Head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops, Lieutenant General Oleg Kosenkov / Photo: redstar.ru

The guest of the Red Star editorial office this week was the head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops, Lieutenant General Oleg Kosenkov.

We talked about the participation of railroad soldiers in maneuvers and the training of logistic support units and formations that preceded them, about the progress of the implementation of the action plan until 2020, the arrival of new equipment, the recruitment of troops by conscription and contract servicemen, and also about providing assistance to the population during liquidation of consequences natural Disasters.

– In pursuance of the decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, which determine the main directions of the development of the state (including Armed Forces countries), the Railway Troops have developed and are implementing an action plan for the period up to 2020. Oleg Ivanovich, what should be the Railway Troops by 2020 and what has already been done on the way to this?

- The activities of the activity plan of the Railway Troops until 2020 are determined by their purpose. It consists in the technical cover, restoration, barrage and demining of railways. Also, troops are involved in the construction of new railway lines - both the public network and the non-public railway tracks of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“For each object that we technically cover, we have developed two or three projects for its restoration in advance”

The network of 17 Russian railways is very well developed - their total length is more than 86 thousand km. For technical cover and - if necessary - restoration, all these roads are distributed among the formations and departments of the Railway Troops, which are responsible for technical cover on the railways. For these tasks, the organizational and staffing structure of the Railway Troops has also been developed, which ensures their mobility. For example, they can perform one task to restore, say, a railway line, and then immediately be transferred to another facility or from one railway to another, from one military district to another.

The implementation of the plan for the activities of the troops until 2020, in addition to the formation of an optimal organizational and staffing structure, implies another important point - minimizing manual labor through the creation of equipment that will mechanize almost all work, and equipping the troops with it. A lot of such equipment has already been manufactured and delivered to the troops.

Its delivery will continue until 2020, and if some issues are not finally resolved, deliveries will continue as part of the implementation of the new State program armaments, designed for the period up to 2027. At the same time, without a doubt, we are obliged to fulfill the May decrees of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and the share of modern equipment in the Railway Troops by 2020 should be at least 70 percent. We will solve this problem.

- You have already touched upon the topic of the organizational structure of the Railway Troops, and I would like to clarify something in this regard. In the branches and arms of the Armed Forces, the organizational structure, composition and strength are determined by a number of factors. Among them are not only the tasks solved by the troops, but also the forms and methods of conducting combat operations, as well as the performance characteristics of the means of armed struggle. Oleg Ivanovich, what factors determine the organizational structure of the Railway Troops? And what is this structure now?

- As I said, our main task is the technical cover and restoration of railways. And here the most important thing is that in the event of the destruction of some railway facility, for example, a large railway bridge (and railway bridges are divided into small, medium and large) 4 km long across the Yenisei River near the city of Krasnoyarsk, it should be restored as soon as possible and resume traffic. Depending on the degree of destruction, a decision will be made to restore the bridge either along the old axis, or on the near bypass, or on the far one. To accomplish this task, the structure of a separate bridge railway battalion was calculated. Or a separate pontoon-bridge battalion, which is designed to build floating railway bridges from the property of NZhM-56 or the property of MLZH-VF-VT.

The same requirements apply to separate railroad battalions that will restore railroad tracks.

Our units must be mobile, armed with modern models of equipment, and not the one that we use in the construction of railways of JSC Russian railways". At Russian Railways, all equipment is very bulky, on a railway track, it leaves only from the station, but if the station is destroyed, the equipment will not pass to the stage. In our Railway Troops, however, pneumatically powered, mobile equipment can move both on rails and on the ground. And perform tasks where the railway track is destroyed.

Not only the battalions intended for the restoration of bridges and roads, but also the subgrade are being re-equipped with modern models of equipment. For example, individual railway mechanization battalions, which perform the tasks of restoring the subgrade, are now almost completely re-equipped with modern models of road construction equipment: earth-moving machines, dump trucks. We checked the effectiveness of the organizational structure of the battalion, which performed tasks during the construction of the railway line Zhuravka - Millerovo on the instructions of the President Russian Federation when the battalion developed a recess, the soil from which was laid next to the embankment. And we came to the conclusion that those dump trucks that we have, although they meet modern requirements, but their performance is low. We need more powerful dump trucks in terms of carrying capacity and cross-country ability.

