Boys draw war

"I can tell you one thing: it wasn't my people who did it..."

- Comrade Colonel! Well, they killed those two good guys, even though they weren't militants... The guys were on their way to get medicine. You shoot your guns every night, and one of the guys' mother had a heart attack, so they went during the curfew. And they put the guns in their car. Everyone knows that they're not militants...

- I'm going to tell you what I want to say. I'm a historian by training. Our people have been through a lot. And now, they're facing another genocide. My neighbor's bull was shot. Yes, they compensated him with canned meat. But he won't be able to buy a new bull or use the canned meat to till his garden. You're an educated man, Comrade Colonel. Tell me, is this fair?

- I want to speak on behalf of the old people. Look at us. We were already evicted under Stalin. We worked honestly for the Soviet government all our lives, and we lost our health at a mine in Uzbekistan. Why do we need this war?

- Look in the direction of Dagestan at night. All the villages are lit up. Since the electricity was turned off, it's still dark here. It's impossible to sleep at night because your cannons make children cry and the elderly get sick...

The next speaker spoke in his native language about the same "disadvantages" and complained about the difficulty of grazing cattle on mined slopes.

"Comrade Colonel, their cows are walking around my positions, and there are suspicious shepherds following them. And they should stop bringing vodka to the sailors," the commander of the assault battalion, who was sitting to the left of the senior commander of the Marine Corps, whispered to him.

"Listen to what the man is saying," Colonel Grigory Sergeyevich Semyonov said, without taking his eyes off the powerful old man in the "authoritative" astrakhan hat, who was speaking slowly in the purest Chechen.

From the twenty-minute speech of the elder, it was possible to understand that artillery, armored personnel carriers and curfews are bad, but meetings of the military command with local residents to eliminate the problems of local residents are good. The latter was made clear by the head of the village administration Dattykh, who is trying to control the course of the "meeting"from the stage. The interior of the village club bore witness to the same thing. The largest exhibit of visual propaganda, with white on red, quoted the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the early years of perestroika: "Today, we need a new type of ideological work based on dialogue." The other posters, featuring the words of heroes from the same era (and, for some reason, the actress Natalia Gundareva), also called for rationality, kindness, and eternity. It made me think about how nice it would be to renovate this club and other collective and state-owned properties, such as schools and hospitals, to launch various industries to eliminate unemployment, and to live in peace and harmony. Moreover, after listening to the questions, the Marine commander calmly spoke about the need for mutual understanding and promised to solve specific problems. Meanwhile, the group's political officer, Colonel Mikhail Mikhailovich Mogilko, was jotting down a list of urgent tasks in his notebook: "... allocate sappers for clearing minefields in agricultural areas; assist with the repair of agricultural machinery...

"That's all very well," said a man in the prime of life, with very intelligent, quiet eyes under a fur cap pulled down over his high forehead, who stood up from the back bench. "But you, Mr. Colonel,

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Tell the people honestly that the artillery will continue to shell the village, that the Chechens will be restricted in their movements and in their human rights. Tell them honestly that we are third-class citizens, doomed to die.

"Political Commissar" Colonel Mogilko made a note in his notebook under the heading "Udugov's Agitation and Propaganda Department" and put down his pen.

- I can say with full responsibility: it was not done by my subordinates. And the prosecutor's office is dealing with it.

But the rusty techniques of special propaganda had already lit up the eyes of the villagers with an unfriendly fire, and a suffocating cloud of dislike rolled over the stage. No, the people remained in their seats, and no one rushed to the stage... Some people continued to ask questions calmly and listened attentively to the answers. The children were unusually quiet, staring intently at the soldiers on the stage... As the local official was closing the event, a woman stood up and said that she wanted to thank Colonel Semenov personally.

"Thank you, Grigory Sergeyevich, for coming to meet me," the woman said. "But go back to the North as soon as possible!"

Outside, one of the villagers approached the colonel and asked him not to take offense at the lack of love. They said that the villagers knew that the marines had not killed the unarmed men...

And no one is offended. After all, if there were mutual love and friendship between the peoples, then, in particular, the marines would not have climbed so high above sea level. At least on the territory of their own country. And in general, the dislike here, apparently, will cool down in a couple of generations. With a favorable development of events... But after all, it is necessary to start restoring order at some point. Therefore, in addition to other things, combat commanders are entrusted with semi-diplomatic duties to communicate with their fellow citizens.

