The 28th separate disciplinary battalion in Mulino is one of the two remaining disciplinary battalions in Russia. The second is near Chita. But even in those days when there were more disbats in the country, Mulinskiy was considered one of the most prosperous, if in general the words "prosperity" and "disbat" can be put side by side. The few hours I spent inside this respectable establishment, I think, were extremely rewarding. A source of knowledge of life of rare power.
The disciplinary battalion is not a prison, but a military unit. There are two types of personnel serving in military unit 12801 - permanent and variable. Military personnel of variable composition are those who are located within the protected perimeter. They get inside for different periods of time, from three months to two years. At the moment, the unit has 170 "guests" out of 800 possible.
Knowledgeable people explained that it is not an easy task to call in a disciplinary battalion. In a sense, there are few "accidentally stumbled", more of those who have managed to acquire a fairly significant personal "glory" by their labors. The army is not a chamber of weights and measures and not a right-flank scout detachment, it is a huge organization, inside which a lot of the strangest violations and deviations constantly occur. And you have to strain a little to be personally noticed against the general background. Some did not spare their efforts.
There are many in the disbat who allowed themselves the so-called. hazing. Otherwise, this kind of relationship is called "hazing" or "godkovshchina". One of the most common types of bullying is beating of colleagues. In addition to “executors”, the percentage of “Sochi residents” is also high (SOCH - unauthorized abandonment of a unit) or, as they are also called, “skiers”. Generally speaking, there are not so many articles under which soldiers of variable composition are convicted.
For example, article 335 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Violation of the statutory rules of relations between servicemen in the absence of subordination relations between them. Violation of the statutory rules of relations between servicemen in the absence of relations of subordination between them, associated with humiliation of honor and dignity or humiliation of the victim or associated with violence, is punishable by detention in a disciplinary military unit for a term of up to two years or imprisonment for a term of up to three years. And subparagraphs to the article.
Or article 337. Unauthorized abandonment of a military unit or place of service. Unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service, as well as failure to appear on time without good reason for service upon dismissal from a unit, upon appointment, transfer, from a business trip, vacation or a medical institution lasting more than two days, but not more than ten days, committed by a serviceman undergoing military conscription service - shall be punishable by arrest for a term of up to six months or by keeping in a disciplinary military unit for a term of up to one year. And again, a bunch of subparagraphs.
There are former thieves, brawlers, robbers, unprincipled hooligans and simply amazing caliber fools in the disbat (for those interested - an almost hour-long film with real stories). But there are no rapists, murderers and other criminals. Institutions of a different kind are intended for them.
Here, by the way, a very big question arises - where, in fact, is better: in a disbat or in a prison? Personally, I do not know the correct answer, but I suspect that disbat is more useful for the majority of those who have stopped by than prison. But these are my fantasies, of course, I don’t know how it really is. But I know that there are no records of a criminal record in the passport of a serviceman who spent time in a disbat. The military commissar, of course, will not find it difficult to understand what lies behind the lines about the stay in military unit 12801, but for the rest, for those who are not involved, the person's reputation is untainted. This, there is an opinion, in a number of circumstances can be dear for a young man.
"Nothing makes a warrior's life easier than discipline …"
In companies - only privates. Past merits, titles and distinctions are not counted. The branch and specialization also do not play a role. A sailor, a motorized rifleman, a border guard or a "Vovan" - all are equally warmly welcomed into the bosom of the disciplinary battalion. They cut their heads off and change into new uniforms. The times when the Red Army uniform of the 1943 model was worn in the disbat are over. The pilot with stars, wide trousers and gymnasts with a stand-up collar are no longer in the warehouses.
The servicemen are dressed in the usual "camouflage". On top of the form with white paint through a stencil, the numbers of the mouth and the inscription CONVOY are applied all over the back. This is not to confuse the constant and variable compositions with each other. Another visible difference between the compositions is overcoats instead of pea coats. Although, as you can see in the pictures, there are jackets too. The shoes are pretty uniform - boots. In frosts - felt boots. By the way, the boots of the condemned soldiers encountered in the unit shone downright. The fighters' buckles, on the other hand, are faded, field buckles. Some are painted green for some reason.
