History of the formation and development of border agencies. History of the Border Service
The Great Patriotic War is a special page in the history of naval units and formations of border troops. Being part of the Navy, they bore on their shoulders the entire brunt of the fight against an insidious and cruel enemy, without disgracing their honor and increasing the glorious combat traditions of the guards of the maritime borders of the Fatherland. In the North and Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Ocean they fought heroically, showing courage and ingenuity, dedication and professional training, military camaraderie and readiness for self-sacrifice in the name of Victory. The legendary exploits of border guard sailors will forever remain in the history of the troops, setting an example of service to the Fatherland for all subsequent generations of border warriors.
From the history of the Border Service Russian Federation...
12/3/1991 The USSR Law “On the reorganization of state security bodies” was adopted, on the basis of which the KGB of the USSR was abolished and the Committee for the Protection of the State Border was formed with the status of an independent union department.
02/18/1992 By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 145 on the basis of the All-Union Institute for Advanced Training of Officers Border Troops The KGB of the USSR established the Order of Lenin Red Banner Academy of Border Troops.
03/20/1992 At a meeting of the heads of state of the CIS member states in Kyiv, an agreement was signed on the creation of the Joint Border Troops Command, the “Regulations on the Joint Border Troops Command” were approved, and the Agreement on the status of the CIS Border Troops was adopted.
Published: August 21, 2010Early XIX V. was marked by a sharp increase in international tension caused by the policies of the leading European powers.
Since 1800, England began to interfere with the maritime trade of other states. This caused the formation of an alliance of four northern countries: Russia, Sweden, Prussia and Denmark, interested in restoring Catherine's armed neutrality. England took this as a declaration of war and imposed an embargo on all Allied ships in English ports, including Russians. It seemed that war could not be avoided. But the death of Emperor Paul I on March 11, 1801 changed a lot. Alexander I, who ascended the throne, was a supporter of peaceful politics.
With the outbreak of the First World War, border guards became part of the active army (except for two Central Asian brigades) and fought on various fronts. According to research by a professor at the Academy of the General Staff of the Tsarist Army, General N.P. Golovin, in the First World War, the Cossack troops and border guards were the most persistent and combat-ready.
Many of them became Knights of St. George. After the February Revolution, when power in Petrograd passed to the Provisional Government, border guards were asked to “maintain complete calm.” Despite the revolutionary upheavals, the service continued. However, the situation on the border and in the building changed dramatically. Corps commander N.A. Pykhachev and chief of staff N.K. Kononov, many generals and officers were removed from their posts. The collapse of the corps began.
Published: August 21, 2010In General Pronichev’s office there is a huge globe. The borders of Russia are as much as one and a half equators.
The First Deputy Director of the FSB of Russia - the head of the Border Service, Colonel General Vladimir Pronichev, answers KP's questions.
Russia's chief border guard is elusive to journalists. Not because it is “classified”. It’s just that he visits Moscow during breaks between business trips, and this time is rarely calculated in whole days. The border economy is equal to one and a half equators of the Earth, but you can’t stretch it out like a thread. Just go and get to distant outposts. But the general gets there - it’s not in vain that he once began his service in those regions where it was not his superiors who fell on his head, but avalanches...
After the death of Peter I in 1725, Russia was faced with the task of ensuring the security of the southern borders of the state and access to the Black Sea. The solution to these problems was directly related to relations between Russia and Turkey, with the further development and strengthening of the domestic fleet.
After Anna Ioannovna ascended the throne, they began to show great concern for the fleet.
In 1732, under the chairmanship of A. Osterman, a Military Maritime Commission was created, which identified many uncombatable ships and vessels, and also outlined a program for updating the ship's personnel. She proposed to have 27 ships, 6 frigates, 2 ferries, 3 bombardment ships and 8 packet boats in the fleet. Instead of the previously existing three large flotilla flags (white, blue and red), a single one was introduced on all ships of the navy. white flag with a blue St. Andrew's cross. The fleet renewal program was carried out successfully. By 1740, the renewed Russian fleet consisted of 12 battleships, 26 lower-class ships and 40 galleys. In 1757 there were already 21 battleships and six frigates. These forces were enough to take care of the protection of the state’s borders in peacetime.
Published: August 21, 2010A special page in the history of the Border Troops is participation in the war in Afghanistan. The border troops of the USSR KGB did not officially participate in the war on the territory of Afghanistan. And the officers, warrant officers and soldiers who died in Afghanistan were considered killed while guarding the USSR border with Afghanistan.
The border guards were outwardly no different from the 40th Army. Soldiers and officers wore the same uniform, their shoulder straps were changed to general-arms ones. Perhaps the only peculiarity is that all logistics and combat support services, as well as all border aviation, were located on Soviet territory, at the locations of border detachments.
Published: August 21, 2010The origins of military medicine of the Border Guard Russian Empire started when Russian government set a course for the transition from the Border Customs Guard to the Border Troops.
On August 15 (27), 1827, Emperor Nicholas I approved the “Regulations on the organization of the Border and Customs Guard with general view there..."
The regulations of 1827 did not provide for medical positions and medical institutions. “Treatment of lower ranks” was prescribed in civilian hospitals and military hospitals of the field army for a fee. There were no government expenses for the treatment of officers and members of their families, although the border service required every patrolman and guard to mobilize all physical and moral forces.
Published: August 21, 2010The state border stretches for thousands of kilometers Soviet Union. It passes through the tundra, through steppes and forests, through the sultry sands of the desert, along inaccessible taiga spurs of mountain ranges, along the surface of the seas and river banks. It stretched out like an endless chain of outposts, naval and air patrols. At every kilometer of the border, from the subtropics to the northern tundra, it is guarded by the faithful sons of the Motherland - Soviet border guards. In the heat and cold, in the rain and blizzard, day and night, soldiers in green caps vigilantly keep their honorable and permanent watch, sacredly fulfilling the oath of allegiance to their people.
Published: August 21, 2010Memoirs of an officer who witnessed the events of March 1969 on Ussuri
Yuri Vitalievich Sologub - retired colonel.
