The fulfillment of international obligations of the Russian Federation under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction required the development and the creation of safe innovative industrial technologies and facilities for the destruction of chemical weapons. The purpose of this work is to give brief characteristics of the technologies for the destruction of chemical weapons developed and commercially implemented at various facilities. The destruction of chemical weapons was carried out at seven facilities specially designed and built for this purpose. These facilities were located in six regions of the country. The choice of technologies for the destruction (utilization) of chemical weapons was carried out on a competitive basis in the period from 1992 to 1995. The priority was given to the so-called two-stage technology. At the first stage, the toxic chemicals were extracted from the munitions or the containers and detoxified chemically in «soft» controlled conditions. Then the empty munitions were degassed. At the second stage, thermal neutralization or bituminization of the reaction masses was carried out with their subsequent burial. The two-stage technology for the destruction of mustard and mustard-lewisite mixtures was based on the interaction of toxic chemicals with an 80 ± 5% aqueous solution of monoethanolamine, which was supplied into the reactor at a temperature of 60–80 °C in the ratio toxic chemical: degassing formulation - 1:1.2 according to mass. The detoxification process was considered completed if the content of toxic chemicals in the reaction mass did not exceed 3,2×10^-3%. To destroy lewisite, a «short scheme» in a jet-type reactor was implemented. The mixing of the initial reagents, lewisite and 20% alkali solution, was carried out using a nozzle of a special design, where lewisite was swirled with a special device (swirler) and supplied into the reactor. The first stage of the destruction of V-gases was carried out in munitions cases. The munitions were considered as chemical reactors. The process of detoxification of V-gases was considered completed when the residual content of toxic chemicals was at the level of 5×10^-4%, and the reaction mass was delivered for thermal neutralization (second stage). In total, 39966,588 tons of toxic chemicals were destroyed. The whole number of destroyed containers with agents and chemical munitions amounted to 4,158,456 units. On September 27, 2017, the last chemical weapon was destroyed at the Kizner chemical weapons destruction facility, thus completing the process of complete destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles in the Russian Federation.

Earlier we have developed the principle of constructing modular materials with desired properties. The aim of this work is to study the possibility of imparting bactericidal protective properties to modular materials (tissues). The experimental studies have demonstrated the possibility of combining modules containing metal carboxylates, metal nanoparticles, and enzyme nanocomplexes for multiple functionalization of the same fibrous material and/or fiber. Fibrous materials, as a result of successive application of modular formulations containing nanosized metals and enzyme nanocomplexes, to their surface acquired biocidal and antichemical protective properties. It has been established that the spray method of applying modules to the surface of the studied materials is more universal, since aerosol application makes it possible to apply liquid to any wetted material with a uniform surface layer. The bactericidal properties depended on the chosen method of fibrous material functionalization. The obtained modular fibrous materials also showed good biocatalytic characteristics with respect to various organophosphorus compounds and mycotoxins. The duration of the effect of self-disinfection and self-degassing of fibrous materials treated with modular formulations containing nanosized metals and enzyme nanocomplexes is at least 230 days. The developed materials and the method of their production can be used both in obtaining completely new fabrics for personal protective equipment and in developing new organizational, technical and methodological approaches to ensuring personal protection of personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Plant toxins – ricin and abrin, obtained in a purified form from the beans of the castor bean and Abrus precatorius respectively, are considered by Western experts as potential damaging agents of a biological nature. The purpose of this work is to consider the danger of using ricin and abrin as agents of biological terrorism, as well as to assess the existing approaches and means for identifying these toxins, treating the intoxication caused by them, as well as the level of development of vaccine preparations. Both toxins have a similar molecular structure and mechanism of action. They consist of two subunits – A and B, resistant to high temperatures and extreme pH values. The mechanism of their damaging action is based on irreversible inhibition of the process of protein synthesis. The LD₅₀ of ricin for humans, according to various sources, is 3 µg/kg for inhalation and intravenous intake, 22–25 µg/kg for enteral intake, and about 500 µg/kg for subcutaneous intake. Abrin is more toxic than ricin, with an LD₅₀ for humans ranging from 0.1 µg/kg to 1 µg/kg depending on the route of entry. In case of enteral poisoning with ricin and abrin, the victims develop symptoms of gastroenteritis within a few hours: nausea, vomiting and pain in the abdominal cavity and chest, diarrhea. Bleeding from various parts of the gastrointestinal tract may be present. In future, general intoxication symptoms (headache, weakness, fever) and symptoms of multiple organ damage (acute renal failure and acute liver failure) develop. In the terminal stage, symptoms of vascular shock and vascular collapse are expressed. Death usually occurs on the third day or later. Cases of the use of ricin and abrin for criminal and terrorist purposes are described in the article. The main approaches and modern means of indication, means of treating ricin and abrine intoxication, as well as the state of development of vaccine preparations are shown. The given data show that the danger of these toxins as damaging agents is underestimated in Russia. It is necessary to develop diagnostic test systems that allow early detection of intoxication with plant toxins in the affected and the toxins themselves on environmental objects, as well as specific means for the treatment and prevention of acute poisoning with ricin and abrin.

