Who will the Maradykovsky chemical weapons destruction facility be transferred to when it completes its work? The Battle of Poltava of the Russian general Valery Petrovich Kapashin brief biography.
A year ago, on September 27, 2017, Russia completed the destruction of all existing stockpiles chemical weapons(XO). It was carried out as part of the implementation of international obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (Convention).
However, idle speculation around the Russian chemical arsenal have not stopped, on the contrary, they are trying to inflate them with new strength. In the preamble to the latest “chemical” sanctions imposed by the United States a month ago, our country is required to undertake certain obligations “not to use chemical weapons in the future.” To figure out where the truth is here, to once again remember how Russian chemical weapons stockpiles were destroyed, and what fate awaits facilities built to destroy chemical warfare agents (CW), we talk with the head Federal Administration By safe storage and the destruction of chemical weapons (Federal Directorate) by Colonel General Valery Kapashin.
Colonel General Valery Kapashin
– Valery Petrovich, so all or not all chemical weapons in Russia have been destroyed?
– Once again, I declare with full responsibility that all existing stockpiles of chemical weapons in Russian Federation were completely and irretrievably destroyed. We have a certificate about this issued by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.
“And those who are again trying to present our country as not fulfilling its international obligations cannot but know about this.
- Of course, they know everything perfectly well. All unfounded accusations or hints are derivatives of a policy that has been going on for many years double standards. The truth is that our country was initially one of the main initiators chemical disarmament. More Soviet Union unilaterally in 1987 stopped the production of chemical warfare agents and closed part of their production capacity or repurposed it for the production of civilian products. Having agreed among themselves on chemical disarmament, it was Russia and the United States that gave the green light to the signing of the Convention in 1993. Even earlier, we opened all chemical weapons arsenals and their production plants to international inspectors. Foreign observers were allowed everywhere; it was impossible to hide anything in the early 90s, even if someone wanted to. Americans, as President V.V. put it. Putin, they felt like masters even in the holy of holies of our defense industry - in nuclear centers. Remember how some zealous Democratic politicians gave up all the secrets back then.
I repeat, all Russian chemical weapons have been destroyed under the continuous multi-level control of international inspectors. All technological lines for its production, means of delivering chemical ammunition, fuses of chemical ammunition were dismantled and also destroyed.
– Unlike the United States, which stated that it would take at least another 5 years to destroy its arsenal of military chemicals.
– The Americans had 25% less stockpiles of chemical warfare agents than we did. They started their industrial destruction earlier, but will complete this process later. By the way, they did not believe that we would be able to fulfill our Convention obligations so quickly, without causing damage to the environment and people. But Russia has once again demonstrated that it has both technology and specialists capable of solving the most complex tasks modernity.
– What are you, as a specialist, doctor of sciences, professor, who served all his life in the RKhBZ troops, headed test site chemical weapons, you can talk about accusations against Russia of chemical attack in Salisbury, England?
– We have enough worries of our own to be distracted by comments on these events, and this is not within my competence. However, my colleagues and I, of course, discussed the topic. I want to note a couple of facts. Firstly, no evidence of Russia’s involvement in them has ever been presented, not a single one, just words. Secondly, if military warfare had been used in a modern, crowded city such as Salisbury, the results would have been completely different. I don't even want to scare readers about what could be there. There would be no talk of any surviving cats.
– How did the Federal Administration manage to destroy 40 thousand tons of military agents without allowing a single case of them or their destruction products breaking into the environment?
– Security was originally defined as main principle in our work. Please note that we even called our organization the Federal Administration for safe storage and destruction of chemical weapons. Carry out work in a leisurely manner, without resorting to using high temperatures(unlike the USA, where chemical agents were burned), unique two-stage destruction technologies developed by domestic scientists made it possible. Everything necessary to ensure safety was provided in advance; we spared no resources on this. Let me give you an example: when creating facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons, up to 70% of the funds were spent on security systems (not only environmental, but also technical, technological, anti-terrorism, information, etc.). The highest professionalism, courage and responsibility of our specialists also contributed to the completion of the task without emergency incidents. For 15 years, from 2002 to 2017, almost 5,500 days and nights, almost without days off or stops, working in several shifts, we destroyed most dangerous substances. Thank God and those people who did it, everything went, now we can say, exemplary. We coped with a difficult and dangerous task, without losing the honor of the country and the authority of the radiation chemical and biological protection, from which the Federal Administration emerged. I am proud of my subordinates and happy that fate has given me the opportunity to command them.
