October 4 is a sad date in the history of Russia. This day is marked by the bloody events of 1993 around the House of Soviets. Then, in the center of Moscow, clashes broke out between the opposing sides, which left behind many victims. We invite you to take a look at the report, consisting of photographs of those events, to remind you of the price the country paid for its political divisions.
Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993
A brief photo report of an eyewitness to the dramatic events that took place on October 4, 1993 near the White House. Let's remember those days together...
Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 1. Our journey begins on Tverskaya. The passage is completely blocked by several transverse lines consisting of heavy vehicles. Contrary to expectations, nothing special happens in the Red Square area.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 2. We head to the House of Soviets along New Arbat. The street is unusually deserted, there is no car traffic, although there are no serious cordons.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 3. There is a concentration of police and army units in the area where it intersects with the Garden Ring.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 4. It’s clearly uneasy here – there are scattered shell casings on the asphalt.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 5. Apparently, a sniper is working from somewhere - no shots are heard now, but many are trying to take cover just in case.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 6. Where the Garden Ring goes into the tunnel under New Arbat, on the night of August 21, 1991, three young people died. This was the first crisis around the White House caused by the actions of the State Emergency Committee. On the wall of the tunnel there is an inscription: “YOU GUYS WITH US!” Corrected the original ambiguous version that read "...YOU ARE WITH YOU."Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 7. The passage to the White House along Novy Arbat is blocked by a police cordon, however, getting around it a block to the left is not difficult.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 8. The entrances are blocked by watering machines, but there are no barriers for pedestrians.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 9. Despite the occasional machine gun fire, there are quite a lot of people around - no one is really holding them back. Not only CNN is watching the events from above - the rooftops are literally crowded with spectators.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 10. The city hall building also suffered, but now it’s quiet here. All the attention of those gathered was focused on the House of Soviets, surrounded by troops, which had just been shelled by tank guns.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 11. The tanks have already fired and a fire is breaking out in the still white House of Soviets.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 12. Some observers decide to overcome the area under fire and run directly to the walls of the building. The photographer also decided to take a risk.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 13. There is an abundance of medium-heavy armored vehicles right in front of the White House, but they do not fire. Tanks are on the bridge and on the opposite side of the river.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 14. We hide behind the granite parapet, next to the young paratroopers who have taken up the position.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 15. The paratroopers do not take any active actions, they wait for instructions under the supervision of amateur photographers.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 16. The situation, however, is not entirely peaceful. The paratroopers are forced to suppress sporadically awakening firing points with machine gun fire. They shoot at the windows, it seems, at random. Looking at this shot, it’s hard to believe that the action is taking place in the very center of Moscow.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 17. It is impossible to understand where the fire is coming from. There are rumors about snipers on rooftops.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 18. Shooting is rare, but a stray bullet can trap anyone - two civilians were injured in front of the photographer’s eyes.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 19. There are many entrances and exits around the White House; they are also monitored just in case. No one sees a direct threat, but everyone is tense.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 20. We move under the protection of greenery.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 21. From the conversations of the paratroopers and the messages they received via radio, we can conclude that information about what is happening is fragmentary and contradictory, no one really knows what to do.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 22. Soon we see Alpha fighters. They make a very favorable impression - the calm, collected nature of professionals.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 23. They left as unnoticed as they appeared.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 24.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 25. The shooting subsides and the crowd of spectators, who had previously kept a respectful distance, comes close. The paratroopers are instructed to block the approaches to the building.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 26. Negotiators are sent to the White House - accompanied by standard bearers, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov approaches the building.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 27. The first surrounding people leave the building. There is no shooting, but the tension of the last hours forces the elderly to move around at a run. Someone is already being searched on the left.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 28. The long-awaited denouement - people begin to be taken out of the White House en masse. Some are immediately released, others will have to give explanations.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 29. Disarmed defenders are seated closer to the central entrance. In the foreground are probably internal security policemen escorted out of the building.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 30. A small pile of various weapons taken from the White House - machine guns, batons, Molotov cocktails. A paratrooper officer with a revolver in his hands examines the crossbow with interest. Is Robin Hood, who dragged him, alive?Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 31. The crowd approaching the building mostly passively watches those leaving. The mood changes easily: someone shouts insults, he is supported, the photographer stands up for the frightened “refugees”, he is also supported.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 32. Control over the situation is gradually being restored - the paratroopers have to perform police functions. They have no experience in dealing with crowds, but fortunately the crowd behaves calmly.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 33. Riot police take over the case. Judging by the scattered sugar and matches, this young man spent the night in the White House. When leaving, I grabbed some office equipment.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 34. The fire in the building flares up - previously invisible, flames burst out from both sides.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 35.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 36. I walk along the side wall of the White House. There is no complete cordon here yet; the curious are trying to see something. They are discussing the version “this is where Alpha entered the building.”Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 37. The photographer is already leaving when an incomprehensible explosion is heard near the wall.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 38. There is a lot of smoke, but, apparently, the destructive effect is insignificant.Shooting of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993 39. The operation is completed. The White House will burn all night.