The battalion became part of the 46th separate operational brigade of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. The number of "North" is about 700 people, the battalion commander is Alimbek Delimkhanov - the brother of the State Duma deputy and one of Kadyrov's closest associates Adam Delimkhanov and, according to some information, the cousin of the head of the republic himself, was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

Battalion "North" is considered. He has heavy weapons at his disposal. Combat vehicles. Among the daily tasks of the battalion are the fight against the separatist movement in the republic and anti-terrorist operations.

It was in this battalion that Zaur Dadaev, accused of the murder of Boris Nemtsov, served (he retired from the murder of a politician).

The night before, during a visit by members of the PMC (Public Monitoring Commission that monitors the observance of human rights in places of detention) of the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center, where the suspects in the Nemtsov murder case are located, the accused Dadaev declared his innocence, Moskovsky Komsomolets reports.

“They shouted all the time: “Did you kill Nemtsov?” I answered no. So I thought they would bring me to Moscow, and then I would tell the whole truth in court. That I'm not guilty. But the judge didn’t even give me a word,” Dadaev said.

Earlier, the judge of the Basmanny Court of Moscow said that Zaur Dadaev admitted his involvement in the crime.

“Dadaev's guilt is confirmed by his confession,” the judge said.

Also on the eve of Rosbalt, citing a source in law enforcement agencies, it was reported that the murder of politician Boris Nemtsov was planned by two former members of the Chechen special battalion "North" Zaur Dadaev and Beslan (Bislan) Shavanov. The latter is already dead - he blew himself up with a grenade when the police tried to detain him in Grozny.

- Studying the evidence that is now available in the case, the testimony of witnesses, as well as the main accused, we can draw an unambiguous conclusion: the murder of Nemtsov was a personal initiative of Dadaev and Shavanov. They didn’t have any other “customers,” said the interlocutor of Rosbalt.

Numerous associates of Nemtsov.

Not much is known about the Sever battalion, Gazeta.Ru publishes some photographs showing the battalion's soldiers and their daily life.

Battalion "North"

Special unit of the 46th Separate Operational Brigade of the North Caucasian Regional Command of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. In 2010, the Sever battalion was renamed the 141st Special Motorized Regiment of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Russian Federation. Based in Grozny.

background

Shortly after the death on May 9, 2004 of Chechen President Akhmat Kadyrov, it became known about Moscow's plans to reorganize his security service. In July 2004, a special police regiment (PMON) named after Akhmad Kadyrov was formed out of more than a thousand of its employees. He was handed over to the leadership of the Republican Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In January 2005, the creation of a security service for the new president of Chechnya, Alu Alkhanov, was announced. Until his resignation, Alu Alkhanov relied on the support of the GRU "West" special forces battalions under the command of Said-Magomed Kakiev and his own security service.

In May 2005, on the basis of the armed formations of Kadyrov's Security Council, which retained their independence, the Antiterrorist Center (ATC) of the republic was created. This was an intermediate phase in the process of further reorganization and reassignment of Kadyrov's fighters. Already in November of the same year, it became known about plans to form two battalions of them, subordinate to the command of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the North Caucasus District. The creation of these battalions, named "South" and "North", was almost completely completed by April 2006.

On May 10, 2006, servicemen of the "North" and "South" battalions of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, stationed in the Chechen Republic, were sworn in.

On May 29, 2006, the activities of the "North" and "South" battalions were legalized by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia.

The total number of both military units was more than 1200 people. The battalions were manned exclusively by military personnel passing through military service by contract. The staff of the Antiterrorist Center of the Chechen Republic, who had passed a special selection, were accepted into the battalions. The peculiarity of the "North" battalion is that only residents of the Chechen Republic serve in it - from the commander to the ordinary soldier.

The place of deployment of the battalion "North" is the city of Grozny, and the battalion "South" - the Vedeno region of Chechnya. The main task of the "North" and "South" battalions is to maintain law and order on the territory of the republic and fight against bandit formations. The commanders of the "North" and "South" battalions respectively were Hero of Russia Colonel Alibek Delimkhanov (brother of Adam Delimkhanov and cousin of Ramzan Kadyrov) and Senior Lieutenant Muslim Ilyasov.

The fighters of the "North" participated in almost all special operations to detain and eliminate members of the gang underground and their leaders. Between 2006 and 2008 more than 1,000 units seized from illegal circulation by the forces of the battalion "North" different kind weapons, 49 members of an illegal armed formation were destroyed, 43 militants, 4 criminals and five people who had been on the federal wanted list for a long time were detained. P From 2006 to 2009, the battalion lost ten servicemen, 170 servicemen were awarded state awards, including one star of the Hero of Russia, eight - orders of courage. During reconnaissance, search and special events, the unit's fighters neutralized 94 members of the illegal armed formations, neutralized more than 180 explosive objects, seized 213 units from illegal circulation small arms.

By the time the "North" and "South" battalions were formed, the "East" (Sulim Yamadayev) and "West" (commander Said-Magomed Kakiev), O organizationally included in the structure of the 42nd motorized rifle division of the armed forces of Russia, subordinate command of the North Caucasian Military District, General Staff and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Experts emphasized that the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov "is not in a position to give any independent order to the battalions (East" and "West"). All the wishes and initiatives of the republican authorities on the use of armed formations are approved by the corresponding military officials.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has repeatedly expressed his negative opinion about the Vostok battalion, that its employees are allegedly engaged in kidnapping, robbery, and that it is they who are guilty of "turning into the forests" of Chechen youth.