We developed a draft decision and reported to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Hero of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Dmitry Vitalyevich Bulgakov. Accordingly, he reported to the minister, and the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia, General of the Army Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, ordered the purchase of 45-ton dump trucks of domestic production. These articulated vehicles cannot travel on public roads, but they are the most suitable for the above tasks on site. We have a total of 42 dump trucks in the battalion, and now 10 of them are 45-ton articulated trucks, thanks to which we have doubled the productivity of the mechanization battalion. We have such a battalion in every railway brigade.

“Railway Troops this year repaired 60 km of access roads for non-public use at 47 objects of the Ministry of Defense”

- And how much modern equipment is there in the Railway Troops at the present time?

“Now we are reaching 50 percent of this indicator.

- Oleg Ivanovich, did not the participation of the Railway Troops in the past maneuvers reveal the need to improve their organizational structure, change the composition and strength? Or have you received confirmation that nothing needs to be changed?

- Maneuvers of the Ministry of Defense, and before their start - special exercises with formations and military units logistics under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia, General of the Army Dmitry Vitalyevich Bulgakov showed that the current organizational and staffing structure of the troops on present stage does not require changes. We have also become convinced that the rearmament of troops is proceeding in right direction and samples that have recently been accepted for supply have proven themselves with better side not only in maneuvers, in the special exercises that preceded it, but also in the construction of railway facilities. This technique allows you to complete tasks in the shortest possible time with high quality. And now you need to fill the troops with this equipment and the necessary structures that are used to restore the railways.

- And what tasks did your subordinates perform during the maneuversand on the previous exercise with formations and parts of the MTO?

- Every year, under the leadership of the Deputy Minister, with units and formations of logistics, a special exercise is held in a particular military district. This year, such an exercise was held in the Eastern Military District, which involved two separate railway brigades - the 7th and 50th. The railway bridge 1 km long across the Zeya River near the city of Svobodny was conditionally destroyed, that is, the existing object of technical cover for the 50th separate railway brigade. As a result, the movement of military echelons was disrupted when there was a large-scale regrouping of troops.

The main type of delivery of materiel and personnel in our country is still rail transport. Military transport aviation will not deliver such a quantity of troops and cargo as by rail in the same short time frame. Tasks rapid response she will decide, but basically the redeployment of troops in our country is carried out by rail.

So, the task was to restore the railway bridge.

For each object that we technically cover, we have developed two or three projects for its restoration in advance. In this case, it was decided to restore the bridge on the near bypass by building a floating railway bridge from the property of NZhM-56.

Accordingly, the bridge sets were transferred to the area of ​​its guidance, separate pontoon-bridge railway battalions of the 7th and 50th railway brigades began to build this bridge. They completed the task within three days. The bridge was built from two sets of 500 meters each. In the island part - there was a small island at the site of the pickup - it was decided to assemble a 250-meter section of the REM-500 metal collapsible overpass.

Naturally, approaches to the bridge were made. Track battalions from the left and right banks built a total of 15 km of railway track. A station was erected on the left bank, and it was called “Levoberezhnaya”, where the receiving and departure tracks and the main track were laid. train departures. Accordingly, the speed of movement on the bridge should have been no more than 20-25 km / h.
While the bridge was being built, the troops were not to stop.

Therefore, a railway ferry was organized from the property of NZhM-56. It consisted of three ferries, three wagons, platforms or tanks entered the ferry. In addition, from the PM-70 set, crossings of cars and tracked vehicles were organized, which, after the crossing, continued on their own. We also used, by agreement of Russian Railways, passenger trains that we transported over this bridge. Well, there was an agreement with the river fleet to attract ships, barges for the crossing of automobile and tracked vehicles.