– How much did the chemical disarmament program cost the state?
– About 320 billion rubles, but these funds cannot in any way be considered spent irrevocably. Of course, the main thing is that the danger of an unauthorized breakthrough of explosive agents due to depressurization of chemical munitions has been eliminated. All of them, in the amount of 4,353,067 units, had served warranty periods storage
It is also necessary to take into account that the money was used by domestic organizations: scientific, design, construction, industrial, medical, management and others. Many of them survived difficult times only thanks to our orders. Tens of thousands Russian citizens were provided with decent work wages. Hundreds of infrastructure facilities have been built in the regions where chemical weapons are stored and destroyed: the Udmurt Republic, Bryansk, Kirov, Kurgan, Penza and Saratov regions. These include hospitals, schools, kindergartens, Houses of Culture and Sports Palaces, residential buildings, gas pipelines, overpasses, roads, water pipelines, power lines, etc. with a total value of more than 12 billion rubles. Finally, the facilities created for the destruction of chemical weapons are modern, high-tech industrial enterprises with the most advanced waste disposal facilities. They can and should be used in the future, establishing on their basis the production of products that are in demand on the market. So the program for the destruction of chemical weapons has given a powerful impetus to the socio-economic development of the regions and will have positive influence and on the development of the country as a whole.
– Are there anyone willing to repurpose chemical weapons destruction facilities?
– In order to fulfill the import substitution tasks set by the country’s president, business must build new enterprises, therefore, of course, it is ready to use those already created. So investors are showing increased interest in our properties, and some of their future owners have already firmly decided. In the first half of 2019, we transfer the first facility (Pochep in the Bryansk region) to the Moscow Endocrine Plant. Active substances for the manufacture of medicines will be produced there. Currently, such substances are purchased abroad.
– On At the Pochep facility, the destruction of chemical weapons was completed in 2015, and you will transfer them to the new owner only in 2019. What are the workers doing there during this period?
– At all facilities involved in the destruction of chemical weapons, we have to carry out work (and they are actively underway) to eliminate the consequences of their activities. In other words, bring all equipment and workshops into a guaranteed safe condition. This task is not as large-scale as the destruction of chemical weapons, but no less dangerous. Even microscopic residues of toxic substances in pipelines, taps, ripening reactors or some other parts of technological lines represent mortal danger. The work must be carried out by trained specialists; you cannot recruit people from the street. I think that in 2024-2025 we will transfer the last object to the new owner.
– Thank you, good luck to you!
The conversation was conducted by P. Chachilo
In the photo, Colonel General V.P. Kapashin.
On October 30, the Maradykovsky chemical weapons destruction facility will complete its work. And then he will start another - to decommission the facility. Only after this the huge complex will be ready to be handed over to the investor. The main intrigue is which one? The pulp and paper mill project - initially dubious - has, apparently, already disappeared. The name of the second interested party turned out to be unexpected - Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern.
"I know what you want"
Last week, the head of the Federal Directorate for the Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Colonel General, arrived at the Maradykovsky CWD facility. Valery Kapashin. I came for a reason. According to the Colonel General, in the Kotelnich press “rumors are circulating and disturbing the local population.” To reassure the latter, the press was called.
What do we have today?
In 2015, 4 facilities are closing on the territory of the Russian Federation - Leonidovka chemical storage facility ( Penza region), chemical storage facility “Shchuchye” (Kurgan region), chemical storage facility “Pochep” (Bryansk region) and chemical storage facility “Maradykovsky” (Kirov region). There is only one facility left in all of Russia (and also, by the way, not far from us) - in the city of Kizner (Republic of Udmurtia). In turn, Maradykovsky specialists are interested in further fate their brainchild (and, accordingly, their jobs).
However, Colonel General Kapashin did not begin the briefing for the invited media with this:
“I'll tell you everything. If there are any questions, I will answer. But I don't think they will stay. “I know what you want,” he said from the doorway. And he explained that before this he had gathered people together on personal issues, but no one signed up: “they say you’ll say everything yourself now anyway.”