The people's diplomatic work for the marines ended today on the threshold of the club. For the locals, too: the women went to work on the household, and most of the young men traditionally squatted along the road for the afternoon, in order to half-munch sunflower seeds and seriously discuss the current moment. A group of creative boys of about ten years old organized an improvised children's drawing contest on the surfaces of a bulldozer parked near the village "cultural center", apparently back in the early nineties of the twentieth century. The boys did a particularly good job of drawing the state wolf of Ichkeria and various types of small arms. It's clear that the boys have a good eye for proportions, and their fingers are expertly wielding the school chalk they've found, and they're attentively listening to the adults as they discuss their love for their native land, which is sometimes plowed. This is in stark contrast to the young, slender Muscovites who are fond of writing lazily in their own doorways...

Upon his return to the base camp, Colonel Semyonov was met by Lieutenant Colonels Vadim Suslov and Vyacheslav Krivoy...

Dominant heights

The marines are covering Dagestan. To prevent a breakthrough there and a seepage from there. The latter is still happening. Both there and back. Both legally and, as it is already called, guerrilla-style. Why? Because, first of all, Chechens, contrary to special propaganda, are not third-class citizens. It is enough to start the list as proof with the citizens of the Russian Federation, former chairmen of the Supreme Soviet, candidates for President of Russia, a citizen who is still "Chairman of the Permanent Presidium of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR" and awards the Order of Stalin to the most outstanding patriots of our former and current country. You can end up with talented and energetic leaders of Russian and joint ventures of various forms of ownership, as well as organized criminal groups (organized criminal groups), stretching their muscular arms from Moscow to the outskirts, These are VlP-class citizens. The rest of the citizens of the Russian Federation of Chechen nationality have the same rights as, for example, their fellow citizens from the Yaroslavl region, whom can be easily put in the "monkey cage" for violating the registration regime in the capital of our Motherland (or St. Petersburg, Krasnodar...) by any member of the patrol and guard service of our native police. The same happens in the Chechen Republic: if you have a document and don't have a gun, you'll be "filtered out" and you'll be free. You can continue to water your garden with gun oil, and it doesn't have to be at your place of residence.

However, judging by the publications in the newspaper " Ichkeria "(an organ of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria), the circulation of which was seized on the border with Ingushetia, it is customary to actively complain about policemen here:

"The employees of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD) from the Krasnodar Territory, who were stationed at the checkpoint near the village of Koshkeldy, were particularly picky and made illegal demands on the civilian population. The chaos and unprovoked harassment reached a breaking point, and the people turned to the fighters of the Chechen Resistance to call the "enforcers of order" to order.

On the night of May 2-3, a blockpost was attacked. As a result, three traffic police officers were sent home as cargo "200", and others were given a "lesson".

("Ichkeria" No. 16 (492) of May 7, 2000)

Reading this newspaper, one can conclude that they don't particularly like the OMONs, who are actively "complained about by the civilian population of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria," the traffic police officers who return vehicles "requisitioned" by bandits to businesses and citizens, and the contract soldiers who are referred to as "mercenaries" and "soldiers of fortune."

By the way, the inhabitants of mountainous Chechnya are not inclined to discriminate against people on the basis of nationality and race. That is why different Negroes, Arabs, Afghans, Albanians, Nogais, representatives of the Karachay people, natives of the so-called Baltic countries are mainly fighting for them today... In the cemetery behind the village of Zandak, near which the base camp of the marines was set up, among others, "former" Russians and Ukrainians are buried as martyrs (those who died for the faith) - under long green peaks. It is their gravestones that are riddled with bullets... Only one has a fragment of a photograph of a man in a striped shirt and a plaque that reads: "Shakhovsky Said 2.XII.76 - 22.XI1.95. Sverdlovsk". Most of the graves are dated July 1995. It is said that the participants of the assault on the hospital in Budyonnovsk are buried under the spears.

So, most of the Chechen militants have been legalized in Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia, and they are either waiting for orders or hesitating. The rest, mostly mercenaries, are moving around the vast territory of the North Caucasus region in small groups, using guerrilla tactics to carry out sabotage, ambushes, and attacks on convoys and checkpoints.

