The radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are constantly developing and improving.
November 13 – Day of the RCBZ Troops
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| Major General Alexey Rtishchev. |
| Source: Russian Ministry of Defense |
Since the beginning of a special military operation, military personnel have been solving complex and demanding tasks in all directions, demonstrating unwavering professionalism, high combat training, and exemplary military duty. In an interview with Major General Alexei Rtishchev, Chief of the Russian Federation Defense Forces, he talked about how the acquired experience of HIS is being implemented into the training of future officers, what new equipment is being supplied to the units, as well as how robotic complexes and UAVs are being used.
– Alexey Viktorovich, what new developments, taking into account the experience of the SVO, are being carried out in the interests of the RCB protection troops?
– An analysis of the experience of conducting a special military operation has revealed a number of issues, especially in terms of reducing the visibility of troops and the need to increase the firing range of heavy flamethrower systems.
In this regard, the scientific research organizations of the RCB protection forces, together with industrial enterprises, are currently developing new compositions for the installation of aerosol curtains that are effective not only in the visible, but also in other ranges of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.
Since the beginning of the special military operation, enterprises of the military-industrial complex have been actively working to increase the firing range of unguided rockets of heavy flamethrower systems.
In addition, during the special military operation, the high efficiency of using unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic complexes for solving various tasks, including the tasks of missile defense, was recognized.
So, currently, in the interests of the troops, ground-based robotic complexes are being developed designed to set up aerosol curtains, conduct radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance and sampling, as well as inflict fire damage on the enemy using flamethrowers.
Industrial enterprises, with the participation of specialists from the RCB protection forces, are developing new ammunition and combat units for kamikaze drones. Many of the samples that have been successfully tested in the SVO area are effectively used by our departments. There are many such examples, and much more needs to be done.
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| Military personnel of the RCBZ troops. |
| Source: Pavel Gerasimov / Krasnaya Zvezda |
– How are the capabilities of robotic complexes and UAVs being used in the interests of solving the tasks assigned to the RCB protection troops? Tell us about it in more detail.
– Separately, I would like to note the widespread use and application of unmanned aerial vehicles in a special military operation, which are actively being implemented for conducting reconnaissance and aerosol screening. In addition to UAVs, we are increasingly starting to use ground-based robotic complexes and marine (water) unmanned platforms.
Both land-based and sea-based, they have proven themselves effectively when performing tasks in a combat situation. It is safe to say that the units of the unmanned systems of the RCB protection forces make a significant contribution to the fire defeat of the enemy, and the use of aerosol camouflage using UAVs and ground-based robotic systems is a promising area that allows to increase the volume and effectiveness of the task of reducing the visibility of troops and facilities.
It is important to note that, taking into account the experience of the SVO, new ways of fulfilling the tasks of RCB protection have been developed. At the same time, scientific potential is being improved and increased, educational, material, laboratory, experimental and testing facilities are being developed, taking into account the combat experience gained during a special military operation.
– Do the servicemen of the RCB protection forces continue to carry out tasks at the Zaporizhia NPP? What does monitoring of the situation show? How often has the station been shelled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, what is the risk of such provocative actions?
– Units of the RCBZ troops perform tasks at the nuclear facility on an ongoing basis. Our consolidated squad is at the station, ready to deal with the possible consequences of emergencies. In addition to the main tasks, together with representatives of the IAEA, he monitors the radiation situation at the station. Our specialists carry out sampling and analysis of soil and water samples both at the plant and at socially significant facilities in the city of Energodar.
The situation is monitored around the clock, according to monitoring data, the radiation background corresponds to natural values, no chemically and biologically dangerous factors have been identified.
The units conduct regular training sessions and are fully prepared for immediate response and localization of possible emergency situations.
It should be noted that on the part of the armed forces of Ukraine, there has been a significant increase in the number of attacks on the facilities of the station and the city of Energodar.
Systematic targeted attacks are underway on the building of the training center, which is part of the NPP. This is a deliberate threat to the personnel and critical infrastructure of the station. After the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the Dnieper high-voltage line, the station was forced to switch to power from diesel generator sets. Such actions are unacceptable and are, of course, subject to international condemnation.
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| Heavy flamethrower system TOS-2. |
| Source: Pavel Gerasimov / Krasnaya Zvezda |
– What new equipment is being supplied to the RCBZ troops?
– Recently, more than 20 new types of weapons and protective equipment have been received, such as the TOS-2 heavy flamethrower system (Tosochka), the RHB reconnaissance vehicles of the new generation RHM-8, -9 and -10, the ARS-16 automatic filling station, the mobile repair workshop PM RHBZ-5 and many others.
According to the results of their operation, the military personnel gave positive feedback. The special equipment of these machines ensures that many functions are performed automatically, which greatly facilitates the work of crews when performing tasks.
