.
Awards
In 1995, the 45th Airborne Regiment received a Certificate from the President of Russia for services to the country. In July 1997, the formation was awarded the Banner of Airborne Regiment No. 5, which took part in hostilities during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War. In 2001, the regiment received a Pennant from the Russian Minister of Defense for courage, high combat training and real valor when participating in hostilities on the territory of Chechnya. The 45th Guards Airborne Regiment owns the Order of Kutuzov - the corresponding decree was signed by the President of Russia. The military formation was awarded this award for its success in the heroic performance of combat operations, the heroism and courage shown by the soldiers and command. The regiment became the first carrier in the modern history of our country. In July 2009, the formation received the St. George Banner.
Ten soldiers whose place of service was the 45th Airborne Regiment received the title of Hero of Russia. 79 paratroopers were awarded the Order of Courage. The medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, second degree, was awarded to ten servicemen of the regiment. Seventeen and three paratroopers received the Orders “For Military Merit” and “For Services to the Fatherland,” respectively. 174 military personnel received medals “For Courage”, 166 received the Suvorov medal. Seven people were awarded the Zhukov medal.
Anniversary
Kubinka near Moscow - the 45th Airborne Regiment is based there - in July 2014 was the site of anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the formation. The event was held in an open door format - paratroopers showed the guests their combat skills, parachute units lowered the Airborne Forces flag from the sky, and famous pilots from the Russian Knights team showed the wonders of aerobatics in fighter jets.
Legendary regiment as part of the Airborne Forces
Which includes the 45th regiment - Airborne Forces (airborne troops) of Russia. Their history dates back to August 2, 1930. Then the first paratroopers of the Moscow District Air Force landed in our country by parachute. It was a kind of experiment that showed military theorists how promising the landing of parachute units could be from the point of view of combat operations. The first official unit of the USSR airborne troops appeared only the following year in the Leningrad Military District. The formation included 164 people, all military personnel of the airborne detachment. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, there were five airborne corps in the USSR, each of which served with 10 thousand soldiers.
Airborne Forces during the Great Patriotic War
With the beginning of the war, all Soviet airborne corps entered battles taking place on the territory of the Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Lithuanian Republics. The largest operation involving paratroopers during the war is considered to be the battle with a group of Germans near Moscow at the beginning of 1942. Then 10 thousand paratroopers won the most important victory for the front. Airborne units also joined the battles at Stalingrad.
The paratroopers of the Soviet army honorably fulfilled their duty to defend the city. The Airborne Forces of the USSR Army also took part in the battles after the defeat of Nazi Germany - in August 1945 they fought in Far East against the Imperial Japanese Forces. More than 4 thousand paratroopers helped Soviet troops win important victories in this direction of the front.
After the war
According to military analysts, special attention was paid in the post-war development strategy of the USSR Airborne Forces to organizing combat operations behind enemy lines, increasing the combat effectiveness of soldiers, and interacting with army units, subject to the possible use of atomic weapons. The troops began to be equipped with new aircraft such as AN-12 and AN-22, which, thanks to their large payload capacity, could deliver vehicles, armored vehicles, artillery and other means of warfare behind enemy lines.
Every year, an increasing number of military exercises were held with the participation of Airborne Forces soldiers. Among the largest was the one that took place in the spring of 1970 in the Belarusian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. As part of the Dvina exercise, more than 7 thousand soldiers and more than 150 guns were landed. In 1971, the South exercises of comparable scale took place. In the late 1970s, the application was first tested in landing operations new IL-76 aircraft. Until the collapse of the USSR, Airborne Forces soldiers repeatedly demonstrated the highest combat skills at each exercise.
Russian Airborne Forces today
Now the Airborne Forces are considered a structure that is called upon to independently (or as part of) carry out combat missions in conflicts of various scales - from local to global. About 95% of the Airborne Forces units are in a state of constant combat readiness. Airborne formations are considered one of the most mobile branches of the Russian military. They are also called upon to perform the functions of conducting combat operations behind enemy lines.
The Russian Airborne Forces include four divisions, its own training center, institute, and a large number of structures performing support, supply and maintenance work.
The motto of the Russian Airborne Forces is “Nobody but us!” The paratrooper service is considered by many to be one of the most prestigious and at the same time difficult. As of 2010, 4,000 officers, 7,000 contract soldiers, and 24,000 conscripts served in the Airborne Forces. Another 28,000 people are civilian personnel of the formation.
Paratroopers and the operation in Afghanistan
The largest participation of the Airborne Forces in combat operations after the Great Patriotic War took place in Afghanistan. The 103rd division, 345th airborne regiment, two battalions, and motorized rifle brigades took part in the battles. A number of military analysts believe that the specifics of combat operations in Afghanistan did not imply the advisability of using parachute landing as a method of transfer combat personnel army. This, according to analysts, is due to the mountainous terrain of the country, as well as high level costs of carrying out such operations. Airborne personnel, as a rule, were transported using helicopters.
The largest operation of the USSR Airborne Forces in Afghanistan was the Battle of Panjer in 1982. More than 4 thousand paratroopers took part in it (with a total number of soldiers involved in the operation of 12 thousand people). as a result of the fighting, she was able to take control of the main part of the Panjer Gorge.
Combat operations of the Airborne Forces after the collapse of the USSR
The paratroopers, despite the difficult times that followed the collapse of the superpower, continued to defend the interests of their country. They were often peacekeepers in the territories of the former Soviet republics. Russian paratroopers made a name for themselves throughout the world during the conflict in Yugoslavia in 1999. Soldiers of the Russian Airborne Forces made the famous rush to Pristina, managing to get ahead of the NATO military.
Throw on Pristina
On the night of June 11-12, 1999, Russian paratroopers appeared on the territory of Yugoslavia, starting their movement from neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. They managed to occupy an airfield located near the city of Pristina. There, a few hours later, NATO soldiers appeared. Some details of those events are known. In particular, US Army General Clark ordered his colleague from the British armed forces to prevent the Russians from taking possession of the airfield. He replied that he did not want to provoke a third world war. However, the main part of the information on the essence of the operation in Pristina is missing - all of it is classified.
Russian paratroopers in Chechnya
Russian Airborne Troops took part in both Chechen wars. Regarding the first, most of the data is still secret. It is known, for example, that among the most famous operations of the second campaign with the participation of the Airborne Forces was the Battle of Argun. The Russian army received the task of blocking a strategically significant section of transport highways passing through the Argun Gorge. Through it, the separatists received food, weapons and medicine. The paratroopers joined the operation in December as part of the 56th Airborne Regiment.
The heroic feat of the paratroopers participating in the battles for height 776 near the Chechen Ulus-Kert is known. In February 2000, the 6th Airborne Company from Pskov entered into battle with the group of Khattab and Basayev, ten times larger in number. Within 24 hours, the militants were blocked inside the Argun Gorge. Carrying out the task, soldiers of the Pskov airborne companies don't feel sorry for yourself. 6 fighters remained alive.
