Brandon
I had a bad dream. If I shoot in the dark with an BTR 80, shift on a stretcher and carried under the lights KamAZ. Tilt truck is placed next to the road. People bustling around. Hands were somehow in rubber gloves. And they are in a hurry wearing white robes and asking outsiders not to interfere.
Leaning over me doctor shakes his head and says something to the nurse. I have to health van. I feel the smell of damp earth and sharp, bitter – blood. On a nearby APC 80 are still as frozen body. Next to the armor soldiers froze in silence.
- What do you stand as driven! – Doctor yells at them. – Help the medics! The soldiers moved, surrounded BTR 80 taking your hands sorrowful burden. Narrow strips of light from the darkness snatch “cargo 200″ with terrible injuries. One in the eye socket swollen huge bloody flower. My view though sticks to it. Finally at will shift focus on the living.
I suddenly want to drink vodka unbearable. Not eating. The brain for a moment disconnected from the realities of combat …
And then I woke up in a tent, which was spreading shaking under the pressure of the cold wind. Felt for himself, with a sigh of relief: unharmed, wounded only imagined. But only wounded, but otherwise sleep one to one duplicated hot events in which I was involved.
A memory continued to torment the soul, returning again and again to yesterday’s day …
A special operation in the village Komsomolsk decided to be repeated due to unforeseen circumstances. Early in the morning of 6 March, a group of rebels led by Ruslan Gelayev “Black Angel” came down from the mountains towards the village. Redoubt spotted movement of bandits and fired them. By refusing to fight, “militants” stormed the Komsomol. Village immediately blocked. Previously planned operation in Alkhazurovo was canceled, all units relocated to the northern edge of Komsomolsk.
7.45. Looking at the village at that hour of the morning, can hardly believe that the bandits can be there. Are they stupid, suicidal? Here are pulled formidable force from the south take the position units of the Ministry of Defence, begin shelling southern end.
Couple MI 24, going in circles, shoot missiles outs of Komsomolsk and foothills. Somewhere out there shuddering earth.
8.00. Helicopters leave the base. At the direction of the village sent two APCs 80 scouts. Their work largely depends on the success the operation to destroy the “wolves” Gelayev.
Local people leave their homes. Old men, women, children, men – all in a hurry to get out in good time, dragging various belongings. They were taken to a safe place where people can ride out the peaceful fight.
8.50. Special forces are concentrated on the road leading to the Komsomol. All ready to begin operation.
9.00. Sounds welcome the team. Here we go. The road turns right. In front of a narrow little bridge. Clicking fuses soldiers and officers pass by him on foot. Assault “Bravo 1″, “Bravo 2″, “Bravo 3″ and “bravo 4″ spread out in their areas.
“Thunder” – “Bravo 2″: “Up to the first intersection – go ahead”. Following the “Bravo 2″ instructions are commanders of other groups for special purposes.
Operators are moving quickly. Inspect the home – if only there were no people. Yesterday there already cleaned out.
9.40. Were fixed at the second intersection. I’m going with a group of “Bravo 1″. “Thunder” receives reports from team leaders and indicates the next frontier – the third intersection. If I know in advance that it will be followed …
9.50. All four buildings at the intersection of the men sat down, “Bravo 3″. On the radio reported that to our “UAZ” move truce. The militants have agreed to negotiate the extradition of four captive soldiers.
Arrives “UAZ”. Three Chechen unshaven with a white flag officers are asked to accompany them to the reference point. Fear that not shoot, taking the bandits. “Go yourself. We warned by radio stations will not touch you, “- said the commander. Now he can not be distracted from the management actions of the detachment.