After which Valery Petrovich assured those present that the facility would continue to function after 2015. How? Now, within 5 years, the consequences of Maradykovsky’s activities will be eliminated - land reclamation, soil remediation, etc. By order of the President of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Finance found funds for this from the poor Russian budget:
“As I said six months ago, the facility will remain. Only if six months ago I did not know in what form it would remain and what tasks it would perform, today I can confidently say that the decision was made by the President of the Russian Federation. A command was given to develop a plan and concept for decommissioning the facility. The Ministry of Finance found the money. We expect funding to range somewhere from 5 to 12 billion rubles for 2016. I’ll be happy with either 5 billion or 12 billion. We’ll just choose those events that won’t require huge expenses. What will this money allow? They will allow you to preserve objects in the condition in which they are now. Those people who should be fired (and this is 4098 people) all remain working in their places for the next 5 years. This issue is closed completely and irrevocably. Naturally, there will be no more than 4 shifts. It will be normal working week- from morning until 17-18 hours.”
In essence, everything remains as it was, including medical control. Today there are no toxic substances at the facility, but there are many metal products that have come into contact with toxic substances.
“Until we receive a certificate of conformity for each building and structure, and for the facility as a whole, we will not remove our facility monitoring system. We are also leaving all posts and mobile laboratories here so that there is no speculation from some segments of the population who are dissatisfied with everything,” Kapashin said.
Muddying the waters
“Speculation” and “dissatisfaction,” as well as rumors about the possible dismissal of employees, forced the head of the relevant federal department to go on an inspection raid.
Moreover, as it turned out, similar cases occurred at other chemical weapons destruction facilities, but in our country the panic mood turned out to be especially strong.
“I came to check the condition of the facility, shelf and warehouses. This is the first thing,” Valery Kapashin honestly told those present. — And secondly, I came to meet with the facility’s workers. Because through our control bodies I have heard rumors that some articles have appeared in the Kotelnich press that excite the consciousness of the population. I thought that all the excitement about the object should have ended by now. The many years of experience of “Maradykovsky” should already prove and show all the talkers who tried to disrupt the destruction process and cast doubt on our Russian technologies that nothing they say exists or can be. But they continue something. Of course, nowhere is calm, but the waters are most muddied here, as our control bodies reported to me.”
By the way, interesting fact. At every chemical weapons destruction facility, in almost every workshop, some kind of living creature lives (as part of biomonitoring). Maradykovsky has its own dovecote and ostriches (“the most sensitive birds,” Kapashin assured).
“I don’t know what else these people who are muddying the waters need, what other evidence that everything is clean with us? - Valery Petrovich is perplexed. “If there was something somewhere, I would have been removed a long time ago.”
However, in addition to directly managing facilities and dealing with rumors, the Colonel General also has to deal with “social affairs.” As soon as he arrived, “walkers” immediately went to him on the issue of connecting the village of Mirny to the gas pipeline feeding the facility.
Also for many Maradykovsky specialists there is the issue of housing. Many people have it as a service, where people live with almost entire families on “bird rights.” What will happen next when the plant closes (and it will close sooner or later when an investor comes) is a question that torments more than one head.
“I think that we will solve this problem within a year or two, and for everyone at once,” says Kapashin. — There will be a government decree defining the procedure for transferring ownership of service apartments and further privatization. I won’t deal with someone individually, “on call” or anything like that. And the calls, believe me, are coming.”
The biggest intrigue is, of course, the future investor. According to Kapashin, for each chemical weapons destruction facility “there are already several proposals.” There are as many as two at Maradykovsky.
Everyone has probably already heard about the first one. This is a pulp and paper mill. This project was advocated a year ago local authorities(to whose balance, by the way, this Object will subsequently pass). Thus, in particular, the head of the Orichevsky district, Vadim Nurgalin, noted that it would be more profitable for the region to create a small pulp and paper mill on the basis of Maradykovo than to completely liquidate the facility for the destruction of chemical weapons. According to him, today the necessary infrastructure exists:
“There are facilities across Russia, and this is no secret, that are more expensive to liquidate and sanitize the territory than to transfer to the destruction of other types of weapons. Like in Udmurtia, for example. We are very interested in using this platform to the maximum. Today, discussions on the prospects for further use of the site in Maradykovo are being conducted at the level of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the government Kirov region offers options. In particular, the option of building a small pulp and paper mill was considered. It's about not about the giant associated with cellulose processing - this is precisely the most harmful production. It is quite possible to work on imported raw materials. How the Strizhevsky plant now works on imported lime. I consider this project very promising because it provides for an increase in the number of workers to 2 thousand. This is colossal. Moreover, the town’s infrastructure already exists there.”
