Remove gas masks
Chemical weapon easy to create but hard to destroy
The facts of the use of poisonous, irritating, suffocating and other harmful substances by people have been known for a long time. Enemies were mixed with poisons in food, wells and streams were poisoned, sulfur was blown down by the wind, oil or dry hot pepper, aiming smoke at the army of the enemy, and the arrowheads were smeared with a deadly poison.
As science developed, such substances were synthesized purposefully, becoming ever more dangerous, and in the end, by the beginning of the twentieth century, real chemical weapons had been created.
22 April 2015 marks 100 years since the tragic event in stories humanity - the first mass use of chemical warfare agents. Then, at the Belgian town of Ypres, the Germans unexpectedly attacked the enemy’s positions, spraying several tens of tons of chloride gas in his direction.
Who would know that IPR
Anglo-French units completely unprepared for protection against this type of weapon lost about five thousand people dead, more than 15 thousand were defeated with varying severity. The allies who fought against Germany did not take long to wait and soon began to respond with the same. In World War I, more than a million people suffered from chemical weapons (that war is sometimes called chemical), and most of all Russians. Perhaps that is why our compatriot Professor Zelensky has created the first gas mask in the world, the design of which still forms the basis of filter masks that are in service with all countries of the world.
Speaking about the history of the use of chemical weapons, we have no right to overlook the "attack of the dead", a feat of our ancestors, known throughout Europe. In the battles for the fortress of Osovets in August 1915, the Germans allowed the same gas of a skin-blistering action to the Russians who defended it, which after the Belgian attack began to be called yperite. “The gas wave reached 8 kilometers wide and 20 kilometers deep. In this "zone of death" all living things perished. The leaves of the trees turned yellow, curled and fell off, the grass turned black and lay down on the ground. Copper objects, parts of tools and shells, sinks, tanks covered with a thick green layer of chlorine oxide. Russian units suffered huge losses. After the ypriti attack, when the wind dispersed the gas cloud, the German battalion 14 moved to take a scorched position. But as they approached the trenches, the German soldiers suddenly saw the surviving defenders of the fortress rise towards the bayonets with a shout, or rather a wheezing “Hurray” in a counterattack. The remnants of 8 and 13 th mouth - just a little more than a hundred people, barely able to stand on their feet, still got up to fight, which, it would seem, has already been lost. With traces of chemical burns on their faces, wrapped in rags, they hacked blood, literally spitting out pieces of light on bloodied tunics. This plunged the enemy into such horror that as many as three infantry regiments (7 thousands of bayonets!) In panic ran back, trampling their own, ”wrote the author of the article“ Osovets. Attack of the Dead. "
Everyone has and everyone is scared
After the massive use of chemical weapons, politicians and the military quickly realized that it was killing not only the enemy, but all life in general, which means, ultimately, those who use it. Therefore, already in 1925, the first international agreement on the prohibition of chemical weapons was reached in Geneva. However, for a long time it was quietly applied by Spain in Morocco, Italy in Ethiopia, and Japan in China. Fascist Germany has developed new, more deadly organophosphate toxic substances of nerve action: herd, sarin and soman. Hitler created special chemical battalions, but he did not dare to throw them into battle. They believe that the Führer did not know for certain what chemical weapons and in what volumes the Soviet Union possesses and what it can answer.
In the postwar years, the United States became the leader in developing new types of chemical weapons. They were the first to produce on an industrial scale and put into service the most deadly gas - vi-ex.
Following the British, Germans, Americans, the domestic military-industrial complex was able to develop and launch the production of all known types of chemical weapons, including V-Ex (this was a toxic agent only in the United States and the USSR). It took more than a dozen years to finally make sure: the race of chemical weapons leads to a dead end. To accumulate and improve chemical warfare agents suicidal for the entire civilization. The global community had the common sense and sense of self-preservation to sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction in 1993. Russia was one of the initiators of this document. Back in 1987, we unilaterally announced the suspension of the production of chemical warfare agents, and a year before the convention was signed, a special unit appeared in the structure of the troops for radiation, chemical and biological protection to organize the industrial destruction of chemical weapons.
More efficient than a nuclear bomb
For the production of chemical weapons, the starting materials were chlorine, arsenic or phosphorus, which in themselves do not pose a mortal danger to humans. In closed systems, through certain chemical reactions, chemical warfare agents were phased out of them, which were then automatically loaded into ammunition or packed up in special storage tanks. This process was relatively easy to secure. Ammunition and tanks were new, just manufactured and tested for tightness.