In 2006, the group "Highlander" Movladi Baysarov was liquidated, as a result of which the FSB significantly reduced its capabilities in Chechnya.

Suppression of the Vostok base

In 2008, the Sever battalion, together with other law enforcement agencies subordinate to Ramzan Kadyrov (the Yug battalion, OMON, SOBR, the Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov regiment, the oil regiment, the special forces of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs), participated in blocking the base of the Vostok battalion in Gudermes after the incident with President Kadyrov's motorcade.

At the exits from Gudermes, the fighters of the special battalion stopped all the cars, checked the people who were there. Vostok servicemen were detained and taken to the Vega base located on the outskirts of Gudermes. One of these checks at the checkpoint ended in a shootout. As a result, two soldiers of the fifth company of the special battalion, Taipur Elsanov and Magomed Arsabiev, were killed. The acting commander of Vostok, Magomed Bakhaev, tried to resolve the situation on the spot, but was also placed in Vega.

In 2008, the East and West GRU battalions were disbanded.

141st Special Motorized Regiment

In 2010, the Sever battalion was reorganized into the 141st Special Motorized Regiment. Since the autumn of 2010, the "North" battalion.

In December 2009, the ceremony of presenting the battle banner to the Sever battalion took place. The ceremony was attended by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Rashid Nurgaliyev, who noted: "From the moment of creation in April 2006 to the present day, the personnel of the 248th separate special motorized battalion courageously and selflessly participate in the performance of service and combat missions on the territory of the Chechen Republic" .

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 10, 2011 for mass heroism and courage, fortitude and courage shown by the personnel of the regiment in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts, and, given the merits in peacetime, the 141st Special Motorized The regiment of internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was given the honorary title "named after the Hero of the Russian Federation Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov."

Alexander Cherkasov, "Memorial" about the Chechen battalions: "The basis of these structures (battalions "North" and "South" - note of the "Caucasian Knot") were former militants who went over to the side of Kadyrov after 2003. There were very different people, it was also such that someone in these anti-terrorist centers continued to work underground - for example, the head of the Anti-Terrorist Center for the Vedeno district, Mairbek Eshiev, who disappeared in the spring of 2006 (Ramzan then said that he "fired" Eshiev). In general, at that time it was a way of adapting and formalizing the numerous former militants who were drawn to the other side. They proved their loyalty by tying themselves with blood: they acted in the same place where they had previously fought in the forest, but now against those who remained in this forest: they knew the people, knew the area and were very effective.

Conflict with special forces

In July 2010, special forces of internal troops from Bashkiria accused the Sever battalion of betrayal allegedly taking place in February of that year.

Information about the conflict was detailed in the publication "Moskovsky Komsomolets" "Traitors in arms - special forces of internal troops accuse Chechen colleagues of treason." The essence of the conflict: On February 4, 2010, between the villages of Dachu-Borzoy and Alkhazurovo in Chechnya, during a special operation involving the Sever battalion and special forces soldiers seconded from Bashkiria, five militants were killed, but five special forces were also killed.

One of the reports mentioned that the analysis of the wounds received by the soldiers of the special forces units gives grounds to believe that they were received as a result of fire from the 248th OSMB (battalion number "North"). In particular, a special forces corporal named Kiryanov was wounded by a VOG-30 shell - the militants, as stated in the report, did not have such shells. It was also pointed out that "the soldiers of the "North" gave the militants the whereabouts of the special forces, stole the weapons and ammunition of the military, took the corpses of the bandits from the battlefield for transfer to relatives" .

Ramzan Kadyrov called these allegations nonsense and an attempt "to kindle ethnic hatred, undermine the combat effectiveness of elite units, and arouse distrust among them." "I do not consider it necessary to dwell on every point of the material, because it is unreliable from beginning to end," Kadyrov told reporters at a press conference in Grozny .

An interlocutor of Moskovsky Komsomolets said that after the special operation a criminal investigation was carried out, but in the end it was "hushed up". According to some reports, General Nikolai Sivak, commander of the joint group of troops and forces, tried to discuss this topic. But he was soon removed from his post.

The murder of Nemtsov

On March 7, 2015, the head of the FSB of Russia, Alexander Bortnikov, announced the arrest of two men involved in organizing and carrying out the murder of Boris Nemtsov. Later, three more suspects in the execution of Nemtsov were detained, among them a former fighter of the Sever battalion Zaur Dadaev. During the meeting of the Basmanny Court, it was stated that Dadaev's involvement in the murder was "confirmed by his confession," however, the defendant himself did not plead guilty at the trial.

On the evening of March 7, 2015, in one of the apartments of a high-rise building on Lev Yashin Street in Grozny, security forces blocked a former serviceman of the Sever battalion, 30-year-old Bislan Shavanov (Beslan). While trying to detain him, he was fatally wounded in a grenade explosion. Beslan Shavanov served in the "North" battalion for more than 10 years, had awards and incentives for good service.

On March 10, 2015, Zaur Dadaev told reporters that he confessed to the murder of Nemtsov only because he was promised to release his brother, but now he is ready to retract his testimony.

