Sergey Menyailo — about the participation of residents of the region in a special military operationDespite the small population, North Ossetia today is one of those regions of the country from where a large number of fighters, including volunteers, went to the zone of special military operation (SVO).
Combat missions are carried out there by volunteer international detachments "Alania", "Storm. Ossetia", as well as a reinforced consolidated artillery detachment. The head of the republic, Sergei Menyailo, visits the positions of Ossetian battalions on a monthly basis. After another trip to the front line, he told in an interview with TASS about the mood of the military, their equipment, the work of the Ossetian humanitarian center in the new territory of Russia and the sons of officers.
— Sergey Ivanovich, in March last year, on your initiative, volunteer detachments were created in North Ossetia, which are on the front line. Who joined these detachments? How many people are in them? And how many volunteers from North Ossetia are there in the SVO zone?— I will not talk about the number of our detachments, but they are fully staffed, a staff structure has been developed for them, coordinated with the Russian Defense Ministry.
And it all started with the detachment "Alania", which consisted exclusively of residents of our republic. Now, of course, it is already an international team. There are fighters from different regions — Moscow, Moscow region, Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan, Tatarstan, regions of Siberia. But the basis is still made up of residents of North Ossetia of different nationalities. They are fully equipped, armed, and have communications and special intelligence facilities. Instructors work with them periodically.
As for all volunteers from the republic, they also perform tasks in such volunteer detachments as "Veteran", "Pyatnashka", "Union of Donbass Veterans", "Don", "Terek", etc. I want to emphasize that in addition to them, natives of the republic from among the military personnel and those who are called up as part of partial mobilization are now also participating in the defense of the Motherland.
— What are the plans for the detachments "Alania", "Storm. Ossetia"? And are there plans to create new similar units? — The formation of new detachments is not planned, there is no need for this now.
The detachments "Storm. Ossetia" and "Alania" are different tasks. They are different in composition, in armament, and in purpose.
"Alania" is equipped and maintained entirely at the expense of the republic. The equipment and armament of both units are very good. By the way, their body armor is one of the lightest among the existing ones, with the fifth level of protection.
The armament and [military] equipment of the detachments is partially provided at the expense of the Ministry of Defense, the rest of the vehicles — pickups, UAZ trucks, etc. — all at the expense of the republic and not only. My colleagues and friends from other regions are helping. In particular, from Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, Moscow, Moscow region. Weapons are updated as needed. For today, the detachments are not short of anything.
— You quite often go to the zone of your own, you are on the front line. In July 2022, your motorcade came under fire, and in early February of this year, the positions you arrived at were shelled twice. What is the reason for such dangerous and risky trips?— I don't keep count, but I've been there more than ten times for sure.
About once a month I go there for an average of ten days. No matter what anyone says, I go there to try to help. Only on the spot will you learn the truth about what is happening on the front line. I solve the issues of the fighters, which I find out about, I meet with the command on the ground. The more often I go to the special operation zone, the more the guys there are waiting for me. I confess, if I had served, then I would have been pleased with the visits of the head of the region, who would stand next to me, ask how to help. We need to maintain the morale of the guys there, especially among the mobilized. And it is also necessary to call for order.
In addition, we do not come to the SVO zone empty-handed, despite the fact that the detachments do not complain about the lack of anything. Plus it's nice to receive greetings from home. At one time, I took folding icons to the command posts of our guys — field, small, consecrated, with images of St. George, the Kazan Mother of God, and all the keepers. After, during the next trip, I stopped in one place, I look — there is an icon, in another — there is also one, somewhere a candle was placed nearby...
The last time we brought 50 thermal imagers and 20 night lights (night vision devices), we transferred them to the 19th [motorized rifle] division. Before that, in one of these trips to the front line, the car was handed over to the commander of the regiment. Now we are waiting for the arrival of 15 reinforced new pickups. There are more Kamaz trucks and different equipment on the way. It was all given by my friends.
And as for the danger of trips to the SVO zone, then shelling, arrivals there, on the spot, is normal. So, in July 2022, we were returning from the training ground, where the combat coordination of our detachments took place. We were supposed to drive through Volnovakha, but everything was broken there, so we drove along the highway. On the way, four grenades flew from the copters. In principle, on those roads that are close to the frontline, arrivals are a frequent and natural thing, I don't think we were any specific target and therefore flew in. But then distorted information allegedly about my concussion leaked onto the Internet. I had to explain to everyone that nothing had happened and that when something arrives in a combat zone, this is a normal phenomenon. I don't see anything wrong with that.
And for the second time, when they came under fire, I had correspondents of Channel One and TASS with me, who came to show how our fighters serve, perform combat tasks. And at this time, the battery received a firing task. Naturally, they fulfilled it and in response began to arrive. And it wasn't because of us either. No one knew I was going there.
— There is information that your sons are taking part in the special operation. Is it so?— My two sons are independent people and officers, I do not interfere in their decisions.
They are called to protect the Homeland, so they protect it where their Homeland sent them. Therefore, I am not ashamed of them, and I have the moral right to look openly into the eyes of all those who are performing military duty in the SVO zone today, and their relatives. Let's just say my sons don't sit in the rear and I don't hide them.