Currently, dozens of biological laboratories controlled by the US Department of Defense are deployed along the perimeter of the Russian Federation. They are operating in a closed regime and completely excluded from the jurisdiction of the states on whose territory they are located. The purpose of this work is to summarize the available information on the activities of these biolabs, controlled by the US Department of Defense in the Caucasus region. The deployment of these biolabs under the US control in the Caucasus region is due to its favorable geographical position – in the north it borders the Russian Federation, and in the south – Iran. In addition, people of various ethnic groups (about 50) live compactly in the Caucasus region in various climatic conditions and in diverse areas. These circumstances make it possible to develop bioagents of various ethnic orientations. All these biolabs are «dual-use» facilities that are part of the US-controlled biosecurity system. They allow the US Department of Defense to solve the following tasks: to create and test a new generation of biological weapons; to collect information on endemic biopathogens, ways of distribution and means of combating them in the Russian Federation; to control the biological situation on the territory of the Russian Federation; to carry out military biological research without fear of protests from the American public; to create dangerous pathogens and genetic weapons; to conduct tests of biological agents on humans, tracking their virulence, delivery routes, probable mortality of the population and livestock; to circumvent international agreements and conventions on the control of bioweapons; to carry out biosabotage aimed at destroying the personnel of the Armed Forces and the population of Russia, causing damage to the economy of our country by destroying livestock, infecting grain crops and discrediting Russian agricultural products on world markets. These US-controlled biolabs deployed along the perimeter of the Russian Federation threaten the national security of Russia and the countries in which they are located. Serious diplomatic efforts are needed to curtail their activities in the Caucasus region.

Carrying out special treatment is one of the main measures to maintain the combat capability of troops in conditions of chemical and biological contamination or radiation contamination of the area. The purpose of the work was to assess the current state of the means of special processing of military equipment and to identify possible ways to improve their effectiveness. The existing means of special processing of military equipment basically meet the requirements, however, in modern conditions they have a number of shortcomings and need to be improved. Thus, aqueous solutions of degassing and disinfecting substances and organic formulations of special treatment are used with a relatively high consumption rate of up to 4,5 l/m² and 0,6 l/m² , respectively, while the treatment time for 1 m² can be 1 minute, which is related as with the physicochemical properties of the solutions and formulations used, as well as with the features of the methods of their application. In addition, technical means of special processing are not intended for processing the internal volumes of military equipment, and preparatory measures require a set of tools. In the course of the analysis, it was found that a decrease in the consumption rate and an increase in the rate of special circulation can be achieved as a result of the use of foam concentrates that give a prolonging effect to aqueous solutions of chemically active substances. Increasing the automation and productivity of special processing of military equipment up to 30–40 units/h can be achieved as a result of the development of an in-line processing method. This method consists in applying degassing formulations to the treated surface in the form of an aerosoldroplet flow using centrifugal nozzles located on a semi-arched movable structure. At the same time, the increase in productivity is primarily achieved as a result of an increase in the simultaneously processed area of the object. Reducing the time for preliminary preparation of objects and increasing the completeness of measures for the special processing of military equipment can be achieved as a result of the development of a multi-stage method of degassing, disinfection and decontamination. The method consists in the successive application of high-pressure water jets and foam-forming or solvent formulations with a given treatment exposure time. In some cases, along with the treatment of external surfaces, it becomes necessary to carry out degassing and disinfection of the internal habitable compartments of military equipment. One of the possible directions for solving this problem is a qualitative expansion of the capabilities of technical means of special treatment as a result of the development of a method for using ultra-small volumes of special treatment formulations in the form of a highly dispersed aerosol. It is advisable to spray solutions of chemically active substances by hydraulic or pneumohydraulic methods, while maintaining the main indicators of the quality of the formulations. The use of the presented means and methods of special treatment will improve the efficiency of ongoing measures for degassing, disinfection and decontamination as a result of increasing productivity, reducing the consumption rate of solutions and formulations of special treatment, increasing process automation and reducing labor intensity.

The lecture is intended to prepare students studying under an additional professional advanced training program for military specialists in radiation safety for all branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as to train officials responsible for organizing and ensuring radiation safety in military units and organizations of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. 
The lecture addresses three educational questions: 
1. Accounting and control of radiation sources in the system of state accounting and control of radioactive substances and radioactive waste. 
2. General requirements for the operation of radiation sources. 
3. Operation of sealed radionuclide sources as part of the technical means of the RCB for intelligence and control.

Завьялова Наталья Васильевна – доктор биологических наук, профессор, действительный член Российской Академии Военных Наук. За организацию и проведение специальных научно-исследовательских работ в 1991 г. награждена орденом «Почета», медалями Министерства обороны «За трудовую доблесть», «200 лет Министерству обороны», Памятным знаком Федерального Управления по хранению и уничтожению химического оружия «Генерал-полковник Пикалов», почетным знаком Министерства здравоохранения «Отличник здравоохранения», почетным знаком «Изобретатель, Рационализатор».