1 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for confirming the sense of zhurnal. I can't accept any of the suggestions for ïðèíÿë äåæóðñòâî, because they do not take account of context. What would an English speaking duty officer write in a duty register? I don't know, but I think something like 'Start shift' may be right. Assuredly he wouldn't use the past tense in such a context. It's not a diary entry..."