Recent reports about the final settlement of border problems between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China inevitably made me remember the events of almost 40 years ago. After all, they took place precisely in those places of the Far East, which were the subject of a long-standing dispute between one state and another. And I wanted to put everything on paper as it was, without concealment. Moreover, I hope that the readers of HBO will understand: all this is being told by a retired tank colonel, and not a writer or a journalist. So please don’t judge me too harshly for the quality of what’s written...
Published: August 21, 2010Serpentine shafts
In the III-VII centuries. To protect themselves from the steppe nomads moving west and replacing each other, the Dnieper Slavs erected a system of ancient defensive structures along the borders of their territories - the Serpentine Ramparts. The ramparts ran south of present-day Kyiv along both banks of the Dnieper along its tributaries. Their remains remain today along the rivers Vit, Krasnaya, Stugna, Trubezh, Sula, Ros, etc.
The name Serpent Val comes from folk legends about ancient Russian heroes who pacified and harnessed the Serpent (an allegory of the image of formidable nomads, evil and violence) into a giant plow, which was used to plow a ditch-furrow that marked the borders of the country. According to another version, the Serpentine Shafts are named for their characteristic serpentine configuration on the ground. Similar structures are also known in the Dniester region under the name “Troyan Shafts”.
Published: August 21, 2010In the difficult trials of the Great Patriotic War
On June 22, 1941, aviation units stationed on the western border, like all land and sea units of the border troops, were suddenly attacked by fascist troops.
From the very first days of the war, the personnel of the 10th and 11th air squadrons, the 7th naval air squadron and the 6th separate air squadron fought side by side with units of the Red Army Air Force and Naval Forces, and invariably showed high flying skill. The skills acquired during combat training in peacetime were especially useful to flight personnel in wartime. Bombing with various heights, aerial firing from machine guns at a cone and at targets on the ground, etc. - these elements, although not directly required for border protection, were carefully practiced by the personnel. As it turned out, this method of training border guard pilots was justified.
Published: August 21, 2010The 18th century was a time of major territorial acquisitions by Russia, military successes, the formation of the Russian Empire, and administrative reforms. These acts are associated primarily with the names of Peter the Great, Catherine II and outstanding Russian commanders A.V. Suvorov and P.A. Rumyantsev.
Published: August 21, 2010In the history of Russian border protection there are many significant dates, which, like bright milestones, mark the stages of its glorious and long journey. One of them is October 27, 1893. On this day, Russian Emperor Alexander III signed a decree on the creation of a Separate Border Guard Corps. October 15 (27), 2003 marked the 110th anniversary of the Separate Border Guard Corps.
Published: August 21, 2010KONIGSBERG ORDER OF LENIN AND THE RED STAR BORDER DETACHMENT, one of the most famous military units of the NKVD troops of the USSR and the modern Border Service of the FSB of Russia, heir to the military glory of the 95th border order of Lenin border regiment of the NKVD troops of the USSR and the 31st border Koenigsberg Order of the Red Star border regiment of the NKVD troops of the USSR, a unit of the modern Red Banner Border Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Kaliningrad region.
Published: August 21, 2010Over its almost 180-year history, the Russian Border Troops were repeatedly reassigned to various ministries and departments and had different names; border guards, border guards, Border troops, bodies and troops of the Federal Border Service, Border Service of the FSB of Russia.
The names of the military medicine management body changed accordingly: Medical Unit of the Separate Border Guard Corps (OKPS), Sanitary Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of Border Guard, Sanitary (later - Military Medical) Department of the Main Directorate of Border Troops, Military Medical Directorate of the Federal Border Service.
Published: August 21, 2010The first mention of state border guards in Rus' dates back to 1512, when, after another attack by the Crimean Khan, Grand Duke Vasily III “established his land with outposts.” It was from this time that the protection of the borders of the Russian state began to be called the border service.
Published: August 21, 2010At the beginning of the last century, a separate border guard corps of the Russian Empire had in its arsenal a far from rich selection of weapons. It usually consisted of a dragoon saber and a single-shot Berdan rifle. More, as it seemed to the officials of that time, was not necessary, since the then-current “Rules on the Separate Border Guard Corps” and “Instructions for OKPS Officials” made the use of firearms incredibly difficult. They ordered “not to kill a person, but to injure if possible” and “to use weapons only when truly necessary and, moreover, with the greatest caution and prudence.” Border guards had to avoid directing shots into adjacent territory, shooting while on the border line, and if they did shoot, then “so that the bullets would not ricochet to the wrong side.”
Published: April 05, 2010“Border guards are sacrificial troops”
The first border guards can be considered three heroes who defended Rus' from the visits of malicious “foreign tourists”. But legends are legends... The first documentary evidence dates back to 1512. Then, after another attack by the Crimean Khan, Grand Duke Vasily the Third established his lands with outposts. And on February 16, 1571, Ivan the Terrible determined the border regulations of the village and guard services.
Published: March 30, 2010My grandfather, Dmitry Sergeevich Avramchuk, took over as operational duty officer for the Augustow border detachment on June 21, 1941. Quite recently I found several sheets of paper written by him with memories of the first day of the war. He wrote, as far as I understand, at the request of one of the children of his colleagues. If you are interested in the details, I will reprint it. By the way, he recalled that the outposts were raised in advance and were waiting for an attack. No one in the troops at the level of border detachments shut their mouths about the possible outbreak of war, and reports about this regularly went to Moscow without repressive consequences.
Published: March 30, 2010In Ancient Rus', to protect against the raids of nomads and protect its borders, systems of defensive structures were used - the Serpentine Ramparts, the Great Serpentine Line, erected along the borders of Russian territories, for the supervision of which a serif guard was created.
Serpentine shafts
In the III-VII centuries. To protect themselves from the steppe nomads moving west and replacing each other, the Dnieper Slavs erected a system of ancient defensive structures along the borders of their territories - the Serpentine Ramparts. The ramparts ran south of present-day Kyiv along both banks of the Dnieper along its tributaries. Their remains remain today along the rivers Vit, Krasnaya, Stugna, Trubezh, Sula, Ros, etc.
