5th separate brigade. Special forces of the armies of the world. And tankers, and sappers, and combine operators
Until recently I was a shoemaker without boots. More than once or twice I edited reports from correspondents from Maryina Gorka, where, as you know, the legendary 5th separate brigade special purpose. I have repeatedly selected photographs for publications about the 5th Special Forces. He studied heraldry and the history of the “five”. But I myself (as the circumstances are) have never been to this elite formation of special operations forces. But better late than never.
Together with my colleagues - heads of the Belarusian media - we gather near the administrative building of the Ministry of Defense and go on a comfortable bus to Maryina Gorka. The reason was a seminar organized by the military department on the topic “ Current state and prospects for the development of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus." The program includes a speech by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Oleg Belokonev, an educational excursion to the places of combat training and the training building of the brigade, a visit to the museum of military glory, a visit to the military shooting range...
Here it should be clarified: the Marinogorsk brigade, due to the specifics of the tasks performed by army special forces reconnaissance officers, is a fairly closed formation. Even access for Armed Forces officers is restricted here. The writing and filming brethren, especially in an impressive landing, are here only on very significant occasions. Such, for example, as the visit of Alexander Lukashenko to the 5th Special Forces Regiment in December last year. The head of state was then informed that, according to State program arrangement of military camps in 2012 - 2013 in the 5th brigade, more than 60 objects were brought into proper condition, utility networks and communications were completely replaced, and landscaping of the territory of the military camp, including barracks, was completed. The President had the opportunity to verify this personally.
“The military camp is equipped according to the requirements of the 21st century. Its infrastructure, educational and material base, barracks fund and training ground equipment allow carrying out full complex combat training classes,” noted, speaking at the seminar, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defense Oleg Belokonev.
Touching upon the topic of the state and prospects for the development of the Armed Forces, the major general informed the heads of the media that a check of elements of the immediate reaction forces, structural components of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense, as well as operational commands, Air Force and Air Defense Forces commands - in order to fully find out how prepared reconnaissance forces and assets are. An interesting and educational “educational program” from Oleg Alekseevich included an analysis of the nature of armed conflicts of the 21st century, and an overview of the centers of instability on the planet, modern challenges and threats. Journalists took note of the announcements of the most important events in the field of ensuring the security of our country, which were made at a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff. Briefly about some: in December the President will be reported to a new state defense plan; in 2015, it is planned to purchase Tiger armored vehicles for special operations forces to form a combat battalion; Also next year, 20 Belarusian military personnel will jump on controlled parachute systems as part of the Russian contingent in the Arctic.
...A story in the army is always followed by a show. So our seminar was not limited to a meeting in the lecture hall. For example, in the training building of the Marinogorsk special forces brigade, we were taken through premises that had previously been inaccessible to civilian journalists. Moreover, in the language laboratory, where intelligence officers study foreign languages, and in the classes of topography, fire training, and the auditorium for signalmen, they not only willingly answered many questions (within acceptable limits, of course), but also allowed to film and photograph modern “stuffing” - visual manuals, computers, various gadgets and equipment.
Among the guests of the “five,” by the way, were those who had once marched in Maryina Gorka conscript service. “What has changed since then?” - they asked one of them. Answer: “Literally everything!” - and eyes constantly widened in surprise. Yes, anyone, even an outsider, could be overwhelmed by the impressions! In order for scouts to become universal soldiers, different caliber samples are placed at their disposal. small arms, reliable parachute systems, the best uniforms and equipment. Before us are apparatus for combat swimmers. But the suits “Special Forces”, “Partisan”, “Gorka”, “Leshy”, winter and summer versions... Here, at the brigade shooting range, we were shown silent submachine guns, sniper rifles, machine guns, including a veteran of the Great Patriotic War PPSh (after all, a special forces soldier must be able to shoot from all types of weapons), a shooting reconnaissance knife.
...However, we did not only observe. At the brigade’s shooting range, the heads of publications and television reporters “sniffed gunpowder.” The first deputy editor-in-chief of Sovetskaya Belorussia, Mikhail Lebedik, puts it exactly in the top ten from SVD. The deputy handles pistols and machine guns confidently general director STV television company Pavel Korenevsky. It’s as if a real sniper cuts off targets: historian, publicist, editor of the Belarusian Thought magazine Vadim Gigin. Natalya Filippovskaya, editor-in-chief of the newspaper 7 Days, is smartly releasing a clip of Makarov cartridges. Alexander Smirnov, deputy head of the criminal news department of ATN, is with a weapon on first name terms.
Well, I... What am I?! I aim from the PM at the target - a shell casing, but fountains of bullets, as luck would have it, rise lower, then to the left. There is not enough practice, skills, the “officer” trunk does not immediately report to the junior sergeant in the reserve. In general, the main thing is participation! With these thoughts, I fire several bursts from a submachine gun and finally fall under the magic of the weapon. I want to shoot again and again, fortunately they didn’t spare any ammunition on that sunny day at the special forces shooting range.
"Who will show worst results in shooting - he will jump from a helicopter! The number of parachutes is limited! Also pay attention to the toothpaste that scouts take with them on raids along with their dry rations! Produced by a well-known global concern commissioned by the Ministry of Defense. After its use, a fighter’s teeth are capable of chewing through barbed wire at enemy targets. And a dazzling smile allows a scout to do without night vision devices!” - this is how Major General Belokonev invigorated us. But not with jokes alone: Oleg Alekseevich willingly gave the most efficient journalists a ride in the “Bogatyr” armored vehicle (the Belarusian Special Forces have delivered 29 of these Chinese “Humvees”). Surely, having seen this impressive drive of newspapermen and television crews, even experienced Marinogorsk special forces were pretty amazed: “We don’t know who they are, but their driver is the Chief of the General Staff!”
