S. BUNTMAN: We are starting our “Military Council”, a weekly one, which is broadcast at 12 o’clock with a few minutes on the radio station “Echo of Moscow”, and the next day you can watch the television version. Anatoly Ermolin and Sergei Buntman lead this program. Our guest is Sergei Razygraev, Lieutenant General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces. Hello, good afternoon.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Hello.
S. BUNTMAN: But here, of course, first of all, and we are now receiving SMS from Kazan, from Moscow, from everywhere, saying condolences to the entire Polish people. A terrible disaster near Smolensk. Now they are clarifying, but, apparently, no one survived - 87 people who flew on the Tu-154 plane of the Polish presidential air squad, and the President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and his wife were there. An absolutely terrible thing. A nightmare story. Now, when the mourning ceremonies are taking place in Katyn and when the chairman of the Russian government and the prime minister of Poland, when they knelt and this is the first time we have had such a joint ceremony and joint recognition. And there was a clear step towards understanding history, towards reconciliation. And suddenly such a catastrophe is absolutely nightmarish. Here, they say, the fog, they say, crashed into a tree. Bye. But, probably, now we need to conduct the investigation very, very intensively.
S. RAZYGRAEV: Well, the information is quite scarce, so it’s premature to draw any conclusions now.
S.BUNTMAN: No, this is impossible. This is just what they write.
S.RAZYGRAEV: We need to realize, understand. Well, I think that professionally trained people will figure it out.
A.ERMOLIN: Well, is the quality of the airfield there normal? This is a military airfield in the past, right?
S.RAZYGRAEV: Absolutely. The airfield is first class, so I don't think that was the reason.
S. BUNTMAN: Moreover, 2 days ago the planes of both Prime Minister Tusk and Prime Minister Putin landed there. The planes are official, which when they arrived for the ceremony in Katyn 2 days ago.
S. RAZYGRAEV: It’s a thankless task now to guess and assume.
S.BUNTMAN: Absolutely.
S. RAZYGRAEV: I think that the facts will be established beyond doubt.
S.BUNTMAN: Yes. All we can really say now is that this is a terrible disaster and that we join all our listeners in speaking out and expressing their condolences. Well, today we will talk, as we always talk at the Military Council, about the life of the Russian military, when the renewal of the Russian Armed Forces is taking place now, a very serious one. And this does not make the conditions any easier, especially the conditions of your troops. These are very specific troops, and in difficult conditions, and the most important thing is that you cannot have such warm places anywhere, as far as I understand.
S. RAZYGRAEV: Yes, you understand correctly.
S. BUNTMAN: Tell us a little about what kind of troops these are, what is air defense, what is the air defense air force? When did they appear and what are they like now? But I am asking this question, and we will delay the answer for a minute, because now, in connection with events, we, of course, introduce such a news regime every 15 minutes, because something new may appear, and therefore at 15 and 45 minutes we have there will be news.
NEWS
S.BUNTMAN: Let’s return to the “Military Council”. Let me remind you that our guest is Sergei Razygraev, Lieutenant General and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces. So, about your troops?
S. RAZYGRAEV: You know, for the 35th time this year we will celebrate our professional holiday. I would like to emphasize that this holiday is a state holiday, because 35 years ago it was established by a resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Council and a little later its date was determined - this is the 2nd Sunday of April. The air defense troops are a little older. I would identify 3 such historical blocks. This is, first of all, 1914-1915 of the last century, when the commander of the 6th Army near Petrograd, by his order No. 90, assigned part of the forces and means from his subordinate troops with the tasks of destroying the air enemy. And, from these years on, we, in general, believe that the air defense forces began their development.
Before 1917, they received a fairly good, powerful impulse and impetus. There were no special means, but it was planned to use artillery adapted for firing at aircraft. At the Gatchina Aviation School, by the same order mentioned above, crews were assigned to destroy the air enemy.
S.BUNTMAN: That is, this was already taken very seriously.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Yes. Because with the advent of combat aviation, capable of causing significant damage to troops, facilities, the population, and communications, the task of fighting it arose.
A.ERMOLIN: It’s literally not 10 years since the Wright brothers, right?
S. RAZYGRAEV: Yes, in fact it is.
S.BUNTMAN: Well, yes, it developed very rapidly there.
S. RAZYGRAEV: Unfortunately, after the revolution of 1917, all these undertakings were curtailed. And only in 1924-25. under the leadership of Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze, during the military reform, considerable attention was paid to this issue, and even then the concepts of “national air defense” and “front-line air defense” were introduced. Before the war and before the war, the Great Patriotic War, an air defense system also appeared and developed, and, in general, we entered the war with a fairly strong and prepared air defense system. Although, the assessments for that period were not entirely favorable. If we read the archives, then Marshal Timoshenko evaluates from a rather critical point of view its capabilities to repel the air enemy at that time.
S. BUNTMAN: At the time when he was People's Commissar, Tymoshenko?
S.RAZYGRAEV: Yes. During the war, the organizational and staffing structure repeatedly underwent changes, they were subordinated, resubordinated to the military councils of the districts, subordinated to the People's Commissar of Defense, and in November 1941 - we believe that from that moment, when the position of commander of the air defense of the country was determined by the resolution of the State Defense Committee, there were specific tasks for the troops and air defense forces were determined, and when by the same decree, a resolution of the State Defense Committee, air defense structures were separated from the military districts and subordinated directly to the People's Commissar of Defense, from this date we count as the birth of the type of the country's Air Defense Forces. Well, then it was a branch of the military, but according to modern concepts it was already forming a species.
And I, of course, would like to remember that by the end of the war 4 air defense fronts had been formed. Almost during the Great Patriotic War, many cities, settlements, communications, and simply the lives of our Russian men who were able to return home and give birth to us, the next generation, were preserved for posterity, for you and me. For this, of course, we are incredibly grateful to them.
More than 7 thousand enemy aircraft and more than a thousand tanks were destroyed by the forces and means of the air defense forces. Because air defense troops were used against ground enemies, and quite often. 93 heroes of the Soviet Union served in the air defense forces.
S. BUNTMAN: Tell us, did it change with the advent of nuclear weapons, with the restructuring that took place in the Soviet Armed Forces at the end of the 50s, how much did the understanding of the role of air defense change?
S. RAZYGRAEV: Of course, with the emergence of a new type of weaponry among our potential adversaries, weapons, with an increase in their range, destructive power, and power, the air defense system also developed. I would like to note that the air defense system that was created and tested in the battles of the Great Patriotic War found its further development in the post-war years. And the organizational structure, of course, underwent changes, but not so significant, and they did not affect the general state of affairs. And the air defense system created in those years showed its viability and activity for many decades to come.
A qualitative change in the structure and air defense system was carried out with the transition and emergence of anti-aircraft missile weapons, a new fleet of radar detection equipment for the enemy, and new types of fighter aircraft. Because with the emergence of nuclear weapons and new means of air attack among our potential adversaries, we demanded new adequate ways to counter threats.
Well, suffice it to say that the planes of our potential enemies penetrated deep into the country with impunity, and carried out strategic and operational reconnaissance in the border areas. And, of course, this could no longer be tolerated, and therefore, with the advent of such aircraft as the MiG-31 into service, we stopped these flights. And the development of weapons, military equipment, the development of forms and methods of fighting an air enemy directly and constantly developed and improved. This still happens today.
S. BUNTMAN: Well, now we are just moving on to our days. Well, here are the announced changes - reform, modernization of the Russian Armed Forces, transition to a new look. Whatever you call it, these are very serious changes that are happening. To what extent are they, your troops... Well, we have already met on our broadcast, but how does this happen? How does this happen specifically for military personnel?