Russian paratroopers and the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
In the 90s, units of the Russian Airborne Forces performed mainly peacekeeping functions in the territories where the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict took place. But in 2008, paratroopers took part in combat operations. When the Georgian army attacked South Ossetia, units of the Russian army were sent to the war area, including the 76th Russian Airborne Division from Pskov. According to a number of military analysts, there were no major airborne landings in this special operation. However, experts believe that the participation of Russian paratroopers had a psychological effect - first of all, on the political leadership of Georgia.
Forty-fifth Regiment: renaming
IN Lately There is information that the 45th Airborne Regiment may receive the honorary name of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. A military formation with this name was founded by Peter the Great and became legendary. There is a version that the initiative that the 45th Airborne Regiment of the Russian Federation should be renamed comes from a statement by the President of Russia, who expressed the opinion that the Russian Army should have formations named after famous regiments such as Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky. On one of the military airborne councils Russia, as indicated in some sources, the President's proposal was considered, and as a result, responsible persons were tasked with preparing information on the beginning of work on the creation of historical army regiments. It is quite possible that the 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Russian Airborne Forces will receive the title of Preobrazhensky.
The Department took part in the storming of Grozny Special Operations(USO) FSK "in full force - 21 people"1, according to other sources - 22 people2, under the command of General Dmitry Mikhailovich Gerasimov. (FSK was the name of the reformed KGB-FSB in December 1994, and the USO included fighters from the Vympel group that was disbanded at that time)The 45th separate special purpose reconnaissance regiment of the Airborne Forces (45th Special Purpose Reconnaissance Regiment of the Airborne Forces, military unit 28337), which was in the reserve of the Minister of Defense, consisted of about 450 people.3 According to other sources, 400 people entered the city of Grozny directly.4
There is also information that in December 1994, “exactly half of the entire regiment” was involved in guarding the “train of the Minister of Defense.” And that, supposedly, there was an order “not to involve those who are on security duty at combat exits.”5 Thus, the number of people entering Grozny can vary greatly.
The regiment commander was Colonel Viktor Dmitrievich Kolygin, but on the territory of the Chechen Republic his duties were performed by the chief of staff, Colonel Valery Nikolaevich Yuryev.6
Major Alexander Skobennikov from the 45th Special Forces Airborne Regiment: “Our unit was divided into two detachments. The one I was in was supposed to join the northern, “Rokhlina” group.”7 Unfortunately, it is not entirely clear what the author meant . There may be two battalions of the regiment: 218th (military unit 48427) and 901 (military unit 23372).
According to Major Sergei Ivanovich Shavrin from the USO FSK: “There were about 20 of us left from the special operations department. Guys from the 45th reconnaissance regiment were supposed to act with us. They alerted us again and brought us to the airfield in Mozdok to deliver us by helicopter to the center of Grozny, to the stadium. Then it was assumed that we would 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 types of troops was revealed. It turned out that the helicopters could not take off, because one helicopter pilot had not yet had lunch, another had not yet refueled, and the third was completely on duty. As a result, already January 1 at 00 hours 10 minutes we were given the order: “Get in the cars!” - the city had 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 not subordinate to anyone: it was on December 31 that the the weapons available in warehouses were also distributed there without restrictions to everyone who wanted to defend “free Ichkeria.” So our three helicopters would most likely have been burned over this stadium."8
January 1, 1995
Major Shavrin from the USO FSK: “On New Year’s Eve, in an armored personnel carrier, we marched to the Tolstoy-Yurt area and entered Grozny. I remember our column moved to 0.10
minutes of the first of January."9 Major Skobennikov: “In Tolstoy-Yurt we were assured that the route of our movement was absolutely safe and controlled by ours, we could move in a marching column. We entered, indeed, quite calmly. However, as it turned out, this part of the city was not controlled by anyone. That it was not controlled by ours - that's for sure."10
Major Shavrin: “The departure was unsuccessful. The guide from the corps, for unknown reasons, pressed the gas and disappeared around the corner, and we walked along Khmelnitsky street, Pervomaiskaya and drove out almost to the city center. They realized that they had driven in the wrong place, began to turn around, and on Khmelnitsky Square (probably Ordzhonikidze Square) they were fired upon from a nine-story building. The grenade hit the last armored vehicle, several people were wounded. But the group was taken out without losses."12 (judging by the fact that the next day 16 people from the USO FSK entered the city, there were 5 or 6 wounded)
Major Skobennikov: “While the column was turning towards one of our armored personnel carriers, a grenade launcher was fired from somewhere on the upper floors. We responded with a barrage of fire. The soldiers examined the surrounding buildings, but found no one. It turned out that the armored personnel carrier was damaged, and two of our guys were seriously wounded. New attempts to get in touch were again unsuccessful. We decided to return to Tolstoy-Yurt, spend the night, find a more intelligent guide and move to the city again at dawn."13
January 2, 1995
Major Shavrin: " Since morning let's go again. There are 16 of us, led by the head of airborne reconnaissance (Colonel Pavel Yakovlevich Popovskikh)."14 Meanwhile, "in ten o'clock in the morning on January 2 command post(8th Guards AK) settled in the basement of the plant."15
Major Skobennikov: " In the morning We moved to the city along the same route.<...>After some time, our convoy was overtaken by cars with medicines. They also went to the cannery and knew the way. We went together, but we didn’t break in at random. The soldiers dismounted and walked along the sidewalks, looking at the neighboring windows. Already on the way to the plant, we had to engage in a short battle with the militants who did not have time to leave the area. We arrived, however, without losses."16
From the description of the actions of the battalion under the command of Major Nikolai Sergeevich Nikulnikov: “Nikulnikov’s battalion enters Grozny. Its location is allocated in one of the buildings of the former cannery. It would seem that ours are already there. You can advance in a column. And the battalion commander dismounted and organized long before the approaches to the city patrols, combat guards, reconnaissance. The motorized rifle commander, who got to Grozny with him, opened his mouth when he saw how the landing groups were making their way through the “peaceful open” area - sometimes crawling, sometimes running, from cover to cover."17 (interesting , what motorized rifle unit are we talking about? 74th Omsbr?)