...When I entered the territory of the 5th Special Forces Brigade, the motto emblazoned on the checkpoint “Any place, any time, any tasks!”, admittedly, seemed like bravado. But it was worth looking at the everyday life of the “blue berets”, talking with the officers, and the attitude towards the slogan of the scouts and paratroopers changed. In Maryina Gorka, words are not thrown around just like that. And we will tell you more than once about the affairs of the elite unit. I'm looking forward to another business trip to the capital of the army special forces. Lots of issues on the agenda...
Andrey DEMENTEVSKY
Photo by Artur PRUPAS
From the history of the 5th Special Forces Brigade
Exercises
The professionalism of the brigade's special forces and their success in combat training have been proven in many major military exercises. All exercises were carried out in an environment as close as possible to combat* The “enemy” of the special forces were the missilemen and border guards of the air defense troops. The special forces were “attacked” command posts armies, corps, airfields; naval bases, large communications centers. It was allowed to use any methods and methods. Special forces teams worked in all major exercises Soviet army and Warsaw Pact troops. 2-3 well-trained special forces groups were enough to sow panic and confusion and completely paralyze the division’s actions.
From 1967 to 1987, the brigade was annually awarded the challenge pennant of the Military Council of the Belarusian Red Banner Military District of the “Best Intelligence Unit”, the Commemorative Anniversary Red Banner of the Military Council of the Belarusian Red Banner Military District and the challenge Red Banner of the Military Council of the Belarusian Red Banner Military District .
The exercises are a school of training in military skills. The exercises are a “field” academy where skills, techniques and methods of special operations are honed.
In 1967, the brigade took part in the Dnepr-67 exercises.
1969 - joint exercises of Special Forces groups with the Border Troops, the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
1972 - scientist "Efir-72", district complex TSU.
1975 - exercise "Spring-75".
1976 - special exercises "Avangard-76".
1981 - Zapad-81 exercises.
1986 - operational-strategic exercise "Dozor-86".
1987 - front-line command and control units.
1988 - operational-strategic exercises "Autumn-88".
1991 - TSUg front-line control units.
1999 - TSU with other branches of the military.
2002 - KOTU "Berezina-2002".
2003 - KOU "Clear Sky-2003".
2004 - KOTU “Shield of the Fatherland-2004”.
2005 - two-way control unit.
2006 - TSU within the framework of the command and control unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus “Union Shield-2006”, bilateral tactical exercise with the 38th
omobbr.
2007 - Command Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
Eagles of the Lord from Maryina Gorka
The first paratroopers appeared here, in the Belarusian outback, back in 1940. It was the 214th Airborne Troops redeployed from Western Belarus. In March 1941, the brigade was reorganized, on its basis the 4th Airborne Forces was formed with its location in Maryina Gorka. Then there was a war, all over Belarus partisans fought against the invaders. And again the sky was painted with white domes only in 1963.
Based on the directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. 140547 dated July 19, 1962, the 5th separate special-purpose brigade began to be formed in the city of Maryina Gorka. Her birthday was January 1, 1963.
The backbone consisted of officers who arrived from one-year courses at the Military Diplomatic Academy and district intelligence units. Soldiers and sergeants who served at least two years in special forces also arrived here. A total of 137 people, including participants in the Great Patriotic War and local conflicts.
The new formation also faced new and unusual tasks. Nuclear attack weapons have appeared in the arsenal of the potential enemy. The USSR Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Soviet Army developed and implemented the idea of creating mobile and effective sabotage and reconnaissance forces. All created brigades were directly subordinate to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. In the event of a military conflict, the formations were to strike enemy targets strategic purpose, conduct reconnaissance, deploy partisan movement on enemy territory, disorganize command and control of troops and
the work of his rear.
Solving such large-scale problems required intense combat training. Already in May, personnel began to master parachute jumps with fall stabilization for up to five seconds and jumps from An-2, An-12, Li-2 aircraft. Within a few months, the unit was prepared to conduct combat operations in any conditions. The servicemen showed high training at the first inspection.
November 19, 1964 Chief of Staff of the BVO, Lieutenant General N. Ogarkov, subsequently Marshal Soviet Union, presented to the brigade commander Colonel I. Kovalevsky Battle Banner.
By 1965, the 5th Special Forces Brigade had become a strong combat-ready entity. In subsequent years, it increased its power and improved its organizational and staffing structure. In May 1968, her staff was introduced special company mining. For eight years (1975-1982), the brigade received an “excellent” rating in all inspections and exercises.
The year 1978 became especially memorable for special forces soldiers. At the end of the year, 22 departments, 14 groups, 3 companies, 2 detachments received an “excellent” rating. And in the same 1978, the formation received a new name - the 5th separate special-purpose brigade. The title “separate” was recognition of the high skill of the soldiers and officers of the unit.
-The history of the brigade is, first of all, about people, their characters, their destinies. Everyone has their own baggage of soul, knowledge and intellect. The names of all are preserved by our grateful memory. The museum of the unit contains materials telling about amazing creators dedicated to the interests of the service. It was collected and created bit by bit! the material base for the training of reconnaissance soldiers, new facilities were built, and the combat capability of the unit was strengthened. The main thing that united people from the first days of the founding of our brigade was hard work, humanity, decency, justice, concern for common cause, the desire to complete assigned tasks in the best possible way.