S. RAZYGRAEV: A very good question, and I, in general, am ready to answer it. You know, during the formation of the new look of the Armed Forces, of course, the Air Force did not stand aside and actively participated in this. The air defense forces within the Air Force also underwent significant reorganization changes. I would like to note that during these reforms the situation has not changed for the worse. The air defense forces were, well, to put it this way, cleared of those structures that duplicated each other. Experience has shown that there are and have been such moments. Those structures that stored weapons and military equipment for a long time, in particular, the S-300 complexes, which, in general, experts understood that were unlikely to they will be able, to one degree or another, to quickly enter the combat ranks of the troops. And somewhere there was self-deception that, it seemed, the technology was there and we were counting on it, taking it into account in our calculations. But, in fact, it was a kind of delusion. Therefore, I absolutely agree with the decision that allowed all units of the Air Force, including the anti-aircraft missile forces and radio engineering troops, to be made into permanently ready units, rather than personnel and reduced personnel. That is, when there are several officers in a regiment, well, 1.5 dozen, and the equipment for them is located somewhere else.
We conducted an experiment at one time, back in the 90s, when a complex so complex, multifunctional, requiring constant attention and maintenance was tested for operation according to control and combat parameters. Then the cabins were sealed and a month later they simply tried to turn it on. I'm just reporting that it wasn't possible to do this right away. That is, there were a huge number of malfunctions that arose due to the fact that this equipment is designed in such a way that it must work constantly.
A.ERMOLIN: What kind of complexes are these?
S. RAZYGRAEV: S-300, which are now in service. That is, this complex must be constantly in operation, and its functioning must be constantly monitored. That is, we must keep it hot, as they say. And it's done. At one time, back in the early 90s, an analysis was carried out to decide whether to remove the anti-aircraft missile forces from combat duty? After all, this is a rather expensive undertaking, this is a technical resource, this is electricity, this is personnel who are constantly engaged in this. But then they abandoned this idea, because, in general, for two reasons. First, these weapons and military equipment must be constantly, I emphasize, in combat condition and in hot condition. And the training of personnel - it is then high and professional when they are directly trained not only in simulators, but also in the combat and materiel units.
Regarding the air defense system as a whole, I would like to divide this question into 2 parts. And I would like to indicate it so that the audience understands. If we say that we, the air defense troops and personnel, operate faulty equipment, keep silent about something, hide something, this is completely wrong. Now, everything that is in service with the anti-aircraft missile, radio-technical troops, and fighter aviation regiments is combat-ready to the extent necessary to carry out the combat mission. If you ask and ask the question whether this quantity is enough to fully complete the tasks, the answer will not be positive. Yes, I would like more quantity. And, naturally, the leadership of the country, the leadership of the Armed Forces understands this. Therefore, an entire state armament program has been developed, which takes into account those aspects, including the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the air defense forces. And if it is completed - and I have no doubt about it - then, of course, the air defense troops will fully carry out their assigned tasks.
S.BUNTMAN: Well, we will definitely talk after the break. I remind you that now we will have news every 15 minutes in connection with the tragic events near Smolensk. We will talk about what air defense servicemen are like now, how they serve, how they live, what training they are currently undergoing and what retraining they are currently undergoing, what life and conditions are like, which, most often, are very difficult for all other people , but not for military personnel who... After all, people consciously agree to this and serve as they should. We will now take a break, listen to the news, and then continue our program, which we are conducting with Anatoly Ermolin.
NEWS
S.BUNTMAN: We continue our program. Anatoly Ermolin and Sergei Buntman host this program. And our guest is Sergei Razygraev, head of air defense, deputy commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces for air defense. Sergei Nikolaevich, we just wanted to consider how people serve, what qualities they should have and what qualities they display. And, so, name the most, let’s say, difficult points where air defense troops are located?
S. RAZYGRAEV: Thank you for the question. Before I answer it, I would like to compliment your program. This is the second time I have been invited as a guest, and I am very grateful to you for your kindness, for your truly sensitive attitude towards your interlocutor, which allows me, in general, to open up and say what I really want and that's what I really care about.
S.BUNTMAN: Thank you
S. RAZYGRAEV: You are asking the question very correctly, because today, on the eve of our professional holiday, first of all I would like, of course, to talk about those people who serve in our troops, serve in radio engineering units and anti-aircraft missile units, in fighter aviation, in service units and units. You know, military people have never received large salaries. I read historical memoirs of military leaders, just officers of the Tsarist army, the Russian army, the Soviet army.
But there was, apparently, something in the profession that makes our children follow in our footsteps. Sons become military men, put on military uniforms, continue the work of their fathers. Something forces daughters to marry military men. And, probably, we can even be proud of this. Maybe even without any deep analysis. And it is a great honor for me to have the opportunity today in the format of your program, your program, which I am sure is listened to by an audience of millions, plus the Internet, new information technologies, which I really like and respect very much, allows me to make these statements and words.
I will say that air defense troops are a rather specific type and branch of troops. Why? Because it is impossible to concentrate all people in one place and provide them all with normal human living conditions at once. Because the air defense system is designed in such a way that it is distributed throughout Russia, throughout the country. In order to create a radar reconnaissance system, which I talked about in the first program and I’m not afraid to repeat, it purely technically, tactically and operationally forces these units to be scattered over a vast territory in hard-to-reach places on the coasts, on islands and on Novaya Zemlya, and on Earth Franz Joseph. Well, it’s true that there are no more units there now, but they were there. And I visited many of these points, divisions, units. In general, as we say, forgotten by God and sometimes by people. But there people serve, there people give all their strength, all their professionalism, and, sometimes, their very lives. Because what could be more valuable to a person than life and the time that he lives in these rather complex, difficult, dare I say it, conditions. And, of course, the first quality should be love for the Motherland. This may sound pompous, but by homeland I mean not only the land on which we live, but the homeland for me is my family, my daughter, wife, grandchildren. And, of course, I am not looking for any other motivation to live the way I live, to serve the way I live. And I say “I”, but by the word “I” I mean all those people who are standing next to me, who are standing behind me, behind my shoulders, who are standing in front of me. And I don’t need any other motivation.
S. BUNTMAN: But, Sergei Nikolaevich, when you say “I”, you also served there, in these very, as you say, God-forsaken places.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Absolutely, absolutely.
A.ERMOLIN: Can you tell a living story about how it happens in life?
S.RAZYGRAEV: I didn’t want you, these “I”s of mine, to feel that I was sticking out something - under no circumstances.
S.BUNTMAN: No, I understand. But this is not what you somehow speculatively imagine. You served there yourself and know all this very well.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Absolutely. That’s why I’m telling you, maybe a little hotly and with some emotion, I’m talking about this. Because I was not always a general, I was a trainee, then a lieutenant and walked along all lines, commanded all the structures that exist in our country. And I lived in the barracks for 3 years, wore boots and a belt like today’s soldiers, and I know what it is.
But I'm a little friend. I want to say that the average general, like me, has moved 16 times. That is, 16 places were changed in life and service. It was necessary to get together and sort these things out. All this with his wife together, together, a little daughter, wife by the hand, daughter in his arms and drove to where the homeland ordered, the higher commander ordered. Without any conditions, without any preferences, without any benefits for yourself personally. And so many, many thousands did and continue to do...
S.BUNTMAN: Do wives travel with their husbands and live in these points, such as Novaya Zemlya?
S. RAZYGRAEV: I will not speak for all the officers and for everyone. Of course, it happens in different ways. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, 90% of cases, the wife travels with her husband. I can tell you from my wife that I have been living with her and together for 37 years, and there has never been a case when she lived separately from my place of service. But the second quality that I would like to name that current officers need is optimism. You know, I commanded a division on Novaya Zemlya - there was such a formation there in 1992-93 and flew around the points of Franz Josef Land. When they say to me, “Have you been to Paris? How? Have you ever been to Paris?
S.BUNTMAN: But you were...