IN documentary film A. Lyubimov's "Chechnya. The Beginning of the War" contains a video recording of Captain Igor Dementyev, filmed at a cannery. From the comments of senior lieutenant Vladimir Palkin it follows that the consolidated column in 13:35
was in a cannery. (Major Andrei Anatolyevich Nepryakhin and senior lieutenant Sergei Nikolaevich Romashenko, both from 218 about SpN18, were present in the frame)
Major Shavrin: “Soon they appeared before General Rokhlin and reported.<...>The corps commander entrusted us with a difficult task: to ensure the safety of the column tracks along which the advance was made. Combat vehicles and troops. This is Lermontovskaya street ( Lermontov). There are houses and a private sector on one side, and high-rise buildings on the other. Militants in groups of 5-6 people made their way into houses and fired at the columns. And the street is completely clogged with combat vehicles, tankers, and vehicles with ammunition. In general, every shot results in a hit and a lot of damage and losses."19
According to Major Shavrin, the FSK USO also cleared the street. B. Khmelnitsky, although without specifying the date: “There were high-rise buildings on Bogdan Khmelnitsky Avenue - our petrochemists lived there: also Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars - the Soviet Union, in general. During the assault, the streets were deserted: some left, some were hiding in the basements. And this house also seemed to be empty. We cleared it."20
It is likely that from that moment on, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Ordnance Unit began operating in two different directions, because according to Major Skobennikov: “We were given another task: to liberate, together with the SOBR, from the Dudayevites Petropavlovskoe highway. We chose night time for work; darkness, as you know, is a special forces soldier’s friend. Technically, it looked something like this: they spent the whole day watching the block that was to be “cleared,” tracking every smallest detail. At night, the sappers were the first to move forward, remove the Chechen “tripwires” and install their own, blocking the possible retreat routes of Dudayev’s troops and the approach routes for reinforcements. Then the group quietly infiltrated the building, most often through some “unusual” opening, like a hole in the wall. They quieted down for a while, trying to determine the location of the militants by sounds, then slowly began to move, destroying the “spirits” with the help of silent and bladed weapons.<...>. Most often with the help silent weapons the matter was over. If necessary, then grenades and everything else were used in full. Behind two nights we cleared Peter and Paul Fortress." (night of January 2/3 and January 3/4)
According to Major Shavrin, it was joint groups that cleared the street. Lermontov: “From our team together with special forces paratroopers, we formed four groups and cleared the block of bandits. We set up ambushes, and when militants were found, we entered into battle. The bandits are afraid of open battle and avoid it. They have one tactic: bite-run, bite- run away... They soon realized that there were ambushes, there were special forces there, it was unsafe there. And the bandit raids stopped. Several blocks along the road were free."21
Major Skobennikov: “Sometimes they fired at our own people even after a warning, as happened on Lermontov Street. We notified everyone that we would be working. They advised us not to interfere under any circumstances. In one house it was not possible to work quietly, grenades were used. Here, out of nowhere, a tank - the explosion of its shell destroyed half a house. One of our soldiers was killed, one was wounded, another was shell-shocked."22 (it seems that what happened on January 4, 1995, when Private Sergei Alekseevich Dmitruk from 901 about SpN.23 died)
Major Shavrin: “How many lives we saved! We and the scouts of the 45th regiment. The Chechens didn’t fight at night. They didn’t have night vision devices. And the scouts and I went out at night, captured their lines and then met ours.”24
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
1 Mikhailov A. Chechen wheel. M., 2002. P. 71.
2 Boltunov M. Everyone has their own war... // Fact. 2002. No. 3. January 18. (http://www.mosoblpress.ru/balashiha/show.shtml?d_id=915)
3 Maksimov A., Shurygin V. Airborne Forces. Chechnya. Nobody except us. M., 2004. P. 189.
4 Shurygin V. Give me Argun, give me Shawl! // Tomorrow. 1999. December 14. (http://zavtra.ru/cgi/veil/data/zavtra/99/315/21.html)
5 Shurygin V. Chechnya. War. "Special Forces" // Maksimov A., Shurygin V. Airborne Forces. Chechnya. Nobody except us. M., 2004. P. 211.
6 Shurygin V. Give me Argun, give me Shawl! // Tomorrow. 1999. December 14.
7 Skobennikov A. Grozny sacrifice // Soldier of fortune. 1999. No. 5. (http://www.duel.ru/199928/?28_6_1)
8 Dobromyslova O. Mission Impossible // Russian newspaper. 2005. December 16. (http://www.rg.ru/2005/12/16/chechnya.html)
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10 Skobennikov A. Grozny sacrifice // Soldier of fortune. 1999. No. 5.
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12 Boltunov M. Everyone has their own war... // Fact. 2002. No. 3. January 18.
13 Skobennikov A. Grozny sacrifice // Soldier of fortune. 1999. No. 5.
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15 Antipov A. Lev Rokhlin. The life and death of a general. M., 1998. P. 155.
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17 Popov V. Professional // Gudok. 2002. December 12.
18 Lyubimov A. "Chechnya. The beginning of the war" - documentary footage filmed by servicemen of the Russian Army
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20 Dobromyslova O. Mission Impossible // Russian newspaper. 2005. December 16.
21 Boltunov M. Everyone has their own war... // Fact. 2002. No. 3. January 18.
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23 Russian Airborne Forces. M., 2005. P. 378.
24 Dobromyslova O. Mission impossible // Russian newspaper. 2005. December 16.
(to be continued...)
A year ago, when I heard the song “To the Airborne Special Forces Scout” in the tent of soldiers of the 45th Separate Guards Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces, I at first thought that it was being performed by a professional musician, it sounded so good.
In response to a question about the author of the hit, the fighters showed me a photo of a tall, strong man in a field uniform and blue beret: “This is our intelligence officer, he served in a special detachment! Slava Korneev is his name, Leshy is his call sign. He is a holder of the Order of Courage, the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, and two medals for courage. Not disguised, not fake, real. And he sings about a matter that he truly knows.”
Intelligence veteran and singer-songwriter Vyacheslav Korneev talks about himself, his service, life and songs.
I was born on February 25, 1976 in the polar city of Kovdor, in the Murmansk region. My school years flew by, and in the spring of 1994 I was drafted into the army. Despite my passionate desire to serve in the airborne troops, they brought me to artillery training in Pargolovo, near St. Petersburg. Trained to become a crew commander for the MT-12 anti-tank gun, awarded the rank of junior sergeant and assigned to the 134th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 45th Motorized Rifle Regiment. peacekeeping forces, which was based in the village of Kamenka, Vyborg region. The commander of our regiment was Guard Colonel Mikhail Yuryevich Malofeev. On January 17, 2000, he died in Grozny with the rank of major general and was posthumously awarded the high title of Hero of Russia.
One night, I, the duty officer at the soldiers' canteen, introduced myself to a passing general and asked to be sent to the Caucasus. Was it reckless? Don't know. Only in response did I hear: “Which unit? Hand over the outfit, run and march to the location! And it started spinning! Obtaining equipment, food. Formation of personnel. The commander reads out the lists of those leaving, but my name is not on this list! Why? Seeing my inflexibility, the commander took the guy out of action, covered in tears, and I took his place. So I became deputy platoon commander leaving for the war.
First impressions
The next day, as part of the battalion, we flew to Mozdok and unloaded at the takeoff. Cold, dirt, crowds of armed people scurrying here and there. Seeing musician Yuri Shevchuk among the soldiers, he made his way to him and asked for an autograph. He did not refuse and signed the top deck of my guitar. We even sang a couple of verses from “The Last Autumn” with him.
We moved to a field next to the takeoff and spent the night. And look in the morning - our battalion is gone! And we, 22 soldiers in bulletproof vests and helmets, with weapons and equipment, were left alone, without officers. Used by no one, wanted by no one!