These events were attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov, who gave appreciated actions of the Railway Troops. The task was solved in the shortest possible time with high quality.

Then, during the maneuvers, this task was completed again.

- Oleg Ivanovich, what are the results of the current academic year Railroad troops?

- As for, as we say, educational and practical work, the troops completed them before September 1. With the exception of the task that was set in February by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, to build a road bridge across the Yenisei near the city of Kyzyl to reduce the distance and travel time of units of the 55th separate motorized rifle brigade when pushing them to the landfill. There was no capital bridge before - only a ferry crossing. We were allotted until September 29 for the construction of this bridge. This task was completed, and on October 12, in a festive atmosphere, the bridge was opened and put into operation.
In 2018, the Railway Troops repaired 60 km of access roads for non-public use at 47 sites of the Ministry of Defense. Repair was carried out different - lifting, reinforced. 60 sets of turnouts have been replaced, which have exhausted their resource.

The Deputy Minister of Defense, General of the Army Dmitry Vitalyevich Bulgakov, was tasked with reconstructing access roads at the Plesetsk cosmodrome. There is a very well developed network of railway tracks, the old type of rails R-50 has been laid. And if we are doing a major overhaul, we have to lay only a new type of R-65 rails ...

Why is the new rail better than the old one?

– It is designed and able to take a large load, which allows increasing the mass of the rolling stock passing through it ... So, 5 km of tracks in Plesetsk were replaced - the old rail-sleeper grid was dismantled, the old ballast was removed, a new rail-sleeper grid was laid, ballasted, straightened out. Plus, 16 sets of turnouts were replaced at the spaceport.

- Is it a lot - 5 km?

- This is a lot, because the work was done in the "windows". We could not completely stop the movement of the trains while performing the tasks of the cosmodrome. And when we were given a “window” of three hours, no more, we removed the old grate, put in a new one, quickly ballasted it, but did not straighten it. Immediately after that, trains were skipped as part of the performance of special tasks by the Space Forces. Then we waited for the next "window", and so we repaired the entire site. And then, also in the “windows”, they put the whole new path in order.

- You spoke about the construction of a bridge near the city of Kyzyl. As you know, the local residents are also happy about the commissioning of this bridge. Oleg Ivanovich, how often do the Railway Troops come to the aid of the population, including in emergency situations?

- One can recall a recent event, when in the city of Svobodny the overpass collapsed on the railway tracks, because of which the Trans-Siberian was paralyzed. In addition, the area where the city hospital, ambulance, school, kindergartens were located was cut off ... It was decided, at the request of the administration of the city of Svobodny, in cooperation with Russian Railways, to involve parts of the 50th separate railway brigade, which are deployed in Svobodny, for debris clearing. But first of all, we were approached with a request that we make a bypass road 3 km long.

The troops were involved in the night, the equipment of the mechanization battalion was involved: dump trucks, excavators, rollers, loaders. The sand and gravel mixture was obtained from the river port, and literally in a day this dirt road was made. It is still in use today. Then, together with Russian Railways, they began dismantling the collapsed spans. After 4–5 hours, two tracks were released, and trains went along the Trans-Siberian.

In 2013, the Railway Troops helped the population during the floods in Altai and Far East, taking an active part in filling dams, restoring road bridges.

In June of this year, due to heavy rains on the Trans-Baikal Railway, the railway bridge was destroyed - the support was washed away, and the span structure fell. JSC "Russian Railways" asked for help. The Minister of Defense decided to provide assistance, and the Railway Troops began to carry out the task. It was necessary to dismantle the fallen support, replace the superstructure with another one of greater length and support it on two coastal supports, bypassing the intermediate one. This was done in the shortest possible time. JSC "Russian Railways" appreciated our help, thanking the railroad soldiers.

So the Railway Troops are always ready to quickly come to the rescue in emergency situations and perform the necessary work with high quality in the shortest possible time. This, by the way, speaks of the high preparedness of the personnel, and of their morale.