The name Serpent Val comes from folk legends about ancient Russian heroes who pacified and harnessed the Serpent (an allegory of the image of formidable nomads, evil and violence) into a giant plow, which was used to plow a ditch-furrow that marked the borders of the country. According to another version, the Serpentine Shafts are named for their characteristic serpentine configuration on the ground. Similar structures are also known in the Dniester region under the name “Troyan Shafts”.
The ramparts were artificially created earthen ramparts, complemented by ditches. Some of their sections consisted of several fortified lines, which together represented significant structures in terms of the scale of construction and length. The total length of the shafts was about 1 thousand km. They were created, as a rule, with a ledge towards the steppe, with a front to the south and south-east and formed a single system of anti-horse barriers, reaching 10-12 m in height with a base width of 20 m. Often the ramparts were reinforced on the upper platforms with a wooden palisade (sometimes with walls ) with loopholes and watchtowers. The length of the shafts ranged from 1 to 150 km. For strength, wooden structures were laid in the shafts. At the foot of the ramparts facing the enemy, ditches were dug.
About a dozen different designs of “snake shafts” have been identified, depending on the characteristics of the soil, topography and hydrography of the area. Individual sections of the ramparts consisted of several lines of fortified ramparts and ditches with separation to a depth of over 200 km. Behind the ramparts, in many places, signs of fortifications and fortifications that served to house military formations were found. In the directions of probable enemy movement, guards were posted at the ramparts, who, in case of danger, lit smoky fires, which served as a signal for gathering reinforcements in the threatened direction to repel the enemy attack.
The Serpentine Ramparts played an important role in the defense of the Slavic lands. Subsequently, the experience of their construction found its application in creating the defensive lines of the Moscow state.
Since the 16th century The protection of the borders of the Moscow (Russian) state was carried out by a guard and village service specially allocated from the army. For the protection and defense of borders, a system of fortresses, fortified border lines, and Cossack troops were used.
Large serif
To protect the steppe borders of Ancient Rus', defensive structures were created, consisting of fortifications and observation towers, from which signals were given about the approach of the enemy. The creation of fortified points, earthworks and forest fences began in the 9th century. The Tale of Bygone Years notes that as soon as Oleg established himself in Kyiv, he began to build cities around it. Another prince, Vladimir, declaring: “It’s bad that there are few cities near Kyiv,” ordered their construction to continue along the rivers Desna, Ostra, Trubezh, Suda and Strugna, populating these cities with “the best men” from the Slavs: Novgorodians, Krivichi, Chud and Vyatichi .
In the XV - early XVI centuries. near individual Russian fortified cities, forest blockages were erected - abatis: Alatorskaya, Akhtyrskaya, Kalomskaya, Mtsenskaya, Simbirskaya, Temnikovskaya, Toropetskaya, etc. In addition to forest blockages, forts were built on the roads and the most threatened directions. However, they performed limited functions - the protection of small spaces or cities.
In the XVI-XVII centuries. On the southern border of the Moscow state, to protect against attacks by the Crimean and Nogai Tatars, a system of engineering defensive structures - the “Big Zasechnaya Line” - is being created. Its formation as a single military-defense complex took place on the basis of the cities of Venev, Tula, Odoev, Belev, Likhvin, Kozelsk, which became the main strongholds of the large serif line. With the creation of the fortress cities of Yelets, Kromy, Livny, Voronezh, Oskol, Belgorod and Kursk, the Great Serif Line became a powerful barrier to the annual Tatar raids.
The outbreak of the Polish-Swedish intervention (1609) disorganized the service at the Great Zap. This made it possible for the Tatars to freely penetrate far beyond its borders, reaching the outskirts of Moscow. In 1614, service at the Bolshaya Zasechnaya Line was resumed. This forced the Tatars to limit themselves to only small raids on some border areas.
Russian-Polish (Smolensk) War 1632–1934 significantly reduced the number of troops on the Bolshaya Zasechnaya Line (from 12 thousand people in 1629 to 5 thousand). The breakdown of Russian-Turkish relations in 1633 led to the intensification of military operations by the Crimean Tatars: in May 1633, their troops reached Tula. In connection with this, in 1636 the number of troops on the Bolshaya Zasechnaya Line was increased to 17 thousand. The construction of the Belgorod line intensified.
The capture of Azov by the Cossacks in 1637 led to a sharp deterioration in Russian-Tatar and Russian-Turkish relations. The Safat-Girey raid that followed in September 1637 forced the Russian government to take urgent measures to reconstruct the Great Zasechnaya Line. They were implemented through the Rank Order, which was subordinate to the center for managing the work of the Big Zasechnaya Line located in Tula (Prince I.B. Cherkassky). The perestroika was carried out directly by: Ryazansky - Prince D.M. Pozharsky; Venevskikh - Prince S.V. Prozorovsky; Krapivenskikh - P.P. Sheremetev; Odoevskikh - Prince I.L. Golitsyn. The reconstruction of the large abatis was completed in September 1638. Subsequently, its defensive structures were repaired and renewed in 1659, 1666, 1676-1679. The flanks of the Big Zasechnaya Line were covered by forests: from the west - Bryansk, from the east - Meshchersky. It ran parallel to the Oka, which was the 2nd line of defense. The large serif line included the serifs: Kozelskaya, Peremyshlskaya, Likhvinskaya, Odoevskaya, Krapivenskaya, Tula, Venevskaya, Kashirskaya, Ryazanskaya, Belevskaya, Ryazhskaya, Shatskaya. Their total length was about 1 thousand km. Created on the Tula-Venev section double line military defense structures reliably covered the most threatened areas.
