Translated material
Bridge Makers
Russian battalion departs for the Middle East
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Ministry of Defense to assist Lebanon in eliminating the consequences of hostilities. Yesterday, at an extraordinary meeting, the Federation Council, with 124 votes, supported the president’s proposal to send a separate bridge battalion to Lebanon. The official representative of the President, First Deputy Chief of Logistics of the Armed Forces, Colonel General Dmitry Bulgakov told the senators that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked out all issues related to the passage of the sea route, which lies through the waters of the Black and Mediterranean Seas. In the Black Sea, the transport will be accompanied by the cruiser Moskva, and in the Mediterranean by the anti-submarine ship Pytlivy.Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security of the Federation Council Viktor Ozerov emphasized that the presence of the Russian battalion in Lebanon is carried out on the basis of a bilateral Russian-Lebanese agreement concluded for three months. “The Russian military will not be part of the UN peacekeeping mission and will be based in the city of Saida outside the zone of action of the Blue Helmets. “If there is a need to extend the mandate of our military in Lebanon, the president has the right to again appeal to the Federation Council with a proposal to extend the stay of our military in Lebanon,” the senator explained.
On Monday, a Vremya Novostey correspondent visited the field camp of the 17th bridge brigade of the Central Automobile and Highway Administration of the Ministry of Defense stationed in Kashira, Moscow region. Chief of Logistics, Deputy Minister of Defense, Army General Vladimir Isakov, reviewed the personnel of the 100th Separate Bridge Battalion. He told reporters that on the basis of the Kashira bridge brigade, the 100th separate bridge battalion was formed, which consists of 307 people, including 47 officers and 19 warrant officers.
According to the general, one trainload of equipment has already been sent to Novorossiysk. The formation of another echelon is in the process of completion. Loading of equipment and heavy bridge structures onto the dry cargo ship will begin on September 28. The ship will leave Novorossiysk approximately October 1-2. In Lebanon, the battalion will operate autonomously, so the bridge workers take with them about 100 pieces of equipment, bridge kits, fuel and lubricants, mobile kitchens, an infirmary and food.
Vladimir Isakov said that the battalion’s personnel and about 300 tons of cargo would be airlifted to Beirut on four aircraft. Some of the engineering equipment will be delivered on the An-124 Ruslan aircraft. Three military transport Il-76 will deliver personnel to Beirut airport. The operation to transfer the battalion to Lebanon from the Chkalovsky airfield will begin on October 3, for this purpose six flights will have to be made.
On October 10, the battalion should begin work. “Military bridge workers will have to restore six bridges. Two of them are 100 meters long,” said Army General Isakov.