The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BTWC) does not have a legally binding verification regime. An attempt by the Ad Hoc Group of Experts, created by the UN Committee on Disarmament, to strengthen the BTWC by developing a legally binding document – the Protocol, was blocked by the United States in July 2001. The purpose of this work is to study the history, main provisions, significance and reasons for not signing the Protocol to the BTWC. The attention is paid to the events in biological weapons control, which have led a number of countries to the understanding of the necessity to develop the Protocol. The background of the US actions to block this document is the subject of special consideration. During the Second Review Conference on the Implementation of the Convention (8–25 September 1986, Geneva) the USSR, the German Democratic Republic and the Hungarian People's Republic proposed to develop and adopt the Protocol as an addition to the BTWC. This document was supposed to establish general provisions, definitions of terms, lists of agents and toxins, lists of equipment that was present or used at production facilities, threshold quantities of biological agents designed to assess means and methods of protection. The proposed verification mechanism was based on three «pillars»: initial declarations with the basic information about the capabilities of each State Party; inspections to assess the reliability of the declarations; investigations to verify and confirm or not confirm the alleged non-compliance with the Convention. The verification regime was to be under the control of an international organization  – the Organization for the Prohibition of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons. However, the US military and pharmaceutical companies opposed the idea of international inspections. The then US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, John Robert Bolton II, played a special role in blocking the Protocol. During the Fifth Review Conference in December 2001, he demanded the termination of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts mandate for negotiations under the pretext that any international agreement would constrain US actions. The current situation with biological weapons control should not be left to chance. Measures to strengthen the BTWC should be developed, taking into account the new fundamental changes in dual-use biotechnology. It should be borne in mind, that the Protocol, developed in the 1990s, is outdated nowadays.

Еnzymes are able to effectively interact with various organophosphorus compounds (OPC), entering into (bio)chemical reactions with them. Changes in the initial activity of enzymes as a result of their inhibition by OPC, the formation of OPC degradation products under the action of hydrolytic enzymes, etc. can be determined using different physical and chemical methods and used in bioanalytic systems to determine the concentrations of OPC. The purpose of the review is to analyze the main scientific results achieved over the past 10 years in the development of analytical systems based on enzymes intended for the determination of OPC. It is shown in the article, that the requirements for the sensitivity of biosensors are based on the norms of the content of the analyzed substances detected in/at the objects of mandatory control. The cholinesterases compose a basis for the development of the largest number of ultra-sensitive biosensors, although other enzymes can be successfully used as a biosensitive element. The most technologically advanced solution that is close to the practical implementation seems to be bioanalytical systems using immobilized enzymes. Improving the detection limits of the OPC can be achieved by using nanoobjects together with modern methods of signal transducers, for example, with nanomechanical detectors and signal converters. This combination of technical solutions ensures the sensitivity of the OPC analysis up to pg/l. At present, «reagentless» systems have received significant development, which have become the basis for the production of a large number of commercially available strips for the express determination of OPC. Modern demands stimulate the rapid development of portable and, especially, wearable biosensors that can be attached to various surfaces, including a clothing. The progress in the development of affine amino acid sequences, in the future, will allow the creation of enzyme biosensors on any surface.

The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from a natural reservoir into the human population subsequently caused the COVID-19 pandemic, that had a huge impact on all spheres of human activity dramatically increased interest in this group of viruses. Given that such an introduction of the coronavirus was already the third in a row in 21 century (after outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV viruses), there are quite good reasons to fear the appearance of new diseases, the etiological agents of which will be representatives of the Coronaviridae family in the future. The purpose of this review is to assess the potential risk of coronaviruses of animals as possible human pathogens. When preparing the review, the following data were used: data published in leading foreign journals as well as in Internet sources that address some aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following main aspects of this problem are considered: a spontaneous formation during the evolution of animal coronaviruses, highly pathogenic to humans; a possibility of transmission of human coronavirus to animals, its genetic interaction with the coronavirus, the owner of which is this animal, the acquisition of viral progeny, a set of new properties and reverse transmission from animal to man a pathogen that may have increased pathogenicity. Animal coronaviruses are considered by belonging to a certain taxonomic group of their natural hosts. The main focus is on bat coronaviruses (as a reservoir of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses), as well as avian coronaviruses, due to the potential ability of these animals to become vectors of spread of new emergent diseases and the coronaviruses of carnivores, due to the established during the COVID-19 pandemic fact of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from man to mink and from mink to man. Studying the features of molecular evolution it will help you better understand the mechanisms of occurrence and adaptation to humans pathogens of emergent viral diseases.

The special mobile diagnostic group (MDG) is formed in the Federal State Budgetary Establishment «33 Central Scientific Research Test Institute» of the Ministry of Defenсe of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the institute) to perform tasks related to the radiation and chemical (RCh) control of different objects, to ensure RCh safety and security of mass events, as well as to perform special tasks of RCh examination of samples of all kinds. The purpose of the work is to consider the design, capabilities and organization of the mobile complex of chemical control (MCCC), which is the basis of the technical equipment of the MDG. The complex is created on the basis of Ford-Transit off-road vehicle with the equipment for the MDG and a container installed on a two-axle platform, where the equipment for the MDG is located. The complex is equipped with modern analytical equipment, means of communications, navigation, information processing and automatic meteorological observation, with the life support kit, autonomous power and water supply systems, exhaust ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems. The technical characteristics of the MCCC are as follows: crew – 8 people; preparation time – no more than 60 minutes; time for the preliminary identification of substances detected by the mobile group (from the moment of arrival) – no more than 60 minutes; the lower limit of detection of toxic chemicals in environmental objects – at the maximum concentration limit; time of confirming identification of detected toxic chemicals (from the moment of delivery of samples) – no more than 180 minutes; cruising range – up to 700 km. The methodological apparatus is also developed, that ensures the functioning of the MCCC crew during the performance of wide range of tasks of the MDG. Subsequently, this methodological apparatus has been repeatedly expanded and refined based on the results of the complex's participation in ensuring the RCh security of various mass events. The algorithm of carrying out special chemical control by technical means of the MCCC complex is presented in the article. The complex is capable of detecting both low-hazard and emergency concentrations of practically all known toxic chemicals in various samples, and identifying these substances in environmental objects.

Combat training is the main content of the daily activities of commanders (chiefs), command and control bodies (headquarters) and troops. The purpose of this work is to summarize the experience of training of NBC reconnaissance specialists, obtained during the training of NBC reconnaissance specialists in the period from December 2018 to March 2020 on the basis of military units of the Shikhany garrison. The main forms of this training were lectures, practical and control exercises in military-political, special, fire, technical, military-medical training, in NBC protection, driving, military topography and communications training. The personnel received practical skills in identifying hazardous chemicals, explosives and toxic chemicals simulators with chemical reconnaissance and chemical control devices.

The lecture is intended for training specialists in higher educational establishments according to the Federal state standard «Robotics for military and special purposes» and also for training operators of robotic complexes (facilities) for military purposes in training centers and military units. The lecture addresses two study questions: 1) the history of the development and employment of robotics technology in elimination of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident; 2) function, structure, and performance characteristics of robotic complexes (facilities) for military purposes of NBC Defence Corps. Conclusion: the material presented in the lecture will broaden the horizons and knowledge of learners on the development and use of robotics in the elimination of the consequences of accidents, as well as gain knowledge of the robotic complexes (facilities) currently being supplied to the NBC Defence Corps.