Equipping military units with modern weapons and missile defense systems significantly increases the effectiveness of the use of troops, including during a special military operation. We will continue to step up efforts to modernize weapons and military equipment.
– Alexey Viktorovich, how is the training and retraining of personnel organized, taking into account the specifics of their military? What has already been introduced into the training process of future officers, and what is planned in the near future? Tell us about the opening of the Saratov Military Academy, its material and technical base, the teaching staff, what specialties it teaches and who will continue to be trained at the military academy in Kostroma.
– There is an interspecific training center and training ground for the specialty of military personnel for the RCB protection troops. During the special military operation, combat units of rocket-propelled infantry flamethrowers, heavy flamethrower systems and units of unmanned vehicles proved themselves to be the most prominent among the specialists of the troops.
I would like to note that the military personnel of not only the military units of the RCB defense forces directly subordinate to them, but also the personnel of military districts, types of armed forces and branches of the armed forces are trained at the interspecific training center.
With the change in combat tactics, the interspecific training center has formed a training unit to train operators to control unmanned systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles of a stabilized and unstable type, as well as robotic complexes.
Since the beginning of the military training, in the interests of all groups of troops and military districts, more than 1,500 military personnel have been trained at the training center as operators of unmanned aerial vehicles and ground-based robotic systems.
The training of future officers and trainees is conducted on the basis of the Military Academy of the Red Army named after Marshal of the Soviet Union S.K. Timoshenko.
The entire teaching staff of this educational institution has combat experience of a special military operation, which is successfully transferred to future officers.
During the training, cadets receive practical shooting and fire control skills from heavy flamethrower systems such as Tosochka and Solntsepek with an increased ammunition limit. During the training, each cadet receives shooting skills from all types of rocket-propelled infantry flamethrowers and light infantry flamethrowers, as well as performing exercises in army tactical shooting.
Upon completion of their studies at the military academy, military personnel receive a driver's license of categories B, C, motorcycle, quad bike driving skills, and military equipment such as tanks and armored personnel carriers.
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| The laboratory of the VA RCBZ. |
| Source: Photo from the archive of the VA RCBZ. |
Every university graduate has solid skills in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as robotic systems.
In 2025, based on the instructions of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Department of unmanned systems was established in the staff of the Military Academy, which trains military specialists to conduct airborne reconnaissance, set up aerosol curtains and control the quality of combat and special tasks.
On August 30, 2025, the Saratov Higher Military Engineering School of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection named after the Hero of Russia, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General I.A. Kirillov, was inaugurated with the presentation of the Battle Banner.
Since the beginning of the new academic year, more than 100 young people in Saratov have donned cadet shoulder straps and started studying in three specialties.: "Technology of materials and coatings", "Chemical technology of organic substances", "Operation and technology of biological protection products".
I would like to note that the school is equipped with the latest equipment, weapons, military and special equipment, educational, training and multimedia facilities, as well as laboratory equipment with the ability to conduct instrumental analysis.
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| Military personnel of the RCBZ troops. |
| Source: Pavel Gerasimov / Krasnaya Zvezda |
– Tell us about the most striking exploits of the servicemen of the RCB Protection troops, the most distinguished units awarded the honorary title of Guards.
– In total, more than 5,000 people were awarded during the military operation in the RCB protection forces, of which more than 2,500 military personnel were awarded state awards.
For special distinctions in a special military operation, six military officers were awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
First, it is the Hero of the Russian Federation, the Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, under whose leadership the world's first vaccine against the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 was developed and registered, modern models of weapons and military equipment were created and adopted.
A significant contribution to the development of the success of the special military operation was made by the Heroes of the Russian Federation – our commanders of the flamethrower units of the Guard, Major Sergei Bacherikov, captains Andrei Solovyov and Vladislav Zhuravlev, Senior Lieutenant Vitaly Belikov. As a result of their competent actions, courage, determination and courage, a large number of enemy military equipment and manpower were destroyed. They actively participated in the liberation of settlements, risking their lives, and saved the lives of military personnel and civilians.
In addition, Captain Vladislav Vashchelin, a graduate of the Military Academy of the Russian Academy of Civil Protection, who performs combat missions as commander of a motorized rifle battalion, was awarded the title of Hero.
These servicemen are an example of courage, dedication and heroism for the military and the younger generation.
In addition, four officers were awarded three Orders of Courage for their dedication, courage and bravery in combat missions.
Among the military units and formations of the RCB Defense Forces, five regiments and four brigades became Guards, and two brigades were awarded the Order of Zhukov for mass heroism and bravery shown in the defense of the Fatherland.
The main criterion for evaluating the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is the effectiveness of the tasks set, which is achieved by the theoretical and practical training of personnel, the readiness of weapons and military equipment, the creation of conditions for the successful completion of these tasks, and is measured by the lives saved and the achievement of victory.
Julia KOZAK, "Red Star"