In turn, Valery Kapashin believes that this is an “unreal proposal”:
“They need not so much our buildings and structures as the nearby territory. And our energy. Although, maybe it will pass? I don't know. Or maybe I have my own plans for this object? (Laughs). Who knows him better than me? I think there must be something closer to chemical production. We have strong laboratories and laboratory equipment here that should not go to waste.”
However, as a source later explained regional government, the idea of a “small pulp and paper mill” has already disappeared. There is another interested party and another project - from the state concern Almaz-Antey, which, however, “hasn’t decided yet whether it needs it or not”:
“The facility has another 5 years ahead. You understand that today no investor will invest anything here, the period is too long for Russian realities,” he shared with Business News. - Therefore, let's wait for the commission's decision, then it will make sense, according to at least, talk about something substantively.”
photo from http://www.ikirov.ru/
Udmurtia is home to 30 percent of all Russian chemical weapons, which must be destroyed by 2012. The Russian Federation fulfills its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The second stage of this work is associated with the commissioning of two facilities in 2006 - in Kambarka and the village of Maradykovsky, Kirov Region.Today in our “Living Room” - Head of the Federal Directorate for the Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Lieutenant General Valery Kapashin, under whose leadership all Russian facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons were created and are being created.
Valery Petrovich, the plant in Kambarka will begin operating in the coming months. What is unique about this object?
Firstly, only one stage of lewisite destruction will be carried out there. The resulting reaction masses will be converted into dry salts and transported to Gorny Saratov region. After their processing, technical arsenic will be obtained - a valuable raw material for the electronics industry. Secondly, the Kambar facility was built after we had developed the technology for destroying lewisite, mustard gas, double and triple mixtures at the pilot industrial facility in Gorny. Even in Russia's 1996 chemical weapons destruction program, it was assumed that if this technology showed good results, it would be used at the Kambar facility, where large reserves of lewisite are stored. We worked in Gorny three years, and no questions regarding technology arose. The destruction of toxic substances is carried out under strict international control, and during this time there was not a single case of emissions into the atmosphere.
As of today, the facility is almost ready. We are awaiting an order to create a State Commission. There are some problems related to the equipment, but they should be resolved by November 25th.
How is it different? Russian system destruction of chemical weapons from the American? Is it true that our system is better?
Americans burn toxic substances in high-temperature ovens. Despite the high reliability of the combustion and cleaning system, they recorded 50 releases of toxic substances that occurred during furnace shutdowns. That's a lot. Now after local protests environmental organizations Americans are also switching on the technology we have been using since the beginning. It passed all the examinations and was tested back in 1994. Russia has developed a two-stage technology for the destruction of chemical weapons. At the first stage, complete detoxification of toxic substances is carried out. The reaction using special chemical reagents occurs under the supervision of specialists. As a result, toxic substances are converted into non-toxic products suitable for subsequent disposal. This process occurs in a periodic mode and allows you to reliably decompose the toxic substance, preventing any emergency situation. At the second stage, the reaction masses are processed for use in national economy. As a result, a double barrier is created, guaranteeing not only the completeness of detoxification, but most importantly, the environmental cleanliness of the process.
Valery Petrovich, what will happen to the Kambar facility after the destruction of chemical weapons is completed?
According to my estimates, he will finish work in April 2008. In the third edition Russian program destruction of chemical weapons, adopted on October 24, 2005, stipulates that two years before the end of the facility’s operation, the leaders of the republic and the region must submit their proposals for repurposing the facility. As far as I know, now Viktor Ivanovich Kholstov (deputy head Federal agency in industry) there are already proposals from Udmurtia. I have no doubt that the prospects for the Kambara facility will be good, largely because the leadership of Udmurtia agreed with our proposals and the plant began not 12 kilometers from the storage facility, as was originally supposed, but inside the chemical weapons destruction facility itself. After the military completes the work and transfers the facility to the ownership of the republic, it is quite easy to repurpose it into commercial production, which will generate profit. With such an object, if it is managed properly, the area will not be in poverty.
The seventh and final one is due to start operating in 2009. Russian plant for the disposal of chemical weapons in Kizner...