Each person left his mark in strengthening the brigade’s combat capability and improving the soldiers’ life. Each was an example of devotion to the Motherland and the army. People served with full dedication of strength and knowledge for the sake of raising worthy successors to veterans. The brigade was always one big family- both on holidays and on weekdays, in joy and in sorrow. The feeling of comradeship and military camaraderie never left the scouts of the 5th Special Forces. The multinational team was amazingly united in combat skill and mutual assistance. Because special forces are a way of life. >.***
With such commanders, officers and warrant officers, our successes are... combat training were significant. In recent years, the brigade has successfully completed its tasks. Eleven times she was awarded the Challenge Red Banner of the Military Council of the Belarusian Red Banner Military District and the pennant of the “Best Intelligence Unit of the District.” The pennant was left in the unit forever. Our intelligence officers took part in many exercises - and everywhere they showed themselves to be real fighters, professionals, they coped with any task assigned, and did not lose the honor of the army special forces.
In the 1970-1980s. The Maryinogorsk brigade was a testing ground for Soviet troops. All the latest types of special forces weapons and equipment were tested by the GRU of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces in quiet Maryina Gorka.
Much has been done in the brigade to develop intelligence. The 5th Special Forces Brigade now includes a unique and most elite special forces unit - a special special purpose company. It consisted only of officers and warrant officers, well-trained professionals. The company was intended to perform particularly important tasks in the interests of the GRU. The best of the best were selected. Knowledge required foreign languages. The soldiers completed a light diving training course according to the naval special forces training program, mountain training, a trike pilot course and much more.
In 1989, recognizing the characteristics and professionalism of the unit, the USSR Minister of Defense allowed the company to have its own personal sleeve insignia - a black fox and a breastplate. For the Soviet Army this was an extraordinary event, a benefit unheard of in the USSR! “Afghans” served in the detachment, there were athletes - dischargers and masters of sports in military-applied sports. "^.
Until 1991, the special company reached the highest level of training for officers and warrant officers. It corresponded to the level of training of the Vympel special forces detachment of the KGB of the USSR.
But unfortunately, the special forces from Maryina Gorka had to use their knowledge not only during exercises. Separately unforgettable
Afghanistan became a page in the history of the brigade. I Hundreds of reports from officers, warrant officers and soldiers with a request to direct them “across the river” fell on the command table with the beginning of the Afghan war. And many of them continued to serve in the Jalalabad and Lashkar Gah special forces brigades operating in Afghanistan. From March 1985 to May 1988, the 334th separate special forces detachment, formed on the basis of the brigade, fought there. He has 250 combat missions to his credit, in which about 3,000 Mujahideen were destroyed and thousands of weapons were captured.
Victories were achieved not only by skill, but also by blood. The memory of one hundred and five was immortalized by a stele erected in the unit in 1986. 124 scouts were seriously wounded, and the war marked 339 soldiers with minor injuries.
Captain Pavel Bekoev, a holder of three orders, a participant in over a hundred military operations, died after leading soldiers to attack. As always, he was in front... Senior Lieutenant Igor Tupik, twice wounded, surrounded by enemies, called fire on himself. Lieutenant Nikolai Kuznetsov, seriously wounded, covered the retreat of his subordinates with fire. With the last grenade he blew himself up and the dushmans surrounding him.
In 1985, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously, his name is forever included in the lists of the unit.
It was the 334th detachment that in 1988 was given the honor of being the first to leave Afghanistan. Subsequently, a training detachment was created on its basis.
Our soldiers, warrant officers and officers were faithful to the combat comradeship and oath to the end. Homeland. The memory of them must be passed on from generation to generation, and only then can one look into the future with sovereignty and raise worthy sons of our Motherland. The memory of war should deny war, arouse disgust towards it.
It’s scary and painful to remember, but it’s impossible to forget. We must remember forever!
On August 2, 1999, in memory of those who passed through the heat of Afghanistan, in memory of the fallen soldiers of the 334th Special Forces detachment, a renewed memorial complex was opened.
In 1990, from January 24 to March 3, by order of the General Staff of the Soviet Army, the 5th Special Forces brigade, almost in full force (805 special forces), carried out the government task of stabilizing the situation in the Armenian SSR. The brigade was commanded by Colonel V. Borodach.
The early nineties were difficult for the sons of the brigade. Here is the collapse of the USSR, the transfer of many to serve in Russia and Ukraine. They were in demand and went to other power structures. Fate brought SOME to Transnistria and Tajikistan, Yugoslavia, Angola and Libya. But no matter where the fate of the sons of the 5th Special Forces Brigade took them, “they never lost the honor of the special forces, in any place in any position they showed themselves with dignity, fulfilled their official duty to the end, because a special forces warrior is a strong character, a concentrated will and the ability to go take risks, carry out your task to the bitter end. Special forces were born to win.
Despite everything, the brigade has not disintegrated, it lives and improves. On December 31, 1992, former Soviet special forces soldiers swore allegiance to White Rus'. The 5th Special Forces Brigade became the most elite unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
Particular mention should be made of the amazing tradition of our brigade. We can safely say that there is no such continuity of generations and so many dynasties as in our brigade anywhere else. The brigade became small homeland and a home for hundreds of people for many years. Their fathers conveyed to them devotion and loyalty to their Fatherland and special forces.
Getting into the brigade is not so easy today. Conscripts here are subject to strict selection. Only physically strong, hardy people can serve in special forces, capable of covering tens of kilometers off-road with full combat gear, spending many hours without sleep or rest, when the main thing is to complete the assigned task. Therefore, sports are held in high esteem in the brigade. Among the military personnel there are many dischargers and masters. But the main thing that distinguishes a special forces warrior is his moral core, his fortitude. And patriotic, spiritual and moral education and the cultivation of the rich traditions of the brigade help with this.
In 1997, by order of the President of the Republic of Belarus, a non-staff center for patriotic education of youth in the Minsk region was created on the basis of the brigade. In cooperation with local authorities, the regional council of veterans, work is systematically carried out on the patriotic education of the unit’s personnel. Students of Marinogorsk secondary schools and educational institutions Minsk region.
