On 25 March 1995 members of Aum Senrike used GB gas in the result of which over three thousand people got affected. 12 of them could never survive the attack. To prevent such an act in the Russian capital a special emergency response team was formed. It includes around 200 people and has more colonels and majors than any other detachment. The fact proves that the unit embraces the best specialists who sharpened their skills in Chernobyl, Afghanistan, Chechnya, etc. Let’s see how the emergency response team dislocated in the Moscow region is trained.

Field Command General Board.

Black crow is the unit’s symbol. This bird lives 200 years and is resistant to any kinds of waste including radioactive. The crow is killing the snake with the spear just like St. George represented on the Coat of arms of Moscow.

Once such a team has already offered rebuff to terrorists from AUM Sinrike. Abusers were found red-handed when somebody saw how they were breaking ampules with colorless liquid and could report about it. However, two assailants managed to disappear in a crowd of people hurrying up away from the subway. One of the criminals who had been caught told policemen to get ready for a plenty of victims. In several minutes after the message about diversion in the Moscow subway was obtained the emergency response unit was on its way.

Road traffic was stopped. Officers went down to the subway station all covered with affected people lying on the floor. Specialists from the unit took samples, checked whether exhaust units were on and entrances and exits were isolated when they got a signal about another planned terroristic attack in a shop. So, a part of the unit went there.  A polygon for training depicted in the picture is filled with old tanks that will never be used in field battles anymore.

We can have a look at the fields stuffed with ‘antique ruins’.

Т-34-85.

Launcher Pion C-125A is a self-moving launch complex equipped with 2 rockets and a crane. Its batch production was carried out from 1959 to 1964. Details were manufactured up to 1982.

The symbol of Great Patriotic War.

Now it’s time to look at a couple of archaic two-seater fighters. This is a legendary MiG-15.

Review of old metal constructions is followed by attending a concrete ground. The colonel says that demonstrative smoke screening won’t take place due to heat and fire hazard. However, training of military conscripts who arrived here just 2 weeks ago will be shown including some latest models.

Mobile spray station АРС-14КМ.

Young soldiers.

This is a new generation mobile spray station. It creates masking aerosol screens, heats water and has water decontamination, deactivating and disinfecting agents. It is designed for decontamination and disinfection of military equipment and transportation means, decontamination and disinfection of environment, fire extinguishing, washing of personal assets, etc.

The soldiers are ready to demonstrate their skills in spite of the heat and extremely loud acoustic sounds produced by the mobile station and other equipment.

Training place №1, preparation of specialists engaged in special treatment.

Arm-saw.

Having got the command ‘Gases’

In spite of the fact the soldiers arrived here just 2 weeks ago they could easily cope with rather a complicated task of putting on the all-service protective gear. Due to heat they were allowed not to wear box respirator that time.

Now they have to put the appliance into fighting order.

One final step of trial degassing and the spray station is ready to help and save.

Finally the long-awaited command ‘all-clear’ is heard and sweaty soldiers in rubber gears can have a bit of rest.

This machine is used by radiobiochemical service.

It is intended for carrying our radiation and chemical intelligence operations in complex topographical, meteorological conditions and at night while overcoming natural and artificial obstacles and water barriers.

Contaminated.

The KPV heavy machine gun is a Soviet designed 14.5x114mm-caliber heavy machine gun, which first entered service as an infantry weapon in 1949.  It was later redesigned for anti-aircraft use, because it showed excellent results as an AA gun. The KPV is air-cooled and fitted with a chromed barrel. It uses a short recoil operation system with gas assistance and a rotary bolt.

Training continues until the commander states that the whole operation was got through on time. Soldiers are tires but look happy to cope with the task.

All-clear command. Finally it’s high time to get rid of the gear soaked in sweat, dry it and take a shower.

Training place №1, preparation of specialists working with robotic complex.

Mobile robotic complex is intended for carrying out visual, radiological control and radiation-measuring of environment, marking contaminated area, searching, selection and packing of highly radioactive substances in areas with a high level of radiation and dangerous articles, as well as transportation of containers with dangerous load to the place of their utilization (1st page). Mobile robotic complex equipped with tracking mechanisms on the second page   is intended for carrying out visual, radiological control and radiation-measuring of environment, marking contaminated area, searching, selection and packing of highly radioactive substances in areas with a high level of radiation and dangerous articles.

The fully-tracked complex MPK-61 carries out inspection controls, cargo handling, salvage and rescue operations. It participates in all the actions enumerated above being a part of MPK-60 complex and weighs 800 kg or 1763.698 lb.

This robotic soldier is designed for attacks of infantry, re-enforced structures and even tanks. It is supplied with a surveillance camera, machine-gun, grenade launchers, smoke grenades and rocket flame-throwers. This vehicle is remote controlled from the distance of 20-500 meters.

Mobile robotic complex.

It is developed by the Bauman Moscow State Technical University.

Gripping mechanism.

Soil sampler.

Rock breaker.

Gripping device.

Liquid sampler.

The robot grasps radioactive substances (the green log) and evacuates them in a safe place.

via u-96