In particular, Zaur Dadaev stated: “They were shouting all the time:“ Did you kill Nemtsov? they will let him go. I agreed. I thought I would save him, and they would take me to Moscow alive. Otherwise, the same thing would happen to me as with Shavanov. After all, he allegedly blew himself up on a grenade "... .

On March 19, it became known that in the case of the murder of Nemtsov, investigators were looking for a former officer of the Sever battalion, Ruslan Geremeev, for interrogation as a witness.

After accusations of participation in the murder of Nemtsov of the fighters of the Sever battalion, Ramzan Kadyrov stated on his personal page on Instagram: "The Basmanny Court of Moscow authorized the arrest of Zaur Dadaev, suspected of involvement in the murder of Boris Nemtsov. I knew Zaur as a true patriot of Russia.<...>Zaur was one of the most fearless and courageous soldiers of the regiment.<...>I am firmly convinced that he is sincerely devoted to Russia, was ready to give his life for his Motherland. I do not understand the true reasons and motives for the dismissal of Zaur from the ranks of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.<...>The same brave warrior was Beslan Shavanov, who died the day before while trying to detain him. We believe that a thorough investigation will be carried out, which will show whether Dadaev is really guilty and what actually caused his act." .

The main defendants in the "Nemtsov case" Zaur Dadaev and Ruslan Geremeev were awarded the Order of Courage back in 2010 - "for courage, courage and selflessness shown in the performance of military duty in the North Caucasus region." The Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev presented the award to the soldiers.

Scandals and incidents with the military personnel of the "North"

On February 4, 2010, in the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya, a joint special operation was carried out by the special forces of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the military personnel of the Sever battalion to block militants. According to the journalists of "Moskovsky Komsomolets", during the battle, in which five special forces soldiers were killed, the fighters of the "North" not only revealed the location of the security forces, but also fired at their own. Alvi Karimov, Ramzan Kadyrov's press secretary, condemned the information about the connection of the "North" servicemen with Chechen fighters.

On the evening of December 31, 2010, in the Zavodskoy district of Grozny, an armed attack was made on servicemen of the Sever battalion. As a result, two soldiers were injured. A source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Chechnya said that it was not possible to identify the attackers in "hot pursuit".

On August 6, 2012, a double explosion occurred in the Oktyabrsky district of Grozny, not far from the location of the Sever battalion. According to a source in the law enforcement agencies of Chechnya, two officers and a contract serviceman of the 46th brigade of internal troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs died directly at the site of the explosion, and another serviceman later died from his wound in the hospital. As a result of these attacks, two more servicemen of the internal troops, a police officer and a local resident were injured.

On August 27, 2015, deputy commander of the Sever battalion Musa Ayubov and his wife Zulay Umarova were found dead with gunshot wounds. On suspicion of murder, a serviceman of the "North", the nephew of the murdered man, Idris Ayubov, was detained. The detainee admitted his guilt. The reason for the murder, the investigation called the conflict between the sergeant and his uncle, who demanded that he stop taking drugs and selling them on the territory of the military unit. On June 15, 2016, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Idris Ayubov to 18 years in a strict regime colony.

On February 9, 2016, Novaya Gazeta, citing its own sources, wrote that about 20 former employees of the Sever battalion, who were dismissed in October 2015, could be sent to Syria. "Our sources in the Chechen diaspora connected these dismissals with the dispatch to Syria as volunteers of a certain group of well-trained comrades," the publication said. At the same time, back in September 2015, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that the natives of Chechnya did not participate in hostilities against the Islamic State, banned in Russia by a court decision and recognized as a terrorist organization. But already on February 8, 2016, Kadyrov admitted that “special service agents from Chechnya were infiltrated into the IS* camps” and that “it was he who sent his people there.”

In early March 2016, five people from Chechnya were arrested in connection with the murder of politician Boris Nemtsov, including Zaur Dadaev, a former fighter of the Chechen battalion "North", whom the investigation considers the perpetrator of the murder. The case also includes Chechen officers Ruslan Mukhudinov, who is considered the alleged mastermind of the murder, as well as officer of the Sever battalion Ruslan Geremeev and Beslan Shavanov, who was killed during the arrest. On July 13, 2017, the Moscow District Military Court sentenced Zaur Dadaev to 20 years in prison, the rest of the defendants in the case - to terms from 11 to 19 years. Supreme Court, having considered the appeals of lawyers and victims, slightly mitigated the punishment for the convicts, canceling the fines assigned to them.

In August 2016, five people were arrested in Moscow on suspicion of extorting 100 million rubles from businessman Konstantin Zhukov, including two officers of the Sever battalion Said Akhmaev and Lechi Bolatbaev. According to the victim, his business partner Yevgeny Katkov extorted money from him with the help of natives of Chechnya, who introduced themselves as employees of the TFR. Katkov stated that he turned to his friend Bolatbaev after learning that Zhukov was transferring most of the profits of their joint company to his other firm.

This case attracted media attention, since Akhmaev and Bolatbaev were surrounded by State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov, cousin Ramzan Kadyrov. It was reported that Delimkhanov and Kadyrov, during the preliminary investigation, sent letters of guarantee to the court with a request to change the preventive measure for Akhmaev and Bolatbaev to house arrest or a written undertaking not to leave.

