The Russian Defense Ministry’s Zvezda TV published a video from Chkalovsky Airport (a military air base near Shchyolkovo, Moscow Oblast). The video shows preparations of a COVID-19 response group, which is set to deploy in Italy on March 22.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, nine Il-76 military transport aircraft are deployed at Chkalovsky Airport and will be involved in the operation. They will deploy eight mobile teams of Russian military doctors and virologists to the EU and NATO member state, Italy, to rescue it from the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
A group of about 100 specialists is already ready for departure. It includes leading experts of the Russian Ministry of Defense in the field of virology and epidemiology that have a significant international experience in combating epidemics.
Russia will also provide key supplies needed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, incuding modern diagnostic equipment and special equipment for disinfection measures.
