In March 1992, by a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the State Central Airmobile Rescue Squad Centrospas was created. At the time of the creation of the detachment, there were practically no devices and equipment for rescue operations in Russia. However, 5-7 years after the creation of the Cetrospas detachment, the equipment appeared in Russia. Russia no longer needed the help of colleagues from abroad — already specialists of Centrospas began to be invited to eliminate the consequences of an emergency …
However, strong changes have taken place in Centrospace over the past year…
The specialists of the Centrospas detachment had the highest reputation among international search and rescue teams. This was due to the high level of training of specialists, competent organization of work using techniques and algorithms compiled on the basis of extensive experience in conducting search and rescue operations in various emergencies. The geography of rescue operations conducted by centrospassers is scattered all over the world: Antarctica, the countries of the African continent, India, China, Japan, Turkey… And, of course, Russia.
September 2004. Beslan. For almost three days, the militants held children at gunpoint, among whom there were even infants, whom mothers took with them to the holiday on September 1.
During the liberation operation, rescuers and doctors of the “Centrospass” under the cover of officers of the Central Security Service of the FSB “Alpha” and “Pennant” carried out children under bullets. Rescuers died in that operation Valery Zamaraev and Dmitry Kormilin, a rescuer was injured Kopeikin and doctor Skorobulatov.
— Our group of Centrospas rescuers, — says the doctor of the Centrospas squad Alexander Popov, — took out more than 180 people from school. We entered the school from the workshops, got into a long corridor. These meters seemed endless. Three times I felt like I was in the crosshair, but, thank God, I got through. I remember in fragments how I pulled a little girl out of this hell. She stroked my cheek all the time and said: “You’re ours, you’re good, you don’t swear like they do.” I tell her: “Ours is ours, just hide your hands…»
By the way, it was after the rescue operation in Beslan that the decision was made to create an airmobile hospital in the EMERCOM of Russia. Sergey Shoigu I set this task precisely for the doctors of Centrospas.
The explosion in Moscow. Photo: From the author’s archive
— Now we can lift two IL-76 aircraft into the air, for 20 victims each, — says Alexander Popov. — This is a normal full-time intensive care unit — for severe victims and extremely severe victims as well.
Later, the experience of the doctors of the Centrospas detachment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia was successfully adopted by the Ministry of Defense. But these are the affairs of bygone days. Since Shoigu became Minister of Defense (2012), changes in the Ministry of Emergency Situations have begun in personnel and financial nature. They also affected the Central rescuers. However, the changes did not happen immediately. For a while the squad held on…including on old stocks and enthusiasm.
Transnistria, 2015. Elimination of the cable car across the Dnieper. A very beautiful, very successful operation. And very difficult technically. The work was divided into two seasons. In the first season, rescuers removed the cables and trolleys. The weight of an empty trolley is about 750 kg. There were empty and full, only about fifty pieces. In the second season, the bridge was mined and safely blown up. Then the Mi-26, the largest helicopter in the world, came from Russia. With its help, sections of the bridge were pulled out, each weighing 15-17 tons.
This work was unique, no one had done this. Before the centrospas, Moldovans attracted other specialists, but they only estimated the project of dismantling this road at 50 thousand euros and said they would do it from a year to two. Professionals from the Centrospas squad did everything in two months, from the sheet and for a salary. This operation showed the capabilities of the detachment and the power of the whole of Russia.
There are many, infinitely many, of these rescue operations. Asia, Antarctica, Europe… And everywhere rescuers coped with their task — there were enough skills and funds. But the operation to eliminate the consequences of the explosion in the port of Beirut in 2020 became a kind of point of no return. Then the centrospassers were forced to stop work because of aluminum phosphide, a substance of the highest class of danger released from the depths of the rubble. Or rather, due to the fact that the rescuers did not have the necessary breathing apparatus.
Of course, after the Beirut operation, the centrospassers drew conclusions. They put it on paper. And we went to the Ministry with constructive proposals: to create a search and rescue unit in the Centrospas detachment dealing with chemical reconnaissance issues and equip the unit with modern technical means.
In 2020, the Ministry did not help with breathing apparatus. Breathing apparatus was given to the squad a year later, after the RenTV channel showed a story about dismissals in the squad. By the way, the devices are still not on combat duty. After the majority of competent professionals of the squad were fired and quit, there is no one to unpack, check, certify complex devices.
They leave and dismiss the best
From the letter of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Andrey GurovichThe head of the emergency department of May 20, 2021, it follows that a number of paid services will be determined in Centrospace, as a result of which the elite squad will be able to earn 74 million rubles annually. The Deputy Minister hopes that the measure will expand the activities of the detachment and improve the material, technical and training base of the detachment.
For the implementation of these plans, Yevgeny Linetsev was appointed head of the Centrospas detachment instead of the former chief .Kirill Borodin —an international-class rescuer who knows the work of rescuers from the inside, who has 16 trips to earthquakes in different parts of the world.
Since the appointment of Linyantsev, many people have been fired and left themselves, among them veterans of the detachment. How justified is this and will Centrospass be preserved?