9.55. Groups are beginning to move from the circulating abroad – the third crossing to the edge of Komsomolsk. And here begins. All along the line – right, left and center – “militants” fired from rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers. Works sniper. All sat down. Who fours, who rushes away under cover of the iron gates. Noise of battle grows
10.10. I can not see what is happening on the left flank of the “Bravo 2″. I hear only: there too hot! Ether like mad. Of the radio station “Thunder” rush alarming reports one another. Even as we approach the third crossing operators met his group of civilians who did not manage to leave the village. They warned rebels in the right house. As it turned out, only in this one building on the left flank against the operators put trunks 24 “jihadist”. This, you see, not a trifle. Still hotter had “Bravo 1″.
“Red” – call the commander “Bravo 1″. With him a group comprised sixteen. When they came to the third crossing “red” left behind a slave, and the four operators came forward.
In the second house “Red” discovered prepared emplacement – 7.62 mm PKM barrel looking out. The militants, who had not expected rapid emergence of military, hiding on the second floor.
After taking a comfortable position, the operators were ready to meet with the rebels, who hurried down to the first floor. In minutes, eight militants were riddled with bursts. From this point on the right wing broke brutal battle.
Crossroads tight shell out all kinds of automatic weapons and RPGs. Resist the vastly superior forces of the Islamists was extremely difficult. But the brave quartet for an hour did not leave the house captured. Hold the line, not allowing the militants to move to the intersection.
Ozverev audacity of our soldiers and their losses, the bandits have focused the brunt of the house, where there was four “Red.” After intense fire from grenade launchers to remain in the building was not possible. House was in ruins.
Worked with the group “Bravo1″ SWAT, hitting a fire bag, crawled to a field outside the village and lay in a shallow ditch. Seeing that patrol operators got into serious trouble, they began to shout, “red”, “waste to us! ‘ll Cover! “Yes, it was the only chance. Go back to the crossroads a more expensive, can be run over by a fire in the rear of the entrenched “jihadists.”
Lt. “Red” made the decision to break the fighters SWAT. That rotation guys jumped from the second floor and rushed to the ditch. But they could not reach. Militants sweep virtually every meter, had to lie down in the open … None of the watch is no longer up. Killed and several other subordinate “Red” from among those who took the fight at the intersection, failing to run into the house.
Now listen with bated breath. “Thunder” – “” Red, “”, “You waste” – “I can not yet …” This relationship with the lieutenant broke.
10.20. “Thunder” reports “White Eagle” – the head of the operation, that the detachment encountered fierce resistance on all fronts. Required reserves. Especially on the right flank.
10.40. shooting does not stop for a second. Operators are looking at me like I was abnormal. They shoot, and I’m just bonkers noshus with Ak 74. Well, let them think what they want.
11.15. “Thunder” – “Bravo 3″: “You went to the third crossing” – “I’m trying to …” BTR 80 slowly creeping back to the third intersection. The faces of the soldiers are concentrated, evil. Every other word – curse. Bullets whistle and pick ground nearby. Not to go to sweep all round the street, the men doing a passage in the fence and go to the next house. BTR 80 slowly moves back down the street. Turret gun shooting long bursts. But the fire on us continues unabated. Next court did not pass – a stone wall. Operators throw smoke grenades area streets. In caustic mist scamper up to the third intersection. Heart ready to jump out of my chest. An hour passed from the time we started to move forward from here. Hour, flashed a moment!
11.50. Round defense. “Thunder”, crouching, ran along the fence on the right flank, to the place where you can be seen as “Nazar” is trying to come to the aid of a group of “Red.” Get to it still fails. Forty meters “hits” have undermined our BTR80. I had to go away again. “Allah Akbar! Says Black Angel “- someone alive radio. – Allah will punish you with my own hands! Alive not you all go away. “
12.00. We sit in one of the four houses at the intersection. The firing continued. On the walls looking surprised bullets over the heads sweep tracers. We try not to stick out unnecessarily. Again sniper shoots, leaves no attempts to get one of us.