S.RAZYGRAEV: But I was on Graham Bell. I will visit Paris again, but you should visit Graham Bell and see what the conditions are like there.
S.BUNTMAN: Yes, yes, yes.
S. RAZYGRAEV: So, when we arrived there by helicopter - and this is quite a lot, 700 kilometers to Cape Zhelaniya, then another 400 to Franz Josef Land. And when they said over the communication line that in Rogachevo, where the division headquarters was located, they were selling women’s boots in a store, the wife of a young lieutenant came up to me and said: “Comrade Colonel (and I was still a colonel), allow me on board.” I say: “Why?” - “Well, this is the situation.” Wrinkles. Then: “Well, the boots were brought to the store.” I say: “Are you really going to fly 1.5 thousand kilometers by helicopter with landings for 24 hours to get boots?” “Yes,” he says, “why not?” I wanna Be Beautiful".
S.BUNTMAN: Yes. Despite the fact that you can only walk there in high boots.
S. RAZYGRAEV: Many years have passed, but I remember this incident. And I just...
A.ERMOLIN: Shopping on Graham Bell.
S. RAZYGRAEV: I simply admire the optimism of our women, who can and should, and want to be beautiful, charming, charming and necessary for their husbands. Now, even making such sacrifices. She flew out and bought it - I know that for sure.
S.BUNTMAN: Well, you know, the most important thing. Because when they see - and this is not so often seen - real selflessness, and, moreover, selflessness that manifests itself every day... It can be even harder than showing bravery and courage just one isolated time. The state must respond to this.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Absolutely. In this regard, I would like to talk about a third quality, which, it seems to me, an air defense officer should have. Well, probably every officer of all the Armed Forces. But I speak for my own, so to speak, area of work that is closer to me. You understand, this is not indifference. I was struck by the answer of one respected writer, screenwriter. Unfortunately, he is no longer in this world - I will not name his last name, it’s not about the last name. But when he was asked the question “How do you feel about the army?” he replied: “No way.” So, I was so amazed by his answer and made me think and comprehend why the person answered that way? For example, I have great understanding and great sympathy for people who criticize the Armed Forces, who criticize specific individuals. I am sure that after this program at least someone will say something to me. I hope. I am very afraid of an indifferent attitude. Let them not praise, well, even let them scold, and that will be it...
S.BUNTMAN: That is, it’s as if there are no people who serve, and no people who...
S.RAZYGRAEV: Yes. Because, after all, he is a representative of the intelligentsia, well, I would say, one of the best parts of our society. And, unfortunately, this is a fairly large part of our society that is indifferent to the army, to its problems, to its aspirations. And this is probably the wrong position.
S. BUNTMAN: No, indifference is the wrong position, this is absolutely obvious. Sergey Nikolaevich. I remind you that our guest is Sergei Razygraev, and we will continue. We are now making news every 15 minutes in connection with the terrible disaster that occurred near Smolensk. We will listen to the news and we will return to our program.
NEWS
S.BUNTMAN: We continue our program. Sergei Razygraev, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for Air Defense. We are talking about those who are serving now. In general, almost all military personnel are undergoing or are beginning to undergo retraining. But you have always had this, as far as I understand – retraining, advanced training. This must be done constantly.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Of course. And we do not remain aloof from this process. Well, firstly, operational and combat training was, is and will always be in the troops, including in the air defense forces. But now this issue is receiving the closest attention with the advent of the latest types of weapons and military equipment, which we talked about earlier (there is no need to repeat) and changes in the forms and methods of armed struggle, changes in the organizational structure, the transition of the Armed Forces and air defense troops within the Air Force to the new look required the reworking of statutory documents, manuals, guidelines, which we are currently working on. Naturally, this required giving a new impetus to all combat training and operational training. In addition, now the leadership of the Armed Forces, the leadership of the Air Force and the commanders of formations are paying close attention, first of all, to the training of command personnel, starting from all categories. That is, where the word “commander” is present, this is the main focus of attention on all issues and the organization of troop training. As we understand, a lot depends on the commander, if, in general, not everything. Therefore, additional training for this unit, training, and with the commanders of anti-aircraft missile units, radio engineering units, under the leadership of the relevant commanders, has been planned and is being carried out with the invitation of the most trained teachers of military academies, schools and those people who can pass on their experience, including their professionalism . For all categories. Well, you’ve probably heard and know that the commander is not aloof from this process. That is, people who are already in general's stripes with general ranks, but, nevertheless, sit at the benches as students, tests, operational meetings, working out personal documents, personal working out documents.
S.BUNTMAN: Is it hard? Is it hard?
S.RAZYGRAEV: Absolutely. But this is absolutely justified and absolutely correct. Because the principle of “do as I do” should not be replaced by “do as I say.”
A.ERMOLIN: Sergey Nikolaevich, please tell me, are you satisfied with how our production helps you? So, major military leaders come to us and very often say that “we are moving on to what we have.” So you said that you have everything ready for combat and so on.
S.RAZYGRAEV: No, I didn’t say that we have everything ready for combat. Right now I cannot guarantee that we have 100% combat-ready equipment. The reason is very simple. You know, even the light bulbs burn out in this studio - I have no doubt that this happens, although it is rare.
S.BUNTMAN: It happens, yes.
S. RAZYGRAEV: Imagine an anti-aircraft missile system that has more than one million parts. And, of course, understanding as a Minsk engineer by training, I understand that the theory of reliability has not been canceled and the methods of mathematical...
S.BUNTMAN: No, well, this is an objective reality.
A.ERMOLIN: No, now I want to ask about something else.
S.RAZYGRAEV: At any moment something can fail. But there are therefore specially trained, professionally trained personnel who must monitor this and take measures to eliminate it. Are you talking about industry?
A.ERMOLIN: Yes. So, what do I want to say? Our ground forces, for example, complain that there are no modern combat vehicles, that this is about the same as what was included in Afghanistan, right? We don’t have capsule technology. Well, translating, say, to your situation, do you think you have a lot of the latest weapons?
S.RAZYGRAEV: No. The newest samples are now clearly not enough. And if you ask me whether the country’s leadership knows about this, I will answer “Yes.” He is in complete control of the situation, no one hides this situation. The fact is that what we have - I emphasize - what we have in service now is maintained in combat-ready condition. We are doing everything in our power, including with the help of industry, to maintain anti-aircraft missile systems, fighter aircraft, and radar stations in combat-ready condition. After all, you understand perfectly well that now airspace control is not carried out throughout the country. We do not have the same opportunity as in the Soviet Union in the old days (more than 300 units for various purposes) - we covered almost the entire territory of the country with a radar field. Now there is simply no such opportunity. And we are now just beginning to revive what we have lost in previous years. And, in general, I'm talking about a trend. If the trend did not change, but proceeded as it did just a few years ago, perhaps, then the complexes would become old and the equipment would exhaust its service life. And it was decided to take appropriate adequate measures. We have already emphasized that the state weapons program is now in development, it is almost ready. And the parameters that are included in it will make it possible to increase combat readiness by introducing new types of equipment into the air defense forces, which will allow them to fully carry out the assigned task. This means that one aspect must be taken into account here. We must clearly take into account the capabilities of the state and the capabilities of industry. We want and are ready to receive as much equipment as possible and of the best quality possible. But if the country is not ready, then this task, of course, is very important, and I think that according to the latest decisions that I know of, this task will be solved. It’s hard, it’s difficult, but it’s possible to solve it.
A.ERMOLIN: What do you need most? They say that, for example, the S-400 is practically the last generation, because next is space, then space weapons begin to work. What do you miss most? Or there, you say “radar fields”. Or, after all, are these means of destruction? This is what you need most?