It is quite another thing - to destroy the old chemical weapons. The source material here is mortal hazard. It is also impossible to predict how an ammunition will behave, which has lain for several decades, its body has experienced natural aging. The poisonous substance must be destroyed, without giving him the opportunity to escape. In Russia and nowhere else in the world were there appropriate industrial technologies, enterprises, trained specialists ... But in 90, we had economic crises, an order to destroy chemical weapons stockpiles exclusively at their storage sites, which complicated the task, the resistance of the population and local authorities to build special objects, as well as doubts, fears and phobias. Almost no one believed that Russia would be able to fulfill the convention obligations undertaken. One of the central newspapers wrote in October 1994 of the year: “By signing the Convention on Chemical Disarmament, Russia found itself in an extremely unpleasant situation ... There is no reliable and safe way to destroy sarin, soman, no one in the world today. The only more or less developed technology of destruction - burning in high-temperature furnaces. The United States is trying to establish this process on the Johnston Atoll, but despite the fact that the work has been going on for more than six years, there are still leaks. The latest release of sarin was recorded at the end of March 1994. In Russia, there are projects for the destruction of chemical weapons by the nuclear-explosive method, but under the conditions of the current moratorium on any nuclear explosions, we cannot seriously talk about them. Meanwhile, burning full safety does not guarantee. The military chemical bases of Russia are located in the central regions, and any leakage of toxic substances is fraught with disaster. In addition, Russia has no money for chemical disarmament today ... "
Under such conditions, the implementation of the federal target program “Destruction of chemical weapons in the Russian Federation” adopted in 1996 began. She demanded that the work be carried out exclusively in such a way that no one was injured and the environment was not damaged.
Much has been written about what objective and subjective difficulties arose and how they were overcome when organizing the process and destroying Russian stocks of chemical weapons. We simply state that after a very short period of time by historical standards, in spite of everything, our country effectively and safely copes with its international convention commitments. The work done can serve as an example of the execution of the debt. The Federal Administration for the safe storage and destruction of chemical weapons, together with Russian scientists, have developed highly efficient technologies that have no analogues in the world for the destruction of toxic substances. They are not based on direct incineration of chemical agents, but, as some chemists put it, on a “wet” neutralization reaction with special reagents. Only after this procedure, the resulting non-hazardous mass is subjected to heat treatment. The process is fully manageable and under control. As a result, no emissions of toxic substances or their destruction products were recorded on any of the Russian chemical weapons destruction facilities. None of the facility workers or locals were hurt by the toxic agents. This is by far the most important victory.
The regulatory framework of the program was prepared and adopted in due time. From 2002 to 2013, all seven necessary facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons in each of the arsenals were built and put into operation. Deployed and equipped with the most modern equipment of the environmental monitoring and monitoring service, providing continuous monitoring of the state of air, water, soil and other natural substances. Established medical units at sites and in areas where chemical weapons are destroyed monitor the health of workers and the local population. In the regions of storage and destruction of chemical weapons by the military, many social infrastructure facilities were built, up to 10 percent of funds were allocated for these purposes. After the local authorities and the public saw this attitude, the mood changed. Today, people fully support the activities of the Federal Administration and are not afraid of chemical weapons destruction facilities, but of what might be left without work after the early completion of their activities.
The main executor of the program, as already mentioned, is the Federal Directorate for the Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons, which was created and permanently headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, twice winner of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology Colonel General Valery Kapashin. This team without exaggeration made a real feat.
Recycling will save civilization
The first plant for the destruction of chemical weapons in the village of Gorny, Saratov region, was commissioned in December 2002. In April, 2003-he ensured the successful implementation of the initial stage of Russia's convention commitments: the destruction of 400 tons of mustard gas (1% of total reserves). In April 2007, the Federal Office promptly completed the second stage, destroying 20 percent (8 thousand tons) of poisonous substances already at three plants - in Gorny, in the city of Kambarka (Udmurtia) and the village of Mirny (Kirov region). In November, 2009, our country reported ahead of schedule about the destruction of 45 percent (18 thousand tons) of chemical weapons stockpiles. Facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons, built in the village of Leonidovka, Penza region and the city of Shchuchye, Kurgan region, have contributed to the implementation of the third stage.