By the end of the 1640s. A certain defensive system of the Great Zasechnaya Line was formed. The line was divided into 2 parts. The first, in the form of forest debris, ramparts, ditches and forts, was brought to the field side, where forest debris was the main type of obstacle. To protect the fences and protected forests, zashechnaya guards were appointed. The second line of defense consisted of fortresses and artificial structures located in the depths of the abatis. The fortress was flanked by additional earthen and wooden fortifications located along the abatis and road. Basically, these were earthen ramparts, ditches and lines of grooves in combination with lowering gates. To protect large open spaces All types of defensive structures were used. For example, in the area of the Durakovsky Gate (Vvozhsky section of the Ryazan Zaseki), behind a rampart and a ditch 1.3 km long (ditch width - from 3 to 7 m, depth - up to 1 m), there were gouges and “wolf pits” in two rows in the form ditches over 100 m long with an oak palisade at the bottom. On the roads, the main defensive lines of hollows were created in combination with lowering gates - movable logs attached to pillars standing along the edges of the road. At the moment of danger, the logs fell and blocked the path along the road.
The creation of the Great Zasechnaya Line ensured the protection of the border population, gradually moving the line of defense to the south. It finally blocked the path to the center of the Moscow state and made it possible to deploy troops in a new way and concentrate them along the line: Mtsensk, Odoev, Krapivna, Tula, Venev. IN early XVIII century, in connection with the movement of the borders of the Russian state to the south and the construction of new fortified lines, the Great Serif Line lost its meaning.
FORTRESS SYSTEM OF BORDER PROTECTION AND DEFENSE
At the beginning of the 18th century. To protect and defend the northwestern and western borders of Russia, the so-called “cordon strategy” is used, based on the placement of fortresses along the border.
With Russia's access to the Baltic Sea, the creation of a line of fortifications began, which was planned to include both newly built and existing fortresses. In 1724, Peter I introduced a state that was supposed to have 34 fortresses, including 19 on the northwestern and western border.
In front of the fortresses and between them, outposts were set up, at which outpost service was organized. In 1727, General-Fieldmaster B.K. Minikh, who was in charge of issues of fortress construction, proposed a plan that provided for the complete closure of the borders with a cordon of fortresses.
However, despite a significant increase in their number (by 1830 - 82 fortresses), the fortress system of protecting the Russian border did not receive preferential development. In the south, southeast and east of the country, the protection and defense of state borders was carried out through the construction of fortified border lines, in which fortresses were one of their most important elements.
Border fortified lines
In the XVIII-XIX centuries. In Russia, to protect and protect state borders from armed attacks from outside, fortified border lines were created - a system of defensive fortifications, mainly in the south and east of the country.
The fortified lines consisted of fortified border towns and fortresses, between which various structures and fortifications were created (redoubts, redans, etc.), connected by lines of artificial barriers (earthen ramparts, ditches, forest rubble and abatis, gouges, palisades, etc.) .
The construction of fortified border lines was carried out in close connection with natural barriers (rivers, lakes, swamps, ravines, forests, mounds, hills, etc.). The earthen rampart was usually erected up to 4.5 m high, sometimes with a wooden fence on top. In front of the rampart there was a ditch (sometimes with water) 3.6–5.5 m wide and 1.8–4 m deep. In front of the ditch there were slingshots and palisades against the cavalry. With the increasing effectiveness of rifle fire, redoubt-type protrusions were created on the defensive lines at intervals of 200–600 m. As artillery developed, it was actively used to protect the border fortified line.
Over the course of two centuries, more than 30 fortified border lines were created. Their length ranged from 60 to 550 km, and sometimes more than 1 thousand km. The border fortified lines were constantly being improved, while with the expansion of the territory of Russia, some of them lost their significance and were eliminated, because new ones were erected in front of them.
The fortified lines were usually guarded by regular and settled troops, land militia and Cossacks. Their detachments were located in earthen and wooden fortifications on the ramparts or behind them, in places convenient for quick advance to threatened areas.
Fortresses played an important role. Small military groups moved forward from garrisons and detachments (outposts, outposts, patrols, patrols, ambushes, etc.) conducted reconnaissance and observation of the enemy, and engaged in battle with his small formations. If there was a threat of attack, they gave established signals using signal beacons and sent messengers and messengers away from them.
The construction of border fortified lines began under Peter I with the creation of the Taganrog fortified line. Despite its short length (8 versts) and relatively short service life (1702–1712), it played an important role in the subsequent history of the Russian border fortified line. In 1706–1708 On the western border, a more extended border fortified line was created along the line Pskov - Smolensk - Bryansk. The main role on this line was played by fortresses and sections of individual field and forest structures and barriers. In 1718–1723 The Tsaritsyn fortified line was created between the Volga and Don, and in 1731–1735. between the Dnieper and Seversky Donets - Ukrainian, which was replaced in the 70s. XVIII century the Dnieper fortified line arrived.
In March 1723, the Senate Decree “On assigning special teams from army regiments to outposts in border cities” ordered the Military Collegium to organize outposts of soldiers in order to prevent robbery attacks from abroad.
To protect Trans-Volga possessions in the 30s of the 18th century. The construction of the New Zakamskaya, Samara, Orenburg, Uyskaya, Nizhnyaya and Verkhnyaya Yaitsky fortified border lines was carried out. In 1736, south of Perm on the river. Kama, the Yekaterinburg border fortified line was built. As the borders of the Russian Empire advanced in the east in the middle and 2nd half of the 18th century. New border fortified lines were created, united into the Siberian fortified line. Her components there were the Irtysh, Kolyvano-Kuznetsk and Tobolo-Ishim lines. A certain role in the development of Siberia by Russia was played by the Akmola-Kokchetav (1837), as well as the Nerchinsk and Selengen fortified lines, created in Eastern Siberia in order to combat smuggling and border violations by Honghuzes, capture escaped convicts and lasted until the end of the 19th century.
When Russia developed lands beyond the river. Ural in the 19th century. Novo-Iletskaya (1810-1822, south of the Ural River in the Iletskaya Zashchita area), Novaya (1835-1837, along the Orsk - Troitsk line) and Embenskaya (1826, along the eastern bank of the Emba River - from its upper reaches to the Caspian Sea) fortified lines.
During the period of Russia's implementation of plans to expand influence in Turkestan, the construction of the Syrdarya (1853-1864, along the right bank of the Syrdarya River from the city of Turkestan to the Aral Sea) and Kokand (1864, Fort Verny (Alma-Ata), Pishpek , Turkestan) fortified lines - the last border fortified lines erected in the Russian Empire.