S. RAZYGRAEV: Well, I would like to note that, speaking about the air defense system, about the air defense troops, I would like to express this thought and draw your attention to the fact that the Air Force has various weapons - strike complexes, aviation strike complexes, army aviation, long-range aviation, military transport with their own tasks, with their own problems and with their own weapons. But one way or another, to one degree or another, to a greater or lesser extent, they are all armed with weapons that are universal in a sense, which allows not only to strike the enemy on his territory, but also to decide along the way, not even incidentally, but as one of the most important tasks, air defense tasks. Because striking at airfields and disabling airfields of aviation based on it, striking at enemy control points, at enemy command posts on its territory, where troops are stationed, solves a large percentage of air defense problems against troops. It is important. And now there is a trend towards the design, development and modernization of weapons, including aviation weapons, first of all, so that they have multifunctionality. It worked not only against ground targets, but also against air targets. Multi-role fighters Su-27, Su-34 - they already have the ability to work and solve problems of various classes, a large volume of tasks - not only narrow ones for the destruction of some ground targets of the ground enemy. As for what we need most - well, we need everything and we will digest everything and prepare, and we will prepare personnel. And the more industry and the state give us weapons, I think that the personnel, officers, first of all, as the highest professionals, will master them in a short time and put them into service, and we will use them so that the country can sleep peacefully .
S.BUNTMAN: Who is training officers and specialists for you now?
S. RAZYGRAEV: We have a whole complex of military educational institutions. Now, after the transformation, we have a military scientific training center in the Air Force, which conducts training for officers in these higher educational institutions. As branches it has the Krasnodar, Syzran Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, Chelyabinsk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators, Yeisk Higher Military Aviation School, Yaroslavl Anti-Aircraft Missile School of Air Defense, St. Petersburg Higher Military School of Radio Electronics, which trains officers of radio engineering troops. We have a military academy for aerospace defense, that is, a network of military educational institutions developed and transformed into a single, so to speak, structure of a military-scientific training center under a single leadership; it now exists. Therefore, our officer training has been established, worked for decades and, in general, is undergoing certain changes, but we hope they will be beneficial and for the better.
S.BUNTMAN: Tell me, please. Of course, you can’t fool nature and our country is vast. We were just talking about the far northern points. Are any measures being developed in order to overcome, protect from nature and improve service conditions, namely household conditions, construction, and so on?
S. RAZYGRAEV: Thank you for the question. You know, there was one tendency in Soviet times, almost 1.5 decades have passed, this departmental disunity - it did not allow attention to be paid to this question that you are asking. What I mean? The air defense troops built their positions in those places, choosing the optimal system or optimal parameters for the air defense system to create. Reconnaissance systems, aviation basing systems, anti-aircraft missile cover systems. And the factors that were located next to our positions were towns and positions of other types of armed forces were absolutely not taken into account. That is, each species built something for itself.
Now, I believe, this is an extremely important state task, which is being solved under the leadership of the Minister of Defense. Several groups have been created that are optimizing this troop basing system.
S.BUNTMAN: And they coordinate.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Of course!
S.BUNTMAN: Well, yes.
S. RAZYGRAEV: It turns out that upon careful study, it turned out that near our positions there are large towns of other types of armed forces. So an idea arose... We cannot leave our combat positions, and we will occupy and use them. But in order to improve social, cultural and living conditions, we will unite. That is, a decision will be made to unite in some place, or build again, or already in a developed infrastructure, build on it. But concentrate families, children and all other social services there. This is a great intention, a great idea. If it is implemented - and I am sure that it will be - then we will, of course, improve the social and everyday life of our officers and their families.
S. BUNTMAN: Sergey Nikolaevich, well, let’s conclude the program now, after all, congratulate you on the upcoming holiday, and on two - not to mention Victory Day, which is just around the corner, in a month already.
S.RAZYGRAEV: Yes. Thank you for the opportunity. So, during our program I already thanked you, I would like to say once again that I have a unique opportunity on the air and radio “Echo of Moscow”, which I love very much and loved by many tens of thousands of our radio listeners, and the TV channel “Zvezda” to congratulate on our a professional, I emphasize, public holiday - Air Defense Forces Day. Of course, I would like, first of all, to congratulate our veterans, those people who defended our country as part of the air defense forces on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. I have already mentioned the numbers - I will not name them again. But the contribution to the air defense system, to the system of our country, is invaluable.
I would like to congratulate all internationalist soldiers. Do you know that the air defense troops in Vietnam allowed the aggressor to end this shameful war. Our soldiers took part in hostilities on many continents. And wish everyone health, success, good luck. Congratulations also to those who are serving today, their wives, our friends in battle. Well, literally for 30 seconds, if you allow, I would like to wish optimism and say that, over these decades, we have not used our forces and means on a large scale, and this is the main result. It means we were strong, and more than that. Well, another 15 seconds if I may...
S.BUNTMAN: That's it, we're leaving.
S.RAZYGRAEV: We’re flying out. Well, it's a pity.
S.BUNTMAN: Yes. So, Sergey Nikolaevich, thank you very much, we join in these congratulations. Sergei Razygraev, head of air defense and deputy commander-in-chief of the Air Force for air defense. Thanks a lot.
S. RAZYGRAEV: Thank you.
S.BUNTMAN: All the best.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1123 of July 26, 2008, Lieutenant General Sergei Razygraev was appointed commander of the troops of the Special Purpose Command. In a solemn ceremony, the commander's standard was handed over to him by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Colonel General Alexander Zelin. And Colonel General Yuri Solovyov, who had headed the association since 2002, said goodbye to the Battle Banner. The ceremony was attended by commanders of formations and units of the KSpN, as well as veterans of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces.
Sergey Nikolaevich Razygraev was born on February 23, 1952 in Kaliningrad. After graduating from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School of Air Defense, he passed through all command positions from deputy battery commander of an anti-aircraft missile battalion in technical matters to commander of an air defense corps. In 1981 he graduated from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. Zhukov, and in 1995 - the Military Academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces. Awarded the orders “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR”, III degree and “For Military Merit”. 
Since 2002, General Razygraev served as chief of staff - first deputy commander of the KSpN troops. Therefore, after Colonel General Yuri Solovyov reached the age limit for being in service (in May, the commander turned 60 years old), a more worthy candidate who understands the issues of air defense of the Central Economic Region of Russia, the air borders of which are guarded by KSpN troops, according to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief, would have been found difficult.
“This is the most critical sector of the country’s air defense,” Colonel General Alexander Zelin noted in his speech. - I have no doubt at all that General Razygraev will continue to increase the level of combat training of the troops entrusted to him.
Over the past six years, the Command of the KSpN troops has carried out targeted work to strengthen the combat capability of its units and formations. In 2005, for the first time in the last fifteen years, a bilateral exercise was held, in which strike aviation forces were opposed by a defensive air defense group. Anti-aircraft missile and radio-technical troops of two air defense corps, fighter aircraft, as well as attack, bomber, reconnaissance and army aviation of the air army were involved in large-scale maneuvers. Now such exercises are held annually, clearly demonstrating that the most powerful air defense group in the Air Force also has the most combat training organization system oriented towards real combat use. After all, at the training grounds, the KSpN anti-aircraft missile forces operate exclusively in the algorithm of repelling a massive enemy raid. The firing of regiments in an automated control system is controlled by division commanders, radar units operate in the most complex jamming environment, and targets fly not at minute, but at second intervals.
In December 2007, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov approved the development program for the association developed by the KSpN. After its approval, the President of Russia identified the financial resources necessary for implementation, and the program was included in the development plan of the Armed Forces. From that moment on, the KSpN troops found a second wind. Indeed, in the very near future, personnel will be able to be relocated from old military camps to new positional areas, which will be in close proximity to large regional centers. And the families of officers will be provided with long-awaited housing. Significantly increase the potential of army, attack and bomber aviation due to the receipt of new and modernized aircraft and spare parts into air regiments. And, finally, to provide radio engineering troops with a meager amount of modern equipment with new radar stations “Gamma”, “Casta”, etc., as well as the latest complexes of automation equipment “Foundation”.