The fourth and final stage of Russia's fulfillment of its convention obligations began with 2010. That autumn, the sixth object was put into operation - in the town of Pochep, Bryansk region, and in December of 2013, the seventh - in the village of Kizner (Udmurtia). At the facilities in Leonidovka, Mirny and Shchuchye in 2012 – 2015, facilities for the destruction of ammunition of complex construction were created.
In 2005 and 2009, the objects in Gorny and Kambarka were completely completed. At the end of 2015, plants in Leonidovka, Mirny, Pochep and Shchuchye will join them. By April 2015, Russia had destroyed a total of more than 34,6 thousands of tons of chemical warfare agents or over 86 percent of the 40 thousands of tons of reserves. This is a worthy contribution of the Federal Administration to the celebration of the 70 anniversary of the Great Victory.
Military chemists to stock early
The Convention on Chemical Disarmament is one of the most popular international agreements. It was joined by all countries of the world with the exception of North Korea, Egypt, Israel, South Sudan, Angola and Myanmar (the first three states, according to experts, may have stockpiles of chemical weapons). There is no doubt that the convention obligations will be fulfilled by all signatory states. There is reason to hope that, over time, those countries that have not yet joined the convention will, under pressure from the international community, also destroy chemical weapons. This showed the experience of Syria.
However, humanity is unlikely to rest on its laurels about complete chemical disarmament. Unstoppable scientific and technical progress, the rapid development and spread of technologies, including chemical ones, suggest that even purely by chance (such as, for example, vi-ex type OB was synthesized), a new deadly poisonous substance could be obtained. Militants and terrorists, among whom there are many with higher technical education, can already today produce chemical munitions. And there are plenty of people willing to use such weapons in the modern world. The facts of its use from time to time come from the combat areas in Iraq, Syria and other countries of the Middle East. Therefore, our Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the Ministry of Defense made the right decision to strengthen the troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection. The need to solve the problems of eliminating the consequences of man-made disasters was clearly demonstrated in 1986 in Chernobyl, where military chemists performed the most dangerous and complex work. The threat of all kinds of emergencies along with the process of urbanization, the increase in the number of industrial enterprises, and the increasing complexity of the infrastructure is increasing. So the specialists of the Federal Office will be in demand after the completion of the process of destruction of chemical weapons.
The facts of the use of poisonous, irritating, suffocating and other harmful substances by people have been known for a long time. Enemies were mixed with poisons in food, wells and streams were poisoned, sulfur was blown down by the wind, oil or dry hot pepper, aiming smoke at the army of the enemy, and the arrowheads were smeared with a deadly poison.
As science developed, such substances were synthesized purposefully, becoming ever more dangerous, and in the end, by the beginning of the twentieth century, real chemical weapons had been created.
22 April 2015 marks 100 years since the tragic event in stories humanity - the first mass use of chemical warfare agents. Then, at the Belgian town of Ypres, the Germans unexpectedly attacked the enemy’s positions, spraying several tens of tons of chloride gas in his direction.
Who would know that IPR
Anglo-French units completely unprepared for protection against this type of weapon lost about five thousand people dead, more than 15 thousand were defeated with varying severity. The allies who fought against Germany did not take long to wait and soon began to respond with the same. In World War I, more than a million people suffered from chemical weapons (that war is sometimes called chemical), and most of all Russians. Perhaps that is why our compatriot Professor Zelensky has created the first gas mask in the world, the design of which still forms the basis of filter masks that are in service with all countries of the world.
