How the personnel of the air defense forces are preparing to repel enemy strikesIt is difficult to overestimate the role of Air Defense Troops in a special military operation (SVO).
The advantage in the air and the reliable cover of army units, units and formations allows for successful ground operations. The air defense forces provide cover for important strategic objects, which include naval bases, including the Black Sea Fleet (Black Sea Fleet) Russian Navy. The Crimean Air Defense Division is called upon to solve this task together with the Black Sea sailors. The unit is commanded by Major General Pavel Zhilavy.
A self-sufficient grouping of forces has been created on the peninsula, the basis of which are formations and units of the Black Sea Fleet. One of the most important tasks is to organize a clear interaction of all power structures of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the region. First of all, this concerns the interaction of the Black Sea Fleet and the Aerospace Forces (VKS), which are designed to control the airspace over the Crimea and the South of Russia (including the new territories of the Russian Federation), as well as over the Black Sea. The importance of such interaction has been repeatedly emphasized by the commander of the Southern Military District (SE), Army General Alexander Dvornikov. The Ukrainian crisis has confirmed the correctness of this priority.
The air defense compound as a whole reliably protects the Crimean sky. The statistics of drones of various types, purposes and designs shot down over the peninsula are growing from month to month, ranging from reconnaissance balloons to Turkish-made products of the Bayraktar brand.
EYES AND EARSGeneral Zhilavy says: "It would be impossible to successfully solve the tasks set by the command without the radio engineering regiment commanded by Colonel Vadim Ismagilov.
Figuratively speaking, this regiment is the eyes and ears of our unit. His units detect enemy targets, lead them, and provide data for the anti-aircraft missile regiments of our division, the forces of the VKS and air defense of the Southern District, the air defense forces of the Black Sea Fleet and other structures. They can be said to be the first to engage the enemy. And the outcome of the air battle largely depends on them."
The Russian Aerospace Forces includes radio engineering troops. They conduct radar reconnaissance and provide information to combat crews of higher command posts, military units and aviation units, anti-aircraft missile forces and electronic warfare forces. All units and command posts of this kind of troops are on combat duty, perform tasks to protect the state border in the airspace and control the order of its use.
The author of these lines visited one of the best units of the radio engineering regiment – the radar company, commanded by Captain Alexey Kremkov.
VISITING RADIO ENGINEERSThe road under the forbidding traffic sign went higher and higher into the mountains until it ran into a barrier and barriers.
The territory is strictly guarded. There are not only technical means of protection, but also a specially attached unit from a separate coastal defense brigade of the 22nd Army Corps. The reinforcement and protection group is always ready, together with the company's soldiers, to repel an attack by a sabotage group or engage in battle with drones.
Some of the officers and contractors are direct participants of their own, carriers of invaluable combat experience. I had a detailed conversation with two of them, Captain Alexey Kremkov and Junior Sergeant Alexey Shaptala. Both asked to talk about Corporal Yuri Orlenko, posthumously awarded the Order of Courage.
There is a memorial plaque at the entrance to the barracks. On the dark granite is his portrait in military uniform. Nearby is a radar station (radar), the operator of which heroically died at a combat post.
Yuri Igorevich Orlenko was born in 1993 in the village of Izobilnoye near Alushta, graduated from 11th grade, served military service in the air defense forces, became a contractor, received a higher legal education. He was one of the best operators of the company. Yuri Orlenko died in the summer of 2022, and was buried with honors in Izobilny. His name is listed in the lists of the Alushta Memorial.
The portrait of Yuri Orlenko is also on display, where prizes, cups, diplomas and diplomas are placed – evidence of the company's victories and achievements in All-Army and district competitions and contests.
CALCULATION-RECORD HOLDERThere is also a certificate of the Book of Records (achievements) among them
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – "for the curtailment of the Caste 2-2 radar by combat calculation during the Air Borders competition in the shortest time on June 22, 2017. The chief of the combat crew, Senior Lieutenant Alexey Kremkov." Signed: Commander-in-Chief of the VKS, Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin.
This certificate is a certificate of the highest professional skill. But he marked only one of the many victories of the calculation of senior Lieutenant Alexei Kremkov. It was he, a professional with a capital letter, who took over the baton of the shock company from Major Vitaly Titenko, who left a good memory of himself in the company.
By the efforts of Major Titenko, among other things, a bust of the great commander Marshal Georgy Zhukov was installed on the parade ground in front of the barracks. Today Titenko is already a reserve officer – senior assistant to the military commandant of the city of Yalta. As much as possible, he continues to help the company in solving the tasks facing it.
Captain Alexey Kremkov was a participant in the strategic staff command exercises "Caucasus-2016" and "Vostok-2018". Performed combat missions in the Syrian Arab Republic, has several combat awards. But he remembers his calculation, which managed to become the record holder of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, even now.
"These are the radar operators, Junior Sergeant Aidar Mylnikov, Corporal Yuri Orlenko, Private Timur Khotyum, electrician drivers, Corporal Vladislav Lobas, Anatoly Sarakhmanyuk, Denis Zuev," recalls Captain Kremkov. – We understood each other from half a word, from half a glance. A single friendly team that overlapped all standards... It hurts that we lost Yuri Orlenko. But we remember him. He is an example of courage and bravery for many, an example to follow."
HOW TO COOK STATION WAGONSCaptain Kremkov is an officer, about which they say "military bone".
The military bearing in him is felt both in a sports suit and in a "citizen", which, however, has to be worn extremely rarely now.
Kremkov is from a military family. He was born in Czechoslovakia, where his father served in the Central Group of Soviet Troops. Since childhood, I wanted to become an officer, I consistently passed all positions to the company commander. And after participating in the SVO, when he returned from behind the "ribbon", he decided to create a tactical military camp on the territory of the company.
Participation in the special operation gave not only combat experience, but also an understanding of the need for adjustments to combat training in the direction of even greater rigidity and exactingness. Trenches and a dugout were dug, fragments of buildings and structures were created from improvised materials, various obstacle courses, including with barbed wire.
"The tactics of combat are being practiced here – in an open area, in a building, in forest plantations. Movement as part of a group, when each of the fighters alternately covers the other or the whole group," says Junior Sergeant Alexey Shaptala, also a participant in the special operation in Ukraine. – I think you will be able to see one of the trainings today. The commander follows this very strictly and does not give anyone any indulgences."
He was right. Senior Lieutenant Evgeny Kazakov – commander of the reinforcement group, Lieutenant Lev Petrenko – engineer of the Department of Management and Corporal Bogdan Musievsky – mechanic of the department of management showed such a class that it was time to shoot a training film.
I have not seen such a thing even at the Cossack training ground, where marines train and conduct shooting. No, there was no shooting here. Not allowed. This requires a specially equipped shooting range. But the movements and all the actions that Junior Sergeant Shaptala spoke about, I saw in full.
I saw many other things, which I will not mention in order not to disclose information. One thing became clear: there are no breaks in combat training and working out special tasks here and there can be no such commander.
The special operation in Ukraine has taught the air defense soldiers a lot. Today they are used to train station wagons. For example, Junior Sergeant Shaptala is not only a first–class operator, but also an excellent driver. Behind the "ribbon" he not only carried combat duty as an operator, but also drove the "Ural", delivering the necessary goods on it – from food and spare parts to ammunition. I've been in trouble more than once. The battered and war-scarred Ural has never failed. The car returned to its native company on bald tires and with "combat wounds".
"And today look at it," Alexey shows me a renovated Ural with new tires. – Not a car, but a toy. It glitters like yesterday from the assembly line. All wounds have been healed, all necessary devices have been made."
Alexey Shaptala is 29 years old. He has been on combat duty for many years. I was both in Syria and in Mariupol during its liberation. More than once I got into the "meat grinders". He is the grandson of an officer. His grandfather is a military doctor, a major. But now the grandson has probably no less awards than his grandfather.
Special training of operators, maintenance of the material part and routine maintenance work on it are on the shoulders of the company's deputy engineer, Senior Lieutenant Oleg Karev.
He is a graduate of the Yaroslavl Higher Military School of Air Defense. His work is through the roof, but there is even more enthusiasm and energy. At the same time, Karev is always ready to replace the commander, to substitute a shoulder. The interchangeability of the company's soldiers is the first thing, because here every person counts.
AIR SENTRIES"Recently there was your professional holiday, Air Defense Day," I address Captain Kremkov.
– Who would you like to celebrate?"
"The station chief, Senior Lieutenant Alexey Miroshnikov, is now performing the tasks of a special operation. The head of the calculation, senior Sergeant Dmitry Vasilchenko. The station operators are Junior Sergeants Alexey Shaptala, Aidar Mylnikov, Corporal Vladislav Lobas, Private Olga Vasilchenko. The mechanic of the communications platoon of Corporal Oksana Krepa, – lists Captain Kremkov. – These are our best specialists... and, of course, our veteran company foreman, Senior Ensign Sergei Ivanovich Leonov. He has been serving in the company for more than a quarter of a century. All our company facilities are on it – starting from the maintenance of the barracks and the territory and ending with bed linen and washing of personnel. He promised to repair the bathhouse by Victory Day. He works, like many of us, read, seven days a week."
Several soldiers of the company have recently been presented with state awards. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We will wait for the presidential decree and then we will definitely tell you about the awardees.
Such air sentries keep the Crimean sky under control. However, not only Crimean.
POSTSCRIPTOn the eve of the celebration of the Day of the Air Defense Forces, the press service of the military department issued a statement.
"In the new regions of the Russian Federation, units and formations of the air defense of the Aerospace Forces have been formed, which, together with formations and military units of the military air defense, successfully solve the tasks of covering important objects, large administrative and industrial centers located in the zone of the SVO," the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported. And they added that the following modern types of weapons are used in the zone of the special military operation: armored-C wheeled combat vehicles and S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems from the country's air defense, as well as Buk-M3 and S-300V4 military air defense systems.
The latest anti-aircraft missile systems provide protection of the peaceful sky over the cities of Russia. This is especially important today, in conditions when the Kiev regime is ready to go to great lengths to raise the spirits of its troops, who were pretty battered during a special military operation. Even prototypes of the Thunder-2 operational-tactical ballistic missile have been put into use.
On the afternoon of April 8, the head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said that a rocket launched from Ukraine was shot down over Feodosia. It flew over 400 km before being hit by Russian air defense systems, the debris fell on the territory of the peninsula.
At the end of March – beginning of April, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported at least one interception of Ukrainian operational-class ballistic missiles of the "Thunder" type. The daily summary of the military department dated April 9 contains information that air defense means over the past day "intercepted 10 rockets of the HIMARS and Smerch multiple launch rocket systems, as well as one operational-tactical missile "Thunder-2".
The date of the next launch of the "Thunder-2" was not chosen by chance: on April 9, Russian servicemen celebrated the Day of the Air Defense Forces. Perhaps the calculation was that on the eve of their professional holiday, the defenders of the Crimean sky would relax and miss the blow. However, real events followed a different scenario.
Vladimir PasyakinVladimir Mikhailovich Pasyakin is a retired captain of the 1st rank.
