Units of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Troops of RF Armed Forces in Handling Emergency Situations at Chemically Hazardous Sites

The capability to protect people in emergency situations deriving from both natural & manmade disasters is prerequisite to consolidating the national sovereignty of the Russian Federation. This paper examines the readiness of special defense units of the RF Armed Forces to handle emergency situations involving toxic chemicals. Such units primary tasks include chemical detection & control in the emergency zone; the isolation of sources of chemical contamination; the neutralization of contaminated areas; the collection of contaminated materials & their transport to disposal centers; the treatment of the units weapons & military equipment; & the decontamination of personnel. The timeliness & appropriateness of the intervention is most important in determining its success, but the exercise of care & caution in executing each task is also important. S. Stanton