Speaking about the history of the use of chemical weapons, we have no right to overlook the "attack of the dead", a feat of our ancestors, known throughout Europe. In the battles for the fortress of Osovets in August 1915, the Germans allowed the same gas of a skin-blistering action to the Russians who defended it, which after the Belgian attack began to be called yperite. “The gas wave reached 8 kilometers wide and 20 kilometers deep. In this "zone of death" all living things perished. The leaves of the trees turned yellow, curled and fell off, the grass turned black and lay down on the ground. Copper objects, parts of tools and shells, sinks, tanks covered with a thick green layer of chlorine oxide. Russian units suffered huge losses. After the ypriti attack, when the wind dispersed the gas cloud, the German battalion 14 moved to take a scorched position. But as they approached the trenches, the German soldiers suddenly saw the surviving defenders of the fortress rise towards the bayonets with a shout, or rather a wheezing “Hurray” in a counterattack. The remnants of 8 and 13 th mouth - just a little more than a hundred people, barely able to stand on their feet, still got up to fight, which, it would seem, has already been lost. With traces of chemical burns on their faces, wrapped in rags, they hacked blood, literally spitting out pieces of light on bloodied tunics. This plunged the enemy into such horror that as many as three infantry regiments (7 thousands of bayonets!) In panic ran back, trampling their own, ”wrote the author of the article“ Osovets. Attack of the Dead. "
Everyone has and everyone is scared
After the massive use of chemical weapons, politicians and the military quickly realized that it was killing not only the enemy, but all life in general, which means, ultimately, those who use it. Therefore, already in 1925, the first international agreement on the prohibition of chemical weapons was reached in Geneva. However, for a long time it was quietly applied by Spain in Morocco, Italy in Ethiopia, and Japan in China. Fascist Germany has developed new, more deadly organophosphate toxic substances of nerve action: herd, sarin and soman. Hitler created special chemical battalions, but he did not dare to throw them into battle. They believe that the Führer did not know for certain what chemical weapons and in what volumes the Soviet Union possesses and what it can answer.
In the postwar years, the United States became the leader in developing new types of chemical weapons. They were the first to produce on an industrial scale and put into service the most deadly gas - vi-ex.Following the British, Germans, Americans, the domestic military-industrial complex was able to develop and launch the production of all known types of chemical weapons, including V-Ex (this was a toxic agent only in the United States and the USSR). It took more than a dozen years to finally make sure: the race of chemical weapons leads to a dead end. To accumulate and improve chemical warfare agents suicidal for the entire civilization. The global community had the common sense and sense of self-preservation to sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction in 1993. Russia was one of the initiators of this document. Back in 1987, we unilaterally announced the suspension of the production of chemical warfare agents, and a year before the convention was signed, a special unit appeared in the structure of the troops for radiation, chemical and biological protection to organize the industrial destruction of chemical weapons.
More efficient than a nuclear bomb
For the production of chemical weapons, the starting materials were chlorine, arsenic or phosphorus, which in themselves do not pose a mortal danger to humans. In closed systems, through certain chemical reactions, chemical warfare agents were phased out of them, which were then automatically loaded into ammunition or packed up in special storage tanks. This process was relatively easy to secure. Ammunition and tanks were new, just manufactured and tested for tightness.
It is quite another thing - to destroy the old chemical weapons. The source material here is mortal hazard. It is also impossible to predict how an ammunition will behave, which has lain for several decades, its body has experienced natural aging. The poisonous substance must be destroyed, without giving him the opportunity to escape. In Russia and nowhere else in the world were there appropriate industrial technologies, enterprises, trained specialists ... But in 90, we had economic crises, an order to destroy chemical weapons stockpiles exclusively at their storage sites, which complicated the task, the resistance of the population and local authorities to build special objects, as well as doubts, fears and phobias. Almost no one believed that Russia would be able to fulfill the convention obligations undertaken. One of the central newspapers wrote in October 1994 of the year: “By signing the Convention on Chemical Disarmament, Russia found itself in an extremely unpleasant situation ... There is no reliable and safe way to destroy sarin, soman, no one in the world today. The only more or less developed technology of destruction - burning in high-temperature furnaces. The United States is trying to establish this process on the Johnston Atoll, but despite the fact that the work has been going on for more than six years, there are still leaks. The latest release of sarin was recorded at the end of March 1994. In Russia, there are projects for the destruction of chemical weapons by the nuclear-explosive method, but under the conditions of the current moratorium on any nuclear explosions, we cannot seriously talk about them. Meanwhile, burning full safety does not guarantee. The military chemical bases of Russia are located in the central regions, and any leakage of toxic substances is fraught with disaster. In addition, Russia has no money for chemical disarmament today ... "
Under such conditions, the implementation of the federal target program “Destruction of chemical weapons in the Russian Federation” adopted in 1996 began. She demanded that the work be carried out exclusively in such a way that no one was injured and the environment was not damaged.
Much has been written about what objective and subjective difficulties arose and how they were overcome when organizing the process and destroying Russian stocks of chemical weapons. We simply state that after a very short period of time by historical standards, in spite of everything, our country effectively and safely copes with its international convention commitments. The work done can serve as an example of the execution of the debt. The Federal Administration for the safe storage and destruction of chemical weapons, together with Russian scientists, have developed highly efficient technologies that have no analogues in the world for the destruction of toxic substances. They are not based on direct incineration of chemical agents, but, as some chemists put it, on a “wet” neutralization reaction with special reagents. Only after this procedure, the resulting non-hazardous mass is subjected to heat treatment. The process is fully manageable and under control. As a result, no emissions of toxic substances or their destruction products were recorded on any of the Russian chemical weapons destruction facilities. None of the facility workers or locals were hurt by the toxic agents. This is by far the most important victory.