Way of life military service, training in the brigade has a number of features: shoot, blow up, drive, fly, jump - fighters learn all this. The main direction is reconnaissance and sabotage work. The brigade teaches diving and conducts training sessions for hang gliders. Training goes from day to night in classrooms, at shooting ranges, and training grounds. Soldiers are trained to perform extremely important tasks in a combat situation, when units and individual groups must operate in the rear, in isolation from the main forces, and independently make the most unexpected and daring decisions. Therefore, every warrior must become a professional, master weapons flawlessly, know subversive techniques, have excellent hand-to-hand combat techniques, be decisive, self-possessed, and quick-witted. A special forces reconnaissance officer must know and love the parachute, be able to jump from an airplane or helicopter at any time of the day, in any weather and on any terrain.
This is a feature of the training of Belarusian special forces. In addition, scouts learn to overcome any obstacles (impassable swamps, water barriers, forests), quietly and unnoticed to cover a route of 50-70 kilometers, suddenly and skillfully capture a specified object, and destroy it.
A special forces soldier is a military professional who possesses several specialties and is able to withstand enormous physical and psychological stress. Therefore, combat training in a brigade always comes first. Knowledge and skills are brought to automaticity. Sometimes everything is decided by a split second: if you hesitate, blink, you end up losing. In special forces they learn to win, not lose.
During the exercises, reconnaissance groups go for 10 days across rough, unknown terrain. Soldiers really love field trips, where they have the opportunity to show resourcefulness, endurance, and prove to themselves and their commanders in practice what they are capable of and what they have learned. This increases self-esteem and makes you strive to improve your combat skills.
Young officers and soldiers are trained by real masters of military affairs. The brigade has all the conditions for training in the art of war. Young people are given the opportunity for harmonious personal development and the acquisition of a civilian specialty. The compound has language classes for learning foreign languages, there is a stadium, a club, exercise equipment, computers... The barracks are cozy and have a decent standard of living. We hold sport in high esteem. Soldiers and officers practice taekwondo, Russian wrestling. There are athletes in taekwondo and rock climbing. Serious educational work is being carried out in state-legal, patriotic and spiritual-moral areas. Everything is being done to ensure that military personnel are physically and morally strong and understand their place and role in ensuring the security of the Republic of Belarus. In July 2001, competitions in tactical and special training were held for the championship of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, where the “partisans” of Maryina Gorka earned high praise. “I would go on reconnaissance with these guys,” Lieutenant General Nikolai Kostenko said about a group of special forces from the Hero of Russia brigade, “in the Fifth Brigade they have retained all the best, and are increasing their professionalism.”
In October 2001, an international seminar-i competition on sniper training. Representatives of special units from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic and Belarus took part in it.
2001 In the 5th Special Forces Brigade, state tests of sights for small arms were carried out.
The major exercises of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus “Berezina-2002” proved that the professionalism of special forces intelligence officers is growing and acquired through intense military labor. Overall assessment of the team ■ - “good”. I
September 12, 2002 is a historical date in the life of the brigade. A long-awaited, joyful, unforgettable day. On this day, the brigade received the President of the country and its Commander-in-Chief A.G. Lukashenko. I
The head of state solemnly presented the brigade commander with the Battle Banner with Belarusian symbols.
But before this solemn moment arrived, the head of state visited a military shooting range, where he got acquainted with the features of combat training of reconnaissance officers, their professional skills in carrying out special events, and modern weapons.
The President of the Republic of Belarus laid flowers at the monument to internationalist soldiers and met with veterans of the unit.
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko thanked the brigade personnel and veterans for their military work: “Your professional experience It’s worth a lot, it is needed by today’s generation of Belarusian special forces soldiers. It is in the continuity of generations and traditions that the strength of special forces lies.”
In July 2003, competitions were held on the basis of the 5th Special Forces brigade Intelligence groups Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
All the prizes were taken by the Special Forces teams of the brigade. In the summer of 2003, the brigade's reconnaissance officers took part in competitions between Special Forces reconnaissance groups on the basis of the 2nd Special Forces Brigade of the Leningrad Military District. Careful development of the operation, excellent physical and psychological preparation scouts allowed them to become fourth.
For high professional skill, courage and perseverance in achieving the goals of the complex operational exercise “Clear Sky-2003”, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, Colonel General L. S. Maltsev, rewarded the brigade with a pennant and a certificate.
The personnel of the 5th Special Forces Brigade participated in the exercises: “Shield of the Fatherland-2004”, in September 2005 ^bilateral command and control command, “Shield of the Union-2006”, 2007 - command and control command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
In the Republic of Belarus, the creation of Special Operations Forces has become large political event. The basis of the MTR is the 5th separate special purpose brigade. Today, the brigade, while carrying out its tasks and engaging in combat training, also bears on its shoulders the burden of testing all new weapons, equipment and special equipment for special forces units. The 5th separate special forces brigade is the vanguard of the Special Operations Forces and the main base for training and training professionals from other units and structures of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. ":: |
On August 1, 2007, the 5th Special Forces Brigade was reassigned to the command of the Special Operations Forces.
And today, celebrating its forty-fifth anniversary, the brigade remains faithful to the traditions of courage, heroism, honor and conscience, male friendship, sanctified by heaven and strengthened by battles on earth!
13.12.2013 - 23:41
News of Belarus. President Alexander Lukashenko considers the development of special operations forces to be one of the promising areas in the Belarusian army. The head of state expressed this opinion today while visiting the 5th separate special forces brigade in Maryina Gorka. The President was shown the conditions in which the best of the best serve today: this unit is rightfully considered the elite of the Belarusian armed forces. The head of state noted the high potential of young people and drew attention to the fact that this potential should be wisely used after the end of service.
Pavel has been in the 5th separate special forces brigade for 7 months. During this time, he managed not only to build muscle on exercise machines, but also to become a squad commander. Employees at Maryina Gorka indeed have ample opportunities for physical and intellectual improvement. The barracks are new, with gyms, modern lounges. But the preparation, of course, is difficult, but it is beneficial, Pavel admits.