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representatives of official local authorities appointed without the approval of major leaders of illegal armed groups. This is the second example of illegal movements. In this case, the gangs are somehow controlled. Active reconnaissance and search operations are conducted to identify the locations and routes of the gangs in order to plan and adjust their activities. It is impossible to achieve complete control over the territory, as it would require placing a soldier on every hill.

The main routes of the militant groups' advance in the directions of Dagestan and Georgia are known, and the main dominant heights have been occupied, allowing them to control most of the mountainous and adjacent areas.

Partisans in the garden

So, most of the militants have settled down, waiting to see what kind of policy the federal forces will pursue. They are also waiting to see how the civilian population will react to the military's actions. However, the civilians are also being subjected to effective ideological influence by people from Movladi Udugov's propaganda department and emissaries from foreign intelligence agencies. I witnessed the work of the former firsthand at the village gathering described at the beginning of this article. This influence has led to a significant exodus of residents from their settlements...

The main part of the gangs located in the mountains, consisting of mercenaries and "irreconcilables", is looking forward to the influx of" recruits " and replenishment of various supplies. By the way, they are not waiting in vain: Arab gangs are trying to infiltrate Georgia, there is a network of recruitment centers in Afghanistan, and the Islamic Union for Reform organization in Yemen is also recruiting people for the war in the Caucasus...

It can also be concluded that the militants' tactics are aimed at attacking settlements that are loyal to the federal government. This is done in order to force the federal command to launch powerful retaliatory strikes, which can then be used to recruit local youth and lead them into the mountains. However, the military does not engage in combat with the civilian population, despite the militants' desire for this.

As for the attacks on the gangs, they are not the same. For example, a convoy of 10 vehicles was destroyed. At the same time, another reconnaissance group destroyed only two vehicles.

But in the second case, the tactics of the gang, which was traveling in two cars, testified to the gang's unusual nature: first, the cover car was deployed, the area was inspected, then a light signal was given by the headlights, and only then did the car being escorted cross the bridge. This particular car was the first to be destroyed, based on the importance of the target.

Preventive measures are also being taken to prevent a large-scale "guerrilla war." In particular, measures are being taken to ensure the safe movement of military convoys. First of all, measures are being taken to strengthen our groups in the gorges, and operational, investigative, and reconnaissance activities are being intensified. The bandits are not able to fully exploit the roads and trails of Chechnya, as their tactics are clear: they seek to unite in two or three groups of 20 to 30 people, and with a force of 40 to 60 people, they attempt to strike at convoys, small units, and the rear of the troops. However, our military will not be able to relax for a long time, as the bandits are constantly improving their tactics and carefully analyzing the enemy's actions.

Khattab is probably the most dangerous threat right now. His emissaries are actively working in local communities, recruiting men of military age for the war in the mountains. All attacks on our convoys are carried out according to plans developed by him. The "Black Arab" can't sit idly by, as he is held accountable for every dollar received from abroad. In an attempt to report, he often uses the services of a truly talented propagandist, agitator, and organizer, Movladi Udugov, who works on the tried-and-true Goebbels principle: "The more outrageous the lie, the more likely it is to be believed."

Recently, as a result of reconnaissance and search operations, a large number of hideouts and bases have been identified, where additional bandit forces were expected to arrive. Many weapons and ammunition have been destroyed. As a result, the terrorists are now in need of replenishing their military supplies. If this trend continues, it could lead to a decline in the morale of the militants. However, it is crucial to avoid making mistakes when dealing with the civilian population in the liberated areas of Chechnya. However, when it comes to mercenaries, the concepts of rising or falling morale are unlikely to apply to them: they only work for money. This is especially true for the "uncompromising" Chechen militants, who, unlike the likes of Khattab's bandits, fight on their own territory and tend to operate away from populated areas to avoid endangering civilians.

