Direct From Syria: Watch How Sappers, Dogs, Robots Bring the Country Back To Normal Life

Back to Syria. This Monday, an explosion of a controlled fire mine in a residential area of Deir ez-Zor injured 4 journalists of NTV and Zvezda channels as well as 5 servicemen from Russian International Mine Action Center.

Back to Syria. This Monday, an explosion of a controlled fire mine in a residential area of Deir ez-Zor injured 4 journalists of NTV and Zvezda channels as well as 5 servicemen from Russian International Mine Action Center. The victims were quickly transported to the Khmeimim Air Base and later on — to Moscow. Now they are being treated in Vishnevsky Military Hospital. They'll live... After a long rehabilitation.

Last Friday a whole delegation visited the injured journalists in hospital — fellow journalists, 2 generals from the Defense Ministry, war veterans students from Suvorov Military College, and Yunarmiya cadets. Our other camera crew is continuing to work in Syria. Reporting, Grigory Vdovin.

 

At the end of the 3-year siege of Deir ez-Zor the parties switched sides. When the city was deblocked and the encirclement broken the government forces encircled the terrorists and then freed the entire city. This is what the part, formerly occupied by terrorists, looks like. From here they shelled the besieged garrison.

Only several days ago the terrorists were driven from these districts.

Here's the HQ of the terrorists. The building used to be a school. The rooms are messy, with mattresses and a kettle lying on the floor.

In one block from here is the city hospital of Deir ez-Zor. The terrorists organized their own infirmary in its basement. The place clearly hasn't been abandoned for too long. As the locals tell us, primarily medicine, but also food and even water belonged exclusively to the terrorists.

“They were shelling our district every day. We had no food or water, we couldn't even satisfy our thirst”, say local residents.

The local kids are so used to explosions and artillery volleys, they don't even flinch. The lively trade returns to the streets — a natural thing in the East.

Basel Hamad, shopkeeper: "Look, I managed to open my shop, start feeding my family establish supplies — things are looking up for me".

After the city was liberated, EOD specialists from Russian Mine Action Center continued their work. A plain enclosure, two big off-roaders with an increased carrying capacity reinforced by steel plates half-an-inch thick.

These were the suicide vehicles. The plates are so heavy that the plank that holds them together practically squeezed the roof. The design excludes having doors, just the windows with protective glass cover. The engine, driver's seat, the wheels — all armored. This car could have carried up to a ton of explosives.

While we were filming this footage on EOD specialists, the terrorists remotely activated a bomb planted long ago. Here's the first footage after the explosion that thundered right under our feet. 2 journalists from NTV and 2 from Zvezda, as well as several servicemen were injured. They were transported to Khmeimim by a helicopter, from there — to Moscow by plane. Nothing threatens their lives now, and EOD specialists continued working in Deir ez-Zor.

Even the most modern mine detectors can't compete with dogs' keen sense of smell. Raphael Gilayev, dog handler, sapper: "Dogs have no glitches. They always work perfectly, you just need to let them rest and drink, when they need it. It's hot here, you know".

The sappers claim the territory is heavily "littered". The explosive that can't be extracted is destroyed on-site.

And here's Palmyra. The Russian EOD specialists were here twice. Not only did the terrorists mine everything they could, they blew up the rest. We all remember "Praying for Palmyra" concert. The stage is gone now. Here's the amphitheater where on May 6 2016 the Russian orchestra performed a concert. Here's the stage where the renowned maitre Gergiev conducted the concert. The event was broadcasted by VGTRK.

From the long list of losses, the most significant one is the arch under the nickname "fifth grade history book" as well as the giant majestic Temple of Baal, that was almost 2000 years old. This is what it looked like recently. This is what remains now.

The head of the museum, the son of the legendary Dr. Asaad — the martyr-scientist beheaded by the terrorists — says his museum awaits the promised help of the world community. Right now, no-one but the Russians agreed to help.

Mohamed Al-Asaad, head of the National Museum of Palmyra: "I want to thank Russian people and military. The Russian EOD specialists cleared the place. Both times they did it so carefully, that nothing was damaged".

The plate remains, but audio-guides won't return here soon. There's a hole in the roof and the exhibits are either shattered, stolen or moved to Damascus. A lot were saved, but not all of them. The ancient Palmyra that witnessed the birth, prime and demise of several civilizations will surely make it through this one as well.

Syria is slowly recuperating.

Grigory Vdovin, Andrey Stiforov, Oleg Solovyev. Vesti News of the Week, Deir ez-Zor, Palmyra, Syria.