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Today the Vitaz battalion of the Donetsk
Peoples Republic had a qualification for special forces blue berets. The head
of DPR attended. Video report on the way (9 November 2017 Album) by Patrick
Lancaster
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Zakharchenko: "I am
proud of our servicemen"
Friday, November 10, 2017
- 20:21
The Head of the Republic
visited the military training ground, where servicemen of the Vityaz Special
Purpose Unit of the DPR Ministry of Transport passed a fit test for the right
to wear a blue beret on November 9. The event was timed to the second
anniversary of the unit. Vityazi (‘The Knights’) became the first to undergo
such a test in the DPR.
28
‘knights’ passed the ‘exam’ for courage, strength, and endurance. Parachute
jumping became the first stage on the way to get the cherished vest and beret.
The servicemen had to make 15 kilometres in the tough terrain, overcome a water
obstacle, hit the targets, throw a well-aimed grenade and defeat the opponent
in hand-to-hand combat.
Alexander
Zakharchenko wished all the participants good luck before passing fit testing.
"This
is the first fit test in the Republic for the right to wear blue berets. The
commander of this unit, Roman Kornienko, is a paratrooper, he had served in the
Airborne, so his servicemen prepared for the most rigorous exam in their lives.
To wear a blue beret is an honour for any paratrooper. I am sure that those
guys who will receive the beret will wear it with pride. As Commander-in-Chief,
I feel proud of our army when I see what these fellows overcome. Recollecting
2014 and looking at the fighters in 2017, I understand that our self-defense
units have turned into a real army in these three years. I feel sure that we
will defeat any enemy if we want to.
We
will cheer for the fellows. According to statistics, about 40% of servicemen
fail to pass the fit test. This is due to various reasons, the most difficult
point is to get psychologically tuned when the attention of commanders and
inspectors is focused on you. This is another element of preparation: any
serviceman, being in a stressful situation, should behave with dignity and show
the best results. After all, the life of comrades and victory depend on it in
battle. I wish good luck to all the servicemen," the Head of State
said.
In
the pouring rain, despite the cold and the close evaluating attention of the
team-mates, the fellows were able to overcome all the obstacles and prove they
are the best, worthy of calling themselves airborne troops and followers of
Margelov. One of the servicemen was not afraid of the water obstacle even
though he could not swim. When the he failed to walk across the water and began
to sank beneath, the paratroopers’ spirit worked – never to leave people
behind. Though the servicemen reached the finish line at least out of breath,
but together, supporting each other. A fragile girl-soldier Natalia Zakharova
successfully passed the entire fit test together with the ‘knights.’ For
courage and dedication, Alexander Zakharchenko handed over award weapons to the
representative of the best half of the Republic who is so far the only girl
having the right to wear a blue beret. The Head of state awarded knives to the
servicemen, who showed themselves best in hand-to-hand combat.
Assessing
all the results of the final exercise and other tests, Airborne officers will
decide who has deserved this time the right to wear a blue beret. The ‘knights’
will be awarded in their location.
Official
translation by DONi News Agency
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DPR Head Alexander Zakharchenko arrived.
Qualification tests by the Donetsk spetsnaz: 26
officers, including a girl, pass them.
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Qualification tests by the Donetsk spetsnaz: 26
officers, including a girl, pass them.
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DPR Head speaks to the female Spetsnaz fighter.
Qualification tests by the Donetsk spetsnaz: 26
officers, including a girl, pass them.
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Instructors brief the DPR Head and his guards
Qualification tests by the Donetsk spetsnaz: 26
officers, including a girl, pass them.
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