Tanfilyev Island: description, history and interesting facts

Tanfilyev Island is one of the islands of the Kuril archipelago. Nearby is the Japanese island of Hokkaido. This is a flat piece of land 4.5 km wide and 6.5 km long. The surface of the island is devoid of vegetation. Only a short shrub and a few low hills revitalize the landscape. But the picture becomes much more impressive, if we recall that there was a bloody massacre on Tanfiliev. It happened in 1994.

Everything is known

Until now, despite the fact that two decades have passed since the tragedy, many are perplexed, recalling this story. Indeed, how could there be a massacre on Tanfilyev Island (named after the Russian scientist-geographer, Professor of Novorossiysk University, located in Odessa)? The investigation of this case went on for a long time, in the course of which the smallest details of what happened here many years ago were established.

There is safety in numbers

Tanfilyev Island is the location of Frontier Outpost No. 1. In the 1990s, it was as difficult a situation as in the whole army and country. There was a shortage of personnel. The commander of the outpost at that time was N. Solomakhin. He worked hard, because with the personnel had to cope alone, there were no other officers. Co-workers described him as a soft and uninformed leader. The fault was, as it turned out later, problems in his personal life and career. Captain Solomakhin can in part be understood.

The Tragedy of an Officer

Not everyone will stand many years of unpromising service in such a place. Tanfilyev Island was open to all winds that blew from the sea constantly. The climate was damp and cold, often rains. In addition, there was clearly a detachment from the Great Land. The inability to leave anywhere, to distract from the service dejected the captain. At some point, he showed a weakness of character in relation to his subordinates, and they immediately sat on his neck.

Who is the main

Among the servicemen, hazing began to flourish. The sergeant N. Arkhipov became the commander of the border detachment behind the scenes. He took upon himself the duty to punish his subordinates by hazing methods. For example, he could spank the belt buckle. Also, the old-timers forced the young people to do their dirty work for them: to wash, tidy up the bed, clean the toilet and much more. In addition, young people were supposed to entertain "grandfathers" as they pleased. And they could order the first year to jump, spin and show remarkable tyranny, in order to brighten up their stay in an awful place, as for them became the island of Tanfiliev.

Indiscriminate hostility

Not everyone can tolerate humiliation. However, there are many ways to avoid this situation. Only a person with mental disabilities can resolve a conflict by killing, which was subsequently recognized by A. Bogdashin, one of the perpetrators of the crime.

On a clear morning on March 8, 1994, he became the instigator of a future tragedy. In his mind he imagined himself a superhero, capable of taking revenge on the old servicemen for all the old grievances with weapons. To himself as an assistant he invited two friends - D. Belkov and A. Mikheev. On that day they had weapons with them, since Belkov was a sentry. After leaving the posts, this group of servicemen headed for the wall, behind which was the bedroom of their comrades.

Thus began the tragedy, the scene for which was the island of Tanfilyev.

Awesome awakening

Belkov and Bogdashin opened fire from the machine gun. Bullets, penetrating the walls, killed sergeant Kabardinov and wounded several of his colleagues. But those who managed to survive, coolly finished off at the exit of the bedrooms. At a time when the Avengers went to the weapons room to replenish ammunition, several border guards attempted to escape. Those who hid in the power unit, noticed and gave them a machine gun turn. Among them was Sergeant Arkhipov. He hid the wounded friend, and he tried to get his own weapon to save the others, but did not have time. He was first wounded, and then finished off, shot at point-blank range.

Everyone is to blame.

Suffered not only those for whom the house was Tanfiliev Island. The execution was also expected by the crew of the Mi-8 helicopter, who patrolled the border and flew to the island to find out the reasons for the shots. Shooting from a machine gun, Bogdashin shot down an aircraft that fell and caught fire. Fortunately, the crew did not die, but tried to pass to the outpost, but was stopped by automatic gunshots and was forced to hide.

At the time when all this was happening, Captain Samokhin, along with his midshipman and a cook with a small child who was visiting him, were headed towards the base of the patrol boats. There, this group of people found shelter and called for help.

Two helicopters with paratroopers on board were sent for help. It was their appearance that disoriented the criminals and forced them to lay down their arms. Although, as Bogdashin, Belkov and Mikheyev claimed at the trial, they were already going to give up. The court passed a verdict, softening its decision in relation to Mikheev, who did not kill, but only helped his comrades in committing crimes. Bogdashin and Belkov received long terms in a strict regime colony.

What did they teach us?

Any event, joyful or sad, gives people certain knowledge. What conclusion can be drawn from this tragedy? We can conclude that the collapse of the Soviet Union shook the army system. If earlier military men were needed by the country, their life was under close surveillance, psychological comfort was given a lot of attention, then in the hard 90's people became useless to nobody.

During the Soviet era, Frontier Outpost No. 1, founded in 1946, was one of the best. Border guards serving on it felt that they were being taken care of. The soldiers were not left alone on the island alone with their thoughts. They were regularly brought movies, books, mail. The recreational facilities were also created: a sauna, a gym, a dining room, a red corner, and so on. In addition, new comfortable buildings were built for the residence of personnel and officers. Could there have been such a bloody tragedy at that time? Probably not. Perhaps because people were different then.

Perhaps it's not that, then the island was cold and lonely. It is very important that young men know that they will one day have to repay their duty to the Motherland and were ready to endure all the hardships of military service.