NBC Protection Troops of the Russian Federation

The NBC Protection Troops of the Russian Federation are a specialised branch of the Russian Armed Forces tasked with reducing personnel and equipment losses in environments affected by nuclear, radiological, chemical or biological hazards. In Russian military terminology, the branch is generally known as the Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence, abbreviated as RKhB protection troops. Its responsibilities cover both combat operations and peacetime responses to accidents and disasters involving hazardous materials. The branch’s historical roots lie in the chemical troops formed by Soviet Russia in November 1918, during the Russian Civil War. Chemical units subsequently became part of the Red Army’s force structure. By 1944, the Soviet Chemical Troops included 19 brigades, comprising technical and chemical-protection formations. Many wartime units were disbanded after the Second World War, although chemical-defence capabilities remained part of Soviet military planning and force development. A major episode in the branch’s history was the response to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986. General Major Vladimir Pikalov, then commander of the Ministry of Defence’s Chemical Troops, reached the site on 26 April and took command of specialised military units operating there. He was later promoted to colonel general and awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his actions. During the late 1980s, the Soviet Chemical Troops comprised numerous brigades distributed across military districts, including formations in the Volga, Moscow and Kyiv military districts. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Chemical Troops within the Russian Armed Forces were renamed the NBC Protection Troops in 1992. The change reflected a broader remit that included radiological and biological threats as well as chemical warfare. The modern branch is organised primarily around multifunctional independent NBC-protection brigades. These units can conduct detection, reconnaissance, contamination assessment, notification, decontamination, disinfection, concealment and emergency-recovery operations, often in support of combined-arms armies. The troops are designed to operate whether or not nuclear, biological or chemical weapons are being used. Their duties include measuring and evaluating radiological, chemical and biological conditions; warning formations about contamination; protecting troops and installations; performing decontamination and sanitation; recovering damaged or contaminated sites; and reducing the visibility of forces through aerosol and smoke systems. Some formations also operate flame-incendiary systems. The branch therefore combines defensive, reconnaissance, engineering-support, concealment and specialised strike functions. In peacetime, the NBC Protection Troops may support responses to industrial accidents, radiological incidents and other disasters involving hazardous substances. Their stated modernisation priorities include automated systems for identifying and assessing NBC threats, improved integration with military command-and-control networks, enhanced reconnaissance equipment, individual and collective protective systems, concealment technologies and more effective decontamination methods. A dedicated test aviation squadron supports the branch from Bagay-Baranovka in Saratov Oblast. Facilities associated with the branch include military chemical installations in Saratov Oblast, including sites at Shikhany and an arsenal identified as the 115th Arsenal of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops.

The Russian NBC Protection Troops developed from the chemical troops created by Soviet Russia on 13 November 1918. Those early formations participated in major operations during the Russian Civil War. The Soviet chemical troops later became a permanent component of the Red Army and expanded considerably during the Second World War. In 1944, they comprised 19 brigades, including technical and chemical-protection formations. Most wartime formations were reduced or disbanded after 1945, but the Soviet military retained specialised capabilities for operating in contaminated environments. The branch’s Cold War-era structure included many brigades distributed across military districts. During the late 1980s, Soviet Chemical Troops reportedly included 23 brigades. These formations were intended not only to protect troops from chemical attack but also to support reconnaissance, contamination assessment, decontamination, concealment and recovery operations. The branch’s responsibilities expanded as military planning incorporated nuclear and biological hazards alongside chemical threats. The Chernobyl disaster became one of the most significant episodes in the history of Soviet chemical and radiological-protection forces. General Major Vladimir Pikalov, commander of the Ministry of Defence’s Chemical Troops, arrived at the nuclear power plant on the afternoon of 26 April 1986 and assumed command of specialised military units at the site. He was subsequently promoted to colonel general and recognised as a Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1992, the Chemical Troops of the Russian Armed Forces were renamed the NBC Protection Troops. The new designation reflected a wider mission covering radiological, chemical and biological defence. The force is organised around multifunctional independent NBC-protection brigades, whose subordinate units can conduct reconnaissance, detection, data collection, warning, protective operations, decontamination, sanitisation, smoke concealment and emergency recovery. These brigades may operate with combined-arms armies and are intended to function during conventional warfare as well as in circumstances involving weapons of mass destruction. The branch also performs dual-purpose missions outside active combat. It can assist in the aftermath of industrial accidents and other incidents involving radiological, chemical or biological hazards. Modernisation has focused on automated threat-detection and assessment systems, improved integration with military command-and-control systems, new reconnaissance vehicles, protective equipment, concealment technologies, flame-incendiary systems and more effective decontamination materials and procedures. Known supporting infrastructure includes facilities at Shikhany in Saratov Oblast, including a military chemical base and an arsenal associated with the 115th Arsenal of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops. The 395th Independent Test Aviation Squadron, based at Bagay-Baranovka in Saratov Oblast, supports testing and development connected with the branch. Public reference material also identifies a range of vehicles and systems associated with the troops, including chemical and radiological reconnaissance vehicles, smoke generators, decontamination equipment, protective masks and flame-incendiary systems.