— Every time during your trips to the SVO zone, you visit the Unified Humanitarian Support Center for Fighters, which was created on your initiative in the Zaporozhye region. How necessary was this center and how is its work organized? Are there plans to create similar centers in other regions?— I have a lot of experience in military service and I know that when hostilities begin, people show kindness, responsiveness and begin to send humanitarian aid in large volumes.
Such civic activity has also manifested itself this time. But in such situations, fighters, especially on the front line, should not have extra things. Therefore, it was decided to systematize all the parcels and create this center. In addition, it is needed to account for material values — everything that people send to our fighters. I generally think that everything should be accountable to people. According to our detachments, all the needs and needs were clear, but mobilization began. Yes, there is staffing from the Ministry of Defense, but, unfortunately, the special operation dictates slightly different conditions. And the humanitarian center was created as a tool that helps to distribute everything necessary on the front line.
I appointed Soslan Andiyev responsible for the work of this center. He's good, he has an organizational trait in his character. Already everyone there knows him by his call sign. He collected the phone numbers of the mobilized, their commanders, and with his guys he constantly clarifies information about the needs of the fighters and delivers them what they need. Rosgvardiya and other structures immediately joined us. Humanitarian aid is now being sent to other regions, and the center is replenished almost daily. I don't know exactly how much cargo was delivered to the guys through a single center — more than a thousand tons of water, 1,500 tons of various cargo, electric heat guns, about a thousand stoves. The most important thing is that all this quickly reaches those who need it. For example, food shipments that come to our center do not stay there for more than two or three days, they are immediately delivered, including to local residents who now see help and protection in our military.
We also deliver personalized parcels through the humanitarian center. There I sometimes see big bags for specific fighters. We find them, give them a gift from home.
The guys from the humanitarian center are responsible for each cargo and deliver it directly to the front line themselves.
— Over this year, many subjects of the country have taken patronage over new territories, helping local authorities in the restoration. Is there any plans for the republic to show the same initiative?— We will find the locality over which we will take patronage when we complete the combat mission and win.
Yes, there are similar plans. But now our first task is to provide our guys with everything they need. In addition, our guys are in the frontline zone and they fly there all the time. Why restore objects there now? So that it would be destroyed immediately?
In the meantime, the guys in the squads themselves took the initiative and began to help in one locality. And when it is possible to calmly begin to restore the economy, we will take the initiative to take patronage.
— According to your decree, the families of those mobilized in North Ossetia receive assistance in a number of areas. Today, how many families in the republic have already received financial assistance? Are there plans to introduce new support measures in the region?— It all depends on the situation.
Now the soldiers have a good allowance. As it was established by the President of the country Vladimir Putin, they receive at least 195 thousand rubles plus combat. Therefore, we will take any additional measures if such a need arises.
In the beginning, when many mobilized people were buying something for themselves, they needed support, because they did not immediately begin to receive a salary. And then we organized one-time payments of 30 thousand rubles in the republic. This somehow supported the families of the mobilized.
For today, in North Ossetia, a social passport has been developed for each family of the participant of the SVO, in which everything is spelled out: family composition, income level, what problems they have, etc. An assignment was given to accompany each such family. Without separating the mobilized and volunteers.
— We learned from the soldiers of the detachments that, on your behalf, the production of military equipment has been established in the republic. Where exactly are clothes made?— Here, in Mozdok.
They sew very well. We initially asked to sew a uniform for our first squad — they did it efficiently and on time. Now they are receiving orders from the Terek Cossack army, from the Chechen Republic, and other regions. I wear their clothes myself. And their prices are reasonable. I am sometimes even asked by friends in uniform, when they see me wearing these clothes, whether it is possible to ask them to sew one too.
All our detachments wear their tailored clothes. Sometimes we help the mobilized, too. The fighters of the Terek detachment and their commander are still grateful that I brought them to the head of this enterprise and he equipped them.
— This year, hundreds of internally displaced persons from new territories, including children, have arrived in North Ossetia, as well as in other regions of the country. How is the stay of such children organized in your republic? Are all arranged in kindergartens, schools? What activities for children's recreation are being held and are planned to be held?— Yes, they are all arranged.
500 people arrived in the republic at the beginning of the special operation, they are all housed. Of these, 163 children, and all are arranged in kindergartens and schools. The other day, 60 more child athletes arrived for rehabilitation, arranged for them to one of our fighting bases. Before that, there were 100 people there. In this regard, Artur Taymazov (State Duma deputy from North Ossetia, Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling — approx. TASS). There are no complaints about accommodation or stay.
— At the end of the conversation, I would like to know your opinion and impressions, as a vice admiral, a military man with a lot of experience, about the situation in the SVO zone, about our guys on the front line after another trip there.— The last trip to the front line really inspired me, calmed me down a little and made me happy.
There are fighting going on, and the fighters are laughing, joking. Before that, the guys had some jitters, especially among the mobilized, a fright in their eyes. And now it's gone. The shells arrived, we sit in the dugout and laugh. This is already a good indicator that the fighters are determined to complete the task no matter what, they are aimed only at victory. Here with such guys, whom I saw once again, you can turn mountains! And I have no doubt that we will win!
