Central Military District search and rescue group has flied to the Republic of Kazakhstan to ensure the meeting with the participants of the International Space Station expedition.

Eight Mi-8 transport and combat helicopters of the Central Military District flew from the Uprun military airfield (Chelyabinsk region) to operational airfields in Kazakhstan. Four search and evacuation amphibious vehicles were airlifted to the landing area by An-12 transport aircraft, and two vehicles moved on their own to the reserve landing area. In total, 10 Mi-8 helicopters, two An-12 and one An-26 aircraft, 22 units of automotive and special equipment, including six amphibious vessels, as well as about 200 servicemen are involved in the event.

Earlier, space rescuers performed training jumps from a height of 1,000 to 1,700 meters on limited and unprepared areas for the accuracy of landing and also conducted training on the evacuation of the capsule with the help of amphibious vehicle Blue Bird.

Landing of the Soyuz MS-09 transport manned spacecraft is to take place in the steppes of Kazakhstan near the city of Jezkazgan on December 20. Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Prokopiev, ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and NASA astronaut Serena Auñónare are to return to the Earth.