1. 2024Death of commander Igor Kirillov

   Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, commander of the RKhB Defence Troops, was killed in a bombing in Moscow on 17 December 2024.

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2. 1992Renaming as NBC Protection Troops

   The Chemical Troops within the Russian Armed Forces were renamed the NBC Protection Troops, formalising their radiological, chemical and biological defence remit.

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3. 1986Chernobyl response

   Specialised military units under General Major Vladimir Pikalov were deployed to the Chernobyl site after the nuclear accident on 26 April 1986.

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4. 1944Wartime expansion of the Red Army Chemical Troops

   By 1944, the Red Army’s Chemical Troops included 19 brigades, consisting of technical and chemical-protection formations.

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5. 1918Formation of Soviet Russia’s first chemical troops

   Soviet Russia formed its first chemical troops on 13 November 1918. The units participated in operations during the Russian Civil War and established the institutional origins of the later NBC-protection branch.

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A dual-purpose military branch positioned as Russia’s specialised force for NBC defence, battlefield survivability, contamination control and hazardous-incident response.

• RKhM-6Chemical reconnaissance vehicle

  A specialised chemical-reconnaissance vehicle based on the BTR-80 platform. It is associated with the branch’s role in detecting and assessing chemical contamination and supporting battlefield NBC monitoring.

• RPM-2Radiological reconnaissance vehicle

  A radiological-reconnaissance vehicle built on a four-axle BTR-80 base. It is used for identifying and assessing radiological conditions and supporting the collection of contamination data.

• TDA-3Smoke generator

  A smoke-generation system mounted on a three-axle KamAZ-53501 chassis. Its stated role is to create concealment and reduce the visibility of military facilities and formations.

• TMS-65Specialised decontamination vehicle

  A specialised chemical-processing vehicle mounted on a Ural-375 chassis. It supports the treatment and cleaning of equipment exposed to nuclear, biological or chemical hazards.

• UTM-80Decontamination heat engine

  A heat-engine system used in the cleaning of equipment after exposure to NBC threats. It forms part of the branch’s specialised decontamination and recovery equipment.

• PMK-4Protective mask

  A gas-mask system listed among the protective equipment available to Russian NBC-protection forces. It provides individual respiratory protection in contaminated environments.

• TOS-1 and TOS-1AFlame-incendiary and thermobaric system

  Heavy multiple-launch systems associated with the branch’s flame-incendiary role. The TOS-1 Buratino and TOS-1A Solntsepyok are listed as equipment available to or operated in connection with NBC-protection formations.

• TOS-2 TosochkaFlame-incendiary system

  A newer wheeled flame-incendiary system included in public descriptions of equipment associated with Russian NBC-protection troops.

• RPO-A ShmelInfantry rocket flamethrower

  An infantry rocket flamethrower listed among the branch’s equipment. Its inclusion reflects the force’s historical and continuing association with flame-incendiary capabilities in addition to defensive NBC missions.

• 1992Adoption of the NBC Protection Troops designationStrategy

  The Russian Armed Forces inherited Soviet chemical troops while facing a broader threat environment involving radiological, biological and chemical hazards.

  What changed. The Chemical Troops within the Russian Armed Forces were renamed the NBC Protection Troops.

  Aftermath. The new designation established the branch’s modern identity and reflected a mission extending beyond chemical warfare to comprehensive radiological, biological and chemical defence.

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• Development of dual-purpose NBC capabilitiesStrategy

  The branch is required to operate both during armed conflict and during peacetime accidents or disasters involving hazardous facilities.

  What changed. The force has pursued multifunctional brigades, automated NBC-threat assessment, improved reconnaissance, protective equipment, concealment systems and enhanced decontamination technologies.

  Aftermath. The NBC Protection Troops have been structured as a dual-purpose force capable of supporting battlefield operations and emergency recovery missions.

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• 2024Killing of Igor KirillovControversy

  Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, commander of the RKhB Defence Troops, was killed in a bombing in Moscow on 17 December 2024. The incident was a security and leadership crisis affecting the branch, although the available reference does not provide further attribution or investigative detail.

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• 2026Former RKhB chief Stanislav Petrov reported dead

  Reference material reports that Stanislav Petrov, who led the RKhB Defence Troops from 1992 to 2001, died by suicide at age 87 on 2 May 2026.

  OtherLeadership change
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1. Russian NBC Protection Troops