Smolensk Special Purpose Detachment "Mercury" celebrated its 95th anniversary
The history of Military Unit 7459 goes back to 1922, when in Smolensk the Provincial (regional) Convoy Command (later - the 136th Separate convoy battalion) was created, by the order of the Chief of the Headquarters of the State Political Administration troops.
At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the battalion was reorganized into the 252nd Regiment of the 14th Division of the NKVD Convoy Troops, the main tasks of which were guarding the rear of the active army, escorting prisoners of war, and fighting enemy assault forces. The regiment soldiers participated in the battle of Smolensk, the defense of Moscow and the counteroffensive near the capital. Their combat feats were highly appreciated by the Homeland - 944 soldiers of the 252nd Regiment received state awards for courage and heroism, and on February 23, 1943, on the 25th anniversary of the Red Army, the Red Combat Banner was awarded to the regiment.
In the postwar years, the servicemen were engaged in eliminating of interethnic conflicts, natural disasters and calamities. The servicemen took part in military actions in Afghanistan, the Chechen Republic, and in the North Caucasus region, where they carried out the tasks of disarming illegal units, conducting engineering reconnaissance, demining production and residential facilities, and guarding roadblocks and checkpoints.
In 2002, the 25th Special Detachment of Internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, now the troops of the Russian Federation’s National Guard, was formed within the unit. The detachment has the name of the legendary warrior of the 13th century - St. Mercury of Smolensk, who, according to the legend, defended the region from the ruinous Tatar-Mongol invasion.
At present, the servicemen take part in a counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus region, performing combat-military tasks to maintain constitutional order on the southern borders of our country, and is actively engaged in combat training and improving professional skills.
At the ceremony, the Governor awarded Letters of Appreciation and Certificates of Honor to the most distinguished servicemen of the "Mercury" detachment.