FSB aircraft commander installs cupola on a cathedral under construction in Kamchatka

Photo Source

From Interfax:

FSB aircraft commander installs cupola on a cathedral under construction in Kamchatka

Petropavlosvk-Kamchatsky, May 22, Interfax - Cupolas are being installed on the Trinity Cathedral under construction at the Kamchatka regional center.

According to a report that came to Interfax from the Kamchatka diocese on Tuesday, the installation is to be directed by Gen. Lieut. Nikolay Gavrilov, FSB aircraft commander, who has come to Kamchatka for the express purpose to raise the 13-ton cupola on top of the cathedral under construction.

He will carry out this difficult operation with the help of a MI-26 frontier transport helicopter.

The traffic has been blocked around the construction site. Pedestrians have been recommended to leave the area within a radius of two kilometers. Specialists have pointed out that the air waves caused by the vanes of the most powerful Russian helicopter can simply knock them down.

The operation itself, the diocese has reported, may take no longer than half an hour. On Wednesday, the helicopter will be also used to install a large cross on the main cupola of the cathedral. Four more cupolas weighing 3,5 tons each will be lifted up with the help of a large hoisting crane.