Pavel Demchenko, commander of a special forces group:
When I came to the military registration and enlistment office and they said that in terms of health I fit into the most elite troops, asked to join this brigade. I consider it the best in the country. In principle, there is enough of everything. The only thing the soldier lacks is a home.
Special operations forces are one of the priority areas for the construction and development of the Belarusian army, which is why the President is at the center.
Today the head of state was shown the progress of preparations elite units. She is, without exaggeration, a fighter.
Shooting training session - landing, training shooting from sniper rifles, grenade launchers as part of various units and performing tasks of varying complexity. The regularity of such exercises brings the actions of special groups to automaticity. But the main thing here, of course, is the speed of achieving the desired effect.
From the report to the President:
At a distance of 1300 meters, a group of snipers is capable of disabling an anti-aircraft missile battalion on the march in a minute. Guaranteed!
This is an assault suit and corresponding weapons. Much has been done here in Belarus, but, of course, there is also an imported component.
From the report to the President:
All modernization items (AK-ed.) with the exception of the body kit are made by our defense complex.
At abundant BARS complexes, special operations forces can effectively counter illegal groups. Both in the city and on rough terrain. Good maneuverability, maneuverability, automatic adjustment of fire from a heavy-caliber gun.
And the Bogatyr passenger car is for mobile transportation of both soldiers and cargo.
We are especially proud of our diving equipment - tugs, breathing apparatus and special equipment, developed by Belarusian specialists. By the way, in the air, or rather, landing, using all kinds of parachute systems, the Belarusians are far from in last positions.
From the report to the President:
In 2013, at the World Championships in China, our team won 13 medals, 5 of them gold.
According to the state program, special operations forces units have been completely re-equipped. Appeared new technology, equipment. Weapons, respectively, and new high results.
Oleg Belokonev, commander of special operations forces of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus:
The servicemen of this brigade have unique living conditions: not everyone has these at home.
The 5th Brigade is engaged in special operations, reconnaissance and organizational tasks. Part of the immediate response force. They also teach here the so-called “special strength disciplines” - martial arts, working in a group and alone... By the way, among the teachers there are masters in three sports.
From the report to the President:
Shamanov, the commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, came. He cried! Then at 23.00 he called and said, “We are shocked how good-natured your people are, they tell the truth - that they are a tolerant people. And what kind of relations do you have between the security forces!”
Behind Last year According to the program for the development of military camps, about 60 objects were brought into proper condition. Maryina Gorka maybe good example organization and personal life of military personnel.
:
16 houses and 1,250 apartments were built.
In this brigade we have a dormitory for bachelors, a family dormitory, 3 houses of service housing, and by July 3 we are finishing the 4th house. This is more than 200 apartments. The cooperative was built by officers who had the opportunity to take out a soft loan.
The construction of military camps in Belarus will continue.
Yuri Zhadobin, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus:
In general, Comrade President, this is the best town in terms of infrastructure. I'm not ashamed to introduce him to you.
In 4 years, thanks to your decision to extend the program[the issue regarding the rest will be resolved - ed.].
They also discussed the need to use the potential of young people who have received good military training here.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
We must clearly calculate this and decide how we will develop in the future. I am not against such trained troops.
What if a person leaves here for civilian life, this is our person. If you don’t end up in the security forces, serve somewhere else, in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the KGB, these are still our people. These are ours. I remember bringing such attention to the honor guard company. The guys are beautiful, trained, well-mannered. The service is very difficult. These guys need to be supported. We desperately need such young people. I won’t say that ours is bad, but this is the core that we are preparing here especially due to special operation, they should not disappear. They must be somewhere in “civilian life”; the main units of our young people, real men, must be formed around them, so that we can always rely on them.
The 5th separate special forces brigade gave the president a symbolic gift. This is a combat knife with a memorable inscription - “no one but us”, and the indispensable vest of a paratrooper, reported in the “24 Hours” News program on STV.
“Communication is the nerve of the army.” The 100th anniversary is celebrated on October 20 by the Signal Corps
Each branch of the military has its own annual holidays. Most often this is the date of its creation. For every military man this event is important, almost like his own birthday. And even more so when it’s a round date. This Sunday, October 20, the 100th anniversary will be celebrated by the Signal Corps of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. In the program we talk about the most technologically advanced part of our army.
The 20th century, along with social revolutions, simultaneously brought technological revolutions. He has made the structures of all armies in the world as complex as possible. Accordingly, coordination and management have become more difficult. Therefore, on October 20, 1919, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council, it was formed separate genus Red Army troops - communications troops. Already by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, their number was 5 percent of the total composition of the Armed Forces. The largest use of signal troops is in the Belarusian offensive operation. 28 thousand radio stations were involved.
During the war, 339 signalmen received the title “Hero of the Soviet Union.” 130 became full holders of the Order of Glory. It was during the war years that many formations were formed, which still provide communications for the Belarusian army.
Oleg Mishchenko, Chief of Communications of the Armed Forces - Head of the Communications Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus:
During its hundred-year history, the signal troops have come a long and glorious way. In my opinion, in our armed forces we managed to preserve all the good things that remained from the Belarusian military district. From our illustrious formations and military units that took part in the Great Patriotic War, which were formed already in the post-war period. Which, on the basis of the Belarusian military district, were modernized and equipped with advanced weapons and military equipment. In addition, the preserved scientific and technical potential to use this basis and use its own means of communication in sovereign Belarus.
Andrey Dedukh devoted almost twenty years to the signal troops. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, a war hero, and his father. Under him, in the sovereign Belarusian army, everything that we talked about in the program was born.