“The new commander has enough experience to competently implement the planned program,” said Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Alexander Zelin.
After all, if it goes according to the planned scenario, then the effectiveness of the air defense of Moscow and the Central Economic Region will increase significantly.
The President of Russia highly appreciated the services of Colonel General Yuri Solovyov, awarding him the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree. According to the general, he will continue to lobby the interests of the air defense forces in providing them with new anti-aircraft missile and radio weapons systems now as deputy general director of the Almaz-Antey air defense concern.
Well, the new commander of the KSpN troops, Lieutenant General Sergei Razygraev, continuing the work begun by Solovyov, faces a rather difficult task - over the next 5 - 10 years, to create a very strong air defense group adequate to the most modern air threats.
“Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Eduardovich Serdyukov set very specific tasks: the army must be mobile, compact, and meet the most modern requirements,” says Lieutenant General Sergei Razygraev. “Therefore, we will make every effort to ensure that our troops reach the level required by the Minister of Defense.
In the pictures: Battle Banner and standard of the commander of the KSPN troops; from left to right - Colonel General Yuri SOLOVIEV, Colonel General Alexander ZELIN, Lieutenant General Sergei RAZYGRAEV.
Zelin Alexander Nikolaevich
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (since May 2007). Colonel General
Born on May 6, 1953 in the city of Perevalsk, Voroshilovgrad region. In 1976 he graduated from the Kharkov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (with honors), in 1988 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 1997 - the Academy of the General Staff. He began his service as a pilot of the 787th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Soviet Forces Group in Germany (Eberswalde-Finow Air Base). Then the flight commander, deputy commander, squadron commander. In the 1980s - deputy commander of the 115th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (Kokaida) stationed in the Turkestan Military District. Subsequently, he commanded an air group, an air base, a fighter regiment, and a fighter air division. In the mid-1990s - first deputy commander of the 23rd Air Army (Chita). In 1998, after the army was transformed into a separate Air Force and Air Defense Corps, he became its commander. Then chief of staff, commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Novosibirsk). Since June 2001, commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Rostov-on-Don). Since August 2002, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for Aviation. Candidate of Military Sciences, Honored Military Pilot. He was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, the Red Star, and the Order of Military Merit.
Khvorov Igor Ivanovich
Chief of the Air Force General Staff (since May 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on March 8, 1953 in the village. Belomestnaya Kriusha, Tambov region. In 1975 he graduated from the Tambov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1986 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 1999 - the Academy of the General Staff. Served in long-range aviation units: assistant ship commander in the Baltic Military District, ship commander, detachment commander, deputy commander, squadron commander in the Trans-Baikal Military District. Since 1986, chief of staff, since 1987 commander of the 200th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (Bobruisk, Belarus). Since 1992, he commanded the 326th heavy bomber air division (Soltsy, Novgorod region). Since 1999, in the management of the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command: chief of combat training, chief of staff, since November 2002 - army commander. Candidate of Military Sciences. Honored military pilot, sniper pilot.
Androsov Pavel Vasilievich
Commander of the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command for Strategic Purposes (since May 2007). Major General
Born on September 6, 1954 in the Tambov region. In 1975 he graduated from the Tambov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1988 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2000 - the Academy of the General Staff. He began his service in long-range aviation as an assistant ship commander. He commanded a squadron, then, as deputy commander of the 185th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (Poltava, Ukrainian SSR), he participated in combat operations in Afghanistan. He was the commander of a heavy bomber air regiment in the Kiev Military District, the commander of the 55th heavy bomber air division (Vozdvizhenka, Primorsky Krai), and the head of the flight safety service of the 37th Air Army. Since November 2002, the chief of staff has been the first deputy commander of the 37th Air Army. Honored military pilot, sniper pilot.
Kachalkin Viktor Timofeevich
Commander of the 61st Air Army of the Supreme High Command (military transport aviation) since February 2007. Major General
Born on March 29, 1963 in the village. Kachalin, Tatsinsky district, Rostov region. In 1984 he graduated from the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1993 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2003 - the Academy of the General Staff. He served in various flying positions, and in 1987 took part in hostilities in Angola. Since 1997, commander of the 708th Guards Kerch Military Transport Aviation Regiment (Taganrog, Rostov region). Since 2003, deputy commander, commander of the 12th Mginsk Military Transport Air Division (Migalovo, Tver Region). Since 2005, Deputy Commander of the 61st Air Army. Honored military pilot. Awarded the Order of Military Merit and medals.
Razygraev Sergey Nikolaevich
Commander of the Special Forces Command (since July 2008). Lieutenant General
Born on February 23, 1952 in Kaliningrad. In 1974 he graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School of Air Defense, in 1981 - from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov, in 1995 - the Academy of the General Staff. He served in the troops of the Moscow Air Defense District: deputy commander of a launch battery for technical matters, battery commander, chief of staff of an anti-aircraft missile division. Since 1981 commander of an anti-aircraft missile division, regiment, deputy commander of an air defense division. Since 1992, he commanded the 4th Air Defense Division (Novaya Zemlya), and since 1995, the head of the combat training of air defense troops. Since December 1998, commander of the 21st Air Defense Corps (Severomorsk). Awarded the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree, "For Military Merit" and medals.
Miroshnichenko Igor Vladimirovich
Commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since January 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on December 15, 1957 in Kyiv. A graduate of the Moscow Suvorov School, in 1979 he graduated from the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1991 - from the Air Force Academy. Yu. A. Gagarin (with honors), in 2004 - the Academy of the General Staff (with honors). He was a pilot in the 787th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (Eberswalde-Finow). In 1982-1988 - in the Turkestan Military District: pilot, flight commander of the 179th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (Nebit-Dag), deputy commander, squadron commander of the 156th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Mary-2). In 1991-1992, deputy commander of the 378th separate attack air regiment (Belarus). Then in the Far Eastern Military District: deputy commander of an attack air regiment, since 1996 commander of the 404th Fighter Aviation Regiment, since 2001 commander of a mixed air division. Since 2004, commander of the 51st Air Defense Corps (Rostov-on-Don). Participated in combat operations in Afghanistan (44 combat missions) and Tajikistan (21 combat and 5 special combat missions). Honored military pilot, sniper pilot. Awarded the medal "For Military Merit", the order "For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces" III degree, "For Military Merit".
Kucheryavyi Mikhail Mikhailovich
Commander of the 5th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since June 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on March 25, 1955 in the city of Klimovich, Mogilev region, Belarusian SSR. In 1976 he graduated from the Pushkin Higher Command School of Air Defense Radioelectronics, in 1988 - from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov, in 1998 - Academy of the General Staff. He served in the air defense forces as a senior technician, department head, battery commander, division commander, and deputy brigade commander. Since 1989, commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment of the North Caucasus Military District. In 1990-1992, commander of the anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Transcaucasian Military District. Then the chief of staff of the air defense division in the North Caucasus Military District. Since 1998, deputy commander, then chief of staff of the 54th Air Defense Corps (Khvoyny, Leningrad Region). In 2002 he was appointed commander of the 54th Air Defense Corps. Awarded the Order of Military Merit, the Medal for Military Merit, other medals, and personalized weapons.
Sviridov Vladimir Georgievich
Commander of the 6th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since June 2005). Lieutenant General
Born on October 13, 1955 in Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol Territory. In 1979 he graduated from the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School of Air Defense Pilots and Navigators, in 1992 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2002 - the Academy of the General Staff. Began service in the Far Eastern Military District: pilot, flight commander. Since 1987, deputy commander, squadron commander in a group of Soviet troops in Germany. Served in the Transcaucasian and North Caucasian military districts: deputy commander, commander of a bomber air regiment, deputy commander of a bomber air division. Then he commanded a bomber air division in the Far Eastern Military District. Since 2002, Deputy Commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Rostov-on-Don). Honored military pilot, sniper pilot. Awarded the Order of the Red Star and "For Military Merit"), medals.