The regulatory framework of the program was prepared and adopted in due time. From 2002 to 2013, all seven necessary facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons in each of the arsenals were built and put into operation. Deployed and equipped with the most modern equipment of the environmental monitoring and monitoring service, providing continuous monitoring of the state of air, water, soil and other natural substances. Established medical units at sites and in areas where chemical weapons are destroyed monitor the health of workers and the local population. In the regions of storage and destruction of chemical weapons by the military, many social infrastructure facilities were built, up to 10 percent of funds were allocated for these purposes. After the local authorities and the public saw this attitude, the mood changed. Today, people fully support the activities of the Federal Administration and are not afraid of chemical weapons destruction facilities, but of what might be left without work after the early completion of their activities.
The main executor of the program, as already mentioned, is the Federal Directorate for the Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons, which was created and permanently headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, twice winner of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology Colonel General Valery Kapashin. This team without exaggeration made a real feat.
Recycling will save civilization
The first plant for the destruction of chemical weapons in the village of Gorny, Saratov region, was commissioned in December 2002. In April, 2003-he ensured the successful implementation of the initial stage of Russia's convention commitments: the destruction of 400 tons of mustard gas (1% of total reserves). In April 2007, the Federal Office promptly completed the second stage, destroying 20 percent (8 thousand tons) of poisonous substances already at three plants - in Gorny, in the city of Kambarka (Udmurtia) and the village of Mirny (Kirov region). In November, 2009, our country reported ahead of schedule about the destruction of 45 percent (18 thousand tons) of chemical weapons stockpiles. Facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons, built in the village of Leonidovka, Penza region and the city of Shchuchye, Kurgan region, have contributed to the implementation of the third stage.
The fourth and final stage of Russia's fulfillment of its convention obligations began with 2010. That autumn, the sixth object was put into operation - in the town of Pochep, Bryansk region, and in December of 2013, the seventh - in the village of Kizner (Udmurtia). At the facilities in Leonidovka, Mirny and Shchuchye in 2012 – 2015, facilities for the destruction of ammunition of complex construction were created.
In 2005 and 2009, the objects in Gorny and Kambarka were completely completed. At the end of 2015, plants in Leonidovka, Mirny, Pochep and Shchuchye will join them. By April 2015, Russia had destroyed a total of more than 34,6 thousands of tons of chemical warfare agents or over 86 percent of the 40 thousands of tons of reserves. This is a worthy contribution of the Federal Administration to the celebration of the 70 anniversary of the Great Victory.
Military chemists to stock early
The Convention on Chemical Disarmament is one of the most popular international agreements. It was joined by all countries of the world with the exception of North Korea, Egypt, Israel, South Sudan, Angola and Myanmar (the first three states, according to experts, may have stockpiles of chemical weapons). There is no doubt that the convention obligations will be fulfilled by all signatory states. There is reason to hope that, over time, those countries that have not yet joined the convention will, under pressure from the international community, also destroy chemical weapons. This showed the experience of Syria.
However, humanity is unlikely to rest on its laurels about complete chemical disarmament. Unstoppable scientific and technical progress, the rapid development and spread of technologies, including chemical ones, suggest that even purely by chance (such as, for example, vi-ex type OB was synthesized), a new deadly poisonous substance could be obtained. Militants and terrorists, among whom there are many with higher technical education, can already today produce chemical munitions. And there are plenty of people willing to use such weapons in the modern world. The facts of its use from time to time come from the combat areas in Iraq, Syria and other countries of the Middle East. Therefore, our Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the Ministry of Defense made the right decision to strengthen the troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection. The need to solve the problems of eliminating the consequences of man-made disasters was clearly demonstrated in 1986 in Chernobyl, where military chemists performed the most dangerous and complex work. The threat of all kinds of emergencies along with the process of urbanization, the increase in the number of industrial enterprises, and the increasing complexity of the infrastructure is increasing. So the specialists of the Federal Office will be in demand after the completion of the process of destruction of chemical weapons.
Information