Andrey Dedukh, lieutenant colonel in reserve:
The appearance of the Signal Corps has changed greatly. There has been a huge technical leap in the technology that is now entering service in the communications sector. Signal troops have now turned into highly effective modern digital troops that provide the Armed Forces with all types of communications, and with modern communications. That is, it was probably impossible to imagine before, when the first exercises were held in the Russian Federation, that it was possible to talk through a 140 MB radio station, modernized at our base, from the Ashuluk training ground with the city of Osipovichi, as if a person was in the next room.
And the dynasty of signalmen is continued by his son Sergei. Already promoted to captain. And I understood very well what connection is. Both military and family.
Sergey Dedukh, head of call center 62 TsUS:
Communication is the nerve of the army. Without communication there is no control, there is no victory.
Oleg Mishchenko:
The special pride of the troops is the people. These are professionals in their field. You know, it’s probably not so easy to join a family of professional signalmen. Starting with education. And it’s probably even harder to get out of it. Those who are dedicated to their work, those who, through their daily work, prove their professionalism, their dedication to ensuring the security of our state.
Of course, on this day I would like, first of all, to congratulate our veterans on this holiday. The Signal Corps today is probably not ashamed that what we inherited we have preserved, saved, and in some areas, probably, increased. But they should judge this by our deeds. I would like to wish all the personnel good health, peaceful skies above their heads and not to stop there - master a difficult profession and be a reliable defender of our state.
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Horses don't eat hay
The military scale of the small Maryina Gorka can be judged by the size of the residential buildings built there for the military. Almost fifty five-story buildings - a whole area.
The military history of Maryina Gorka began on the eve of World War II. During major military exercises, the People's Commissar of Defense liked the local landscape Kliment Voroshilov. The marshal gave the command, and in 1935, representatives of Voroshilov’s favorite branch of the army, the cavalry division, were transferred here from the south.
The riders arrived all the way from near Orenburg. And if there were no special problems with the arrangement of the military personnel, then with the horses it turned out to be more difficult. Orenburg horses did not eat Belarusian hay. From the south, military trains urgently began transporting special steppe goods. Where was it then unloaded from railway- Herbs that are unusual for our region still grow there today, causing shock among domestic botanists.
The flames of World War II were already burning in Europe. The battles showed that the cavalry's time was up. And instead of horsemen, representatives of a completely new military profession appeared in the Minsk region - paratroopers. Located in Maryina Gorka 214th airborne brigade , subsequently reorganized into an even larger military unit - airborne corps. Started to be based here airborne bomber regiment. There was also its own military pilot school, which was later transferred to Postavy.
Even the village in pre-war times could boast of its own military school. By the will of the General Staff, along with Moscow or Leningrad, such an honor fell to the small Maryina Gorka. Lieutenant Colonel served as a teacher there Ivan Yakubovsky- future famous military leader, Marshal of Victory. True, his cadets did not manage to reach the marshal's stars: almost all of them died during the war months. Only a few of them survived.
At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the school itself was transferred to the rear near Vologda. But even there, in Verkhny Ustyug, it bore the same name with a Belarusian flavor - Pukhovichi Infantry.
And when June '41 struck, the Marinogorsk paratroopers were thrown to the west. And not with a parachute, as was taught until now, but in ordinary cars. They were ordered to help the infantry divisions contain the enemy attack. The infantry did not hold out for long and began to retreat to the east, but the 214th brigade did not retreat. The battle raged near Starye Dorogi for more than a month, and then near Minsk. And only at the end of August did she leave the defense area and go out to her own people.
During the occupation, Maryina Gorka was chosen by the invaders. The enemy created a powerful stronghold here, where soldiers and officers were sent from the front for rest and treatment. There was a hospital, an anti-aircraft artillery school and sapper courses operating here.
And tankers, and sappers, and combine operators
After liberation, a front-line division (which, by the way, ended the war in Czechoslovakia), one of the oldest formations of the Red Army, was withdrawn to Maryina Gorka. 30th Guards Irkutsk-Pinsk name Supreme Council RSFSR.
The first task of the military here in the post-war period was mine clearance, recalls the veteran Valentin Grishin. - There are plenty of mines left everywhere - both in the town and in the surrounding fields. We also had to help local grain growers, since there were not enough workers on the collective farms. In winter and summer, combat training was in full swing, and in spring and autumn, military personnel could be seen on tractors or on reapers.
In 1968, the division had to urgently return to Czechoslovakia. The business trip turned out to be difficult: during the street fighting there were both casualties and wounded. The connection was never returned to Belarus. "Thirty" remained in the Slovak city of Zvolen until 1990. And only when socialist camp began to burst at the seams, Irkutsk-Pinsk is again transferred to Belarus. Her place there, however, was taken: regiments were stationed in the military town 8th Guards tank division . The Eighth Tank Division was considered a reduced-staff division: it had only 2.5 thousand personnel instead of 11 thousand. But there was a full complement of equipment and weapons - the storage facilities were already cracking. And another division is sent to this crowded town. The tank unit is hastily disbanded, and in its place they begin to unload the trains of the “Czechoslovakian” - 30th motorized rifle. The division came in combat. The staff is far from the same as that of local tankers - about 12 thousand soldiers and officers. There was not enough space for its tanks and armored personnel carriers. And in a secret manner (so that the enemy does not find out), divisions are allowed to keep one motorized rifle regiment without military equipment. And only then were we somehow able to accommodate ourselves.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, a whirlpool of events began to boil in the garrison, as elsewhere, which also resulted in broken destinies. But the division, oddly enough, survived. Belarusian military leadership later reduced it to a brigade. At a time when there was an acute shortage of funds and material resources, large exercises were even conducted with it. And upon returning from the exercises, the officers and soldiers learned: they tried in vain, their formation was being reduced - there would only be a storage base for equipment.