The criminal case was considered in the Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow. In the debate on October 26, 2018, the state prosecution asked to sentence Akhmaev and Bolatbaev to 7 years and 3 months, the rest of the defendants in the case - from 7 years to 7 years and 5 months in a strict regime colony. But when passing the verdict, on November 6, the court reclassified the charge from extortion to arbitrariness and imposed the same punishment on all defendants - a fine of 50,000 rubles. Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations under the article on arbitrariness, the court released the defendants in the case from paying a fine.

* The "Islamic State" (ISIS, formerly ISIS) is banned in Russia by a court decision and recognized as a terrorist organization.

Sources:

1. The new Chechen army threatens Moscow // HRC "Memorial", 04.07.2006.
2. "North" and "South" are responsible for the world // Krasnaya Zvezda, 10/26/2006.
3. The President of the Chechen Republic visited the Sever battalion // Grozny-inform, 10/22/2008.
4. Battalion "North" was awarded a battle flag // IA "Chechnya Today", 12/26/2009.
5. Chechen battalions advanced to the state border // Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 09/15/2006.
6. Kadyrov is settling scores with the Vostok battalion. At any moment, a battle with the "Yamadaevites" may begin // Newsru.com, 04/15/2008.
7. Nurgaliev in Grozny handed over the battle banner to the soldiers of the battalion "North" // Human Rights Center "Memorial", 12/28/2009.
8. Traitors at arms // Moskovsky Komsomolets, 07/14/2010.
9. Kadyrov called the conflict between the special forces and the Sever battalion nonsense // Lenta.Ru, 07/15/2010.
10. The special forces of the internal troops accused the Chechen battalion "North" of treason // news agency Chechnya.Ru, 07/15/2010.
11. The head of the FSB announced the arrest of two suspects in the murder of Nemtsov // Interfax, 03/07/2010.
12. A soldier of the Sever battalion and a security guard were detained in the case of the murder of Nemtsov // RBC, 03/07/2015.
13. Zaur Dadaev told in the pre-trial detention center about his detention in the Nemtsov case // Moskovsky Komsomolets, 03/10/2015.
14. Personal page Ramzan Kadyrov on Instagram
15. Rashid Nurgaliyev congratulated the 46th Separate Operational Brigade of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation on the 10th anniversary // ​Information portal of the President and Government of the Chechen Republic, 10/19/2010.

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A few hours of flight - and we are in the capital of the Chechen Republic. Those who visited here five years ago will not recognize this city today. New streets appeared, cultural centers opened. Grozny has become not only a daytime, but also a night city! Shops are open, and women with prams are walking along the avenue. Residents are not afraid of the dark - they know that they have someone to protect them...

Among those who protect the peace and tranquility of the Chechen capital is the 248th special motorized battalion of internal troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, whose commander, Colonel Alibek Delimkhanov, our correspondent met.

Business card.
Colonel Delimkhanov Alibek Sultanovich. Born on October 16, 1974 in the village of Dzhalka, Gudermes District, Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. A graduate of the Chechen State University, he is a historian by education.

Since 2006 - commander of the 248th special motorized battalion of internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (received the name "North" in the press). Cavalier of the Order of Courage, awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, and the Zhukov medal.

By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of June 23, 2009, Alibek Delimkhanov was awarded the title of Hero of Russia. Currently he is a student of the graduation course of the Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

For reference
In May 2006, in accordance with the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia, two special motorized battalion of internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 248th, located in Grozny and 249th, located in Vedeno.

According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, General of the Army Nikolai Rogozhkin, “these units were not initially assigned any special, specific tasks. They perform those service and combat tasks that are defined by the law on internal troops: together with local internal affairs bodies, they protect public order in places of deployment, fight against armed bandits. They are no different from other special motorized military units of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which are deployed in many cities of Russia.

- Alibek Sultanovich! Most of the servicemen of your battalion are local residents, Chechens. Such units were part of the troops in the 1930s of the last century and have proven themselves well. But in the modern history of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, there were no such mono-ethnic military formations until recently ...
- Right. It was a joint decision of the leadership of the republic and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the High Command of the Internal Troops to create two special motorized battalions in which local residents would serve. They originated from common sense: their knowledge of the area, customs, way of life is a huge advantage in the fight against terrorists and bandits. And besides this, who else but the Chechens themselves should take care that there is order in the republic, that a peaceful life is established!

All military personnel entered the military service on a competitive basis. This made it possible to qualitatively select the personnel of the military unit and complete its formation. The selection was thorough. At the same time, we had to refuse many who wanted to wear shoulder straps, including because they were not suitable for age, health, and other reasons.

The guys I command, I trust 100 percent. These are proven comrades who have gone through fire and water. Warriors who have proven that they are ready to defend Russia and, if necessary, die for it.

- In your opinion, does the national specificity of the battalion help in the service, in working with subordinates, or vice versa?
- Of course it helps! The fact is that in the Chechen mentality the question of honor, justice, brotherhood, fidelity is acute. These four words organically fit into general military regulations. Namely, based on our mentality, we have no issues with hazing, with the use of the same alcoholic beverages. In the four years of the battalion's existence, there was only one such case.