After holding out for three days without hot food or water, having managed to chew dry rations and burn all the gas masks, overcoats and felt boots, we got hold of cartridges and grenades. They just stood in some kind of formation receiving ammunition and received half a cap of ammunition! They didn’t ask us for our names or force us to sign anywhere. And we stole two boxes of grenades at night from an unguarded caponier, filled to the brim with this stuff.
One day we met a colonel who stopped us in a menacing voice: “Who are they? What kind of herd? I introduced myself and explained. The colonel ordered us to follow him and led us to the bathhouse. After washing, he sent us to the dining room. Clean and well-fed, we boarded the bus and went with the colonel, as it later turned out, to the city of Prokhladny, to the 135th motorized rifle brigade.
In the brigade we were fed, changed clothes, rearmed, and a day later we were sent in a convoy to Chechnya. We didn't drive long, often avoiding public roads and abandoning several broken down cars along the way. Here are the artillery positions... Howitzers and self-propelled guns are hitting deafeningly where our column is crawling, drowning in the mud.
Jumping from the Ural to the ground, I slipped. Taking a stable position, I realized that I was standing on a corpse rolled out in a road rut. Helping the others get out of the car, he warned them to be more careful. A mutilated corpse is what we saw first in Chechnya.
The task assigned to our unit led us to the central market of Grozny. The trucks were closely packed into the courtyard adjacent to the market building, and while we unloaded dry rations, duffel bags and sleeping bags from them, they sadly awaited their sad fate.
Some guy running past, hung with “Flies”, grenades, knives and pistols, nervously adjusting the sawed-off shotgun of a hunting rifle dangling on his hip, attacked me: “You... on... Why did you bring the equipment on... here, motherfucking...? They’ll burn it all.”
Our only armored personnel carrier, it turns out, was burned on the way. Having finished unloading and leaving Mikola Pitersky to guard the dry rations, I went on a reconnaissance tour of the market building. The personnel were dying of thirst, and I discovered deposits of jars of compote! The mines that occasionally pierced the roof were no longer frightening, but my soul was uneasy.
And then it began! One of the first mines flew into the dry rations, burying Mikola Pitersky in them! They dug it up. Alive! Meanwhile, our Urals were already blazing! It's a pity that the guitar burned in the cabin. Someone screams: “They shot down a tank there!” Let's run and look. We carefully look out of the windows. Here he is! Very close! Lit. And suddenly a deafening shot! A shell hits a five-story building. They say that at this time it was stormed by paratroopers. Then - like in a dream. Explosion! We are thrown onto broken glass! When the dust settled, we saw that the tank was gone. Everlasting memory…
After sitting in the market building for a day, we finally received the task of capturing a high-rise building on Karl Liebknecht Street, adjacent to a small market square.
Our new platoon commander outlined the task to us in a very clear form: “Run quickly, without tripping over corpses. Stopping is death! Let’s run into the house and sort it out!”
Let's run. The first of the three nine-story buildings was already occupied by paratroopers, and we got the second one without a fight. No residents, no militants, empty.
My platoon was tasked with gaining a foothold on the sixth floor and preventing the enemy from entering the house through the roof of the neighboring five-story building.
The apartment, the windows of which overlooked the roof of this five-story building, was impressive; it was a very rich apartment.
We emptied the refrigerator and set up an impromptu table in the hallway, but before we had time to pick up open cans of condensed milk for the recent New Year and housewarming, something serious came into the house. The building shook and a fire started. The fire spread so quickly that we barely jumped out of the apartments into the entrance before they burned to the ground, and while the apartments were burning, we sat on the flights of stairs, choking in the smoke, because there was death on the street. There were “spirits” in the third nine-story building.
Sausage
The next day, the commander set the task: “Due to the enemy’s destruction of the entire food supply of the battalion, it is necessary to force our way to the market with the help of four volunteers and a miraculously surviving infantry fighting vehicle of unknown origin. Find it there and then take it out maximum amount food!
I turned out to be the main volunteer. I decided to involve my squad commanders in this task. Good guys. Reliable. We went down and found an infantry fighting vehicle and even its driver in the ruins of the house. There was no one else in the crew, and the guy had no idea where his unit was located. After listening to the task, the mechanic nodded: “We’ll do it, but... the car doesn’t turn left. The cravings are broken! Let's waltz! Well, turn left, spinning 270 degrees to the right!”
We loaded into the landing force and took off. First turn to the left... spinning... scary. Forward! We're spinning around the second turn. There is no light in the car, we don’t know how to open the hatches from the inside, if anything, it’s creepy! And now, through the roar and clang of the tracks, bullets began to knock on the armor! And suddenly a blow! We crashed! "Everybody is alive? We’ve arrived!” - it was the mechanic who shouted. As it turned out, he rode in the “stowed” position all the way! Under bullets! Well it does! And he said to me: “Why? The triplexes are broken, you can’t see a damn thing!” Hero man!
We ran through the market. It’s empty, our troops have gone somewhere, and we don’t know what to expect. The products were found quickly. Sausage! There was a lot of it. Having filled their mouths with the Krakow soldiers and throwing their machine guns behind their backs, they quickly loaded the landing compartments of the infantry fighting vehicles and their own duffel bags and pockets with sausage. Childish greed played a cruel joke on me. Realizing that the loaded provisions for the battalion were not enough, I decided to leave my guys at the market and, climbing into the turret of the vehicle, personally deliver the cargo and return for the second batch. "Let's go!" - I yelled to the mechanic as soon as I reached the hatch. And he went. Surely so, with afterburner! And he didn’t know, didn’t know that behind his back I, in a bulletproof vest stuffed with sausage and with a plump duffel bag, was trying to get into the tower. By the time we got to the treasured house, I didn’t have a single whole store left! And I threw the empty ones onto the armor.
Having made three raids in a row, we completed the task. Thanks brother mechanic!
Storm
On Friday, January 13, my platoon received orders to occupy one of the houses on Rosa Luxemburg Street. It faced the presidential palace, and attempts to capture it have so far been unsuccessful. The paratroopers who held out to the last were trapped in his basement, and “spirits” ruled the house.
We ran to our house through a vacant lot between five-story buildings and came under fire. There was nowhere to hide except behind the burnt BMP. The whole platoon crowded in for her, it was scary to go further. But it is necessary, otherwise they will put everyone on the flank. They rushed to the brick booth, a heating center with pipes and valves, and took refuge behind the wall.
We sat at the booth for over an hour, waiting for “Shilka”. She was supposed to cover us by shooting at the windows of the palace. Moreover, we had to run right under the barrage of her fire! Before our eyes, three soldiers from another unit jumped out from somewhere and rushed headlong towards our house! To our entrance! One of them fell a meter from the door, shot by a sniper, and two jumped inside. One threw a rope to the wounded man from the entrance door, but he could not cling to it, the bullets hit him one after another. The second fighter exchanged fire with the militants inside the house.