Radio does not stop at the colonel leads. It keeps track of the airwaves, ready for action on the first order of the commander. “Thunder” – “Nazar”, “You’re standing behind me. Tighten, BTR leave in place. “
13.45. “Thunder” sent us “Skipper” This is still a single statement from the band “Red”, which under the cover of a smoke screen managed to get out of fire. “Skipper” was tangential wound to the head and arm. Medic has put his bandage. All surrounded sergeant interested to know what is happening on the right.
17.00. “Thunder” – “White Eagle”: “We started to negotiate the exchange on my side. Ask your fire! “
Envoys from the elders and the local administration went gardens. “Jihadists” do not want to erase all memories of the BTR 80. “Black Angel” wished to negotiate only with the “Thunder.”
“Thunder” – “Bravo 2″: “Up to the first intersection – go ahead”. Following the “Bravo 2″ instructions are commanders of other groups for special purposes.
Operators are moving quickly. Inspect the home – if only there were no people. Yesterday there already cleaned out.
9.40. Were fixed at the second intersection. I’m going with a group of “Bravo 1″. “Thunder” receives reports from team leaders and indicates the next frontier – the third intersection. If I know in advance that it will be followed …
9.50. All four buildings at the intersection of the men sat down, “Bravo 3″. On the radio reported that to our “UAZ” move truce. The militants have agreed to negotiate the extradition of four captive soldiers.
Arrives “UAZ”. Three Chechen unshaven with a white flag officers are asked to accompany them to the reference point. Fear that not shoot, taking the bandits. “Go yourself. We warned by radio stations will not touch you, “- said the commander. Now he can not be distracted from the management actions of the detachment.
9.55. Groups are beginning to move from the circulating abroad – the third crossing to the edge of Komsomolsk. And here begins. All along the line – right, left and center – “militants” fired from rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers. Works sniper. All sat down. Who fours, who rushes away under cover of the iron gates. Noise of battle grows
10.10. I can not see what is happening on the left flank of the “Bravo 2″. I hear only: there too hot! Ether like mad. Of the radio station “Thunder” rush alarming reports one another. Even as we approach the third crossing operators met his group of civilians who did not manage to leave the village. They warned rebels in the right house. As it turned out, only in this one building on the left flank against the operators put trunks 24 “jihadist”. This, you see, not a trifle. Still hotter had “Bravo 1″.
“Red” – call the commander “Bravo 1″. With him a group comprised sixteen. When they came to the third crossing “red” left behind a slave, and the four operators came forward.
In the second house “Red” discovered prepared emplacement – 7.62 mm PKM barrel looking out. The militants, who had not expected rapid emergence of military, hiding on the second floor.
After taking a comfortable position, the operators were ready to meet with the rebels, who hurried down to the first floor. In minutes, eight militants were riddled with bursts. From this point on the right wing broke brutal battle.
Crossroads tight shell out all kinds of automatic weapons and RPGs. Resist the vastly superior forces of the Islamists was extremely difficult. But the brave quartet for an hour did not leave the house captured. Hold the line, not allowing the militants to move to the intersection.
Ozverev audacity of our soldiers and their losses, the bandits have focused the brunt of the house, where there was four “Red.” After intense fire from grenade launchers to remain in the building was not possible. House was in ruins.
Worked with the group “Bravo1″ SWAT, hitting a fire bag, crawled to a field outside the village and lay in a shallow ditch. Seeing that patrol operators got into serious trouble, they began to shout, “red”, “waste to us! ‘ll Cover! “Yes, it was the only chance. Go back to the crossroads a more expensive, can be run over by a fire in the rear of the entrenched “jihadists.”
Lt. “Red” made the decision to break the fighters SWAT. That rotation guys jumped from the second floor and rushed to the ditch. But they could not reach. Militants sweep virtually every meter, had to lie down in the open … None of the watch is no longer up. Killed and several other subordinate “Red” from among those who took the fight at the intersection, failing to run into the house.
Now listen with bated breath. “Thunder” – “” Red, “”, “You waste” – “I can not yet …” This relationship with the lieutenant broke.
