Unknown heroes of Russia. People in the shadow of war
Dmitry Belyakov
Born in 1970 year. Photojournalist; almost 50 travel to Chechnya in 1994 – 2010. In 2008, he graduated from portrait photography at the International Center for Photography (ICP) in New York. Awards: "Interfoto 2002"; Prize named after A. Borovik; Overseas Press-Club of America (OPC) - 2005; Days Japan - a prize of the Japanese photo festival; 1-place in the category "Portrait" (for a series of portraits of veterans of special forces) in the competition NPPA: Best of Photojournalism.
Collaborated with leading illustrated publications, including Russian Reporter, Brother, TIME, American Photo Magazine, Der Spiegel, Stern, GEO, Paris Match, Figaro Magazine, Newsweek International, Sunday Times Magazine, New York Times, Esquire Magazine ( USA), National Geographic (USA), Foto & Video and others.
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So why did I shoot them? This is not a military patriotic project. Not propaganda of special services. On the contrary, I removed it despite the prohibitions, bureaucratic barriers, prejudices and resistance of various press services and assistance centers. I don’t know what and to whom ... I call it a historical-photographic project.
Both of my grandfathers fought. The stories about the great war against fascism, repeated many times, are from childhood. It also included military adventure novels by Sabatini and Dumas, and serious military prose by Stepanov and Pikul. I read “War and Peace” twice - for the first time at school, of course. It was then that I first saw the gallery of the heroes of the 1812 war of the year in the Hermitage. Kutuzov, Miloradovich, Uvarov, Bagration, Davydov, Shakhovskoy, Yermolov ... It was this gallery of ceremonial portraits that inspired me in the process of work in a special way.
I really wanted to have time to remove them now. Until they left at all, or until they locked themselves in the sink of deaf unbelief and loneliness. I see skeptics grin: formal portrait? No, of course ... My portraits are not ceremonial. First, I took everything on a black and white film to achieve more drama, and then ... The photo was born black and white, right? Secondly, one and all of them are shot in the “low key” genre and are rather related to the type of psychological portrait. But the general is. And here and there war heroes. But there, in 1820's, these heroes were not classified. Quite the contrary - the government itself wanted the people to know their saviors and heroes. I shot non-public people who are used to avoiding the attention of the press. They were rarely honored as heroes of modern military stories. But they are all real, nonsense heroes.
I started shooting 2008 in September, and the last portrait made 2011 in August. I love military history, I study it from books, military memoirs and documentaries. But not a single book, not a single picture can replace the luxury of communication with a living participant in an event. This true luxury - a chance to make a “journey by time machine” - was given to me by a project. Everything that was secret in our modern history from 1979 to the present day, everything that was not told to me in the Soviet school, I learned about it from them, veterans of special units. They talked to me. And for that alone, I am eternally grateful to them.
Yartsev Vyacheslav Ivanovich
The captain of the special forces of the KGB of the USSR, group "A", from 1980 to 1991 year. A veteran of the Afghan campaign, a member of several anti-terrorist operations. Coach in karate, kick boxing and hand-to-hand combat. He graduated from the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanities University, the center of spiritual education of military personnel.
Afghanistan, 1985 year, senior lieutenant, security officer
Illarionov Sergey Anatolyevich
Chechnya, 2001 year, group foreman
Major of Special Forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 7 th Special Forces Detachment of the MVD "Rosich".
The maroon beret, a veteran of two Chechen campaigns, has gone from a private to a senior assistant chief of staff for special operations, OSN No. 7.
In March, an 2000 th in the siege of the village of Komsomolskoye in an ambush organized by Gelayev’s militants killed the entire reconnaissance team of the detachment, the 22 fighter. Illarionov, then occupying the position of group foreman, together with four ordinary commandos voluntarily and without weapons went to the militants to negotiate the extradition of the bodies of the dead. Having survived the bullying and the threat of execution, Illarionov managed to take control of the situation and with great difficulty agreed to extradite the “two hundredths” in exchange for the promise to evacuate a few dozen wounded militants from the belligerent village and hand them over to the local residents, as well as bury the bodies of the killed gelayevts.
This story has been kept secret for nine years, and Illarionov was never noted for his heroism. Only later, after being seriously wounded, was the major introduced to the Order of Courage. Took part in a large number of secret and special operations.