A special place among the border fortified lines of Russia was occupied by the Caucasian fortified lines. The beginning of their construction was the construction of the Kizlyar fortress in 1735 in the North Caucasus. In terms of their total length in one strategic direction, these lines were among the longest, most durable and militarily important. They played an outstanding role during the Russian-Turkish wars of the 18th-19th centuries, the Caucasian War (1817-1864), and contributed to the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
Border fortified lines in the 18th-19th centuries. played an important role in the history of Russia and its borders. During this period, they actually represented the unilaterally established borders of the Russian Empire and acted as a single basis for the overall system of organizing its protection and defense. At the end of the 19th century. The historical process of expanding the territory of the Russian Empire is almost completed: Russian state reached either the borders of strong neighboring states or the vastness of the World Ocean, strictly delineating its state border along the entire perimeter. The border fortified lines have lost their former strategic importance and turn of XIX-XX centuries were liquidated. However, the border fortresses that remained under the jurisdiction of the military department continued to play an important role in covering the state border.
Separate Border Guard Corps
At the end of the 20s. XIX century The Russian border along its entire length was guarded by units and subdivisions, mainly Cossacks, of the Ministry of War. In addition, customs guards served in the western section.
In 1832, Cossack units and units on the second line were completely replaced by border customs guards. In October 1832, the customs border guard was renamed the border guard of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Finance of Russia.
The leadership of the border guards was concentrated in the Department of Foreign Trade (since 1864 - the Department of Customs Duties of the Ministry of Finance, where the border supervision department was formed). Thus, both military and civilian employees found themselves together in one department. The latter often commanded the military. In this situation, the tendency for the border guards to transition to the position of a military organization became more and more noticeable.
On October 15, 1893, at the suggestion of the Minister of Finance, Count S.Yu. Witte Alexander III signed a decree to the Governing Senate on the creation of a Separate Border Guard Corps (OKPS), which read:
"I. The border guards currently located in the Customs Administration will be separated from them into a Separate Border Guard Corps.
II. Subordinate the Separate Border Guard Corps to the Minister of Finance and assign him the Chief of the Border Guard...
III. To establish the position of commander of the Separate Border Guard Corps...”
The first Chief of OKPS was Count Witte Sergei Yulievich, Minister of Finance, and his first commander was General of Artillery Alexander Dmitrievich Svinin.
S.Yu. Witte proposed a new, essentially, organizational structure of the border guard: division into districts - brigades - departments - detachments; changed the order of its subordination and relationship with the Customs Department (close cooperation); developed regulations on its organization on a military basis.
As a result of this reform, OKPS became an independent special (border) military organization designed to carry out border surveillance and ensure the legality of the movement of persons, goods and cargo across the Russian border. In addition to border supervision, OKPS personnel were assigned other tasks: quarantine supervision at the border, participation in some police functions and political supervision; performing security services at various government institutions and facilities; detention of vagrants, deserters, people without passports, and forest cutters at the border; solving military problems during the war.
The corps was subordinate to the Ministry of Finance, whose head was the Chief of the Border Guard (since July 13, 1914, the commander-in-chief of the OKPS). Direct leadership of the Corps was exercised by the OKPS commander, who enjoyed the rights of the head of a military district or the head of the main department of a military department. Subordinate to him was the headquarters of the OKPS, which consisted of four departments (combat, border supervision, weapons and economic).
In 1899, a selection committee was created to select officers for the OKPS, and an economic department was formed with a uniform workshop and a central clothing warehouse. By 1900, the corps administration included the commander of the OKPS - also the head of the department, his assistant, ranks for assignments, headquarters, as well as the Marine, Naval, Medical (since 1911, special Sanitary) and Veterinary units. In total, the department had 40 officers.
On February 1, 1899, 7 border guard districts were created in the Corps, headed by a major general. The districts consisted of brigades and Special Departments. In 1906, the OKPS numbered 1,073 generals and officers, 36,248 lower ranks (12,339 horse riders and 23,906 foot guards). The length of the border sections in the districts was different: from 1044 versts in the 3rd district to 3144 in the 1st district.
The effectiveness of the official activities of the OKPS in border protection is evidenced by the following data:
| No. | Indicators | On 08/07/1827 | On 12/31/1899 |
| 1. | Districts | 13 | 7 |
| 2. . | Brigade, semi-brigade | 11 | 31 |
| 3. . | Special departments (mouths) | 2 | 2 |
| 4. . | Departments (mouth) | 31 | 116 |
| 5. | Squads (distances according to the number of guards) | 119 | 570 |
| 6. | Officer ranks | 312 | 1079 |
| 7. | Lower ranks, including: | 3282 | 36248 |
| 8. | On foot | 1264 | 23906 |
| 9. | Mounted | 2018 | 12339 |
| 10. | Length of the line of border posts | 8809 in. | 13680 in. |
| 11. | Cost of maintaining guards | RUB 1,449,732 | 10986176 rub. |
| 12. . | Customs income from imported and exported goods | 16559860rub. ser. | 210999000 rub. ser. |
In 1900, OKPS troops had the following organizational structure: OKPS department - district - brigade - department - detachment - post. In addition to its administration, the OKPS included 7 districts, 31 brigades, 2 special departments and a flotilla. Total number OKPS consisted of 36,709 people, of which 1,033 were generals, staff and chief officers, 12,101 patrolmen, 23,575 guards. The administration of each district included: the chief of the district, the chief of staff of the district, the staff officer for assignments, the senior adjutant and the architect.
The salary of OKPS officers was relatively large, but, nevertheless, one of the lowest in the world. In 1903, a company commander with the rank of captain received 900 rubles a year, table money - 360 rubles; battalion commander (lieutenant colonel) - 1080 and 660 rubles, respectively; regiment commander (colonel) - 1250 and 2700 rubles (in 1899 in St. Petersburg you could buy a good suit for 8 rubles, a coat for 11 rubles).