Suddenly, about twenty meters from us, a mine flies in with a characteristic whistle and explodes! One of ours was hit by shrapnel in the leg. Well, I think, bandaging the wounded, it began! He suggested that the commander position the platoon inside the house: “Probably the “spirits” are adjusting the fire of their mortar at this moment!” The platoon commander voiced the proposal to the battalion commander. The answer is bright: “No, wait, the team will come now! Better check this house for a sniper. Got it, bastard!
Well, we split into three groups, three people in each, ran around the house from the opposite side and jumped into the windows. Purely. When we were returning, we heard two strong explosions in a row on the second floor. About where we just left our platoon. Throw down! And there... Blood, smoke, groans! The squad commander Dan Zolotykh and his troika finished searching his entrance before us, came out, and he was covered - he was lying in blood! The commander, Stas Golda, was wounded. Later, doctors counted eighteen shrapnel wounds on his body, and the Motherland awarded him the Order of Courage.
Where is the signalman, is the station alive? Our P-159 on the chest of Mikola Pitersky took several fragments, but worked properly! “Cutter,” I shout. - “Freza-12”, I have “200” and “300”, I’m checking the quantity, and the commander is wounded! I ask for help in evacuating!” And the battalion commander calmly replies that the command has been given for the assault and that I must gather the healthy ones and complete the task. And he promises to evacuate the wounded, without even asking how many there are. The platoon is consolidated, it is unknown who was assigned and from where, we did not exchange addresses with everyone, we do not know the names of many of them. That's how they fought for their homeland.
Indeed, to the left of us, a Shilka came out for direct fire and roared with fire. I had no choice but to send “Freza” to hell and start helping the bleeding guys. I finally achieved their evacuation. And we completed the task assigned. Blood and sweat. So I became a platoon commander. A platoon of nine people. Minus thirteen!
Then everything went smoothly. Are you ready, Freza-12? Ready, I answer! "Forward!" - shout from the walkie-talkie. What is it like to storm a house with nine people, without smoke cover, not understanding where ours are and where the strangers are? Now I remember all this like a bad dream or scenes from a movie. Covered in blood, black with dirt and soot, behind my back there are seven machine guns left over from the evacuated guys, in the hands of the PKM, shredding the house from forty meters to which my guys are running! Tactics? What the hell are the tactics? We reached the fifth floor, throwing grenades at the doors as we went and sometimes shooting. We have gained a foothold. We counted. All.
Later, when we had to pull out the main forces, we cleared all the apartments in our entrance from top to bottom. Walking down the street at that time was bad manners, so the main forces pulled up to us through the wall, in which we punched a hole with the help of a grenade launcher, some mother and a sledgehammer that came from God knows where!
It was in this house, having “borrowed” his SVD from a friend Sashka Lyutin, on the butt of which there were already three cuts with a bayonet-knife, I became a sniper. He equipped a wonderful, tactically competent position. He settled down in the bathtub, on a stool. For emphasis - a previously emptied refrigerator. From there, through a small hole punched by a shell in the wall, an impressive section of the area in front of the house was shot through, namely, the annex to the presidential palace and part of the palace itself.
One day they ran into our house Marines: two officers and a sailor. The sailor, as it turned out, was real, from a warship! Perhaps that's why he almost shot me when I changed position. But the Marines impressed me in other ways. Hunting for live bait! One, standing in the window opening, began to fan out the palace with tracers, and the second, in the back of the room, having prepared an RPG-18 for battle, waited. As an artilleryman, I understood that the guys were walking on a razor's edge, but they were stubbornly lucky. The bite on live bait was excellent, and soon I joined this “fishing team,” and the sailor made sure that none of the fighters came to my bullet while moving around the apartment.
Combat Commonwealth
There was a day when the company commander gave me the task of taking three volunteers and with them finding and evacuating from the street rubble the bodies of two dead - Sergei Les and Dima Strukov from the third platoon. They died a few days ago. Attempts to find them had already been made by the company sergeant major, warrant officer Purtov. Then the “spirits” squeezed him and the fighters behind a pilaster (this is a protrusion from a house the size of two bricks) and began to methodically destroy the shelter, firing incredibly dense fire at it from the house, which we then occupied with a platoon. Together with my fellow countryman Pomor, we pulled them out, covering the retreat with our fire. I will never forget how Warrant Officer Purtov, while running, stumbles, falls, and in the place where he had just been, a machine gun burst bites into the brick...
In general, the task is clear. I am a machine gun on my shoulder, a helmet on my head. I suggest one fighter go, the second, the third, and they - some with a stomach, some with a sudden headache, some from their post. They don’t want to take risks, no matter what. But when the search for volunteers reached the guys from Dagestan, they, without further ado, put their helmet on their cap and off they went, commander! But they didn’t know the dead for whom we had to go! And with this composition, I, two Dagestanis and a Kazakh went on a search.
We found Sergei's body quickly, brought it to that same booth, and then stop. The fire is so dense that it becomes clear that we won’t get through in daylight. Even smoking this damn area. We tried it. We managed to return to the house only in the morning, leaving Sergei in place, but placing the body so that it could be seen from our windows. They were able to pick up and transfer the body to the rear no earlier than a few days later, when the militants left the palace without a fight.
Once, at the height of the fighting in our sector, the battalion commander needed to go to the rear, and he took me with him for protection. Rear units were then in the Lenin Park. Left to my own devices for a while, I wandered around the park, wondering how they live here in tents? What if it's a mine? And suddenly something seemed strange to me. Everywhere I went, everyone froze, stopped preparing firewood, cleaning, and silently looked at me. And there was some kind of reverence in these views, respect mixed with compassion. “Look, look, there’s a guy from the front line!” - I heard and, as if waking up, looked around. Then invitations to warm up in the tents, questions, and congratulations on being alive poured in! "What's the matter?" I ask. “How do you know that I’m from the front line?” “Have you seen yourself in the mirror?” - asks one. "Of course not! Where are the mirrors in the city from? Everything is burned and broken!” - I laugh. “Here, look! People like you are only brought to us dead!” - The soldier, embarrassed, handed me a mirror. Well, I took a look. He looked and got scared. A monster in a dirty, torn black cap with a black, sooty face, burnt stubble and eyebrows, and red, watery eyes looked at me from the mirror.
A little later, when the fighting for the city moved to other neighborhoods, we decided to visit the less damaged entrances to our house. Find something like mattresses. My platoon was lucky to have apartments that burned to the ground, and for the last week I slept on two VOG boxes, without a sleeping bag, of course. Having collected some junk, on the way back to our “temple” we saw an interesting picture: Dudayev’s palace was being dashingly stormed by guys in white camouflage suits and wearing unprecedented unloading gear. Special forces, no less, I thought angrily, a couple of days ago you would have been here!
A decade and a half later, while celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 901st OBSPN with my fellow soldiers, we were watching a Chechen chronicle, when suddenly... The end of our house and the hole made by a shell through which I once fired my first shot from an SVD flashed in the frame. So those guys in camouflage suits turned out to be my current friends! It's a small world!
Then our war began to wane. We stayed for a month in the village of Andreevskaya Dolina at the Central Budgetary Institution, then in Shali. In May, when the war moved into the mountainous regions, our battalion, which had lost more than half of its personnel, was taken to Khankala for rest and replenishment.