Inside the protected perimeter there are bars on the windows, buffer gates made of metal mesh and other restrictions. The sleeping quarters in the barracks are separated by a lockable lattice metal door. If at night the fighter wants to go to the toilet - you need to check in a special list and proceed to the place of departure of natural needs strictly in splendid isolation. Already together, for example, at night it is impossible to rush to the toilet.
While we were photographing the orderly, the squad sleeping in the barracks received the command "Rise!" The resting people instantly flew over the bunks and in a clear short formation walked into the washing room.
There is no national question in part, all sorts of "fellowship" and other groupings are not encouraged. But the so-called. “Caucasians” are present. Approximately one in four of the 170 current “convicts” are from the Caucasus. Among them there are citizens who mistakenly consider themselves stubborn and unyielding citizens. If a fiery fighter for his men's rights who has stopped by the disbat sees the list of offered pleasures not complete enough - there is a healing guardhouse. The stay there is up to 30 days. A court decision is not required, the will of the commander is enough.
If even thirty days on the “lip” seemed like a joke, the procedure can be repeated. Until now, they say, it helped everyone. At the exit, the craving for work on oneself and creative physical labor in the name of society among the convicted and fined warrior sharply increases. But the "diet food" in the form of bread and water in the guardhouse was canceled. They feed the local inmates and just the fighters of the disbat in the same way.
Outside the "variable" warriors are guarded by other warriors - from the permanent composition. In addition to the shooters, ferocious service dogs and special equipment are on guard. The object is secure, the sentries move in "armor", helmets and with bayonets attached and, in which case, have the right to open fire to kill. They know how to shoot, the command of the unit conducts combat firing almost every Friday, since the polygon in Mulino is gigantic, there is enough space for both the guard shooter and the self-propelled guns.
A friend and I work together on a diesel engine …
The labor front for servicemen of variable composition is all around. Starting from the barracks, shining with almost sterile cleanliness, absolutely square snowdrifts around the parade ground, and ending with the painstaking production of large-scale models of the part for the local museum.
Who does not know how to make models of parts, ships and planes - makes concrete blocks and other reinforced concrete structures, loads, digs, carries, sews - but you never know what a soldier can do if he is skillfully ordered! There is enough work for everyone, but not everyone is trusted by responsible production sites. First you have to prove yourself. They say it is beneficial to the fined serviceman.
In some cases, convicted soldiers may be subject to parole (parole). Such happiness must be earned. This includes knowledge of military regulations, distinctions in drill, impeccable discipline and success on the labor front. Usually, being in the disbat is not counted in the service life and the soldier returns to his unit (or to the one where he is sent after release) to complete the required service. But it is not uncommon for a fighter from a disbat to go straight home.
In the meantime, there is no talk about the house, the closest relatives can come to visit the convicted soldiers. Allowed short-term several-hour visits (if impossible - telephone conversations) and four visits lasting three days per year. There is a special hotel for such cases. During his stay with his parents, of course, the soldier is exempt from work and classes.
You can send a parcel to the Disbat. The list of prohibited items is brought to the attention of each soldier, everything else is possible. The parcel is delivered to the unit by the postman, according to the inventory, the parcel is loaded into the closet, after which the owner is free to dispose of the benefits received at his own discretion. The standard way is to get a part of the package before the next meal and share it with your friends in the dining room. Separately, I clarified the issue of cigarettes: if cigarettes are not sent to the disbat, the fighter does not smoke. Because there is nothing to buy, he has no money and a mobile phone. Not allowed.
Both constant and variable formulations are fed the same. The soldiers' canteen greeted our group with the usual smell of such institutions and rows of tables with benches. The dishes, of course, not made of Bohemian glass, but clean and neatly arranged. A kitchen with stainless steel boilers, a washbasin with towels and soap, a daily updated menu at the stand at the entrance - everything is like in other military units where I happened to be.
