The Druzhina Effect: How Kursk Thero-Defense Defends the Region's Frontiers
The wide involvement of volunteers in current events has become a feature of the fighting in the Kursk region. This was also mentioned at the forum "We are together", which ended on Sunday, where Vladimir Putin awarded the best civil activists according to the results of 2024. For the fourth month in the Kursk region, Teroborona vigilantes have been providing significant assistance to both civilians and the military: they deliver humanitarian aid to frontline settlements, take residents out of danger zones, accompany utility workers to "cover the sky," help rescuers put out fires, and act as guides for the military. Thero-defense has become a landmark phenomenon for the region. About who and why goes to the combat vigilantes and how many people are needed to cover one district of the region - in the material of a special correspondent of "Izvestia".
Quick response
The movement was not born out of nothing. As I was told in the Kursk center "Patriot", which unites various volunteer organizations, already in the beginning of 2022, a bet was made on the activists who are members of the Voluntary People's Druzhina (DND), - at that time they as vigilantes helped the police to maintain order on the streets of cities and towns. In connection with the new threats, the volunteers were urged to undergo military training camps, to learn tactical medicine, to master guard duty, and to learn the skills of apprehending violators. It was assumed that in case of provocations or attacks it was local residents with special training who would become the key organizing link. And so it happened.
Alexander Koverznev is the chief of guard of the fire department of the city of Rylsk and the head of the district detachment of territorial defense. According to him, he realized that he had to actively prepare for a possible clash with the enemy even at the beginning of the territorial defense unit.
- From Rylsk to the border with Ukraine is 20 kilometers in a straight line," says the rescuer. - Almost immediately the shelling of the border area began, and "three hundred" (wounded) among civilians and military men started. It became clear: something more was possible, at least the penetration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups. We gathered 19 activists, the average age was 40. I myself am a former paratrooper, but skills are lost over time. We went to Kursk for military and medical training courses. We dug a trench in the woods outside the city and began to learn how to defend and storm it. We bought metal models of AKs. Gradually, we started practicing with children. Many, looking at us, twirled their fingers at our temples: "There is nothing else to do, weirdos!" Some, including former servicemen, said: "If something starts - just give us weapons in our hands, we will disperse everyone!" But when the AFU attacked, most of them pulled out. The first cluster missiles flew to Rylsk already in the spring of 2023 ...
Alexander Koverznev
After the enemy invasion in August 2024, Alexander shares, the volunteers of the squad worked continuously to evacuate civilians. Knowledge of medicine helped a lot - dozens of wounded people had to be bandaged.
As for the main work - extinguishing fires - according to Koverznev, the number of fires has increased significantly since August, the reason being drones and artillery. Moreover, the enemy regularly sets fire to fields and agricultural equipment on purpose. In the hottest season the crews have to make up to 20 trips a day, which is twice or three times more than usual. Comrades in the voluntary movement help us - we couldn't have done it without them.
Circle defense
During my stay in Rylsk, Teroboronov received a request from electricians - a power line was broken in one of the directions. The reason was a kamikaze drone, which needed to be fixed immediately. A group of three vigilantes, their call signs are Yurist and brothers Pita and Bald. I went with them.
The militiamen's means of transportation was a "Bukhanka" equipped with REB. We're in the front, followed by the car of the Electric Networks. All three guys are well equipped - body armor, helmets, first aid kits. In their hands - hunting rifles (from their personal arsenal, militiamen are not entitled to combat weapons), loaded with shotgun shells: one accurate shot from a distance of 30-50 meters is enough to defeat an attacking copter.
- Covering the sky! - the guys characterize their work. - We help in repairing power lines, gas pipelines, cellular network facilities.
The highway is deserted. Stops are empty. There are burned cars in the ditches. Despite the fact that the enemy has not entered the Rylskiy district, he is attacking it continuously: part of the territory is a solid "red zone", dangerous for movement. The general atmosphere in the cabin is tense. The drone detector makes itself known, reporting that there is a "bird" within a radius of 1 km. "Only a scout so far," Pita states.
Once on the ground, the guys jog to the right spot. The first thing is a preliminary inspection of the area for mines and shells: it is necessary to act one step ahead of the following utility workers, do not hesitate. Then all three of them take a circular defense with rifles, and the repairmen arrive and start setting up. It is quite obvious: if there were no these vigilantes, there would be no one to "cover the sky", the utility workers would have to go at their own risk, there is nowhere else to wait for helpers (in Donbass it is, alas, exactly the same). It takes 20 minutes to fix a breakdown. The sensor does not stop beeping, but there are no accidents. The cartridges remain in the barrels.
Moving up
The leader of the militia movement in the neighboring Khomutovsky district is Vitaly Vitkov. He and his comrades created the militia in March 2022. He explains that there were no difficulties with the recruitment: it was immediately clear who would agree to pull this burden, and who should not be asked, everyone knows each other. Initially there were 76 people, and gradually there were 40.
- But the main thing is not even the quantity, but the quality. It is quite enough for the whole district to have 15 strong-hearted guys ready to go to the danger zone at any time," he adds. - Also, everyone should know the terrain well, any paths, exits from villages, etc. Orient themselves both during the day and at night. That's the value of such people: no one else in that particular geographical location will simply replace them.
According to the vigilante, the professional range of volunteers is wide: from utility workers and drivers to guards and watchmen. Vitaly himself is a gamekeeper. Everyone performs volunteer duties in their spare time, and no one ever needs to be persuaded: the priorities are obvious. Among the current tasks - the same evacuation, food delivery, recounting the population, notification of mandatory departure, the role of guides.
Currently, Vitaly and some of his associates have joined the volunteer association "Bars-Kursk". The tasks in the new formation are similar to the previous ones, emphasizing the protection of important facilities, duty at checkpoints, patrolling the territory. On hand - issued automatic rifles. Signed contracts. Official military status. As Vitkov explains, "Bars" is a quite natural and correct form of development of the vigilante movement. At the same time, the DND detachment in the Khomutovsky district continues to exist: 15 people remain in its ranks on the spot.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