From 1827 to 1901, the number of officers in the border guard increased by more than 3 times, lower ranks by more than 11 times, customs income increased by 13 times, and the percentage of the ratio of border guard expenses to customs income increased only 2 times.
The detachment was considered the main unit of the district. The section of the border guarded by the detachment was called the detachment distance. The distances consisted of patrols, and the last of the sections were entrusted to guards. All areas were marked with milestones or special pillars with numbers and were guarded around the clock. The distribution of forces and means for protecting the border and the types of detachments were determined by the detachment commander. There were about 570 detachment officers in the OKPS.
The border service was divided into watchdog (observation and control along the border line) and reconnaissance (intelligence and military). The main types of outfits were a sentry at the border, a secret, a mounted patrol (patrol), a flying detachment, a sentry at the customs slingshot, and a duty officer at the post.
Border security was built in two lines. Its density was different: on the coast of the White Sea - 1.1 people per mile of the border, on the border with Prussia - 8.1, in Transcaucasia - 3.3, in the Transcaspian region - 0.7 people per mile.
At the end of the 19th century. The trail lantern came into use. In May 1894, the OKPS headquarters ordered all posts to have 2–3 guard dogs. Observation towers 3–4 m high began to appear on the border. In 1898, border surveillance on the railways was organized by railway detachments.
The corps was staffed by lower ranks on the basis of military service, but the requirements for recruits were higher. They were prepared for service for 2 months. OKPS had only a few educational institutions and was replenished mainly with officers of the military, naval departments and Cossack troops, and since 1912 - with college graduates. Educational work in the OKPS was based on the official doctrine: autocracy, Orthodoxy and nationality. The Corps had permanent and camp churches (a temple holiday was established for personnel - November 11. The magazines “Border Guard”, “Guard”, “Officer’s Life” made a significant contribution to the education of the ranks of the corps. The system of rewards and punishments was important. Centralized supply There were no food supplies for units and units of the Corps, and there was no rear service in the districts and brigades. To organize food, the lower ranks were united in artels, where the money allocated for food was handed over. The senior leadership of the guards constantly paid attention to improving the life of the guards and showed concern for the health. lower ranks - infirmaries were deployed in brigades, which immediately significantly improved the medical provision of a separate corps.
An important milestone in the streamlining of service on the border was the adoption of the “Rules on the Separate Border Guard Corps” (1910) and the “Instructions for the Service of Officials of the Separate Border Guard Corps” (1912). They brought together all the legal acts adopted in relation to the border guards and regulated the border protection service. With their adoption, the creation of the regulatory framework for the service of corps ranks was completed.
With the outbreak of the First World War, all border brigades, except the 29th, 30th and 31st, located in the Transcaucasus and Central Asia, were deployed in relation to the general army wartime states and came under the full subordination of the War Ministry. On European theater During the war, the Zaamur border district was completely redeployed. During the war, border companies, hundreds, divisions, regiments, brigades and divisions were formed from OKPS brigades, which, replenished with reserve personnel, took an active part in all battles and military campaigns on the western section of the border. In the same sections of the European border where there were no active hostilities (the White coast, part of the Baltic and Black Seas), the border guards, after coming under the control of the Military and Naval Command, remained in their places, protecting the coast from possible enemy landings.
On January 1, 1917, by decree of Emperor Nicholas II, the OKPS was renamed the Separate Border Corps, and the ranks of the border guards began to be officially called border guards.
With the beginning of the February Revolution of 1917, the situation on the border and the situation in the OKPS changed dramatically. On February 27, 1917, the corps headquarters was captured by a group of revolutionary soldiers. An announcement appeared on the doors of the OKPS headquarters: “All senior ranks of the headquarters, until further notice, are relieved of their duties and are allowed to sit at home.” At the beginning of March 1917, divisions and units of the OKPS and the Finnish Border Guard received telegrams informing them that power in Petrograd had passed to the Provisional Executive Committee of the State Duma, chaired by M.V. Rodzianko, and all border guards were asked to “maintain complete calm, calmly perform their duty, firmly remembering that discipline and order are necessary, above all, ... and, especially, to strengthen border security.” But already on March 5, 1917, demobilization of OKPS department employees began. By the decision of the meeting of employees and soldiers of the department, officers and generals who did not take part in the February Revolution were removed from their positions and dismissed, including corps commander N.A. Pykhachev and Chief of Staff Kononov.
The collapse of the border guards was largely facilitated by the irresponsibility of the so-called “free press”. One of the favorite topics of that time was attacks on the army and border guard troops. Thus, on July 27, 1917, the newspaper “Birzhevye Vedomosti” published an article about the border corps, which was allegedly “depraved to the extreme.” As if in State Duma It was calculated that due to these “mostly onlookers and smugglers of smuggling, it was possible to support three corps of soldiers.” But this was not true. Documents indicate that only in 1911-1913. Border guards made 18,969 arrests and seizures of 9,769 smugglers, seized contraband worth 792,471 rubles, and detained 17,967 violators while secretly crossing the border. Treasury income from the border guard service was: 1870 - 126, 1900 - 218, 1907 - 239. 1912 - 306, 1913 - 370 million rubles. In 1913, only 14 million rubles were spent on the maintenance of OKPS.
Despite everything, OKPS units maintained a stable situation in the areas they protected and fought crime and banditry.
On March 30, 1918, the Main Directorate of Border Guard was created under the People's Commissariat of Finance. And, although OKPS practically no longer existed, everything went on as usual in the border guard. In the name of his commander, and in fact the head of the Main Directorate of Border Guard, General G.G. Mokasey-Shibinsky received telegrams. He signed orders for promotion to the next military ranks, appointed them to positions, sent them on business trips, and took measures to transfer the headquarters of the Main Directorate of Border Guards from Petrograd to Moscow. In July 1918, the department employed 90 percent of former officers and military specialists, among whom there was not a single member of the RCP (b).
