Pure enthusiasm of small group of people reborn the force of underwater combat swimmers. Thanks to the people, who truly love their unique work and homeland, the Ukraine is able to repel any aggressor on the ground, in the air, or deep under in the water. Few words from the initiator and chief instructor of The “School of Military Divers. Stage II” Project Kostyantyn Myrhorodskiy.
Carefully, slowly, holding a metal detector diver slowly moves forward. Even 10 meters deep under the water mean only solid darkness around. Some people say, that 10 meters depth in a river feels like 30 at sea. Underwater, in a complete darkness, brain works in a different way. It is clean like a sheet of paper, filled only with a combat mission. No thoughts, except complete concentration. And it gives results.
Carefully dig the mud and sand with both hands. Breathe quietly. With the first gentle touch of hand he recognizes a mortar shell. Detonator is in a place, so the death is still inside of this piece of metal. It would be easy to destroy it right here. However, severe battles took place in this area, and whole bottom is covered with ammunition. In case of explosion of this mine, others can go deeper into the soil, and cause much more disaster later. Also, there is a command to examine every corner of the area. There was received the message, that enemy with its curators from Russian Main Intelligence Directorate could have left special sealed containers with weapons for saboteurs.
This is the example of how divers and engineers, who are a part of units at the ATO area, work. They look for unexploded shells, establish special underwater mines, explore the river crossings, perform engineering exploration, provide crossings for equipment. All this lies on shoulders of military divers. There are more than enough water hazards at the ATO area. Among them is the Azov Sea, which should be protected from possible assault, Kalmius and reservoirs.
From time to time interesting tasks happen. For example, a drone drowned during studies, crossing Dnipro. It cost a lot of money, so must be found. Here you have a problem to find it on a bottom, without a sonar. Mission accomplished. There were times, when people been saved. A car drowned crossing the river. The divers saved the people.
Where are such specialists trained? Divers-sappers are lucky, because they have their own training center. It is a diving proving ground at The Sapper Center at Kamianets-Podilskyi. It is one of a kind military diving training center in Ukraine. It was almost ruined by various “reformers” in 2014, and restored again with the effort of enthusiastic instructors. Divers instructors repaired classrooms on their own. They rebuilt diving posts on the Dniester, with depth up to 40 meters. Right now they restore the training field of anti-amphibious barriers.
The uniqueness of a unit is clear. Here are trained specialists of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, combat swimmers of the National Guard, divers-sappers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and even navy specialists. Most instructors have huge practical experience, so long outgrown the scope of purely engineering units tasks. That is why it is a powerful training center now. Some experts regularly travel to ATO as a part of underwater demining units, which improves their practical combat experience.
I am sincerely proud to contribute and help this unit. Six sets of diving equipment, purchased by the volunteer Sergiy Prytula, were transferred to the unit. The team of The “School of Military Divers. Stage II” Project constantly coordinate their efforts with experts at Kamianets-Podilskyi. Right now we are getting ready, to conduct a pilot training course of aquatlon (a military underwater combat sport discipline) at the diving center this year. So we will continue to work hard, and help Ukrainian military to bring the victory.
Cost of divers training we can only cover at the expense of donations. Several hryvnia of your contribution to The “School of Military Divers. Stage II” Project will be very useful. Get involved and join the project. Be the part of the victory.