At the shooting range in the quarry I met fellow countryman Dima Koksharov. We started talking. He served in the 45th airborne regiment. And the tough guys who were lowering down into the quarry on ropes and performing tactical exercises that were incomprehensible to me at that time with “screw cutters” unprecedented in the infantry turned out to be his colleagues. Cool scouts, I thought, what do I care about them!
New life
In September the war ended for us. The battalion departed in a column to its permanent deployment point in Prokhladny. I was riding on the armor of the trailing infantry fighting vehicle, and all the way a broom tied to the armor was trailing behind us, never to return here. Sign!
Resigned to the reserve. I came to my parents in the Smolensk region. And there is darkness! A depressing impression from a dying village. Unemployment, alcoholism, drug addiction. The youth were engaged in stupid self-destruction.
The only right decision was to return to the army, seriously and for a long time. The commander of the 45th Special Operations Division, Colonel Viktor Kolygin, to whom I came for a relationship in 1996, told me: “We don’t take a contract from a civilian, sign up for the Tula division, and we’ll transfer you from there.”
In the 173rd separate reconnaissance company in Tula I heard something similar: “Let’s go to the regimental reconnaissance company first, and then we’ll see.” So, as a reconnaissance officer in the reconnaissance company of the 51st Parachute Regiment, I began my combat career in the Airborne Forces.
During my year of service, I managed to go on a three-month business trip to Abkhazia. For several years in Gudauta, paratroopers carried out peacekeeping mission, and I made my small contribution to the restoration of peace on the southeastern coast of the Black Sea.
After Abkhazia, the assistant chief of intelligence of the division, Major Sergei Konchakovsky, paid close attention to me. He asked provocative questions, monitored my answers and actions. Soon Konchakovsky invited me to go to Sokolniki and talk with the commander special squad 45th Regiment, where I left, having secured the necessary recommendations.
Special Squad
Service in a new place captivated and absorbed me completely. I liked everything: the people, the equipment, the weapons, the technology, the approach to conducting training sessions.
When I arrived in Tula for the weekend with a whole backpack of special forces gadgets and in a fashionable padding polyester and told the officers about everything that I had seen and learned during my month of service in special intelligence intelligence, most of them were eager to transfer there. Which they soon did.
the appearance of my call sign - Leshy - is very funny. The commander of the reconnaissance group, Captain Stanislav Konoplyannikov, lined us up, young scouts, and ordered us to come up with call signs for ourselves. I came up with “Leshy”, but did not voice it, for fear of getting into an awkward situation, suspecting that the regiment already had such a call sign. And when the commander, walking around the formation and writing down the call signs he had come up with, stopped in front of me, I told him: “I didn’t come up with it, Comrade Captain.” To which he replied: “Well, then you’ll be Leshy!” Since then, since 1998, I have been Leshy.
In September 1999, we flew to Dagestan, into the heat of the flaring war. They carried out various tasks to reconnaissance the area, search and destroy militant bases. In October, working in the interests of the 61st separate Kirkenes Red Banner Brigade Marine Corps Northern Fleet, were the first to reach the Terek.
October 14, having completed the task of conducting optical reconnaissance settlement S., our group moved to the evacuation area. They walked with increased attention. It always seemed that something was wrong to the left of the course, as if someone was looking at us.
And here comes the armor! It became calmer. Suddenly the radio station comes to life. An order follows that radically changed our plans, and for many, the destinies. We had to inspect the forester's house, which was located nearby, but in the opposite direction.
Our two armored personnel carriers (group commander Pavel Klyuev was the eldest in the first, V. was in the second) went along the narrow road along the Terek. The river bank is low, the places are overgrown, wild, beautiful. To the right of the road there are four-meter reeds, to the left there is a turn and thick greenery on a one and a half meter artificial bank.
At the entrance to the right turn, in front of a huge puddle, the car slowed down, and something made me turn back. It seemed that with my peripheral vision I caught something similar to a “grenade launcher” target. Three seconds passed before I realized - it really was a grenade launcher! Bearded, camouflaged by branches, he prepared to shoot from his knees, and it seemed that he was aiming straight at my forehead from some fifteen meters! I didn’t want to allow this, so with a shout: “There he is...!”, I turned the SVD in his direction. My next cry: “Attention! Left,” drowned in the roar of a shot and an explosion that killed the armored personnel carrier. I don’t remember how we ended up behind the armor; apparently, persistent tactical training took its toll. Due to excess pressure in the engine compartment, the power hatches vomited and lifted. I think this saved the lives of many of our group, because at least a dozen militants were shooting at our lifeless car point-blank from a roadside embankment, while their grenade launcher was preparing for the second shot. Having dropped off the store, the machine gunners lay down to reload, and the grenade launcher again planted a “flea” in the rear of our vehicle. And again lead rain! And so three times in a row. And all three times the grenade launcher hammered into the stern.
Hiding under the nose of the “box” with a rifle that was useless at a distance of 10–15 meters, I had no idea what was happening to the group. Are the guys alive? Near Novosel. What about the rest? Abrek crawled up to us from the side of the road and gestured upward to the armor, and there was Klyuev. He lay slumped over the bleeding Igor Salnikov - Gosha. Believing that we would save him, Abrek and I carefully pulled them off the armor. Gosha's head was broken, but signs of life gave us hope. I tried to find signs of life in the group commander, but, alas. “How’s Pasha?” - Abrek asked, bandaging Gosha. “No more Pasha!” - I answered, dropping the useless bandage. Gosha died a few days later, already in the hospital. On the day when Pasha was buried.
The “spirits” themselves suggested how to deal with their attack, starting to throw grenades at us. Abrek stayed with Gosha and Pasha, and I returned to Novosel under the nose of the armored personnel carrier, when suddenly an F-1 flies out from behind the shaft and falls onto the road five to seven meters from us! These were endlessly long seconds, as if in slow motion. I shout: “New settler, grenade!” “What grenade?” - he rolls his eyes. “In my opinion, efka!” - and I fall between Pasha and Gosha, covering my head with my hands. I extend my tightly clenched legs towards the center of the explosion and wait - where will the fragment fly to me? Explosion. It's gone! And a confident run back to where the damn grenade had just exploded.
We fall, take all our grenades out of unloading and calmly, methodically, with the pins fired, confidently throw them to the other side of the shaft! How do you like this, fighters?
It helped! Novosel guessed to climb into the armored personnel carrier and, using a mechanical release, empty the PKT box. There was a turning point in the combat situation, the shooting died down for a while, the groans of the wounded and the cracking of branches began to be heard. Vetok! This means that the militants were preparing for evacuation. Then a second armored personnel carrier rolled up, for some reason it was lagging behind, and its appearance forced the militants to speed up their retreat, covering it with active fire. So dense that two of our machine gunners, who had climbed onto the rampart, had to leave their positions and crawl down to the road. Then again, as in a slow motion movie: V. rises to the rampart at full height, raises his AKMS with a drum for 75 rounds, branches mown down by enemy bullets fall nearby, and he, as if under a spell, shoots at the brilliant green until the drum jams. Bark and shreds of leaves fly into his face, but he shoots without bending down!