This was one of the reasons for the dismissal of the head of the Department, G.G. Mokasey-Shibinsky. Military commissars of the Border Guard Council, created on May 28, 1918 under the Main Directorate of Border Guard, P.F. Fedotov and V.D. Frolov, relying on the “asset,” held a meeting at which they discussed the “state of affairs.” At the meeting, it was noted that Mokasey-Shibinsky slowed down the organization of the border guard, appointed military specialists “single-handedly” to responsible positions, and did not restore the order inherent in the Soviet institution to the department. The conclusion was that it was necessary to relieve him from the post of head of the department. Instead, the military commissars proposed appointing S.G. Shamshev, the head of border and tavern supervision. “... to recommend S.G. Shamshev as an active organizer and a good expert in the special affairs of the border guard, and at the same time, of course, standing on the platform of Soviet power and fully sympathizing with the RCP (b).” September 6, 1918 G.G. Mokasey-Shibinsky was relieved of his post as head of the Main Directorate of Border Guards and S.G. Shamshev was appointed instead.
In September 1918, the Border Guard Council recognized the need to liquidate border units and filed a petition for this with the Chairman of the Military Revolutionary Council (VRC), who decided: “A temporary Liquidation Commission should be established at the Main Directorate of Border Guard, (it) will complete its work by 15 February 1919." As a result, many headquarters and chief officers, lower ranks fell on the battlefields, went to the camp of the white movement to fight “for the faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland,” or emigrated...
Thus, the history of the Separate Border Guard Corps, as one of the brightest pages of Russian military history, ended on February 15, 1919. The construction of the Soviet border troops had to start anew, instead of using the already existing and effectively operating structure for protecting the Russian border.
During the existence of the Separate Border Guard Corps, its commanders were: artillery general A.D. Svinin (1893-1908), infantry general N.A. Pykhachev (1908-1917), Lieutenant General G.G. Mokasey-Shibinsky (1917-1918).
Border troops of the Soviet and post-Soviet periods
The October Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Civil War and foreign military intervention destroyed the system of Russian border protection, previously carried out by the Separate Border Guard Corps. The offensive of German troops in the spring of 1918 was repelled by hastily formed covering troops (veils). In March 1918, under the People's Commissariat of Finance of the Soviet Republic, on the basis of the liquidated Directorate of the Separate Border Guard Corps, the Main Directorate of Border Guard was formed, the main task of which was to organize the protection of the border with Finland and Estonia. By decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR of May 28, 1918, a border guard was established as part of this People's Commissariat of Finance (since 1958, May 28 is Border Guard Day).
The border guards were entrusted with: combating smuggling and violations of the state border; protection natural resources in border and territorial waters from theft; supervision of compliance with international shipping rules; protection of fishermen in border and territorial waters; protection of the population from attacks by gangs and nomadic tribes, etc. The decree determined the procedure for protecting the state border, the structure of border units and their central governing bodies. At the same time, issues of military border protection remained under the jurisdiction of the military department. Direct management of the border guard was entrusted to the Main Directorate of Border Guard, which in June 1918 was transferred to the subordination of the People's Commissariat of Trade and Industry. At the same time, the functions of the border guard and customs department were separated.
By the summer of 1918, the border guard had the following organizational structure: the Main Directorate of the Border Guard, under which there was a Border Guard Council, 3 districts, including districts, subdistricts, distances, outposts, posts. In border areas, special operational bodies have been created - district, precinct and point border emergency commissions (BEC), and a border subdepartment has been formed under the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK).
Due to the expansion of the Civil War in August 1918, the border guard in terms of manning, organization, training, weapons, supplies, combat training and use as a military force was transferred to the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs. It began to be staffed with conscript contingents on the basis of universal conscription. They were supervised by the People's Commissariat of Trade and Industry in carrying out special tasks. At the end of 1918, border districts were transformed into border divisions, districts into regiments, subdistricts into battalions, and distances into companies. On February 1, 1919, the border guard was transformed into border troops, and the Main Directorate of Border Guard was transformed into the Main Directorate of Border Troops.
The sharp aggravation of the military-political situation in the summer of 1919 necessitated an increase in the number of armed forces. In July 1919, the border troops were transferred to the full subordination of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs and joined the active army, and in September 1918 the Main Directorate of Border Troops was disbanded. Border protection in areas where there was no ongoing fighting, was carried out by the border surveillance bodies of the People's Commissariat of Trade and Industry (from mid-1920 - the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade) together with the PCHK. To help them, units of the internal security forces of the Republic and the Red Army were allocated.
In the spring and summer of 1920, the restoration of the border line in the north, northwest and south began. In accordance with the resolution of the Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense "On emergency measures to strengthen the protection of the borders of the Republic" dated March 19, 1920, on the basis of special departments of the armies and provinces of the PCHK, special departments for border protection were organized, as well as precinct and maritime special border departments, special border military checkpoints, special border barrier posts. By the STO Decree of November 24, 1920, responsibility for protecting the border of the RSFSR was assigned to the Special Department of the Cheka. Since November 1920, military support for border protection was assigned to units of internal service troops, which were operationally subordinate to the Cheka. The People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade remained in charge of customs supervision of exports, imports and luggage transportation.
However, the internal service troops at the disposal of the Cheka were not enough to guard the borders. In January 1921, independent troops of the Cheka were created, which, among other tasks, were entrusted with protecting the border of the RSFSR. They included military units and internal service detachments guarding the state border, as well as Cheka detachments attached to units of the Red Army. On February 15, 1921, the Instruction for the Cheka units guarding the borders of the RSFSR was approved. On July 10, 1921, the Regulations on the protection of the border of the RSFSR were adopted.
In connection with the end of the Civil War and the need to ensure reliable protection of the borders of the RSFSR, the question of re-establishing the border troops became acute. On September 27, 1922, the STO decided to transfer the protection of the land and sea borders of the RSFSR to the State Political Directorate (GPU) under the NKVD and to form a Separate Border Corps (OPK) of the GPU troops. 7 border districts were created as part of the defense industrial complex. A border guard department was formed as part of the headquarters of the GPU troops. With the creation of the USSR (December 30, 1922) and the transformation of the GPU into the United State Administration (OGPU) under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR (11/15/1923), the border troops became subordinate to the OGPU.