Now there is no such base there either. Old barracks stand silently; in some places, military buildings have been adapted by various civilian institutions to their needs. Thus, the military page in the history of this region of Maryina Gorka was closed. Apparently forever.
Super secret special forces
In 1962, part of the town was separated into a super-secret facility with a strict access system. They brought military heroes there who did not give even a hint of what they were doing. Located in a top-secret town military special forces. Which was not even subordinate to the command of the military district - but only to the Main Intelligence Directorate in Moscow. There they trained soldiers and officers who could do literally anything in war. There was only one such brigade in Belarus.
During the war in Afghanistan, the Maryinogorsk brigade sent there from itself 334th Special Forces Detachment, which in the mountainous country, in order to maintain secrecy, was disguised as fifth separate motorized rifle battalion . It was located in the small town of Asadabad near the Afghan-Pakistan border - this is the easternmost point of deployment of Soviet troops in Afghanistan.
The Marinogorsk people fought well. Two servicemen from this detachment became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
But at the beginning of a significant battle path happened battle in the Maravar Gorge. The first battle of the 334th detachment in that war, which many of its veterans still don’t want to remember.
At the location of today's brigade stands monument, on which there are 108 names of soldiers and officers. The death of 29 of them dates back to one day in April 1985. This is an unprecedented number of casualties in one battle. Moreover, for the military elite - special forces.
The detachment's departure into the mountains began as ordinary exercises. And was seen as a cakewalk. The Marinogorsk residents had been at war for just over a month; they had not yet smelled real gunpowder. The hope that the dushmans should tremble with fear at their mere appearance was relaxing. And the soldiers were heading out into the night to comb the village, which was located only three kilometers from their military camp. Intelligence noticed a Mujahideen observation post there - a meager target.
But the dushmans were well prepared. They say that professional foreign mercenaries helped them then. They lured our first company into a trap. And when she broke into battle groups, began to pursue the guards, who seemed to take flight, cut her off from the others, surrounded her and began to destroy her.
Our ammunition ran out very quickly: they didn’t take much of it for such a short trip. Radio contact with the battalion, as always happens at critical times, disappeared. And there was no point in waiting for support from there.
Company commander captain Nikolay Tsebruk He understood everything, rushed at the enemy and was killed by a bullet in the neck. Lieutenant Nikolay Kuznetsov rescued the wounded, and then, in order to avoid being captured, he blew himself up with a grenade. Following him, seven more fighters of the detachment, young, strong, also did not want to fall into the hands of the enemy alive - they blew themselves up.
And all this is close to our garrison. The frenzied shooting in the mountains was certainly heard there. But she couldn’t quickly get through there at night; the artillery joined in late, and the artillerymen didn’t have exact coordinates for firing in the dark.
They say that those special forces who survived came out of hell to their... gray hairs. And they were only eighteen to twenty years old. Some of them could not even snatch the weapon from their hands for a long time.
Even today they try not to talk much about this unsuccessful operation. But it was. 29 young guys- victims of a mistake in military tactics, mischief or staff nonsense - today they silently look at us from the soldier’s monument on the territory of the brigade.
Exchange Domanovo for Helsinki
Since Soviet times, sky sentries have also been stationed in the local garrison - anti-aircraft missile brigade. The brigade had good weapons for its time - Osa complexes. This military unit and was preserved in the Belarusian army. At the turn of the 2000s, she was transferred from here to the Brest region, to Domanovo. Perhaps such a route was justified strategically, but for the officers and their families the move to the forest garrison seemed difficult. Some did not even go to the Domano forests. They quit to stay in the city.
For twenty years now, Marinogorsk residents have had the opportunity to visit Helsinki even daily and without any visas. There is a whole so-called Finnish quarter. After all, as in Baranovichi, here at the end of the USSR a town was built for Soviet units that were being withdrawn from Germany. The tender was won by builders from Finland. The department store they built received the name “Helsinki”.
By the way, troops from Germany did not come here, as in Baranovichi. It is difficult to imagine what the garrison would have looked like if it had received another full-fledged combat division from Germany. Local military personnel happily moved into the new apartments. New buildings were then offered even to the Minsk homeless - and some agreed: the housing created by the Finns looked very unusual. We didn’t know how to build like that then.
The basis of today's garrison is the same famous 5th Special Forces Brigade. She is here now alone for everyone. Last year the connection celebrated its half-century anniversary. Belarusian young men still dream of enlisting there. And, as before, not everyone can do this.
Annual holiday of the 12th OBRSpN GRU
On December 5, the 12th separate special forces brigade of the GRU General Staff celebrates unit day. History of military unit 25642 and service until the disbandment of the “asbestos brigade” in a review from Voenpro.
History of the creation of the 12th OBRSpN
The 12th Special Forces Brigade was created in 1962 by order of the General Staff on July 10th. The first composition of military unit 25642 was formed from soldiers and intelligence officers of the Transcaucasian Military District. Even in Soviet times, the region could not be called calm, so the appearance of special forces in the Caucasus did not surprise anyone. From the first days of its existence, the military formation was preparing to counter the internal and external enemies of the Union.
Day 12 of the OBRSpN was set for December 5th. Two years after its formation, the brigade was given the Battle Banner, which was presented by the commander of the Transcaucasian Military District, Army General Andrei Trofimovich Stuchenko himself. In February 1973, the full brigade took part in the large-scale exercise “Snow Pass”. During the inspection, the special forces showed high results, completing all the command tasks in very difficult conditions.
The 12th GRU special forces brigade was stationed in Lagodekhi, a city on the border of the Georgian and Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republics. Relations between the two Caucasian peoples have always been very warm, so the special forces did not have any problems with serving, and they could easily undergo combat training. Therefore, the brigade was rightly considered one of the most combat-ready units in the Soviet army.