- I would like to continue the topic of personnel training, since you have already touched on it. Oleg Ivanovich, tell me, are the Railway Troops not experiencing personnel shortages today? Are there enough officers in the troops, are there many who want to become contract railroad soldiers?

- The Railway Troops are recruited according to a mixed principle, and now we have about 60% of military personnel on conscription and 40% on contract.

Those positions that, in accordance with the instructions of the General Staff, should be occupied by contract soldiers (squad commanders, deputy platoon commanders, drivers of categories D, E, C, specialists in working with complex mechanisms, on equipment that is designed to restore the superstructure of the tracks), we are 100 percent staffed by military personnel under the contract. There is no staff turnover among contractors. Even those who, for one reason or another, decide to leave, having found a better-paid job, as a rule, do not break the contract with the Ministry of Defense, but serve until the end of his term. There are enough people who want to enter our contract service, and we do not experience any personnel shortage.

The rate of staffing by military personnel on the call of formations of the Railway Troops is not lower than 95%. At the same time, some connections are 100% complete.

I would like to note that the prestige of the Railway Troops is no lower than that of other military branches. True, it is based not so much on romance as on practicality, on the opportunity to get a specialty that is in demand in the "citizen", often a rare specialty with which you can easily get a job, for example, at Russian Railways.

Plus, this is the awareness of the specific, visible benefits that the troops bring to people and the country as a whole, laying railroad tracks or building other railroad facilities. For example, the railway section Zhuravka - Millerovo bypassing Ukraine, which the troops handed over 2 years (!) ahead of schedule. Let me remind you that the total length of all station and main tracks on that double-track section is 214 km. Of these, the Railway Troops laid 177 km!

- Where are officers of the Railway Troops trained?

- At the Military Institute of Railway Troops and Military Communications, which is stationed in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, Petrodvorets. This is one of the oldest educational institutions, in March 2018 he turned 100 years old.

- What is the current competition for this military university?

- It is twice as high as in civil engineering institutes railway transport, and is 6–7 people per place, depending on the specialty.

So we have people - high-class professionals, we have equipment, and nothing prevents the Railway Troops from performing all tasks in accordance with their intended purpose.

Married, raised two daughters.

20.04.2018

Kosenkov Oleg Ivanovich

Military Figure

Lieutenant General

Head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Oleg Kosenkov was born on April 21, 1959 in the village of Temrovichi, Republic of Belarus. In 1980 he graduated from the Leningrad higher school Railway Troops and Military Communications named after Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze.

In the period from 1980 to 1985, Kosenkov served in the Mongolian People's Republic, in the railway troops as a platoon commander. Since 1985 he was the commander of a company of concrete works. He later served as chief of staff. Then he commanded a separate railway battalion.

In 1993, Oleg Kosenkov received additional education, having successfully graduated from the command military transport faculty, the Military Academy of Logistics and Transport of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. After graduating from the academy, he served as deputy commander and commander of a separate railway brigade.

After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, in 1999, Kosenkov took the position of commander of a separate railway brigade, and then was deputy commander of the railway corps. In 2001, he was appointed deputy head of the Military Transport University - head of the faculty for training management personnel of the Higher Technical School of the Railway Troops of the Russian Federation.

From 2002 to 2008, he served as chief of staff - first deputy commander of the railway corps. Since 2008, he served as chief of staff - first deputy commander of the Railway Troops. In 2010, Kosenkov Oleg Ivanovich was appointed head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops.

In different periods military service, Oleg Koosenkov was awarded state awards and distinctions. Honored Military Specialist of the Russian Federation.

Head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops, Lieutenant General

Biography

Born on April 21, 1959 in the village of Temrovichi, Chaussky District, Mogilev Region, Byelorussian SSR. Graduated from the Leningrad Higher School of Railway Troops and Military Communications. M.V. Frunze (1980).

From 1980 to 1985, he served in the Mongolian People's Republic in the railway troops as commander of a pile driver platoon and commander of a concrete works company of a separate railway battalion.