Everyone in the battalion serves with great desire. Behind our gates, one might say, there is a kilometer-long line of people who want to get into the service of us. And we don’t even know that there are such violations as failure to return from vacation or unauthorized abandonment of a unit.

- President of the Republic Ramzan Kadyrov pays special attention to the battalion...
- As for the assistance from the leadership of the republic, then, of course, it is essential. The battalion was given the honorary name of the first president of the Chechen Republic, Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov, and we bear this name with honor. With the direct support of the President of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov, the construction of a military camp was underway; to ensure service and combat tasks, the republican government additionally provided us with off-road vehicles. And these are not one-time actions, help is constantly coming.

But here, in addition to a kind and interested attitude to our pressing problems on the part of the leadership of the republic, one should not lose sight of the fact that the duty of local authorities to take care of the economic infrastructure of the battalion is determined by the relevant provisions. federal law"On the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation".

- But for the most part, your battalion is mentioned in connection with participation in special operations against bandit groups ...
- Yes, this is the specificity of our service. We are still focused on fighting terrorists and bandits of all stripes, and for this the battalion has an intelligence unit that does a good job with the tasks assigned.

But the normalization of the situation in the republic is obvious, it already bears little resemblance to the one that was here 4-5 years ago. Accordingly, the nature of the tasks performed by our unit has also changed. To date, the vast majority of bandit formations have been destroyed and defeated. To destroy the remaining bandits, we are now given more specific, "point" tasks.

In addition, if, in the first months from the moment of creation, the main task of the battalion was the elimination of bandit formations, today it is more of a security public order and ensuring public safety in the city of Grozny. All public events held both in the capital of the republic and in other areas, mainly in its flat part, are held with the direct participation of our division.

Alibek Sultanovich, is it possible to dwell more specifically on the results of the service and combat activities of the battalion?
- During our existence, the results of the activities of our battalion were fully felt by the leaders of gangs.

I remember one of the first special operations in which we took part just a few months after entering combat service. This was in 2006. Then, in the Achkhoi-Martan district, my guys clashed with a gang of a certain Yavmerzaev. It was established that this bandit, nicknamed "Mulla", participated in the attack on the columns federal forces, directly prepared terrorist attacks against employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Chechen Republic, was engaged in blackmailing the local population. On the discovered during special operation base, where militants from the Mullah gang used to “rest” after carrying out their bloody “exploits”, 4 grenade launchers, more than 130 shots for an underbarrel grenade launcher, 6 grenades, 7 shells and mines, 5 radio stations, more than 4 thousand ammunition for small arms were confiscated weapons.

Over the next years, our battalion took part in hundreds of effective special operations, which were mostly carried out jointly with the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic, employees of the Russian Federal Security Service, colleagues from the special forces of the internal troops.

The divisions of the battalion provide assistance, including to neighbors - the internal affairs bodies of Dagestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia.

In total, since 2006, the military personnel of the battalion, together with other units of the Joint Group of Troops (Forces) in the North Caucasus region, have destroyed more than 100 bandits, about 90 bases and caches, over 150 explosive objects, seized a large number of weapons and ammunition, including 2 MANPADS Igla, 3 ATGMs, 4 Bumblebee rocket-propelled infantry flamethrowers, more than 40 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.

Other statistics can be cited. No less eloquently showing how the battalion performs the tasks assigned to it. Since 2006, we have lost 10 servicemen. 14 of our colleagues were awarded orders and medals, 8 of them - Orders of Courage.

The 248th battalion is part of the 46th operational brigade of internal troops. For years there have been talks that it is time to withdraw the brigade from Chechnya, they say, it has solved its tasks. Do you think it's time for her to "winter apartments"?
- The 46th brigade is needed not only by the republic, it is needed by all of Russia. Recently, I heard the following words from one of the generals: "... No matter what we say, the integrity of Russia begins in Chechnya!" I think these are very true words.

Today the brigade is a factor of stability and a guarantee of peace in the region. Moreover, the connection is not just a military component of the republic, but, oddly enough, an economic one. I mean, first of all, those jobs that are extremely important to us today.

Alibek Sultanovich, combat work leaves its mark on everyday reality. You already mentioned losses. What kind of work does the battalion command do to perpetuate the memory of fallen servicemen and provide assistance to their relatives?
- It's hard to lose comrades. After all, often the best warriors leave us, who, at the cost of their lives, brilliantly completed their combat mission, covering those who are nearby. Therefore, caring for their families is our sacred duty. All due state payments to the dead servicemen in the unit entrusted to me have been issued in full.

Recently, on behalf of the President of the Republic, the families of the dead received 100,000 rubles each, and the wounded servicemen - 50,000 rubles each. This is a lot of money for our republic. And this help is far from one-time. Not a single request to the management has gone unanswered.

Of course, no amount of money can bring back our comrades. But we do everything so that their families do not feel abandoned, so that they know that we remember our fallen friends.

Alibek Sultanovich, what would you wish to young guys who these days throughout Russia begin their service to the Fatherland, wearing soldier's shoulder straps?
- I would like to wish all the guys in Russia to be patriots of their country. I think that this is one of the main qualities of a man who must be ready to defend his country, regardless of the area in which he serves or works.