Bondarev Viktor Nikolaevich
Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since June 2008). Major General
Born on December 7, 1959 in the village. Novobogoroditskoye, Voronezh region. In 1981 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1992 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2004 - the Academy of the General Staff. He was an instructor pilot and flight commander at the Barnaul Pilot School. Subsequently, senior navigator of the air regiment, squadron commander at the flight training center, squadron commander, deputy commander, commander of the 899th Guards Attack Air Regiment (Buturlinovka, Voronezh Region). Participated in combat operations in Afghanistan and in both wars in Chechnya. In the early 2000s, deputy commander, since 2004 commander of the 105th mixed air division (Voronezh). Since November 2005, Deputy Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Novosibirsk). Hero of Russia (title awarded in April 2000 for participation in hostilities in Chechnya). Sniper pilot.
Ivanov Valery Mikhailovich
Commander of the 11th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since May 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on December 21, 1960 in Opochka, Pskov region. Orphanage student. In 1982 he graduated from the Dnepropetrovsk Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense, in 1994 - from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov, in 2002 - the Academy of the General Staff. Since 1982 he served in air defense units of the Far Eastern Military District: guidance officer, deputy battery commander. Since 1987 in the Transcaucasian Military District: deputy commander, division commander. Then deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment, head of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the air defense corps, chief of staff of the air defense unit, head of the operational department of the air force and air defense unit. In 1998-2000, chief of staff of the 8th Air Defense Corps (Komsomolsk-on-Amur). In 2002-2003 he commanded the 76th Air Defense Division (Samara). Since 2003, commander of the 1st Air Defense Corps (Balashikha, Moscow region). Awarded two orders and medals.
Sergei Nikolaevich Razygraev - Russian military leader, lieutenant general.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School of Air Defense (1974), the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov (1981, with honors), Military Academy of the General Staff (1995).
After graduating from college, he served in the Moscow Air Defense District - deputy commander of an anti-aircraft missile battery for technical matters, battery commander, chief of staff and division commander, deputy commander and regiment commander, deputy division commander.
In 1992-1993 - commander of the 4th (Novaya Zemlya) air defense division.
Since 1995 - head of the combat training department of air defense troops.
Since 1998 - commander of the 21st Air Defense Corps (Kola formation).
Since 2002 - Chief of Staff - First Deputy, since 2008 - Commander of the Special Forces Command of the Russian Air Force.
Since 2009 - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for Air Defense.
Since May 2011 - in reserve.
Awarded the Order “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR”, III degree, “For Military Merit”, and many medals. Laureate of the state award "for organizing and leading the construction and development of the Air Force."
In 2005, a book of essays by air defense veterans, “Guarding the Northern Sky,” was published in Moscow. It also contains memories of Sergei Nikolaevich Razygraev about his service on Novaya Zemlya and in the Kola Arctic. I think they will be of interest to many who knew and know the former commander of the 21st Air Defense Corps.
During the years of the general’s service in the North, I had the opportunity to meet many times – both in official and unofficial settings – with Sergei Nikolaevich. I will briefly say one thing: this is a real Russian officer, a professional of the highest class, a man of encyclopedic knowledge and a broad soul. Happy birthday, Sergey Nikolaevich!
Mikhail Demin, member of the Russian Union of Journalists.
"The pull of the north
Unfortunately, I served as deputy division commander for four years. Unfortunately, because, in my opinion, three years is quite enough: I understood and mastered everything in this position, achieved everything here - I was no longer interested, and the fourth year was actually lost. And then I was offered to command a division in the town of Vidnoye near Moscow. Who would refuse?
The documents were completed, I went to the Military Council of the Air Defense Forces, and then suddenly the Commander-in-Chief, Army General V.A. Prudnikov says to me: “We know you, Sergei Nikolaevich, you are a smart, competent officer, but, in my opinion, you have stayed too long in the Moscow region. It's time for you to clear your head... That's why I offer you a division on Novaya Zemlya. How are you?"
The option, needless to say, is interesting and more than unexpected. But I, true to my principle of never refusing higher positions, answered immediately, as I was taught: “I will justify the trust!”
It was clear that if I had said: “Allow me to think?”, then my military biography would definitely not have turned out the way it did now.
And, of course, the cats were scratching my heart. The native and familiar Moscow region is one thing, but a distant and mysterious island with the romantic name Novaya Zemlya is another. In the district, one might say, I knew everyone, and everyone knew me, here by that time I had already earned quite a good reputation... And here is a completely new region, new people, new conditions, environment. Moreover, an independent position, and even in isolation from everything... However, I gave my consent, and the Military Council confirmed me in the position. When I called my wife, who was then in the Baltics with her daughter, and said that I had been appointed commander to Novaya Zemlya, there was silence for about two minutes... Then, naturally, everything came together.
Soon I flew to Arkhangelsk, where I was met by the acting commander of the 10th Air Defense Army, General Yuri Vasilyevich Solovyov, my current commander. He introduced me to the situation and said that tomorrow he and I were flying to Novaya Zemlya via Amderma.
We can say that Amderma was a kind of preface to what could await me ahead. It was mid-October, and winter was already in full swing... The city and the garrison there are supplied with water from a lake located 12 kilometers away, where a new water pipeline was laid over the summer, but they did not have time to put the heating system into operation. At the first serious frost, everything froze, and the city was left without water. So General Solovyov had to fly there to figure it out and take action... In general, I got an immediate impression of the North.
And I also remembered the ships standing in the roadstead: it was already dusk, the eve of the polar night, and the ships were all in bright lights and above them was the harshest black-blue sky... I was simply shocked by this amazing beauty. The picture is imprinted in my memory, like a photograph...
Two days later we arrived at Novaya Zemlya. It was 19.10, the windows were full of night, snowstorm and frost, about 15 degrees. The next day the commander introduced me and flew back.
I served on Novaya Zemlya for a short time, a little over a year. During this year, I managed to fly around almost all of our radar companies: the division had two radio technical regiments - Vorkutinsky, on the mainland, and Rogachevsky, which was stationed in Belushya Guba, island companies. I flew, saw how people live... Once a month a civilian helicopter arrived from Dikson, the Ministry of Defense specially allocated funds to pay for it, and the machine flew over all the “points”, to Franz Josef Land... The northernmost tip of Novaya Zemlya - Cape Zhelaniya, from the south - Belushya Guba. There are 800 kilometers between them. But life cannot be stopped! Soldiers go into reserve, officers and warrant officers return from vacation, something always needs to be delivered: equipment, some blocks, food. By the way, for the small children who were at these points, even if there were few of them, they were always brought oranges and apples...
I remember this episode: we flew to Cape Zhelaniya and the wife of a senior lieutenant asked to board, who was told via communications that women’s boots had been brought to the store in Belushya. And just like that, she flew 800 kilometers away, making landings in each company. I bought boots and returned back the next day by the same helicopter. Would any Muscovites have the desire to fly 800 kilometers to buy boots? But there the distances seem different...
The service there, of course, was difficult. For me, as a division commander, it was easier; after all, we lived in Belushka, but at the “points” there was darkness... In Russian Harbor, people lived in trailers! And I thought then that if the Motherland needs us, and this whole thing must be preserved, then we should not live the way we live there. But then we got used to it and somehow lived...