From 1985 to 1990 - commander of a concrete works company, chief of staff, and then commander of a separate railway battalion.

In 1990, he entered the Military Logistics and Transport Academy at the Command Military Transport Faculty.

After graduating from the academy (1993), he served as deputy commander and commander of a separate railway brigade.

In 1997 he was enrolled as a student of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

1999 - 2001 - commander of a separate railway brigade, and then deputy commander of the railway corps.

In 2001, he was appointed deputy head of the Military Transport University - head of the faculty for training management personnel of the Higher Technical School of the Railway Troops of the Russian Federation.

2002 - 2008 - chief of staff - first deputy commander of the railway corps. In 2008 he was appointed chief of staff - first deputy commander of the Railway Troops.

Since 2010 - Head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops.

He was awarded the orders "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree, "For Military Merit", the medal "For the Development of Railways". Honored Military Specialist of the Russian Federation.

Married, has two daughters.

Major General Oleg Kosenkov, Head of the Main Directorate of the Railway Troops, became a guest of the next edition of the Military Council program broadcast on the Ekho Moskvy radio station and the Zvezda TV channel.

Corr.:- Oleg Ivanovich, what tasks are the Railway Troops solving today?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Like all the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as a whole, the Railway Troops have tasks for both peaceful and war time. In wartime, they are designed to organize technical cover, restoration, blocking and demining of the country's railways. In peacetime, they perform the tasks of maintaining, accumulating material resources necessary for the restoration of the railways of the Russian Federation, training specialists of the Railway Troops, performing tasks for the construction and repair of access roads of the Ministry of Defense, are involved in the construction of railways by order of Russian Railways and other organizations who have railroad tracks in their charge. So, to date, two separate railway brigades are building a ring road. road with various types of coverage, on which military motorists will learn to drive in extreme conditions. At this site, quarries will be built to work out the entry and exit and dunes will be poured to work out the movement on the sandy road. Construction is expected to be completed by December 1, 2013.

Corr.:- That is, the engineering experience of the railway workers was also useful in the construction of roads?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Yes, since the embankment of a road and a railway is in principle carried out in the same way, however, with some peculiarities: after all, the loads on them differ significantly. So the mechanization battalion of a separate railway brigade performs tasks according to its regular purpose.

Corr.:- This brigade of constant readiness?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Yes. All our railway brigades are on constant combat readiness. The Main Directorate of the Railway Troops reports to the Deputy Minister of Defense, General of the Army Dmitry Bulgakov, who oversees logistics in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The brigade, taking into account mobilization reserves, is 100% complete.

Corr.:- What is the difference between railway brigades and civil organizations the same purpose?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Russian Railways is mainly focused on the capital construction of railways. The main task of the Railway Troops is to restore the tracks, but we do not forget about capital construction either. To do this, we train the appropriate specialists.

Last year, for example, the support of the railway bridge connecting the aluminum plant near Abakan with the railway line was washed away. The support sank, there was a drop of two span structures 55 meters long. JSC "Russian Railways" was ready to take on the overhaul of the bridge, but it would take three months. The plant could be left without work. Therefore, after the management of the plant appealed to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, we were given the task of restoring the bridge. This was done by the 5th separate railway brigade. Prefabricated structures were used, and a week later the bridge was restored under the short-term option. While the restoration was going on, we ensured the movement of traffic and the normal operation of the plant.

Corr.:- How to get into the Railway Troops? What are the replenishment requirements?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Of those who were educated in railway colleges, we train locomotive drivers, assistant drivers, railway crane operators. If those who want to serve in our country have no education, then after registration through the military registration and enlistment office they will be sent to a training center for the training of junior specialists.

Corr.:- Has the military department been preserved at the Moscow State University of Communications?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Not. But military departments remained in Rostov and Far East public universities ways of communication. Taking into account the results of the monitoring, today we have enough specialists coming from these universities, and those who studied at the relevant military and civilian institutions earlier and are now in reserve.

Corr.:- How long does it take to train a good specialist of the Railway Troops?