Lieutenant Colonel Sergey KUZNETSOV,
Major Vyacheslav KALININ
Moscow-Grozny-Moscow

P.S. At the end of the conversation, we asked Alibek Sultanovich if we could publish photos of the battalion servicemen in the open press. Smiling, he replied with the words of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov: "If a person is on the righteous path, then he does not need to hide his face."

Shield of Our Country

Internal troops - 186.3 thousand people. (16 divisions, 24 brigades, 104 regiments and 5 higher educational institutions)

By 2006 five regional commands and two regional directorates of troops will be created instead of districts. 60% of the number of troops are operational units performing tasks in Chechnya and the North Caucasus region.

Operational units

Parts for the protection of important state facilities

Special motorized police units

In accordance with the reform plan, the number of troops will be reduced several times, five regional commands and two regional departments of internal troops will be created instead of districts. In addition, special forces will be formed in the structure of the internal troops. In the future, special forces detachments of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation will become the main component of the immediate reaction forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Now the special forces of the explosives are 16 mobile units, which are already 90 percent equipped with modern weapons and military equipment, including special-purpose ones.

The combat training of explosives includes three main areas: training of operational units; special motorized military units; units for the protection of important state facilities and special cargo. Internal troops are involved in the performance of service and combat missions, usually as part of a company or battalion. Therefore, the main efforts in training are aimed at single training and coordination of small units. The explosives refused to hold such global events as divisional and even regimental tactical exercises, they are not relevant in the Internal Troops now. The combined arms training of a motorized rifle platoon commander and a platoon commander of the Internal Troops is practically the same. In military training, perhaps, the only difference is that in addition to combined-arms tactics, cadets study the tactics of the Internal Troops, that is, the methods of action of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect public order, the organization of the security forces to protect important state facilities and in emergency situations.

The internal troops number about 300 thousand people (29 divisions and 15 brigades). The units are better equipped than the army. But can they be called full-blooded? Of the 29 divisions, 19 were transferred to the internal troops from the ground forces, with all the ensuing consequences. Apparently, it was possible to restore some semblance of order in them, but providing such a mass of troops with new weapons and equipment is a disastrous business. Most of the senior officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs do not have the necessary training.

North-Western district - 12053 people, 55 armored personnel carriers

division-Arkhangelsk

33 brigade-Lebyazhye, Lomonosov - 2644 people, 34 infantry fighting vehicles, 12 PM38

1 brigade - Syktyvkar (in the same place, engineer-sapper regiment of special forces)

Regiment for the protection of the parking lot of the nuclear icebreaker fleet

Separate battalion for the protection of Leningrad NPP

In St. Petersburg - 1607 people, 10 infantry fighting vehicles

Moscow District (4 divisions) - 56222 people, 175 armored combat vehicles

1 separate special-purpose division (former Dzerzhinsky) (ODON) - Balashikha-central subordination - 1,2,4,5 Mon, 1 PSN Vityaz -9982 people, 46 infantry fighting vehicles, according to other sources - 9 thousand people. , 60 tanks (93 mech. regiment-T-62), 400 armored combat vehicles or 12 and a half thousand people .. 5 regiments, one on the BMP-1, four on the armored personnel carrier .. separate tank battalion, 31 tanks .. A GS -17 , automatic mounted grenade launcher.. SPG-9.. tank.. easel.. anti-tank grenade launcher.. combat helicopters. The 1st Red Banner Operational Regiment ODON was disbanded, the SN "Vityaz" detachment was reorganized into the 118th regiment of the SN VV with the banner of the disbanded 1pon. ("Brother" magazine for July-August 2003).

Division-Sarov

12 division-Tula - units of the Tula division of internal troops are located in 8 regions of Central Russia

Division (training) Mulino (Molino)

· 55 division-Moscow (protection of order in Moscow) - 6 thousand people (2 tons - officers and ensigns) - 8 regiments, before that - the OMSDON police regiment, then the police brigade.

21 armored personnel carriers - Sofrino - 2650 people, 36 infantry fighting vehicles, according to other sources - 2 thousand people, 100 armored personnel carriers (4 motorized battalions (in the battalion 3 msr, 1 autobrand company (BTR-80, Zil-131) , reconnaissance and grenade launcher (AGS-17) platoon))

23 armor (motorized)

The garrison of the Moscow militia - together with the civilian staff - numbers about 100,000 people. These are not only departments, departments of internal affairs of municipal districts and police departments. These are four regiments of patrol service, with the 1st regiment of the PPS - a battalion of search dogs, with the 4th - a battalion of mounted police. A particularly formidable force is the riot police, to which infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers are attached. By analogy with the OMON, special police units (OMSN) operate under the MUR and RUOP. As part of the Moscow District of Internal Troops: ODON - artillery, armored vehicles, helicopters, Sofrino special forces brigade, 23rd motorized brigade. In special cases, the escort regiment of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate may also be involved in individual operations. Small in number, but well-armed and combat-ready municipal militia - about 3,000 people.

The North Caucasian District - the main grouping of internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the North Caucasus, has 26.5 thousand people, 700 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles armed with heavy machine guns and artillery pieces, caliber up to 100 mm. Parts of explosives are deployed in Vladikavkaz, in cities, towns and villages of the Stavropol Territory and Dagestan.