By the way, what in the north, in my opinion, is impossible to get used to is the endlessly long winter. I adapted to the polar night, I adapted to the polar day, but not to winter... And what else I especially remember was the constant wind. There were such terrible snowstorms that it was simply impossible to breathe. That’s why people there walk around with so-called “TVs”: this is curved plexiglass with a handle, which you put to your face, because it’s impossible to breathe against the wind. You start to inhale, and the air pressure is so strong that it literally tears your lungs apart. Especially if it’s snowing - there are such sharp needles, God forbid you open your mouth, your mouth will immediately be full of these needles... It’s a terrible thing!
Once, I remember, somehow in such a snowstorm I had to walk 200 meters to my house. I come - I can’t feel my arms, I can’t bend, I can’t feel my legs - everything is numb. I pass by the mirror - my face is red, tears are flowing. “Well,” I say to myself. “Did you want to become a general?” And then I felt so funny! He laughed, drank vodka to warm up, took a bath and, as in the joke: “Life is getting better!” - everything is fine.
There was a lot of talk about bears, but I personally did not see a live bear. Although once in the Lilje company, on the coast (the company was disbanded, but the equipment and security remained), a polar bear came out to attack one sentry. Frightened, the sentry fired (it was about 70 meters away) and killed him with one shot. But the bear was decent... They didn’t take him away right away, he fell, froze, and when we took him out to the GTSk, he was practically frozen. The entire division command went to look at him. We put him up - he looked as if he was alive, we propped him up on the other side, and everyone went to take pictures with him...
The position of division commander is solid, serious, and here you will mature and gain experience. In addition, for a military man to receive the rank of general is very worthy, it is both your pride and the pride of your family... However, not everything in our service turns out as you plan. After just six months of my command there, a directive came to disband the division... I began this process, realizing that I needed to make some kind of decision for myself and soon asked to join the Academy of the General Staff. The Commander-in-Chief “gave the go-ahead”, but did not sign the application for the rank of general, saying that it would be too much at one time... Therefore, on September 1, 1993, I began studying at the academy, and the disbandment of the division was carried out completely by another commander ...
I now remember that year on Novaya Zemlya with pleasure. There is something good in all places: fishing there, hunting is excellent... But most importantly, I made friends there with whom we still communicate and are family friends: for example, this is my deputy for the rear, now a general - Major Alexander Nikolaevich Shapilov. I have very good memories of the deputy division commander Ruslan Petrovich Nochevny, the chief of staff of the radio engineering regiment Gulakov, the regiment commanders - Kislukha, Gorbunov...
After the Academy of the General Staff, I served for two and a half years in the Main Command of the Air Defense Forces, and when they offered me command of a corps, I immediately agreed. At first they offered to go to the Far East, but it didn’t work out there, but literally four months later they offered Severomorsk... Here I already understood what it was, and my wife agreed with pleasure. To be honest, until the end of my days I will remember with great gratitude that fate gave me the opportunity to command this rather troublesome, voluminous and very honorable formation. I hope that I also took a worthy place in the annals of the 21st Air Defense Corps, because I tried not only to show myself, but also to do something good, to raise the prestige of the Kola Unit, the Air Force, and the Air Defense Forces. This time, no matter how beautiful it sounds, I will call the flight of the soul...
Of course, the first six months were hard, thoughts even occurred to me that why the hell do you need this, especially when, like from a cornucopia, one, then another, then the fifth emergency fell... Then somehow everything got better, settled down, calmed down. But it couldn’t have been any other way; in the North, the attitude towards service is completely different.
By the way, I thought for a long time why this is so? They say the people there are better. But people, in my opinion, are the same everywhere: there are enough normal, worthy ones, they are probably the majority, but there are also rubbish, which is also enough... However, the difficult climatic conditions of the North, the special living conditions seem to unite people, force them to open up their best qualities, the good that is sure to exist in every person. Without this you simply cannot survive there. By the way, if you can shout at a soldier here, then you’ll think twice about it there. For example, when you go to some unit in 40-degree frost, your life often depends on the soldier-driver, a 19-20-year-old peasant, how he feels, how he will work, whether he knows his car, whether he can eliminate a sudden malfunction. It happened that the head of the ZRV went to Kilp-Jarv at night to investigate the incident. The road is quite busy, but the UAZ broke down. And although there were means of communication, help was sent to him in time, but he had to burn the spare tire, otherwise he would have frozen... 40-degree frost is no joke, especially when the UAZ...
So, special conditions force people to look at everything that happens a little differently. I noticed that even someone who, perhaps, did not show himself very well in the Moscow region, feels differently in the North, he suddenly has a desire to prove that he can be on an equal footing with others here. As they say now: “I did it!” And indeed they did. They did something that in other conditions might seem completely unusual, bordering almost on a miracle.
Suffice it to say that our corps in area was equal to the whole of France... If I get into a car here now, then in two or three days, of course, I will gallop across Europe, but I can go around all the regiments of the 1st Corps. And once it happened that I drove a car from Severomorsk one and a half thousand kilometers just to visit two companies! There was no helicopter, but I definitely had to get there...
A lot happened in four years, it’s impossible to tell right away. In my opinion, I managed the most important thing: to support the corps and not lower the level that was set by the commanders before me. I traditionally paid special attention to combat training. Although there was no fuel, there wasn’t this, there wasn’t that, but I believed that you need to learn to fight, you need to shoot - and every year I carried out firing according to my plan... Anti-aircraft missile forces, and aviation, Su-27 and MiG- 31 against parachute targets and against missiles launched from aircraft. The main thing is that during the shooting, the entire control, communication, guidance system of fighter aircraft is tested, in general, all this is not only very necessary and important, but also very interesting...
I especially remember the year 2000, August 11th. We conducted live firing with the 300th complex from its permanent location. But first, the division made a 100-kilometer march in real conditions, where it was located, and not in the Astrakhan steppe. This is very important: he masters the geography in which he will directly conduct combat operations... This was the Polyarninsky regiment, commanded by Colonel Dmitry Dmitrievich Loginov, now he is the head of the air defense corps.
They fired from Cape Teribersky at a Termit-R target missile. This is an anti-ship missile in service with coastal troops. At this time, the Northern Fleet was conducting its exercise, and coastal troops were being targeted. The target missile was shot down!
I invited the entire leadership of the region, Murmansk and those cities of the Kola Peninsula where our units are stationed to these shootings. We had very good relations with all this management and they came and watched with pleasure. I am a rocket scientist myself, I have seen hundreds of launches, but still my heart beats every time and I feel proud of this weapon and of us, that we were able to master it and hit this missile. And the civilian people also clapped their hands and shouted “Hurray!”...
No one, of course, could have imagined that tomorrow would go down as a black date in the history of our Northern and the entire Navy, and indeed all of Russia. The next day, August 12, 2000, at the final stage of the exercise, the Kursk submarine died in the cold waters of the Barents Sea.
The Far North does not forgive mistakes, and therefore they believe that it is often merciless towards people...
But all the same, the North has its own amazing attraction, and anyone who has been there at least once is attracted to it again and again. That’s why I remember with gratitude these “northern” periods of my service, which became for me both a school and an academy, and, perhaps, the most interesting, eventful years of my life.”
Zelin Alexander Nikolaevich
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (since May 2007). Colonel General
Born on May 6, 1953 in the city of Perevalsk, Voroshilovgrad region. In 1976 he graduated from the Kharkov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (with honors), in 1988 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 1997 - the Academy of the General Staff. He began his service as a pilot of the 787th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Soviet Forces Group in Germany (Eberswalde-Finow Air Base). Then the flight commander, deputy commander, squadron commander. In the 1980s, he was deputy commander of the 115th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (Kokaydy) stationed in the Turkestan Military District. Subsequently, he commanded an air group, an air base, a fighter regiment, and a fighter air division. In the mid-1990s - first deputy commander of the 23rd Air Army (Chita). In 1998, after the army was transformed into a separate Air Force and Air Defense Corps, he became its commander. Then chief of staff, commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Novosibirsk). Since June 2001, commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Rostov-on-Don). Since August 2002, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for Aviation. Candidate of Military Sciences, Honored Military Pilot. He was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, the Red Star, and the Order of Military Merit.