The deadlines are very strict. In 2006, we must receive a positive conclusion on the feasibility study, and in parallel, the design institute must prepare working documentation. The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation does not allocate money if it does not have feasibility study materials and working documentation. In November next year We already need to plan funds for the 2007 defense order. Ten percent of the amount allocated for the facility must be spent on social facilities. Today we have the act of selecting a site for the future construction of the facility. True, the site is located far from Kizner, and does not suit us, and in the future, I think, the republic and the region. We have sent our proposals to all supervisory authorities and propose another option: to locate an industrial zone in close proximity to the storage facility. This will eliminate the transportation of ammunition, there will be no need to build a terminal for loading containers with ammunition, the area of land plots for storage will be reduced, and there will also be less settlements and territories will fall into the zone of protective measures. After completion of the work, this facility can be used to organize some kind of industrial production.
Valery Petrovich, in your work a lot depends on mutual understanding with the head of the region. How do you like working in Udmurtia?
We have developed good friendly relations with both Alexander Volkov and Yuri Pitkevich. We met in 1997, when I was just appointed to the position Head of the Directorate for the Destruction of Chemical Weapons as part of the Directorate of the Chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces. Both the President of Udmurtia and the Chairman of the Government have long known this problem well and are aware of the situation. We easily find mutual understanding. Work problems arise, but they are solvable.
We have an order to carry out. fulfills all obligations under the convention thanks to the work of officers Federal Administration for the Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons. I'm proud of my people!
They write about you as a person who bears personal responsibility for the creation of facilities, safe storage, transportation and destruction of chemical weapons. What powers does this status give you?
Nothing special. The powers are determined by the resolution Russian government No. 87 of February 5, 2001. There is also a military charter in relation to each officer: I have the right to punish, encourage, present for an order, remove from office...
Are you a harsh boss?
You need to ask your subordinates about this. I am very demanding not only of myself, but also of my subordinates, but I am fair... I can understand everything, but I cannot forgive lack of performance! About 40 percent of the officers have been with me for a very long time, since they were lieutenants. I demand from everyone, and from them even more, you know. They served with me and Far East, and in Moscow. You probably wouldn’t go after a bad boss?
Is it difficult to get to your place of work?
All management vacancies are filled.
Valery Petrovich, is there hazing among the generals?
Do you have a hobby?
I really love fishing, but I don’t have time for it yet. In Udmurtia we managed to go fishing twice at the invitation of Alexander Volkov. A year ago, we went out with a small group and caught a boatload of perch!
We are meeting after the celebration of the Day of the Radiation and Chemical Defense Forces...
This is a great day, and for our The federal administration too - 95 percent of the officers come from the radiation and chemical protection troops.
What kind of toast do military chemists make on their professional occasion?
In the Federal Administration - for women, the real wives of officers.
Thank God that chemical weapons have not yet been used anywhere. We will do everything to ensure that it is destroyed on time.
Fulfilling our obligations to international convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction, Russia eliminated 95 percent of its existing stockpiles of chemical warfare agents - 37,950 tons. The head of the Federal Directorate for the Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Colonel General Valery Kapashin, told the Military-Industrial Courier about the situation at sensitive facilities and the prospects for their use in the national economy.
– For a long time, in a difficult political and economic situation, our country has been developing the process industrial destruction chemical weapons stockpiles and completes this work ahead of schedule. Valery Petrovich, another confirmation that the Russians harness slowly, but drive quickly?
“In the Kurgan region, investors are ready to use several buildings of the Shchuchye facility in organizing pharmaceutical production even tomorrow.”
– This is natural, as it should be. Federal target program“Destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles in the Russian Federation”, which this year turned 20 years old and is being implemented progressively in accordance with the state defense order assignments for each year. The first five years were purely preparatory; the destruction of toxic substances had not even begun. The facility in the village of Gorny, Saratov region, was put into operation only in the winter of 2002. It took us another five years to destroy 20 percent of the available chemical agents reserves. Then the pace increased sharply, and over the next five years we destroyed more than 60 percent. But now this process has slowed down again, because out of seven created objects, six have fully completed their assigned tasks, and since 2016 we have only one left - in the village of Kizner in the Udmurt Republic.
Certain problems arose at each stage, and naturally there were more of them at the beginning. At that time, we had no experience in organizing the industrial destruction of chemical weapons, there were no trained personnel, the regulatory framework was developed from scratch, technologies were tested, and the facilities themselves were built. All this was carried out in parallel along with educating the population in the regions. And when the mechanism was created and debugged, “we went quickly,” which is also natural. But we never allowed any haste, much less violations of technological or production discipline. The process of destruction of chemical weapons in Russia is under control and manageable.