2 DON, Krasnodar-451, 66 Mon-1923 people, 34 infantry fighting vehicles

54 DON - 8 armor, 59 pon, 81 pon

99 DON-Rostov, Persianovka - 1983 people, 33 infantry fighting vehicles, 4 BMD-1, 1 D-30, 3 PM38 / regiment in Chermen - 1774 people, 33 BMD-1

100 DON-Novocherkassk, Kadamovsky (UTs), Cossack Camps ("Cossack camps" are between Mines and Novocherkassk. A tank division stood at this place, the division was disbanded and in its place a Special Purpose Division DON 100 was created. The division was copied from the division Dzerzhinsky The division consisted of 4 regiments and 4 battalions) - 46.47, 48, 49, 57 pont, 93 mp (Possibly transferred from ODO or formed in the late 90s on the equipment disbanded in Novocherkassk tank divisions (actually a tank regiment on the T-62), a regiment of 60 tanks.), 7 main Rosich-Novocherkassk- 1859 people, 34 infantry fighting vehicles, Kadamovsky- 1261 people, 69 T-62, 18 D-30, Cossack Camps- 3708 people, 69 infantry fighting vehicles

8 BRON-Nalchik - 2368 people, 33 BMP, 22 BRON-Kalach - 2596 people, 27 BMP, 12 PM38 - formed on the basis of a training regiment in 1988

26th BRON-Vladikavkaz

46 BRON-Chechnya - about 2000 thousand people 150 armored personnel carriers - before that there was the 101st BRON (Stavropol-raf.)

102 BRON- Dagestan

BRON-Vladikavkaz - 2004 people, 12 infantry fighting vehicles

opn - Nazran - 680 people, 2 batn - formed in 2004

7th Special Forces Detachment

15th detachment of special forces VV

ovp - Rostov - 777 people, 2 Mi-24, Mi-8

There are also references to 28 and 31 BRON.

In Labinsk - 1807 people, 34 infantry fighting vehicles, in Kartsa (S. Ossetia) - 2097 people, 34 BMD-1, 6 PM38, in Stavropol - 1830 people, in Blagodarnoe, Stavropolsky - 1446 people, 31 BMD-1 , 6 PM38, Zelenokumsk - 1819 people, 34 infantry fighting vehicles, Mozdoke - 1716 people, 34 infantry fighting vehicles, 6 PM38 and helicopter part - 439 people, 2 Mi24 and Mi-8

Privolzhsky district - In the Volga and Ural districts - 19831 people, 117 BBM

division -Kirov- (Kirov, military unit 7487, previously a convoy division, the division included 5 regiments (Kirov, Glazov, Votkinsk, Izhevsk, Kazan), at different times, units and divisions of the division, in addition to the Vyatka region, were located in the territories Kostroma region, the republics of Komi and Udmurtia, now the unit is stationed in Kirov and Kirovo-Chepetsk, the cities of Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Chuvashia and Mari El, recently it was transferred to the division military unit, which provides protection of the chemical arsenal in the village of Maradykovo)

54 division - Gaiva, Perm - 2818 people, 15 infantry fighting vehicles

35th brigade (80th division until 1999) - Samara - until 1999, the 80th Samara division of the explosives, a separate battalion of the 80th division, until disbanded in July 1999, was engaged in the protection of defense enterprises of the city of Chapaevsk)

34 brigade - Shumilovo, Bogorodsk, Nizhny Novgorod - 2594 people, 30 infantry fighting vehicles

BRON-Kazan - previously an escort regiment of explosives stationed in Kazan (military unit 7474), reorganized in the mid-90s

brigade - Chuvashia, now disbanded, before that it guarded the Novocheboksarsky chemical plant

In Saratov 1949 people, 4 infantry fighting vehicles

Ural District

division-Ozersk, Chelyabinsk

12th detachment of special forces VV (Nizhny Tagil)

23 detachment of special forces VV (Chelyabinsk)

Siberian District - Novosibirsk - Tasks for the protection of correctional labor institutions have been removed, since 1995. formations and units for the protection of important state facilities and special cargoes were subordinated, new operational units were created.

98 division (in its composition 18 OSMBM (military unit 5438)) - Kemerovo

89 division-Novosibirsk

1) the specifics of the internal troops is that explosive divisions can have a unique composition and be deployed on the territory of several territories and regions, for example, it can include not only regiments, but also brigades and separate battalions, and separate brigades and regiments can include separate battalions and companies (for example, a separate company for escorting special cargoes taken out from it)

2) the units for the protection of the OVO and SG are not part of the districts, but are part of the Directorate of the VGO and SG of the GKVV, and, for example, in Angarsk there are operational and training regiments of the Irkutsk formation of the Eastern District (headquarters in Khabarovsk), and the Angarsk industrial regiment is subordinate and included to the Novosibirsk Industrial Division of VV

3) the term industrial itself in relation to parts has not been official for a long time (since the Beriev times) BUT (!) Due to the conservatism and closeness of the environment, it still has circulation among the personnel, their environment (families, journalists) and on the objects / territories where they is valid. Approximately the same until now in the province of RUBOPs (RUOPs) are still called the 6th department