Let’s still try to understand the situation by listening to the opinion of those people who were dismissed from the Central Rescue Service by order of the new authorities.
Ossetia 2008 Photo: From the archive of the author
Dmitry Kondrashov
Honored Rescuer of Russia. An international class lifeguard. He has been in the squad since the first day of its creation, since 1992. The head of the Search and rescue unit (PSP). From 1992 to 2020, he participated in rescue operations around the globe.
2004. The collapse of the dome «Transvaal Park» in Moscow.
2005. Earthquake, Republic of Sri Lanka.
2013. Typhoon, Republic of the Philippines.
2020. An explosion in the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
For 29 years of service, he was awarded government and departmental awards.
He was dismissed from the Centrospas squad in early June 2021.
Dmitry decided to appeal his dismissal in court. According to the statement of claim of the plaintiff Kondrashov D. V. in the Ramenskoye City Court of the Moscow Region, on June 03, 2021, by order No. 252-OK, a disciplinary penalty was imposed on Kondrashov in the form of dismissal for a single gross violation of official duties on May 14, 2021.
Kondrashov does not agree with the actions of the employer:
- On May 06, 2021 Kondrashov was sent to Noginsk, Moscow Region, for the period from May 11 to May 14, 2021;
- On May 13, 2021, Dmitry’s group completed the tasks, and Dmitry Kondrashov left the place of business trip at 11 o’clock by prior agreement with the head of the group;
- for 16 days Kondrashov worked as usual, he was not informed that an act of absenteeism was drawn up for him on May 14.
And the timesheets of the working time control for May 2021, approved by the head of the detachment Evgeny Linitsev, where 8 turnout business hours were put down for May 14.
But, as we already know, Kondrashov was dismissed by Order No. 253-OK of 04.06.2021. For absenteeism.
While the number was being made up: Kondrashov won the court. I wrote a statement of my own volition.
Pavel Staritsky
Lifeguard of the 1st class. He worked in the detachment from the first day of its creation, since 1992. At the time of his dismissal, he was the head of the search and rescue unit.
Participated in a variety of operations: evacuated the sick and wounded during military conflicts in Abkhazia and Grozny. I was looking for those who died during a plane crash on Norwegian Svalbard in 1996.
He took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the crash of the A321 aircraft of the Russian company Kogalymavia in the Sinai desert in October 2015.
Awarded government and departmental medals.
Dismissed on May 17, 2021.
— The new management wanted me to go to Moscow every day, — says Staritsky, and it’s frankly inconvenient for me, the road only takes 2.5-3 hours in one direction.
By the way, rescuers used to work “2 days after 8” (2 days of duty, 2 days of reserve, during which rescuers improved their qualifications). And they worked in Zhukovsky near Moscow.
The rescuer was given two reprimands, one after the other. And the Centrospass detachment protected its commander PSP. Everyone was against the dismissal, which was repeatedly stated to the head of the squad. And Linetsev even pretended that he heard his subordinates…
But in the end, Staritsky was called to the personnel department with the words: “You are being transferred to Moscow for a five-day stay due to your high professionalism and many years of conscientious performance of your duties.”
Pavel refused to be transferred. On May 17, an order was issued to dismiss Staritsky from the Centrospas detachment.
While the number was being made up: The Staritsky court won. I wrote a statement of my own volition.
Pakistan 2005 Photo: From the archive of the author
Gennady Melnikov
First class lifeguard. Rescuer of the Elbrus SS 1996-2002. Rescuer of the Centrospas squad 2002-2021. KMS in rock climbing, KMS in mountaineering, MS in rescue all-around. He was awarded government and interdepartmental medals.
He took part in all rescue operations that fell on his duty shift. Here are some examples.
2009. The accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP.
2011. India, height 6300. Evacuation of the body of a tourist who died in the Himalayas.
2015. Earthquake in Nepal, Langtang village was demolished to zero. Rescuers got to the place of emergency, risking their lives.
2020. Lebanon. Explosion in the port of Beirut…
On August 20, 2021, Melnikov was fired, just like Kondrashov and Staritsky, and by no means of his own volition. By order (No. 419-OK dated 08/20/2021), which followed after the rescuer refused to sign a new employment agreement with which he did not agree. On the day the order was issued, the rescuer was awarded for the operation carried out in Beirut.
Melnikov’s case is in court.
* The specialists of the Centrospas squad were capable of a lot. They could get a person out from under the rubble when specialists from other states were powerless; find lost ones high in deserted mountains; carry out technical operations of unique complexity. They could have done a lot. And they really helped people. But rescuers are powerless against the system. At the end of this year, the Centrospass in the form in which the whole world knows it should cease to exist.
There are things that should not be done under any circumstances. It is impossible to destroy the Centrospas squad — a brand with a world name. The hope of people in trouble.
Maybe it’s not too late to understand that it’s impossible to transfer an elite unit to commercial rails? Maybe it’s not too late to bring the specialists back to the squad and provide them with everything they need to work?