Execution of the House of Soviets on October 4, 1993

A brief photo essay by an eyewitness of the dramatic events that took place on October 4, 1993 near the White House. Let's remember those days together...

(Total 39 photos)

Source: www.bellabs.ru

1. My path 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.

2. Heading to the House of Soviets on Novy Arbat. The street is unusually deserted, there is no car traffic, although there are no serious cordons.

3. In the area of the intersection with the Garden Ring, a cluster of police and army units.

4. It is clearly restless here - on the pavement there are scatterings of shells.

5. Apparently, a sniper is working from somewhere - shots are not heard now, but many are trying to hide just in case.

6. Where the Garden Ring goes into the tunnel under Novy 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. There is an inscription on the wall of the tunnel: "GUYS YOU ARE WITH US!". Fixed the original ambiguous variant that read "...WE ARE WITH YOU".

7. The passage to the White House along Novy Arbat is blocked by a police cordon, however, it is not difficult to get around it a quarter to the left.

8. The entrances are blocked by watering machines, but there are no barriers for pedestrians.

9. Despite the periodically heard machine gun fire, there are quite a lot of people around - no one is particularly holding back. It’s not just CNN (whose live coverage I didn’t know about yet) watching the events from above – the rooftops are literally overflowing with spectators.

10. The city hall building also got it, but now it's quiet here. All the attention of the audience is focused on the House of Soviets, surrounded by troops, which has just been fired from tank guns.

11. The tanks have already fired back and a fire is breaking out in the still white House of Soviets.

12. Some observers decide to overcome the area under fire and run directly to the walls of the building. I also decide to take the risk.

13. Directly in front of the White House, an abundance of medium-heavy armored vehicles, but they do not fire. Tanks stand on the bridge and on the opposite side of the river.

14. We hide behind a granite parapet, next to the young paratroopers who have taken a position.

15. The paratroopers do not take any active actions, they are waiting for instructions under the supervision of amateur photographers.

16. The situation, however, is not entirely peaceful. The paratroopers are forced to suppress the sporadically awakened firing points with machine gun fire. Shooting at the windows, it seems, at random. Looking at this shot, it's hard to believe that the action takes place in the very center of Moscow.

17. It is impossible to understand where the fire is coming from. There are rumors about snipers on rooftops.

18. Shooting is rare, but a stray bullet can lie in wait for anyone - two civilians were injured before my eyes.

19. There are many entrances and exits around the White House, they are also looked after just in case. No one sees a direct threat, but everyone is tense.

20. We move under the protection of greenery.

21. From the conversations of the paratroopers and the messages they receive on the radio, we can conclude that the information about what is happening is fragmentary and contradictory, no one really knows what to do.

22. Soon we see Alpha fighters. They make a very favorable impression - the calm concentration of professionals.

23. They left as imperceptibly as they appeared.

24.

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.

26. Negotiators are sent to the White House - accompanied by standard bearers, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is approaching the building.

27. The first encirclement leave the building. There is no shooting, but the tension of the last hours is forcing the elderly to move around at a run. On the left, someone is already being searched.

28. The long-awaited denouement - they begin to massively withdraw people from the White House. Some are immediately released, others have to give explanations.

29. Closer to the main entrance, disarmed defenders are seated. In the foreground, probably, policemen of the internal security, taken out of the building.

30. A small pile of assorted weapons taken out of the White House - machine guns, batons, Molotov cocktails. A paratrooper with a revolver in his hands examines the crossbow with interest. Is Robin Hood who dragged him alive?

31. The crowd approaching the building, for the most part, passively watches those leaving. The mood changes easily: someone shouts insults, they are supported, I stand up for frightened "refugees", I am supported too.

32. Control over the situation is gradually being restored - the paratroopers have to perform police functions. They have no experience in dealing with the masses of people, but fortunately the crowd behaves calmly.

33. Riot police take over the case. Judging by the spilled sugar and matches, this young man spent the night in the White House. Leaving, he grabbed something from office equipment.

34. The fire in the building flares up - previously invisible, flames burst out from both sides.

35.

36. I walk along the side wall of the White House. There is still no continuous cordon, the curious are trying to see something. Discussing the version of "this is where Alpha entered the building."

37. I'm already leaving when an incomprehensible explosion is heard against the wall.

38. A lot of smoke, but, apparently, the destructive effect is negligible.

39. Operation completed. The White House will burn all night.