V. is a man of unparalleled courage, will and uncompromisingness. A real Russian officer. I am glad that his numerous exploits were noticed, and by Decree of the President of Russia he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia. After few years.
The battle died down. "Who?" - V. asked briefly. “Pasha, Gosha,” Novosel and I answered. They also brought Vitya Nikolsky, a bullet went right through his thigh. We approached the guys lying on the ground. I squeezed the group commander’s wrist in my hand in the hope of feeling a pulse, and suddenly: there is! I shout: “Comrade Major! There is a pulse." V. touched Pasha’s neck and silently shook his head. It turns out that out of excitement I squeezed my hand too hard and felt my pulse.
An infantry fighting vehicle with scouts from the Stavropol regiment flew up to the battlefield. Having dismounted, they took up defensive positions around us, moving their heads in disbelief in search of the enemy. We’re probably tired, we’ve been evacuated and evacuated all day, but nothing happens. Here our second armored personnel carrier turned around and began to back up in order to pick up a damaged fellow on a trailer and drag it to the regiment’s location. The wheel of an armored personnel carrier drove into a puddle on the side of the road. There's a mine there. There was a knock, a powerful explosion, and the multi-ton machine jumped up. Everyone was thrown to different directions by the blast wave!
A moment, silence, I was lying in the middle of the road, looking in surprise at the black rubber snow - this wheel of an armored personnel carrier, split into rubbish by a mine explosion, slowly and sadly waltzed like small black snowflakes to the ground, settling on the faces of living and dead scouts. Thank you, I think, brother, driver of the first reservation, you listened to our advice not to run into puddles. If we had run over this mine first, there would have been no one left alive.
As soon as my hearing returned, I heard a painful groan through the ringing in my ears. Stavropol resident Minenkov was lying on the rampart. His leg is torn off, but he is conscious and even tries to apply a tourniquet. "How is your leg?" - asks. “It’s okay, you’ll walk!” - I answer, and I quietly move the severed leg, which lies next to his head, down. The blood was stopped and the man was saved.
I will add that by decree of the acting President of Russia dated January 17, 2000, Mikhail Minenkov was awarded the title of Hero of Russia.
Having removed the machine guns from the broken armored personnel carriers and shot the on-board radio stations, we decided to blow up the vehicles. We didn’t have the opportunity to get them out that day, and we couldn’t leave them to the militants. I was preparing our car for detonation, and tears flowed from my eyes. From that moment my other, adult life began. Life in the Airborne Special Forces.
The group that inspected the combat area and evacuated the armor found several more mines and landmines installed on the road. Apparently, the militants were preparing a powerful ambush, and we were not their target at all. It is very likely that that battle prevented a major tragedy, since a column of one of the parachute regiments was expected to pass along this road.
Well, we, a handful of scouts who remained relatively unharmed, shell-shocked and tired, with stern, gloomy faces, appeared before the menacing eye of Major General Popov, who personally met him at the side of the helicopter that took us to the Central Bureau of Investigation. His welcoming speech shocked the guys: “So, soldiers, I, of course, understand everything, there is a war going on, but the dress code must be observed! Where are your caps, fellow scouts?
A few days later we gathered in our tent to remember our fallen friends. We were just informed that Gosha died in the hospital. When the third toast was raised in memory of the fallen brothers, the deputy commander of the 218th special forces battalion, Major Pyotr Yatsenko, picking up a guitar and placing a piece of paper with the text in front of him, sang his new song about our group. While he sang, it seemed that we were reliving that short but brutal battle. Many furtively, turning away, wiped away a stingy male tear.
Pyotr Karlovich was sitting right opposite me, and when the song ended and everyone came to their senses, I asked him for a piece of paper with the lyrics to copy it into my notebook. I never had a chance to return Yatsenko’s sheet. On the next mission, which we went on in two groups, Pyotr Karlovich, commanding a special-purpose reconnaissance group, died a heroic death in battle with superior enemy forces. By decree of the President of Russia of March 24, 2000, Pyotr Yatsenko was awarded the title of Hero of Russia (posthumously).
The sheet with the song is now kept in the museum of military glory of the Special Forces of the 45th Special Forces of the Airborne Forces.
"Special forces sense"
There were many interesting tasks. In November we go out on an ambush. Two groups. Our guide. Two nights. We charged, checked the connection, and jumped. Command: “Head watch, forward!” Let's move. With the very first step, fear fades into the background, giving way to attention and caution, cold calculation and lightning-fast reaction. But fear does not disappear completely. Who said that a scout is not afraid of anything? Lies! How scary! But a real intelligence officer knows how to manage his fear, directing it in the right direction so that fear becomes caution. Let's go. As before, all five senses are clenched into a fist and working to the limit. But for some reason, it was precisely on this task that another, sixth sense was added to them - the so-called “special forces sense.” This is when you go out to a task and know in advance that something will happen, and sometimes you even understand at what exact moment. So it is this time.
Stumbling at every step, I walk and try to remain calm. Anyone who has walked through a mown corn field at night will understand what I mean. There are only six hundred meters to the edge of the forest covering the ridge through which we need to cross, but what meters were those?! We walked them for four hours! The feeling that someone was watching us did not leave me for a minute! And then I heard two impacts with a metal object on a gas pipe that ran parallel to our route to the left, below. “Stop! Attention!" I report the strikes to the commander. He didn't hear any knocking. "Forward!" No sooner had we started moving than again: “bamm-bamm”...
Hurry to the saving forest! Having disappeared into the greenery, we got in touch, took a breath, and again: “Head patrol - forward!” The commander stubbornly did not want to walk along the night road, preferring rough terrain, namely, dense thickets of thorny acacia, through which two reconnaissance groups with artillery gunners and radio operators assigned from the Marine Corps and dressed in shaggy “Leshy” suits made their way with a deafening crash! But time was running out, and I still managed to convince the commander to follow the road!
Quickly, without unnecessary noise or adventure, we reached the desired edge and dispersed to our respective areas to organize ambushes. The main object of our attention turned out to be a dirt road about forty meters from the edge. It was on it that Mole installed the MON-50 mine. But for some reason on this day the “spirits” categorically did not want to use the roads and tactically competently walked along the edge of the forest, almost stepping on the trunk of my VSS! Conversing enthusiastically, one pair of militants with machine guns at the ready passed over me, and at an interval of fifty meters, the second. I managed to notice in the bag of one of them something round, reminiscent of an anti-tank mine.
Where is the command to work on the enemy? When the “spirits” walked above me, I covered the radio station with my hand and felt that they were saying something into it, but what? Having given the bandits a couple more minutes of life, we let them through to an ambush by another group. Of course, after warning the brothers that guests were rushing to them.