Oleg Kosenkov:- First of all, it depends on the level with which the conscript came to us, whether he has a special education. In general, we train our contingent in 22 specialties, which are necessary to fulfill the tasks assigned to the Railway Troops. The main ones are locomotive drivers, assistant locomotive drivers, drafters and operators of railway cranes. The training lasts at least five months. AT training center We also train excavators of heavy excavators, pontooners, boat mechanics, track fitters for the railway troops ... All of them receive diplomas of a general civilian standard.

After serving in the army, such a specialist can work in accordance with his qualifications at Russian Railways.

Corr.: What are the troops doing now?

Oleg Kosenkov:- By October 1, we need to complete repairs at 68 objects of the Ministry of Defense. In total, more than 100 km of tracks will be repaired. About 110 turnouts will be laid. Mechanization battalions are currently performing the tasks of bunding storage facilities at 328 arsenals of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate. The total volume of earthworks is more than 3 million cubic meters. And, as I said before, two mechanization battalions are building a training road.

Corr.:- What is the rolling stock in your troops?

Oleg Kosenkov:- In the track battalions, the main type of weapons is shunting locomotives with hopper-dispensers. For the movement of personnel and drivers, there are heating wagons. There are universal pile-driving units with which we are armed. Successfully serves the military railroad and new equipment created at the turn of the century. Including lifting and leveling machine PRM-RM, straightening and leveling machine VPRM-G, flat lifting frame-screw support (RVO), collapsible crane SRK-20M, mobile folding pile driver MSK-1M, mobile repair complex PRK-1 , pontoon carrier ANS-10 and ANS-10U-T.

Corr.:- Is there an armored train in service?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Yes. We have two armored trains. They are in two restoration railway battalions of the 37th separate railway brigade. While, as in the song, stand on the siding. The armored train is Military Unit constant readiness, which can begin to perform its regular task within an hour. The task of the armored train is to escort military echelons. It has a supply of materials for the rapid restoration of the superstructure of the track.

Corr.:- And who covers the Railway Troops during the fighting?

Oleg Kosenkov:- If necessary, the commanders of the troops of the military districts allocate units that will provide cover during the restoration of railways and bridges. Each of our battalions has a guard platoon. Armored trains also have the corresponding forces and means. Cover elements are trained annually in special tactical exercises.

Corr.:- Do you often spend them?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Every year, 10 railway pontoon-bridge battalions conduct exercises on practical building of railway floating bridges. Moreover, in different climatic and natural conditions.

Corr.:- What are the main problems of the Railway Troops to be solved in the near future?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Like all the Armed Forces, the Railway Troops are being improved, rearmament is actively underway in accordance with the State Defense Order. So, by 2020, up to 75% of new equipment should be in service with the troops. We will achieve this. Today, the problem that would not be solved remained chronic, there is no one in our troops. Yes, there are critical issues, but they are solvable. For example, we have significantly reduced the number of accidents and crimes.

Corr.:- How do you assess the social security of the military personnel of the Railway Troops, their provision with housing?

Oleg Kosenkov:- All parts of the Railway Troops and the management of brigades are in major cities. These are Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Abakan, Volgograd, Khabarovsk, Ryazan, Smolensk, Pskov. And also Svobodny, the metropolitan area. Proximity to large centers makes it possible to provide those in need with places in kindergartens, jobs for the wives of servicemen. Military camps are equipped, maintained by JSC "Slavyanka". Issues related to corporate housing and payment of compensation for sublease of premises in case of its absence have been resolved. The situation with permanent housing is not bad. These matters are under my control.

Corr.:- How often do you use the railway yourself?

Oleg Kosenkov:- As needed. When I go on business trips, on vacation ...

Corr.:- At the same time, you observe how the movement is organized? After all, each profession has its own characteristics?

Oleg Kosenkov:- I graduated military school Railway Troops and Military Communications, majoring in "construction of artificial structures", therefore, when driving along railway bridges or next to a highway, I always wonder what a railway bridge is. I'm wondering how they apply modern technologies seamless path, which is figuratively called "velvet".

