- Title: RUSSIA: Women train for special forces
- Date: 25th September 2013
- Summary: KRASNODAR REGION, RUSSIA (RECENT - SEPTEMBER, 2013) (REUTERS) INSTRUCTOR EXPLAINS HOW TO HANDLE KALASHNIKOV ASSAULT RIFLE VARIOUS OF WOMEN SOLDIERS FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS AND REPEATING RIFLE BLOCKING EXERCISE FEMALE SOLDIERS WALKING IN FIELD (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SURVIVAL COURSE TRAINEE, ANASTASIA KHOTEYEVA, SAYING: "If a person wants to achieve something, then I think it (training) would not be difficult for him. Shooting was interesting for me, I like shooting from the machine-gun, not shooting at a human being, but the process of shooting is interesting for me." WOMEN SOLDIERS PUTTING ON ANTI-CHEMICAL PROTECTION SUITS WITH SIGN READING "CONTAMINATED" ON FOREFRONT VARIOUS OF FEMALE SOLDIERS PUTTING ON GAS MASKS VARIOUS OF FEMALE SOLDIERS BEING TRAINED TO ACT DURING GAS ATTACK VARIOUS OF WOMEN SOLDIERS CRAWLING ON FIELD AND UNDER BARBED WIRE DURING TRAINING VARIOUS OF TRAINEE OLGA BANDISH SHOOTING WITH BLANK CARTRIDGES AT ARMOURED VEHICLE ROLLING TOWARDS HER AND OVER HER TRENCH, THROWING DRILL GRENADE ANOTHER WOMAN SOLDIER PREPARING FOR HER EXERCISE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) FEMALE TRAINEE OLGA BANDISH, SAYING: "I think one can feel this emotion only once in lifetime, when you are lying under such a heavy vehicle for the first time. It's interesting, the earth is vibrating, everything inside is vibrating. It is impossible to describe it, especially when it happens for the first time. Cool." FEMALE SOLDIER WITH FLOWER IN HER MOUTH VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS TRAINING MINESWEEPING, WALKING IN MINE FIELD GROUP OF TRAINEES CHECKING MACHINE-GUNS AFTER TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) TRAINEE VICTORIA PECHUKONIS SAYING: "We use this (army) uniform only during training , otherwise we wear shirt-and-dress uniforms. But, of course, we will be the first to go to war if there is such an order." VARIOUS OF GROUP OF FEMALE SOLDIERS GETTING INTO MILITARY TRUCK AND LEAVING TRAINING FIELD, WAVING HANDS
- Embargoed: 10th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVA4ZL8PBNC7MCUQ7UMF5WB9W5I1
- Story Text: More then 30 future female officers of the Russian army special forces held training during a three week survival course in Southern Russia's military training fields in September this year.
The future officers sharpened their skills in one to one fight, conducting guerilla warfare in difficult terrain and shooting automatic machine-guns.
Most of those women trainees did not think they were doing something tremendously difficult or unachievable, and Anastasia Khoteyeva was one of them.
"If a person wants to achieve something, then I think it (training) would not be difficult for him. Shooting was interesting for me, I like shooting from the machine-gun, not shooting at a human being, but the process of shooting is interesting for me," Khoteyeva told Reuters during the short break between the exercises.
Young future officers of Russia's elite troops had survival training simulating chemical and biological attacks at the training base of the Southern Military District in the Krasnodar region. They trained crawling under the barbed wire trying not to damage their protection suits.
They also had to learn how to blow up huge armoured vehicles, which one of the trainees said was a "cool" experience.
"I think one can feel this emotion only once in lifetime, when you are lying under such a heavy vehicle for the first time. It's interesting, the earth is vibrating, everything inside is vibrating. It is impossible to describe it, especially when it happens for the first time. Cool," trainee Olga Bandish said after training.
After successfully finishing the training, the female elite officers will serve in the troops scattered across volatile North Caucasus. These women who willingly discussed their civilian or military outfit said they were ready to go to war if needed.
"We use this (army) uniform only during training , otherwise we wear shirt-and-dress uniforms. But, of course, we will be the first to go to war if there is such an order," Victoria Pechukonis said by the end of the training day.
Up to 600 soldiers including some 150 women have completed similar training courses since the beginning of 2013. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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