By the way, "internationalist warriors" from far and near abroad, regardless of their desire, are potential suicide bombers. If, for example, a "cleansed" Ukrainian can still pretend to be an unfortunate slave kidnapped by "evil Chechens" in one of the pubs in the city of Drohobych in the Lviv region, it is much more difficult for an Arab from the city of Tartus in the Russian-friendly Syrian Arab Republic, who does not speak Russian, to "pass" as a lost student. And a fighter from Nigeria, Niger, or Chad has very little chance of surviving to the trial, to put it mildly. It's not because we have racial discrimination; it's just that mercenaries are outlawed everywhere. Especially the visible ones. Especially their atrocities.

If we analyze the effectiveness of our troops' actions in the forested mountainous regions, we should assume that it is no easier for the militants to fight. Our intelligence officers, marines, airborne troops, and infantry have gained the necessary experience in the "green zone." Today, we can conclude that both our units and the militant groups are equally prepared for the summer war in the mountainous and forested terrain. The one who demonstrates more intelligence, attentiveness, and vigilance will emerge victorious. Here are the "ordinary" daily results of the counter-terrorism operation. It was a typical Saturday, May 6, 2000...

"The situation in the Chechen Republic remains tense. In order to prepare for sabotage, the leaders of the gangs are constantly moving between settlements. To organize communication between the groups that are scattered in various regions of the republic,

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The militants use local residents (women and children) as couriers and set up transmitters.

In the eastern part of Chechnya, in the forests of the Vedensky, Nozhayt-Yurtovsky, Kurchaloyevsky, and Shalinsky districts, bandit groups loyal to E. Khattab and Sh. Basayev continue to operate. Some of these groups are tasked with carrying out sabotage operations in the flat areas of the republic. The militants are conducting reconnaissance of checkpoints, positions, and locations of Federal Security Forces units.

Units and formations of the GRU(c) continue to carry out operational search and reconnaissance activities, as well as to engineer base centers, checkpoints, and areas of deployment, and to improve the security and defense system.

Three militants were detected and destroyed during an ambush 9 km south of the village of Benoy-Vedeno.

A warehouse with ammunition was discovered 3 km south-west of the village of Dachu-Borzoi. 125 artillery shells, 2 anti-tank mines, and 4 RPG rounds were seized.

Two bunkers were found 6 km south-west of Shalashi and 5 km from Achkhoy-Martan. They were destroyed by blowing them up.

A cave with food supplies was discovered 8 km from the village of Kharachoy. 12 bags of crackers, 6 bags of peas, and 1 bag of sugar were seized.

In the area of the village of Gonsolchu, a militant base was discovered during reconnaissance, where young men aged 16-18 were being trained to carry out terrorist acts. The base was attacked by aircraft and artillery.

Three boats used by militants to bypass checkpoints were discovered and destroyed on the banks of the Terek River near the village of Staroshchedrinskaya in the Shelkovsky District.

A group of militants was discovered by a reconnaissance group accompanying a center supply convoy 2 km north of the village of Elistanji. The reconnaissance group engaged in combat. As a result, part of the group of militants was destroyed, and the rest were dispersed.

During an inspection of the railway track on the Argun-Dzhalka section near the northeastern outskirts of Argun, three land mines were discovered and destroyed.

During special operations, a total of 1 militant base, 2 bunkers, 1 ammunition depot, and 1 food depot were discovered and destroyed.

Over the past 24 hours, the following items were seized: 12 firearms, 2 grenade launchers, 1,358 rounds of ammunition, 89 rounds of ammunition for guns and mortars, 31 hand grenades, 6 mines, and 60 grams of narcotics.

Detained: 50 people, 35 vehicles, and 5 militants for various violations.

Destroyed: 39 mini-factories.

In various regions of the Chechen Republic, the return to normal peaceful life continues, important life-support facilities are being restored, and humanitarian aid is being distributed among the civilian population.

It is already quite clear that the terrorists are fighting according to the canons of guerrilla tactics, which were tested, in particular, in Afghanistan. However, the headquarters of the Joint Group of Forces (forces) in the North Caucasus had predicted the situation in advance and were preparing for changes. Colonel Vladimir Yakovlevich Krymsky made a significant contribution to this preparation as the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Vostok Group.

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When he gave his comment, large-scale hostilities were still ongoing...