Corr.:- Do the troops have a museum?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Yes. It is located in the training center in the village of Zagoryansky. There is also a training ground for modern equipment, which is used in the Railway Troops. All of it is in working order.

Corr.:- In your professional opinion, how should the Russian railway network be developed?

Oleg Kosenkov:- Every year, at the invitation of Vladimir Yakunin, I take part in a meeting on the development of JSC Russian Railways. Particular attention is paid to the capital construction of the railways of the Far East, the use of new technologies on them. Of course, a country with more than 85,000 kilometers of railways needs their constant development and improvement. A lot depends on us, railroad workers in uniform.

Oleg Ivanovich, at one time the Railway Troops built almost half of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. The other part of the BAM was built by civilian builders. But now there are no such large-scale construction projects. What are your subordinates doing?

Believe me, there is enough work for our railway battalions. For example, in order to increase the survivability and fire protection of rocket and artillery arsenals, since 2010, railway mechanization battalions have carried out gigantic volumes of work on the bunding of storage facilities. The total volume of earthworks is estimated at hundreds of thousands of cubic meters.

Troops are repairing sidings at dozens of military facilities, including at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.

The troops were solving a task of national importance. I am talking about the construction of a double-track electrified railway section Zhuravka - Millerovo with a total length of 177 kilometers. Before this section was built, trains traveling from Moscow to the south had to travel part of the way through Ukrainian territory. So it was decided to urgently build a highway bypassing the country, where the hell is going on. And we have solved this problem.

We also participate in the development of the infrastructure of the Patriot Military-Patriotic Park of Culture and Recreation of the Armed Forces in the Moscow Region, in the construction of a refueling complex at the Chkalovsk military airfield.

- Do your troops participate in military exercises?

Of course. Railway troops in last years participated in all large-scale exercises without exception. During the maneuvers, our special units they trained to quickly build approaches to floating railway bridges, mounted overpasses across small rivers and built floating railway bridges over large water barriers. Such as the Yenisei, Volga, Amur, Zeya and Bureya.

During one of the exercises in the Yaroslavl region, when creating a temporary transshipment area, for the first time two different pontoon structures were docked - a floating railway bridge and a modern tape bridge. I assure you, this is a very difficult technical task. And it was resolved. This expanded our arsenal of means of quickly guiding crossings needed by troops in a combat situation.

- Are Zheldorvoysk involved in the elimination of the consequences of natural and man-made emergencies?

Certainly. Our troops help the civilian population affected by natural disasters, fires, floods and man-made accidents. So it was, for example, during powerful floods in the European part of the country, in the Far East, in the cities of Abakan, Krymsk and others.

- And where do they train specialists for the Railway Troops?

Our base university - the Military Engineering and Technical Institute of the Railway Troops and Military Communications is located in St. Petersburg. Relatively recently, it became part of a large educational and scientific center - the Military Academy of Logistics named after General of the Army A.V. Khrulev. Such a merger has its advantages. It provides a system of lifelong military education at all levels, profiles and specialties, holistic in direction, fundamental in content and methodology.

A few years ago, there were few people who wanted to study at the institute. Enrollment in 2009 was small, and in 2010 and 2011 enrollment by program higher education not produced at all. But now the situation has changed. No one remembers the shortage of applicants.

Educational and scientific innovations are being adopted. Separate elements of a promising Center for the Study of Teaching Technologies and the Implementation of Educational Innovations are being created at the institute as administrative and scientific and methodological resources. Cadets successfully participate in international olympiads.

There are groups distance learning using electronic content of service publications and teaching materials. Groups of speech education of military personnel work. In them, cadets master the basics of military rhetoric, the rules for organizing effective communication in service and combat activities. Public control groups have been created educational activities institute and education audit group. The university has concluded a cooperation agreement with the St. Petersburg State University of Railways named after Emperor Alexander I. We maintain working contacts with the Belarusian State University BelSUT.