A special report 03/03/2002 (2002)

"Desant".

In February 1942, the most massive paratroop landing in the history was dropped near Vyazma. 64 aircraft during the week delivered more than 12,000 paratroopers to the rear of the fascists.

Due to the lack of normal radio stations and bad weather conditions, the paratroopers scattered for many tens of kilometers, nevertheless, directly from the sky they entered into battle and within five months fought in the rear of the enemy.

Pulling back five selected divisions, the paratroopers created the conditions for a successful counter-offensive by the Red Army, Moscow was saved.

But the price of victory was high: only 2,000 out of 12 could get through to their own.

On the days of the 60th anniversary of the Vyazma operation, the airborne troops of the Russian Federation are conducting large-scale exercises, during which the landing will be dropped precisely to the place where it happened in February 1942.

Filming took place at the location of the 119th Airborne Regiment near Naro-Fominsk, veterans of the Vyazma airborne operation took part in the reportage, the main VDV priest Father Mikhail, Airborne Intelligence Battalion Commander Yuri Kulik, Colonel Nikolai Bragin, Colonel-General Georgy Shpak, Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov.