“We couldn't imagine the extent of the betrayal” flight. At the height of the USSR military force led the country's anti-aircraft missile forces. The former commander told the Ministry of Culture about why he resigned after the disintegration of the Union, through whose fault Matthias Rust was not shot down, and what kind of air defense Russia needs.
Photos: From the personal archive
Rasim Suleimanovich Akchurin was born on December 24, 1931 in the village of Zangiata in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan. In 1949 he entered the Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. After a second course in 1951, he was drafted into the Soviet Army. He graduated from the 3rd Baltic School of Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Defense Forces, Military Command Academy of Air Defense. He served in the Turkestan Military District, the Moscow Air Defense Circuit. Since 1985, he has been the commander of the country's anti-aircraft missile forces. In 1992, he was transferred to the reserve according to age. The brother of the famous cardiac surgeon, academician Renato Akchurin, who was commissioned to perform the operation of Boris Yeltsin.
– Of course I follow the development of air defense technology, I keep up with new products: S-350, S-400, S-500. But of course I do not know the quantitative composition of anti-aircraft complexes – it is no longer necessary. When he commanded the country's anti-aircraft missile forces, they included more than 240 anti-aircraft missile regiments and brigades. That's an impressive character. In addition, each brigade had 12-16 anti-aircraft missile divisions. These were powerful brigades equipped with various types of anti-aircraft missile technology. And the density of the fire was high. In the event of an enemy attack, the probability of destroying his property is very high.
I have something to compare with. I joined the service in 1954 as a lieutenant in the anti-aircraft artillery unit. We covered a uranium factory in Kyrgyzstan near Maili-Sai. One separate anti-aircraft artillery battalion stood at the entrance to the gorge in which the plant and uranium mines were located, and the other – at the east.
The commander of the plant was Major General Danilin. I even remember his last name, because in my presence, Lieutenant, the commander of my unit, Bochkov, often pronounced this name. And the commander somehow sets the task for the divisions: “Danilin called now. If the American “Boston” is flying, shoot down … “Then military insults to make it clear how to shoot down.
In fact, he was an artilleryman, an iconostasis of the front orders – on his chest. p>
The “Douglas” or “Boston” aircraft has been in the US, UK and USSR air forces since World War II. More than 3,000 of these aircraft of various modifications were delivered to the USSR under a lend-lease.
Rasim Akchurin, former commander of the air defense forces USSR. Photo: From the personal archive
American aircraft at the time, taking advantage of the fact that we did not yet have anti-aircraft missiles and anti-aircraft guns could not reach altitude, often conducted reconnaissance flights over the territory of the USSR. Of course, they were mainly interested in nuclear facilities. The end of this practice was made by anti-aircraft missiles, which on May 1, 1960 shot down a U-2 aircraft over Sverdlovsk with the American pilot Powers.
We are, of course, ready. Let's wait. Boston flies. They opened fire from 16 anti-aircraft guns with two batteries. Sea of fire. According to probability theory, up to 600-800 anti-aircraft artillery shells must be fired to destroy one aircraft. I commanded my platoon. I saw the plane maneuver up and down. The pilot was clearly strong. He realized they were shooting at him. And left. We didn't shoot him.
The commander of the Bočkov unit arrived, set up a number of officers and said: “The soldiers have nothing to do with it. You didn't teach them to fight. “And how I went to clean up! Everyone got it. Especially for the instrument operators. He said,” I'd shoot you in a combat situation, you can be sure, but now the situation is different. “
And the next day we'll find out that it was … our aerial reconnaissance aircraft. how air defense capabilities grew when anti-aircraft missiles appeared in our arsenal, and Powers did it.
– And what do you think? Definitely. In addition, they fought, as they say, for life and death with our own pilots, who acted as enemies.
During the command of the troops, I did a lot of exercises. Life was spent more at training grounds. These are Sary-Shagan in Kazakhstan, Ashuluk in the Astrakhan region. All long-range anti-aircraft systems usually operated from Sary-Shagan and complexes S-75, S-125 worked on Ashuluku.
The service took place at training grounds. General Rasim Akchurin (center) receives reports from subordinates. Photo: From the personal archive
They usually conducted joint exercises with remote aviation. They are attackers who fire guided missiles. And they are trying to reduce us in all possible ways. It was just such a disease. The sensitivity of autopilots will be so gross that guided missiles not only bend around the terrain, but hit the hills.
I remember that Pyotr Deinekin – then deputy commander of long-distance aviation – organized such an attack in Sary-Shagan. My shooters are ready, waiting – and everything is in vain: all missiles are resting on the hill. We did not launch a single missile, but there were no targets, we did not reach the object.
Pyotr Stepanovich Derinekin, Commander of the Long-Range Air Force of the USSR (1988-1990), Commander – Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Air Force (1991), Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force (1992-1998), Hero of Russia, Army general. Under his leadership, Dudayev's Ichkera Air Force was destroyed at airports.
And then it starts tugging: who's to blame! It was horrible. I've already commanded the country's anti-aircraft missile forces. I say to Deinekin, “Father … what are you doing?” Here the pilots did not risk it, they set the actual parameters of the rocket flight. And all missiles were placed on the ground system S-300.
Before, I flew the whole range in a helicopter. I looked at all the routes: where to place missile divisions, where missiles can fly. And thanks to the helicopter pilots, they helped me. I built my forces so that the missiles would not pass.
Here Deinekin tells me, “Listen, do not rush to report to your Koldunov (Chief of the Air Defense Forces of the country, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Alexander Koldunov. – MK ), because he will certainly call my Chief Commander Kutakhov (Chief of the Air Force, Chief Marshal of the Air Force Pavel Kutakhov. – “MK” ) – and that's it! There is a terrible noise. Please. ”
I say: well, as a companion I will report only in the evening and in the evening – if I'm in the office, yes. If not, then tomorrow. And then poor Deinekin walked by, wondering how to report to Kutakhov so it wouldn't be too bad. That's how we suffered with him in Sary-Shagan.
It is clear that overall, the common cause has won. The confrontation between the anti-aircraft gunners and the pilots was only to the benefit of the defense. The USSR had the strongest air defense and the strongest aviation. But jealousy was terrible …
Youth work is a major concern for veterans' councils. Photo: From the personal archive
– It was terribly offensive. Even in a bad dream, we could not admit that everything would be like this. My relatives later reproached me later: you, the military, had to get up, raise your head. But I didn't admit it would happen. I believed in the strength of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
In August 1991, Tretyak (Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, Commander of the Air Defense Forces. – MK ) with Jazov (USSR Defense Minister Gorbachev, Marshal Dmitry Jazov – MK ) and said, “What are you doing? You are the power! We need to be more determined. ”
This interview took place in the presence of all members of the Air Defense Forces Military Council. The head of the PVO political department also suggested to the minister over the phone: bring tanks, arrest them all, you will be grateful to the people.
No one could have imagined betrayal and irresponsibility on such a scale.
– I will say roughly: Rust would not have found his eggs if some air defense commanders were more determined. That day I was on the commission of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces, and at the end of the winter training period, I inspected the Tallinn Air Defense Division.
Matthias Rust is a German amateur pilot. At the age of 18, he flew a Cessna light engine from Hamburg via Helsinki to Moscow. On May 28, 1987 (USSR Border Troops Day), Bolshoi Moskvorecky landed on the bridge. The court accused him of hooliganism and sentenced him to four years in prison. He was released on amnesty in 1988 and returned to Germany. Rust's escape led to the massive resignation of the Soviet military leadership.
In the morning, the division commander meets me and says: this is the story that happened last night. I say: wait, why didn't they report tonight? “Well, Comrade Commander, somehow I didn't attach much importance to it.” Can you imagine ?!
After the division commander reported, I went to the divisions that accompanied the intruders.
Accompanied by Rust! The S-200 anti-aircraft system also accompanied the S-125. There would be nothing left of him. One bullet would shoot him down. And the intervention would be accurate! Definitely!
I came across objective control materials that showed the offender's failed escort and readiness to destroy the “guest”.
I ask the battalion commander, “Why didn't they open fire?” – “And there was no order, Comrade Commander.” “Wait,” I say, “imagine that the enemy is flying, you are accompanying him, you see that he is not responding to a” friend or foe “signal! How can you? You are the fire commander! Understand?” – “There was no order and we have no right to open light aircraft.”
Here is such a primitive news in one division. Maybe the division commander prepared him to say that – I don't know. But there were simply two divisions that Rust's plane passed, as they say, with a zero parameter. There was a 100% chance of destroying the intruder. Fully! And no one would even make a fuss! Well, they shot down and shot down.
– I don't know, maybe all together. As I was later told, the General of the Air Defense Command, who was first told that the Cessna light engine was flying, couldn't think of anything smarter to say, “You'll figure it out, maybe geese are flying?”.
< p> How can geese fly from north to south May – geese fly from south to north!
Instead of descending to the central command post of the air defense forces and resolving it on the spot, he put this “duck” at all command posts – the 6th Independent Air Defense Army, Moscow Air Defense District. There were two circles of S-300 complexes around the capital.
In short, we missed it. He saw only one fighter, and he clearly reported that it was a light Cessna. But he was ordered to sit down. If the operations officer reported without fear reporting not to the random general, but to the commander-in-chief of the air defense forces, as he should have, the commander-in-chief would go down to headquarters. Concentrate and make a decision, either force this plane to land or destroy it! The determination of Chief Aviation Marshal Alexander Ivanovich Koldunov has been known since the Great Patriotic War. In 1945 he was twice the hero of the Soviet Union.
– The air defense command staff was severely paralyzed. Many generals were released. Of the members of the Military Council of the Air Defense Forces, I and the Chief of the General Staff, who were on vacation at the time of the emergency, remained. By the way, the general who launched the version about the flock of geese was promoted. He seems to have been Gorbachev's compatriot, almost from the same street as him.
The commander-in-chief of the Air Defense Marshal Koldunov recalled. He was already home that day and at that time the call – Rust on Red Square. Can you imagine his condition? I visited him about a year after I retired. The Secretary of Defense instructed him to congratulate him on his birthday. He was born on May 9. I went to congratulate him. He was already without one leg. He had diabetes and was developing rapidly on a nervous basis. Then they cut off his other leg and he died. Dignified commander. And all because of Rust.
– In 1991 I wrote a resignation. Yuri Vladimirovich Skokov, Secretary of the Security Council, invited me to a meeting of the Supreme Attestation Commission. He was a good man. The conversation was very long. They asked me to stay to help set up the system. But I said, “No, I don't want to be at the collapse of the air defense forces that have begun!”
Photos: From the personal archive
Here is a simple example. For example, my Far Eastern direction was covered by more than 180 anti-aircraft missile battalions. 18 left! Imagine a tenfold reduction in the active component of the armed forces – anti-aircraft missile forces! It is clear that non-operational missile systems are losing their combat qualities.
It was all a heavy blow to the anti-aircraft missile forces and air defense forces in general.
– It's amazing! Target detection height up to 500 kilometers. This is generally unimaginable! The range of detection of air targets has increased, not to mention the ability to fire. And they're probably doing the right thing about leaving the old control system. After all, it has served its purpose and is now unable to act effectively. I was told how many anti-aircraft missile regiments can be combined into one system. You have no idea what power is under one control. It's easy to say, but I can imagine how hard it was for scientists and designers. It is right that the President and the military missile defense leadership pay so much attention to the development of anti-aircraft missile forces.
– Yes, even a history textbook. I recently led a seminar on our Veterans Council with people who run the advocacy system in district veterans' organizations. Only the attitude to the history of the Great Patriotic War was discussed. And again, they scolded school textbooks in which only a few lines were printed about the Battle of Stalingrad. Many things are not even mentioned. History is dead! And after all, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has already said about it at some meeting. But nothing has changed.
For some reason, the runtime system will crash. The views of veteran organizations need to be heard. We are not involved in criticism. We want Russia to be a powerful country, a great state.
And, of course, I think that the air defense forces should be an independent component of the armed forces. And it needs to be developed. The air defense system needs to be strengthened. This is a system of state protection, not to mention cities or important places.
Remember the Great Patriotic War, 1941. Then Stalin did everything he could to create an unbeatable air defense system around Moscow. A powerful anti-aircraft fire system, fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft artillery, dam balloons, camouflage were created. Yes, some German planes broke through. However, this cannot be compared, for example, with the damage caused by German aircraft to British cities or with the consequences of the Allied bombing of German cities. We must remember the lessons of history!