- Every tactic generates a response. It is impossible to fight small gangs by moving regiments and battalions. This is as inefficient as looking for a needle in a haystack. But setting up ambushes, conducting reconnaissance and search activities in small groups, primarily by special forces detachments, military intelligence, paratroopers, amphibious assault (marines), motorized rifle platoons, brings good results. No matter how large and long the mountains are, the gangs can't go everywhere: there are certain trails and routes to follow. The militants need to eat, receive food and weapons in certain locations, and rest. They operate in small guerrilla groups. Consequently, we also use small, well-trained counter-guerrilla groups to counter them. In addition, we pay close attention to mining the militants' known routes. We gather information from radio intercepts and use helicopters equipped with thermal imaging devices. In principle, there is information, it is analyzed, and measures are taken.

Yes, they often look like a beating on the tails. For example, repeated interceptions of radio conversations by the same Khattab have not yet led to his capture. But imagine the situation: we intercepted a signal coming from the very center of a populated area. A strike can be carried out almost instantly - within 3-5 minutes. But... not against civilians! There is another element of the bandit tactics: they come close to our checkpoints, using the folds of the terrain and the darkness. In other words, they are broadcasting from a location where they are guaranteed to be safe from a damaging attack. They are well aware that they are being monitored by the radio interception system. When they broadcast from a distance, we immediately respond by blocking their signals and conducting a search of the area. This is part of our well-established and tested tactics. We use reconnaissance and search teams to block access to populated areas. Additionally, we have created a map of radio interceptions, identifying the correspondents and their movements. There are instances of repetition. We rely on these repetitions to guide our operations. The third is the intensification of open work with the local population. The last and, let's not be disingenuous, the most important is purely operational work in the field of military intelligence and counterintelligence, as well as military reconnaissance.

Under the shadow of the St. Andrew's flag

The marines in the Dagestan direction cover, by and large, all of Russia. With fire and maneuver. With the strength of the spirit. With their presence in the mountains under the shadow of the St. Andrew's flag. Even in reconnaissance, where documents and insignia are "obstructive," many marines do not remove their t-shirts or remove the "state" from their right sleeves."with a golden anchor on a black background in a red circle, and a chevron with the Russian naval flag on the left. They are protected by a cross on both sides..."

In practice, the concept of "troop-controlled territory" is very relative. Essentially, it refers to basic camps. Beyond that, there are only "secrets": observation posts.

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At night, a group of observers under the command of Captain Ilya Kargashin, the deputy commander of the reconnaissance and sabotage company for educational work, received information from an uncontrolled area: they had spotted the glow of two campfires. Lieutenant Colonel Evgeny Nikolaevich Strebkov, the commander of the artillery group, immediately activated a battery of D-30 howitzers.

The 122-millimeter shells swirled through the darkness like a heavy flock and exploded in the distance, scattering fragments across the square named after the American metropolis. The bonfires were no longer visible. Or were they even there?

In the morning, a reconnaissance group departed from the base camp on BTR No. 013 with a mission from Colonel Semenov himself: to "take a look" and verify the results of the artillery's work. As they rode through the uncontrolled territory, they were met by the attentive stares of local young wild garlic pickers without baskets and shepherds without their herds. Beyond that lay the blooming and fragrant mountain landscape, derisively referred to as "green."

Captain Nikolai Tsybula, the commander of the reconnaissance company, tethered the "armored car" near the edge of the mountain forest.

"Your call sign is 'Naum'. Stay in touch at all times. Check your radio, Naumov, and get behind the machine gun. The rocket signals are the same as before. Muraev, keep your foot on the gas: we're loading up and moving out quickly." The company commander unfolded a map and drew a short line with his thumb: they could make it in less than a kilometer. According to the map...

The group, dismounted and divided into three unequal sections by the commander, moved in single file, carefully rustling last year's leaves. The head patrol with the well-known call sign "Kerim" (sailors Roman Kerimov - group commander, Zhaskairat Shantemirov and Alexander Dmitriev) quickly and imperceptibly disappeared into the swaying shades of emerald...