10.20. “Thunder” reports “White Eagle” – the head of the operation, that the detachment encountered fierce resistance on all fronts. Required reserves. Especially on the right flank.
10.40. shooting does not stop for a second. Operators are looking at me like I was abnormal. They shoot, and I’m just bonkers noshus with Ak 74. Well, let them think what they want.
11.15. “Thunder” – “Bravo 3″: “You went to the third crossing” – “I’m trying to …” BTR 80 slowly creeping back to the third intersection. The faces of the soldiers are concentrated, evil. Every other word – curse. Bullets whistle and pick ground nearby. Not to go to sweep all round the street, the men doing a passage in the fence and go to the next house. BTR 80 slowly moves back down the street. Turret gun shooting long bursts. But the fire on us continues unabated. Next court did not pass – a stone wall. Operators throw smoke grenades area streets. In caustic mist scamper up to the third intersection. Heart ready to jump out of my chest. An hour passed from the time we started to move forward from here. Hour, flashed a moment!
11.50. Round defense. “Thunder”, crouching, ran along the fence on the right flank, to the place where you can be seen as “Nazar” is trying to come to the aid of a group of “Red.” Get to it still fails. Forty meters “hits” have undermined our BTR80. I had to go away again. “Allah Akbar! Says Black Angel “- someone alive radio. – Allah will punish you with my own hands! Alive not you all go away. “
12.00. We sit in one of the four houses at the intersection. The firing continued. On the walls looking surprised bullets over the heads sweep tracers. We try not to stick out unnecessarily. Again sniper shoots, leaves no attempts to get one of us.
Radio does not stop at the colonel leads. It keeps track of the airwaves, ready for action on the first order of the commander. “Thunder” – “Nazar”, “You’re standing behind me. Tighten, BTR leave in place. “
13.45. “Thunder” sent us “Skipper” This is still a single statement from the band “Red”, which under the cover of a smoke screen managed to get out of fire. “Skipper” was tangential wound to the head and arm. Medic has put his bandage. All surrounded sergeant interested to know what is happening on the right.
17.00. “Thunder” – “White Eagle”: “We started to negotiate the exchange on my side. Ask your fire! “
Envoys from the elders and the local administration went gardens. “Jihadists” do not want to erase all memories of the BTR 80. “Black Angel” wished to negotiate only with the “Thunder.”
Conditions such. First, cease fire. Second, during the exchange of “Thunder” to stand on the road fifty meters from insurgents and under their eye on the case, if the first condition is violated. Third, four SOF operator during the exchange are in the position militants until they take away his. “Thunder” these conditions are accepted. Although, as I learned later, the CP to its solution treated ambiguously. There was a real threat to capture four more hostages BTR80 to boot.
17.10. Began sharing.
17.30. From somewhere on the left began to shoot. Militants not lost his nerve. APC by 80 fired an RPG. Fortunately, not included. “Thunder” was standing stock still, his whole appearance indicating that the shooting on the left is irrelevant. After a few minutes the firing ceased. Tension eased.
17.40. The wounded were sent to the CP. BTR 80 back again – this time for “Cargo 200″. After that, it was the turn of militants. Only one house, where the operators struggled Lieutenant “Red”, “jihadists” took six bodies and eleven wounded. At the direction of action of the “Bravo 3″ found another eight dead. The losses were in the depth of the defense fighters is not known. But judging by the cries that came from the radio station, killed them there a lot. Later in the afternoon to begin a withdrawal of all participants Komsomolsk raid.
19.00. – 20.00. Dark. Doctors working in the headlights KamAZ. To some of the wounded inject anesthetic, make the dressing. Some help is not required. I walk between the bodies of those killed. Priest Andrew who always was with the soldiers in “Bravo 3″, reads the prayer for the dying dead and pray for the healing of the wounded. Aside silence is not very tall men.
Night in a tent field commander of the special forces raised for all of the fallen a third-toast … and there were still nearly two weeks of fighting for Komsomolsk.
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