In 1980, the 173rd separate special forces detachment was introduced into the 12th OBRSpN in Lagodekhi on a special staff. Four years later, the unit was transferred to the Turkestan Military District, where the 40th Combined Arms Army was stationed.
It was this combat unit that fought in the Afghan War, so the special forces were supplemented with experienced officers and sent to Helmand province. The main task of the fighters was to identify militant training camps. The withdrawal from the DRA took place in 1988, but the servicemen did not have a chance to rest for long.
The end of the 80s for the Union was characterized by frequent protests by militants in the Caucasus, who demanded the creation of independent states. The 12th GRU special forces brigade was sent to suppress separatist protests and restore legitimate power to the city of Zakatany, Azerbaijan SSR. In 1989, experts carried out a series of successful operations near the settlements of Kirovakan, Leninakan, Pambak of the Armenian SSR. During the raids, several militant training centers were identified and destroyed.
The collapse of the Soviet Union also did not pass peacefully for the Caucasus. Therefore, the 12th OBRSpN GRU had to take part in resolving the South Ossetian conflict, restoring order in Nagorno-Karabakh and a number of other operations.
After the declaration of independence of Georgia, the 12th GRU special forces brigade moved to Asbest Sverdlovsk region. At the beginning of the 90s, it was one of the best army units in the army, so it is not surprising that the government of the Russian Federation made every effort to redeploy the unit to its territory.
The combat path of the 12th Special Forces Brigade in the Russian Armed Forces
In most of the videos filmed in Chechnya, it is the 12th OBRSpN that is present. The fighters went to the North Caucasus in 1995 to establish constitutional order there and establish federal power.
The first clashes showed that the army of Ichkeria is much stronger than expected, so it will not be so easy to defeat it. Therefore, the motorized columns were urgently staffed with special forces, who were supposed to provide their protection and conduct reconnaissance in order to avoid being ambushed during the route.
The 12th OBRSpN from Asbest sent the 33rd detachment to the Chechen Republic. During the fighting, thanks to the efforts of special forces, it was eliminated a large number of field commanders, which significantly undermined the morale of the separatists. And strike and reconnaissance operations made it possible to save the lives of their colleagues from other units, who, thanks to timely identified ambushes, could prepare for battle and fight back, rather than fall into traps.
The 12th OBRSpN in Chechnya lost several fighters, but for each killed special forces soldier the enemies had to pay with the blood of dozens of militants. On March 3, 1995, in the Gudermes area, a reconnaissance detachment was preparing a route for the withdrawal of forces of the North-Western group federal troops. Several pre-prepared ambushes were identified and destroyed, but reinforcements came to the terrorists at the sounds of battle, and the special forces found themselves surrounded.
Decisive actions made it possible to capture the dominant height, after which senior lieutenant Vladislav Aleksandrovich Dolonin, wounded in the leg, lay down on it with a machine gun and covered the retreat of his colleagues. Precision fire not only made it possible to recover from losses, but also disrupted the pursuit. The hero himself died a heroic death and for his exceptional courage and self-sacrifice was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.
Since 1999, the 12th separate special forces brigade has taken part in military operations in Dagestan. Here, too, it was not possible to avoid personnel losses. On February 22, 2000, in the Argun Gorge, covering the retreat of a group that was ambushed, captain Mikhail Konstantinovich Churkin and junior sergeant Dmitry Aleksandrovich Shektaev died.
With their decisive actions, they were able to pin down the enemy forces and allowed the main group to leave without losses. For their feat, both fighters were posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.
In the summer of 1997, military unit 25642 in Asbest hosted competitions between special forces groups from the Russian Federation, the USA and Slovakia. The Russian team achieved victory, which once again confirmed the highest level of training of the fighters. IN different time they also took part in joint exercises with colleagues from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
If you watch the training video of military unit 25642, you will be surprised at how extraordinary abilities the special forces have. They are trained to conduct combat operations in any conditions, trained to master all types of cold and firearms, techniques hand-to-hand combat and using the environment for your own purposes.
Many soldiers kept tattoos of the 12th OBRSpN to remember their service for the rest of their lives. A stylized image was usually used as drawings bat, which is a symbol of special forces. Also, fighters could add years of service or the names of settlements in which they had the opportunity to engage in battle against illegal armed groups.
On August 29, 2009, the 12th separate special forces brigade in Asbest said goodbye to its Battle Banner and was disbanded. The fighters were distributed among other military units.
How do veterans of the 12th Brigade live?
In 2013, the “Fund for Supporting Veterans of the 12th Special Forces Brigade” was created. The organization took upon itself the responsibility of helping former fighters of the legendary unit. The initiative was put forward by the former brigade commander, Colonel Mikhail Petrovich Masalitin. It is he who heads the fund and takes care of the needs of special forces and their families. In particular, the monument was moved to the fallen heroes, which at one time stood on the territory of the 12th OBRSpN unit in Asbest.
During operations in Chechnya and Dagestan, the special forces lost 29 comrades killed. More than 50 people were injured of varying degrees of severity in the battles for their homeland. Therefore, the foundation’s activities make it possible to raise funds to purchase the necessary medications for rehabilitation. Nobody forgets the annual holiday of the 12th OBRSpN, so veterans get together every year to remember their fallen comrades and remember the glorious moments of service in special forces.
You can buy the flag of the 12th OBRSpN and other paraphernalia with the symbols of the brigade at the Voentpro military store. The store offers a wide selection of products of the highest quality, with which you can congratulate veterans on the upcoming holiday and give them a pleasant surprise. It is always very important for soldiers to know that they are remembered and appreciated for their hard work, which is often invisible in peacetime.
You can leave feedback about your service in the “asbestos” special forces brigade or congratulate veterans on the upcoming holiday using the comment form under the article.