The core of the reconnaissance group was given the serious name "Snake Catcher," apparently as a reminder that the wet, withered leaves were full of well-rested vipers actively engaged in family life. Commander Tsybula called himself a Snake Catcher. Perhaps he really had the skills? There was no time for idle questions; they walked in silence. Foot in foot. Each person had a specific task. Fortunately, there was no shortage of radio stations. This is how it happened after the death of the paratroopers' reconnaissance platoon last year. It was due to the dead batteries... Of course, the twelve-plus "radio kilograms" slightly bend the sailor Nikolai Baklushin, who is the first in the core of the group, to the ground. However, with the help of this large and reliable device, the artillery spotter, Senior Lieutenant Igor Maltsev, who is breathing down his neck, can call the fire of three howitzer batteries at once. It's better not to use it on us...

In front of him is a blue cap on the shaved head of sailor Ilgiz Bulatov. Underneath, a "fly" is pressed against his back, a pipe with a serious payload. A similar device was used to damage the photocopier at the American Embassy in Moscow. Ilgiz also carries a Dragunov sniper rifle, and as he walks, he uses the rifle's scope to scan his area.

"Bulat, look at the hill. Isn't there a machine gun there?" Sergei Gorshenin, a sailor who is officially known as a radio operator, advises in a muffled voice. He and Alexander Dolgier, a sailor who is a machine gunner, are at the back of the group. By the way, there wasn't a machine gun on the hill, but a log.

There's also a doctor in the group. Not a medical assistant, as required by the reconnaissance company's staff, but a real surgeon, Captain Sergei Nakonechny of the medical service. According to reviews, he is one of the most combat-ready doctors in the Russian Black Sea Fleet. He is also an athlete and a climber. He is also an expert marksman with a silenced rifle.

We've been going down for half an hour. The slopes are getting steeper: we're not actually walking, but sliding down quite quickly, picking up piles of leaves along the way. We stopped and looked around.

"Igor, what card do you have?" The commander and the art corrector found out that they have the same maps - updated, but... not exactly accurate. They try to find out with the help of Magellan (a GPS-2000 device designed to determine coordinates, altitudes above sea level, bookmark driving routes, in a word - a mini-computer), but as luck would have it, the power supply is "bad". The group has spread out and taken up defensive positions, everyone is watching. There is beauty all around. It would also be peaceful-a camping trip, and that's all... A furry animal flitted across the ridge overhead. Sniper Ilgiz phlegmatically followed him with the long barrel of an eswedashka - in advance. Everyone could hear the rustle, but no one even thought to move the bolt: everyone had put their own round in the chamber long before landing on the bronya.

The coordinates are determined, and the route is refined. It turns out that we have deviated significantly to the right. According to the map, there should be a trail here, but we are climbing a steep slope, slowing down by turning our feet and bodies to avoid making noise, while also keeping an eye on our surroundings. However, it is unlikely that anyone would set up tripwires in this area, as it is heavily forested.

We've descended. A brook. Follow it to the mountain river. We're walking over rocks, fallen trees, and wading through the water. There are huge boulders. A cave. That's where the bonfires were. Apparently, we were attacked at night, but we managed to prevent a surprise attack. The artillerymen did an excellent job. In fact, they do most of the work in collaboration with the intelligence team. They fire almost every day, from dusk to dawn. And that's just from the positions in the base camp... Fortunately, there's an abundance of ammunition. The personnel of the reconnaissance and sabotage company also have a lot of experience in this war...

Now it's time to go home. But the most dangerous part is ahead. The only way to go is along the riverbed, which is tightly enclosed by high, steep rock walls, and you have to climb over mossy boulders. If you're spotted from above, you can try to hide behind the rocks and shoot back for a while. If they don't throw a grenade in a cup, you'll be able to escape. However, it's almost impossible to get away. In such cases, the artillery spotter will call fire on themselves. You can't tell from the face of Igor Maltsev, the commander of the howitzer battery's control platoon, that he really wants to.

All right. Thank God we're out. Now we can pour the water out of our boots, wring out our socks, and finally take pictures of the guys. Until now, photography was not recommended...

The climb is long and steep, but it leads from the "green zone" to BMP No. 013, to the controlled territory that we left for only five hours (although we walked a good ten kilometers instead of the slightly more than one and a half on the map).

And the scouts in the North Caucasus will have a lot of different exits, where they will find a lot of things - both people and things. This is the kind of mountain service they have. In particular, the marines, who are already known here as people who only fight armed enemies. They protect our Russia, its territory, and its soul. From dislike.

FROM THE EDITOR. The names of some military personnel and their call signs have been changed.

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