The citizen in the picture, possessing the characteristics of a person of high culture - twower himself
After the "excursion" around the part, the audience was given the opportunity to listen to short stories of four disbat fighters. The most harmless of them is "self-propelled gun". He ran away from the unit home, ran for three days, now he will spend nine months behind the fence in Mulino. Next to him is a guy with a Georgian surname and restless eyes. He beat up the officer who was filming him with a video camera, and broke this video camera. Why? What for? Unclear. 10 months to think it over.
The best of all was the former sergeant, who had served for 11 months, became embarrassed and, on this basis, expressed himself in grievous bodily harm. He arrived in Mulino for 2 years. He looked at everyone as an eagle, apparently a tough nut to crack. The eyes of the others were dark and scary. Young boys aroused sympathy, which is already there. Among them were amazing characters. Now all together are waiting for the most exciting activities to correct themselves.
The officers accompanying us clearly explained: trimming and tirelessly squaring the snowdrifts, constant walking in formation, the difficult casting of concrete blocks in the industrial zone and the many months of cramming the same, hundred times already boring regulations - the classes, of course, are stupid. Everyone understands this, especially civilians. Sensible activities are extortion, theft, escapes, beatings, hijacking of vehicles, unauthorized absences from mother and arrivals on regular vacations with exhaustion of oneself by drunkenness for many days in half with indiscriminate robbery of stupid citizens. It’s quite another matter!
From craving for such hobbies in dysbat, they are relieved with the help of occupational therapy. While we were standing on the parade ground, several groups of fighters with crowbars, shovels and brooms paraded in different directions, briskly striking a step on the frozen asphalt. Disbat fighters either march on the parade ground (most often in the ranks, but sometimes they do it individually) or run. Combat training and physical education are closely intertwined and fill almost all the leisure of a soldier. And in general, the impression was that a soldier of variable composition in a disbat seeks either to stand still or immediately run at a run.
In the so-called. "Free time" members of the disciplinary battalion can convert to faith. On the territory of the disbat, the hands of the convicts erected a small, very neat Orthodox church. There is a prayer room for Muslims. In rare moments of leisure, believing soldiers have the opportunity to reflect on their immortal souls. The places of worship in the military unit are not empty.
Do they flee from the disbat? They are running. But rarely and unsuccessfully. One of the cases of escape was recorded in 2008. The escape ended sadly: after warning shots into the air, the guards opened aimed fire at the fugitive, shot him in both legs, and the guard dogs also bit the wounded man. But here it is not worth looking for the guilty, all the participants in the events knew for certain what they were doing and what should be expected. Mulino is not Hollywood at all, many kilometers of heated ventilation manholes and baskets of laundry to ensure a comfortable escape cannot be found.
There were also particularly resourceful fighters in the history of the disbat: one decided to run away through the sheets through the window directly from the hotel, where he was with his parents, and the other bravely ate nails and other metal objects. I really wanted to rest in the hospital. The nails were removed from the entertainer and transferred to the museum. There are also other items confiscated from (from) convicts - syringes, homemade playing cards, primitive sharpeners, knives and other useful little things.
No, I will emphasize once again the red ones, ANY horrors in the location of the unit could not be discerned, except for those that were demonstrated at every step: cleanliness, monotony, full employment. No kidding - 8 hours of drill and physical training, 8 hours of studying the regulations, 8 hours of sleep, movement strictly within the perimeter by jogging or marching, checking, building, strict adherence to the daily routine, not everyone can withstand the daily drill. Regulations, for example, are studied to the point of complete amazement and falling into a military trance, only on this basis can the mind be moved! There is no doubt about it - a tough place. You can see everything at once from the faces of the military personnel of variable composition. It’s not worth it, they say, to get here, but it’s only a little late in the day.
I don’t know if the skills and abilities acquired in the disciplinary battalion will be useful to the soldiers in later life, but from a conversation with a regular soldier it became clear: knowledge of the regulations still makes life easier on either side of the barbed wire. It looks like the soldier knows what he's talking about.