What if this is just a gang headache? What to do? Reflections were interrupted by fierce shooting in the area of the second ambush! Let's get to work! To the left is the rumble of the engine! A handsome cherry-colored Grand Cherokee drove into the sector of our mine's destruction! Through the scope I clearly saw a healthy bearded guy. Clutching a machine gun in his hand, he looked forward with concentration. Explosion! The jeep was covered with a cloud of blowing up dust mixed with smoke, from which the car never left. The veil cleared, and my gaze fixed on the target. Well, I think you have arrived, Mr. Basayev, I shoot at the doors, I hear the sound of crumbling glass.
Looking to the right to see how our people were doing, I saw that the group had begun to retreat. How? For what? After all, in the car... One could only guess what and who could be found during the search of the jeep. But a departure is a departure. I give the command to the observers on the left and go to the extreme ones. The preliminary collection point is 200 meters to the rear. In front of me is Lekha the radio operator. Star is his call sign. Zvezda runs, adjusting his backpack with a radio station on one shoulder. Unexpectedly, well, very unexpectedly for us, RMB started working on the left side of the group! I prepared for battle, the Star to the right broke through the thorns and got stuck. The bush has already begun to crumble under a hail of bullets! Throw away that damn backpack, friend! Quit. Gone. God bless!
Somehow we gathered at the collection point. We count. All? There is only one missing - the Sentinel. We call the station - clicks in response. Clearly, it only works for reception, village food. Oriented. I was sent to meet him! I'm meeting you. I look - he’s running, but he’s not alone! Some villain with a machine gun has settled in behind him and is not far behind! Well, I think they decided to capture our Olezhka alive? We won't allow this! I take aim at the scoundrel, let him get closer, and set the speed to idle. Stop! Yes, this is ours, Ryazan! Eh, commander! Now everything is definitely assembled.
“Star, let’s get in touch!” - the commander growls. “What kind of a Star am I now, we don’t have a station anymore,” the radio operator answers dejectedly. Let us remember the radio operator of the Marine artillery gunner. Immediately before the task, I installed 300 grams of PVV-5 explosive with a ZTP-50 fuse on his Historian radio station and instructed: “In the event of a threat of the station falling into enemy hands, move the igniter pin to the firing position and pull out the ring, understand?” He understood, yeah! With the very first shot, the boy thought that all the Basmachi from the surrounding villages rushed to attack in order to take over his radio station, and he bravely blew it up as he retreated! Affairs!
Having reached the evacuation area, somehow the armor was called via radio stations designed for work within the group, and to increase the communication range the radio operator had to climb a tall tree! And laughter and sin. It was a beautiful evacuation. With dashes and inevitable smokes. And the commander of the second group, as it turned out, was a very lazy person! Or very smart. He did not go to the evacuation area on foot, but flew into it in a comfortable Mi-8 helicopter! It’s more convenient this way, he explained, supervising the unloading of trophies and their former owners from the ship. By the way, that round thing in the bag, reminiscent of an anti-tank mine, turned out to be quite tasty pita bread.
But the task did not end there. The group's intelligence chief, who arrived on a helicopter, ordered the group to fly out with him and show the jeep destroyed in the battle. Eat. Flying over the ambush site, we discover that there is no trace of the car! We clearly see the angle of attack of our mine, plowed by the explosion, and that’s it! It turns out that the “spirits” dragged the car into the forest and carefully disguised it with branches. But we found it! When inspecting the jeep, I worked together with Anatoly Lebed, a legendary scout, future Hero of Russia, who absurdly died in 2012 in an accident. The commanders were satisfied with the results of the inspection: documents, radios, weapons and equipment. Listening to the broadcast helped us uncover ninety-two correspondents working in our intelligence area, and the identity of the field commander killed in battle. The magazine “Brother” wrote about this ambush in 1999 in a short news article: “November. As a result of search and ambush operations, the 45th separate special forces regiment of the Airborne Forces killed Salman Raduev’s closest associate with the call sign...”
The joy of victory and the pain of defeat
I remember the death of the signalman of the detachment, senior warrant officer Alexei Ryabkov.
We went to work near Kharachoy, in the Vedeno district, in two groups. One was thrown on helicopters far into the mountains, the second on a BMD rolled towards the paratroopers who had completed their task, providing them with an exit from the area of operation.
Ryabkov was in the group on the armor. The serpentine road stretched along the mountain slopes. There were no more than five minutes left to reach the checkpoint when we came across a militant ambush. An explosion behind the lead vehicle of the column occurred suddenly, followed by automatic and machine gun fire. Alexey was hit in the neck by a bullet. He managed to empty the entire magazine from the machine gun before he fell, whispering that he was wounded.
The fight was short. The BMD guns turned towards the attackers fired a salvo. The soldiers' machine guns began to chatter. The “spirits” hastened to retreat.
In the Vedeno region, our special detachment gave good results in 2002 and 2005. We blew up several residential bases and destroyed militants of various hierarchies. Previous experience, knowledge of the geography of trails and the psychology of enemy behavior helped.
Once my non-standard appearance was successfully used by security officers. I, shaved bald, but with a solid beard, looked like a Chechen, and the officers of group “A” of the TsSN FSB of Russia, having dressed me in civilian clothes appropriate for the place and hanging a pendant with the image of a mosque around my neck, released me into the street to conduct surveillance of the house in a private sector. The information provided by me was used by the security officers for their intended purpose - the leader of the local gangster underground was neutralized.
Creation
In 2005, immediately after returning from a business trip, I received injuries incompatible with service in special forces, and in 2007, having completed a course of treatment, I retired to the reserve. And now, without the opportunity to make parachute jumps or go on missions as part of a reconnaissance group, all I can do is write, sing, talk about special forces to the younger generation and collaborate with military-patriotic clubs.
He wrote his first poems in Chechnya back in 2004. Somehow, in the summer of 2005, my good friend, singer-songwriter Vitaly Leonov, was carried by a fair wind to our Khatuni concert. The joy from the meeting knew no bounds! Of course, the tent of our reconnaissance group was chosen for his accommodation. Leafing through my notebook, Vitaly shared his thoughts that my poems could make good songs. In the area of the New Khatuni airport, Vitalya gave several concerts for fighters and even sang for reconnaissance groups leaving on the night of the mission. He had plenty of impressions from the trip, and soon after returning from the Caucasus, Vitaly came up with a wonderful song about reconnaissance with the same name. When I heard my poems that became a song, I thought: “Why not?” – and decided to try his hand at creativity himself.
I sincerely consider 10 years of service in the airborne special forces best years own life. The video for the song about the 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces was shot by my friend Igor Chernyshev, a former intelligence officer of a special special forces detachment. Many years ago, when it was time for Igor to leave the service, it was from him that I adopted the good old Vintorez. Now Igor is not only a wonderful cameraman and director, but also a talented theater and film actor.
I am very glad that my songs instilled in the hearts of listeners a love for the army and a desire to serve the Fatherland in the special forces of the Airborne Forces and other units of the Armed Forces. Remember, friends, it is not you who are giving years of your life to the army! It is the army that gives you the years that make you real men!