– There remains five percent of the total volume of chemical weapons reserves in the country, about two thousand tons of chemical agents. The program runs until December 2018. That is, you can safely destroy 2.5 percent of reserves per year, and the Federal Administration proposes to speed up this process and complete it by the end of 2017?
- Yes. And no rush will be allowed. If according to the technology it is necessary to withstand OM with reagents in a ripening reactor certain time, then it will not be shortened for a second. Our last operating facility in Kizner stores artillery chemical munitions, and they require a lot of labor. For example, an aerial bomb is filled with half a ton of explosive agents. But artillery chemical ammunition contains only three or five kilograms. How many of them need to be fed to the disarming line to destroy 500 kilograms? We have a reserve - we can attract a lot of people, use two production lines at the same time, organize work around the clock, in three shifts, and so on. That is, without fuss and haste, experienced specialists, in no way compromising safety, can destroy the remnants of chemical weapons by December 2017. We've got it all figured out. We sent our calculations and proposals to State Commission for Chemical Disarmament and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
– What caused this need? Presidential program chemical disarmament also fell under sequestration?
– The reduction in funding has affected all federal programs and ours is no exception. We have not received a significant amount this year. In addition, the Federal Directorate is tasked with carrying out work to eliminate the consequences of the activities of chemical weapons storage and destruction facilities after the completion of the program. These activities are already being carried out at two sites (Gorny in the Saratov region and Kambarka in the Udmurt Republic), we are starting them at four (Pochep in Bryansk, Shchuchye in Kurgan, Leonidovka in Penza and Maradykovsky "in the Kirov region). The program for eliminating the consequences of activities is also quite expensive; its implementation will require several tens of billions of rubles. It is necessary to build additional production capacity- crushers, thermal furnaces, and, on the contrary, dismantle something. The equipment will be degassed and production buildings. We have developed such a program, it has been approved by most ministries and departments, but its adoption known reason related to the budget is delayed. I believe that today no one is allowed to sit on their laurels and demand funding. Everyone should look for opportunities to optimize costs. In our case, these are also the fates of thousands of people who honestly and selflessly completed the task. We cannot reduce the teams of facilities where the main work has been completed, because only the highly professional specialists who worked there can competently and safely eliminate the consequences of the activity. No one will do this with the same quality. And without bringing the facilities into a safe condition, it is impossible to organize new production on them. This task has been set, a special commission has been created to search for investors to repurpose all our facilities. There are specific proposals in this regard. Moreover, some investors are already rushing us, for example in the Kurgan region. They are ready, even tomorrow, to use several buildings of the Shchuchye facility in organizing pharmaceutical production. But how can I let them into the territory of the facility if measures to eliminate the consequences of the activity still need to be carried out there? These factors prompted us to develop a proposal to speed up the completion of the process of destruction of chemical weapons, optimize costs in order to save teams and begin liquidation work.
– If acceptance new program There is a delay in eliminating the consequences of the facilities’ activities, what are your branches doing today?
– As I already said, at six of our seven facilities, chemical weapons stockpiles have now been completely destroyed. Four of them completed their tasks at the end of 2015; Gorny and Kambarka completed the destruction of their stockpiles of toxic substances in 2005 and 2009, respectively. There we started liquidation work earlier and have already completed the first stage. The production sites in both Gorny and Kambarka have been sanitized, they are clean, safe and ready for the arrival of investors. It remains to carry out work to decommission the chemical weapons storage warehouses.
At the sites that completed the destruction of toxic substances last year, due to lack of funding, we were forced to lay off some civilian personnel in the spring. Seeing our difficulties, the chairman of the government in the summer signed an order to allocate 2.7 billion rubles for work to eliminate the consequences of the activities of facilities for the storage and destruction of chemical weapons. We returned the dismissed specialists, we can maintain the property by making utility and other payments. At these sites, work is now underway to eliminate the consequences of the activities. It is clear that we do not have the opportunity to build the capital structures necessary for this, but preparations - such as are possible in the given conditions - are being carried out.
– What is the fate of the military personnel of the units who were guarding and were in constant readiness eliminate the consequences emergency situations, which, fortunately, did not happen? After all, their mission at six sites has ended.
“The servicemen fulfilled their duty with honor. Not a single unauthorized entry of unauthorized persons was allowed, there were no other emergency situations related to ensuring the protection of sensitive areas. At six sites military units disbanded, everyone was given new places for further service in the RKhBZ troops and units of other branches of the military. We solemnly saw off our officers general meeting at the Federal Administration in Moscow. I have no doubt that they will serve with dignity in those places where their Motherland sent them. These are experienced officers who have gone through an excellent school, many of them will undoubtedly reach great heights in military career. Thank them again for their service, for that historical mission to destroy stockpiles of chemical weapons, which they successfully completed.