Military units in the ODON

• military unit 3111. Headquarters ODON (separate operational division).
• military unit 3179. 604th Special Purpose Center(previously this unit was 1 Red Banner PON, disbanded in 1999. The banner of the regiment was handed over to the reorganized Vityaz special forces unit). Formed on the basis of special forces "Vityaz" (see military unit 3186 and military unit 3485) and "Rus" (see military unit 3499) as the 118th PSPN, then reorganized into the 604th TsSpN.
• military unit 3186. 2 operational regiment (PON). The regiment includes 3 operational battalions (9 operational companies), an auto company, ISR, RMO and AZDN (2 batteries - anti-aircraft and mortar), a guard of honor company (RPK). A ceremonial crew is selected from the regiment to participate in parades, including the May 9 Victory Parade. In 1977, on the basis of the 9th company of the 3rd battalion of the regiment, the first special-purpose company "Vityaz" was formed in the internal troops. The company was transformed several times (into a separate battalion, again into a company, into the detachment of the Special Forces "Vityaz"). In the 90s. OSPN "Vityaz" was structurally part of military unit 3485. It was successively reorganized into the 6th OSPN, 1st OSPN, 118th PSPN (since 1999 - see military unit 3179), 604th TsSpN.
• military unit 3419. 4 operational regiment (PON). The regiment consists of 3 operational battalions (9 operational companies), AZDN (1st and 2nd mortar batteries), auto companies, RMO, ISR, RR and commandant platoon.
• military unit 3500. 5 operational regiment (PON). The regiment consists of 3 operational battalions (12 operational companies), a communications battalion, RR (reconnaissance), 2 auto companies, RMO, there is a commandant platoon. The regiment is often referred to as the regiment of direct presidential subordination, the reserve regiment of the main command of the BB. More than others go to protect public order during mass public, sports and cultural events in Moscow.
• military unit 3421. 60th training regiment. Training of drivers, cynologists, sanitary instructors, sergeant training.
• military unit 3532. Separate medical and sanitary battalion (OMSB), medical battalion
• military unit 3401. 4th separate company of radiation, chemical and bacteriological protection (RHBZ)
• military unit 6771. 344th separate commandant battalion (OKB). "REKS". The battalion consists of 2 security companies and a commandant's company. There are drivers and cynologists in the OKB staff.
• military unit 3187. Separate repair and restoration battalion (ORVB)
• military unit 3058. 319th separate battalion for the protection and maintenance of training centers (OBOOTS). Stationed at the division's training grounds in the village of Novaya and the village of Zhilino (Noginsk district).
• military unit 3492. (KECH). Part of:author, ROTH, ROKO (service company of the dormitory complex), PCP (special work company)
• military unit 3128. Separate communications battalion (OBS). He was part of the division until the end of the 90s. Then there is no mentionadmin note - during could it have been disbanded?). In 2011, the unit again appears as part of the ODON.
• military unit 6909. 441st Separate Support Battalion (OBO). Formed in November-December 2012.
• military unit 6923. Separate engineer-sapper battalion (OSB). Formed in 2014 (see also military unit 3152.)
• Garrison House of Officers (GDO).

​Parts that were part of ODON earlier

• military unit 3499. 8 OSPN "Rus". Disbanded. Together with Vityaz, he became part of the TsSpN (see military unit 3179).
• military unit 5401. 3 MSP disbanded in 1956 (?) Re-formed in 1966 (?) as the 3rd SMP (special motorized regiment) of the police. In 1989, he was withdrawn from the division and on its basis a special motorized police brigade (23rd OSMBR) was formed. Now it is (deployment - Moscow).
• military unit 3152. Separate engineer-sapper battalion (OISB). Disbanded in 2007, re-formed in 2014 as military unit 6923.
• military unit 3486. ORRIKS (separate company of regulation and commandant service). It was formed on December 28, 1959. 40 years later, on December 31, 1999, the company was transformed into a separate commandant battalion (see military unit 6771).
• military unit 3402. Separate Novgorod artillery division (OAD). It was disbanded in 1991. Presumably, the AZDN was formed on the basis of the material base of the OAD as part of the 2nd and 4th operational regiments.
• military unit 3485. 193rd department. tank battalion. In 1991 it was transformed into the 3rd regiment, in 1992 - again tank battalion (193rd battalion on infantry fighting vehicles, military unit 3402). Presumably, since 1992, the Vityaz OSPN has been operating on the basis of the military unit. Since 1998, military unit 3485 has been a tank battalion again. It was disbanded in 2004. According to the military personnel serving at that time, the personnel were transferred to the armored personnel carrier. Was it a separate unit or a subdivision of one of the units of the division? The final disbandment of the units of the former tank battalion - ?? (presumably 2007).
• military unit 3503. Training battalion. The battalion had a sergeant's training and a school of ensigns. Date of dissolution or resubordination - ?? ( admin note - it is logical if the school of ensigns was reassigned, and the sergeant's training was part of the 60th training regiment).

On the territory of ODON, units of central subordination are also deployed:

• military unit 3178. Part of the Main Military Clinical Hospital (GVKG) of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Possibly OMSB, in which several divisions, incl. companies providing the medical process (sanitary), service, autorot, commandant's platoon.
• military unit 3472. Central Communications Center (CCC) of the High Command of the Russian Armed Forces
• military unit 6686. Center for Engineering and Technical Support (CITO) of the High Command of the Russian Armed Forces (since the summer of 2015, the location of the unit in its own barracks outside the military camp of the division)