Khvorov Igor Ivanovich
Chief of the Air Force General Staff (since May 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on March 8, 1953 in the village. Belomestnaya Kriusha, Tambov region. In 1975 he graduated from the Tambov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1986 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 1999 - the Academy of the General Staff. Served in long-range aviation units: assistant ship commander in the Baltic Military District, ship commander, detachment commander, deputy commander, squadron commander in the Trans-Baikal Military District. Since 1986, chief of staff, since 1987 commander of the 200th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (Bobruisk, Belarus). Since 1992, he commanded the 326th heavy bomber air division (Soltsy, Novgorod region). Since 1999, in the management of the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command: chief of combat training, chief of staff, since November 2002 - army commander. Candidate of Military Sciences. Honored military pilot, sniper pilot.
Androsov Pavel Vasilievich
Commander of the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command for Strategic Purposes (since May 2007). Major General
Born on September 6, 1954 in the Tambov region. In 1975 he graduated from the Tambov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1988 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2000 - the Academy of the General Staff. He began his service in long-range aviation as an assistant ship commander. He commanded a squadron, then, as deputy commander of the 185th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (Poltava, Ukrainian SSR), he participated in combat operations in Afghanistan. He was the commander of a heavy bomber air regiment in the Kiev Military District, the commander of the 55th heavy bomber air division (Vozdvizhenka, Primorsky Krai), and the head of the flight safety service of the 37th Air Army. Since November 2002, the chief of staff is the first deputy commander of the 37th Air Army. Honored military pilot, sniper pilot.
Kachalkin Viktor Timofeevich
Commander of the 61st Air Army of the Supreme High Command (military transport aviation) since February 2007. Major General
Born on March 29, 1963 in the village. Kachalin, Tatsinsky district, Rostov region. In 1984 he graduated from the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1993 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2003 - the Academy of the General Staff. He served in various flying positions, and in 1987 took part in hostilities in Angola. Since 1997, commander of the 708th Guards Kerch Military Transport Aviation Regiment (Taganrog, Rostov region). Since 2003, deputy commander, commander of the 12th Mginsk Military Transport Air Division (Migalovo, Tver Region). Since 2005, Deputy Commander of the 61st Air Army. Honored military pilot. Awarded the Order of Military Merit and medals.
Razygraev Sergey Nikolaevich
Commander of the Special Forces Command (since July 2008). Lieutenant General
Born on February 23, 1952 in Kaliningrad. In 1974 he graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School of Air Defense, in 1981 - from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov, in 1995 - the Academy of the General Staff. He served in the troops of the Moscow Air Defense District: deputy commander of a launch battery for technical matters, battery commander, chief of staff of an anti-aircraft missile division. Since 1981 commander of an anti-aircraft missile division, regiment, deputy commander of an air defense division. Since 1992, he commanded the 4th Air Defense Division (Novaya Zemlya), and since 1995, the head of the combat training of air defense troops. Since December 1998, commander of the 21st Air Defense Corps (Severomorsk). Awarded the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree, "For Military Merit" and medals.
Miroshnichenko Igor Vladimirovich
Commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since January 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on December 15, 1957 in Kyiv. A graduate of the Moscow Suvorov School, in 1979 he graduated from the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1991 from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin (with honors), in 2004 - the Academy of the General Staff (with honors). He was a pilot in the 787th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (Eberswalde-Finow). In 1982-1988 - in the Turkestan Military District: pilot, flight commander of the 179th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (Nebit-Dag), deputy commander, squadron commander of the 156th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Mary-2). In 1991-1992, deputy commander of the 378th separate attack air regiment (Belarus). Then in the Far Eastern Military District: deputy commander of an attack air regiment, since 1996 commander of the 404th Fighter Aviation Regiment, since 2001 commander of a mixed air division. Since 2004, commander of the 51st Air Defense Corps (Rostov-on-Don). Participated in combat operations in Afghanistan (44 combat missions) and Tajikistan (21 combat and 5 special combat missions). Honored military pilot, sniper pilot. Awarded the medal "For Military Merit", the order "For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces" III degree, "For Military Merit".
Kucheryavyi Mikhail Mikhailovich
Commander of the 5th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since June 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on March 25, 1955 in the city of Klimovich, Mogilev region, Belarusian SSR. In 1976 he graduated from the Pushkin Higher Command School of Air Defense Radioelectronics, in 1988 - from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov, in 1998 - the Academy of the General Staff. He served in the air defense forces as a senior technician, department head, battery commander, division commander, and deputy brigade commander. Since 1989, commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment of the North Caucasus Military District. In 1990-1992, commander of the anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Transcaucasian Military District. Then the chief of staff of the air defense division in the North Caucasus Military District. Since 1998, deputy commander, then chief of staff of the 54th Air Defense Corps (Khvoyny, Leningrad Region). In 2002 he was appointed commander of the 54th Air Defense Corps. Awarded the Order of Military Merit, the Medal for Military Merit, other medals, and personalized weapons.
Sviridov Vladimir Georgievich
Commander of the 6th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since June 2005). Lieutenant General
Born on October 13, 1955 in Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol Territory. In 1979 he graduated from the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School of Air Defense Pilots and Navigators, in 1992 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2002 - the Academy of the General Staff. Began service in the Far Eastern Military District: pilot, flight commander. Since 1987, deputy commander, squadron commander in a group of Soviet troops in Germany. Served in the Transcaucasian and North Caucasian military districts: deputy commander, commander of a bomber air regiment, deputy commander of a bomber air division. Then he commanded a bomber air division in the Far Eastern Military District. Since 2002, Deputy Commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Rostov-on-Don). Honored military pilot, sniper pilot. Awarded the Order of the Red Star and "For Military Merit"), medals.
Bondarev Viktor Nikolaevich
Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since June 2008). Major General
Born on December 7, 1959 in the village. Novobogoroditskoye, Voronezh region. In 1981 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1992 - from the Air Force Academy named after. Yu. A. Gagarin, in 2004 - the Academy of the General Staff. He was an instructor pilot and flight commander at the Barnaul Pilot School. Subsequently, senior navigator of the air regiment, squadron commander at the flight training center, squadron commander, deputy commander, commander of the 899th Guards Attack Air Regiment (Buturlinovka, Voronezh Region). Participated in combat operations in Afghanistan and in both wars in Chechnya. In the early 2000s, deputy commander, since 2004 commander of the 105th mixed air division (Voronezh). Since November 2005, Deputy Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Novosibirsk). Hero of Russia (title awarded in April 2000 for participation in hostilities in Chechnya). Sniper pilot.
Ivanov Valery Mikhailovich
Commander of the 11th Air Force and Air Defense Army (since May 2007). Lieutenant General
Born on December 21, 1960 in Opochka, Pskov region. Orphanage student. In 1982 he graduated from the Dnepropetrovsk Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense, in 1994 - from the Military Command Academy of Air Defense named after. G.K. Zhukov, in 2002 - the Academy of the General Staff. Since 1982 he served in air defense units of the Far Eastern Military District: guidance officer, deputy battery commander. Since 1987 in the Transcaucasian Military District: deputy commander, division commander. Then deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment, head of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the air defense corps, chief of staff of the air defense unit, head of the operational department of the air force and air defense unit. In 1998-2000, chief of staff of the 8th Air Defense Corps (Komsomolsk-on-Amur). In 2002-2003 he commanded the 76th Air Defense Division (Samara). Since 2003, commander of the 1st Air Defense Corps (Balashikha, Moscow region). Awarded two orders and medals.