– And the military camps that they occupied were also transferred to someone? I had to visit them and see how modern they are equipped.
– Everyone is truly created there necessary conditions for carrying military service. We built new security systems, barracks, headquarters, parade grounds, and canteens. The military personnel occupying the towns appreciate all this very highly; I personally receive words of gratitude from the commanders for the legacy we are passing on to them.
– What is the future fate of the Federal Administration and its specialists?
“Our officers and civilian personnel have actually demonstrated the ability to work under conditions of strict adherence to technological and production discipline, high professionalism and courage. The experience they have accumulated can and should be used for the benefit of the country. It is no coincidence that we have been tasked with eliminating the consequences of the facilities’ activities. The implementation of this program will take several more years, so the Federal Office has something to do in the coming years.
– How are relations with regional authorities developing? Do you feel their support?
– I constantly communicate with the heads of the regions in which our facilities are located. Most recently, a meeting took place with the acting governor of the Kirov region, Igor Vasiliev. Saw interest in searching further path use of the created high-tech facility “Maradykovsky”. The same position is taken by the leaders of Bryansk, Penza, Kurgan regions and the Udmurt Republic. They are ready to provide all the resources and opportunities available to them to attract investors to the created production facilities, so that the facilities are repurposed, and local residents had well-paid jobs. However, first we need to make the sites safe. To prevent this from becoming a hindrance, it is necessary to adopt a program for eliminating the consequences of activities and open financing. We are working on this together with regional authorities.
– In the center of Kirov, a stele was solemnly opened in memory of the successful destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles on Vyatka land. This is a tribute to the work carried out clearly and safely. We see a reversal public opinion local population– at first, the majority was against the destruction of chemical weapons in places where they were stored, but today monuments are being erected.
– This is the fourth stele of this kind; the same ones were installed in the Kurgan, Penza and Bryansk regions. We are grateful to people for this memory. I believe that the work performed by the Federal Administration and the teams of our branch facilities deserves it. They worked selflessly, heroically, and did not allow pollution during such a dangerous task. environment.
– The Federal Department is disbanding its regiments, the number of military personnel in other units is being reduced, and representatives of your units again became the winners of the “Commonwealth Warrior-2016” competition among the armies of the CIS countries, both among men and among women. And this is not the first time...
– For the eighth time in a row, our soldiers take first place, first in an all-army competition held among those called up for service under a contract, and then become winners and international competition. By the way, in the Olympics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, our team, small by the standards of the Armed Forces, repeatedly became champions.
From sources in the Saratov Regional Duma I received information that it was signed by Vice-Governor A.G. Babichev received the idea of conferring the title “ Honorary Citizen Saratov Region" to Lieutenant General, Head of the Federal Directorate for Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons V.P. Kapashin.
This is the same Kapashin who, without a single piece of paper with just one signature “Ayatskov” on a blank sheet (this is not a joke), with huge violations for unimaginable money, created a plant in Gorny, which, according to environmentalists, poisoned the entire region and, thanks to whom, they left us even cockroaches. The same one, as a result of whose activities, according to media reports, several years ago children in the city of Kirov were poisoned and lost the ability to feel pain. Then they were evacuated to Moscow, and the information was classified.
This is the same Kapashin, I think, thanks to whom sanitary zone Around Leonidovka (chemical weapons storage facility), the felled forest was used for building materials for residential buildings.
This is the one, I believe, thanks to whom the residents of the village of Gorny were deceived regarding compensation for the risk. The same one who did not interfere with procurement for construction in Gorny at such prices that a wholesale batch of standard laptops cost eighty-six thousand rubles per unit.
This is the same one, with whose tacit consent dozens of so-called “garbage dumps” - companies that cashed out budget money allocated for construction in Gorny - operated in Saratov. The same one with whose department the last convocation Regional Duma was sued in Supreme Court. I can give many more examples of the general’s exploits - and not only in Russia, but also in his homeland in Poltava.
"Honorary citizen of the Kapashin region." What a horror! I don’t want to live in such an area, I don’t want to live in such a state!
P.S. From a KGB henchman I learned via the Internet that Kapashin was already a colonel general. With this power, why not a marshal?