Kvachkov Vladimir Vasilyevich
Tajikistan, 1992 year (right)
The commander of the 177-th separate detachment of special purpose GRU General Staff.
A veteran of the Afghan campaign, was injured. In 1989, he assumed command of the 15-th separate special purpose brigade of the GRU General Staff in the Turkestan Military District. During the civil war in Tajikistan - one of the founders of the Popular Front and the organizer of the partisan movement. During the second Chechen campaign, being in the position of special operations planning adviser under the commander of the Western direction of the Joint Group of Federal Forces in the North Caucasus, Vladimir Shamanov, developed an operation to lure Basayev’s militants into a minefield, resulting in several dozen of them killed, and Basayev himself lost the leg.
In 2005 – 2008 was held in the “Matrosskaya Silence” remand prison in connection with the charge of preparing an assassination attempt on Anatoly Chubais. In 2010, he was acquitted and the next day he was taken into custody again - on charges of organizing insurgency and terrorism. Currently contained in the detention center "Lefortovo".
Plyusnin Alexander Nikolaevich
Training base of the KGB in the Moscow region, 1978 year, senior lieutenant, security officer (center)
Senior Lieutenant Special Forces of the KGB. He worked in the KGB from 1974 to 1982 year. Detective in the first set of group "A". The operational cover is the senior shift master at the Scientific Research Institute "Luch". A great athlete, at that time the best in the special forces of the KGB master of martial arts.
A participant in the Kabul operation in December 1979, stormed the presidential palace. It was Plyusnin during the assault that carried out the main task - the elimination of Hafizullah Amin. For participation in the operation he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. The fate of the hero is tragic and in many respects resembles the fate of the Soviet submariner hero Alexander Marinesko: he was suspended from work in the KGB special forces, deprived of a party membership card and fired from the bodies. Plyusnin very painfully searched for a new place in life, vegetated simple workers at the plant, worked in the Peking Hotel in perestroika, and then quietly retired. People who knew Pljusnin close note that Plus, by nature, the “man of war” created for his work, and in the entire history of group “A” there was no such second reckless and desperately brave officer.
Sergey, call sign "Alligator"
Chechnya, Spring 2003, Senior Lieutenant, Group Commander (second from left)
The captain of the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A veteran of both Chechen campaigns, the commander of the reconnaissance unit OSN No. 16. The participant of many secret and special operations in the North Caucasus. He was wounded twice. Awarded the Order of Courage.
Yushkov Sergey Gennadyevich
Chechnya, Grozny, 1996 year, captain, group commander (far right)
Colonel Special Forces MIA. Krapovy beret, a veteran of both Chechen campaigns, the chief of intelligence of the OSN No. 8 was among the very first group of officers awarded with the stars of Heroes of Russia for the courage shown in the battles in the Kadar zone of Dagestan.
Emyshev Valeriy Petrovich
Colonel of special forces of the KGB of the USSR, group "A". He worked in the KGB from February 1966 on 1988 year. As part of the first set of group "A" from July 1974-th. Operational cover - locksmith at the housing and maintenance office. Took part in many secret and special operations. A member of the Kabul operation, during the storming of the palace, Taj Beck lost his right arm; he received the Order of the Red Banner personally from the hands of Yuri Andropov. After being wounded, he held the position of party organizer of group “A” with the rank of deputy commander.
Border Training Center, Yaroslavl Region, 1978 year, captain, security officer
Kim Viktor Nikolaevich
Special Forces KGB Vympel sabotage and reconnaissance unit. Member of the Kabul operation, stormed the General Staff of the Afghan army. In 80, he performed secret tasks in Southeast Asian countries. One of the leaders of the special purpose unit of the KGB Vympel.
Kovtun Vladimir Pavlovich
The GRU special forces colonel, the 186-th separate special detachment of the GRU General Staff. Veteran Afghan campaign. Had seven bullet wounds. In January, 1987, his group captured in battle the first samples of Stinger MANPADS. During the service he was twice awarded the Order of the Red Star.
Afghanistan, Zabol Province, 1987 year, senior lieutenant, group commander (third from left)
Andreev Yuri Alexandrovich
Center of special purpose FSB, management "B" ("Vympel"). Veteran of two Chechen campaigns, participant of anti-terrorist operations in Budennovsk and in Moscow at Dubrovka
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