At the end of 1926 organizational structure border troops included: Main Directorate of Border Guards and OGPU Troops - district - detachment - commandant's office - outpost. On June 15, 1927, the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR approved the Regulations on the protection of the state border of the USSR. At the same time, the Temporary Charter of the Border Guard Service was put into effect, which set out the main provisions for its organization and performance.
Border troops contributed to the elimination of Basmachi in Central Asia, fought against the activities of foreign intelligence services, smuggling, and various gangs invading the territory of the USSR. They participated together with units of the Red Army in repelling provocative attacks by Japanese and Chinese militarists, secured the western border of the USSR in 1939-1940, and took part in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940.
In the 20-30s. border guards A.M. showed high examples of fulfilling military duty. Babushkin, N.F. Karatsupa, A.I. Korobitsyn, V.S. Kotelnikov, I.P. Lettish, T.P. Lyukshin, I.G. Poskrebko, P.D. Saikin, G.I. Samokhvalov, P.E. Shchetinkin, D.D. Yaroshevsky and others. To perpetuate the memory of the fallen border guard heroes, many border outposts and ships are named after them. Over 3 thousand border guards were awarded orders and medals, 18 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The first to receive it were the participants in the battles near the lake. Hassan (1938) G.A. Batarshin, V.M. Vinevitin, A.E. Makhalin, P.F. Tereshkin, I.D. Chernopyatko.
In the 30-40s. measures were taken to further strengthen the protection of the state border of the USSR and increase the combat effectiveness of border troops. In 1923, the formation of sea and river flotillas of border ships began. In 1932, aviation units were included in the border troops. The troops received new models of small arms and automotive equipment. The engineering and technical equipment of the border was intensively carried out. Military border schools were created to train command, political, and other special personnel. Since July 1934, the leadership of the border troops was carried out by the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Security of the NKVD of the USSR, from mid-1937 - by the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR, from February 1939 - by the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the NKVD of the USSR.
In 1937-1939, when the Soviet Union was overwhelmed by a wave of repressions, the best cadres of the command and rank and file of the border troops fell under the siege of the Stalinist Inquisition. In many parts and districts, “Trotskyist-Bukharin spy nests” were “opened”, among them the Sochi group, the Vladivostok “Japanese-Trotskyist spy organization”, the Kamchatka group, the “fascist” group in the GUPVO, etc. Only from January to July 1937 153 people were arrested in the border and internal guards, 138 of them for conducting “counter-revolutionary Trotskyist work”, 15 for “espionage”. In 1937-1938 More than 30 people were dismissed and arrested from the GUPVO apparatus, which amounted to about 10 percent of the department’s payroll. In 1939, according to the command staff department of the NKVD Main Police Department, 11 district military chiefs and their deputies, 54 department and district department heads, 4 detachment chiefs and 12 detachment chiefs of staff were either dismissed or arrested. Of the 9 chiefs of the border troops who led them at various times from 1923 to 1939, seven were repressed, six of them were shot. The vast majority of those repressed were subsequently rehabilitated.
The massive scale of the repressions is indirectly confirmed by the following data on the command staff of the border troops on January 1, 1940: from 60 to 80 percent of commanders at all levels had less than a year of experience in their positions. Repressions of the 30s caused enormous damage to the border troops, undermined the quality of operational and combat training, and weakened the entire military body.
On the eve of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The protection of the state border of the USSR was provided by 18 border districts, which included 85 border detachments and 18 separate commandant's offices - a total of about 168.2 thousand people.
On June 22, 1941, the border troops, together with covering units of the Red Army, were the first to take the blow of the Nazi troops. Examples of the selfless performance of military duty by border guards were: the defense of the Brest Fortress, among the defenders of which about 500 border guards of the Brest border detachment fought; 11-day defense of the 13th border outpost of the Vladimir-Volynsky border detachment, led by the head of the outpost, Lieutenant A.V. Lopatin; battles of the combined group under the command of the head of the border outpost of the Kipranmyaksky border detachment of the Karelo-Finnish border district, senior lieutenant N.F. Kaimanova, who defended sections of the state border for 19 days, and the actions of many other border units.
7.5 thousand people were transferred to the ground forces of the Red Army from the Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Kazakhstan, Central Asian and Turkmen border districts to staff the newly formed 15 rifle divisions; in the Air Force - 4 air squadrons and 1 air unit; in the Navy - 8 detachments of border ships, 3 divisions of boats, and a training unit. In accordance with the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated June 25, 1941, the border troops and units of the internal troops of the NKVD were entrusted with guarding the rear of the active Red Army. To carry out this task, the border troops allocated 48 border detachments, 2 separate reserve battalions, and 23 separate special service units. In total, during the war, more than half of the command personnel from the border troops were transferred to the active army; the majority of the border guards took direct part in the hostilities. Army General I.I. Maslennikov and Major General K.I. Rakutin commanded combined arms formations. Many of the border guards fought the enemy while in the occupied territory in partisan detachments and underground organizations. The partisan detachments and formations commanded by border guard officers K.D. became widely known. Karitsky, M.I. Naumov, N.A. Prokopyuk, M.S. Prudnikov, awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
As the territory of the USSR was liberated, border troops again took protection of the state border. Soviet border guards also contributed to the victory of the USSR in the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945.
IN post-war period The main tasks of the border troops were: repelling armed incursions into the territory of the USSR by military groups and protecting the population; preventing crossings (moving) of the state border in unspecified places or by illegal means; implementation at established checkpoints of persons crossing the state border; ensuring proper maintenance of the state border line; suppression, together with customs authorities, of the transportation across the border of items, materials and valuables prohibited for import and export; control, in cooperation with police authorities, over the implementation of border regime rules, and since 1977 - together with fish conservation authorities, control over the conservation of fish and living resources in territorial, inland waters and marine areas adjacent to the coast of the USSR; monitoring compliance by all vessels with the established navigation regime within the territorial and internal sea waters of the USSR; since 1985 – protection of the economic zone of the USSR.
Since 1946, the leadership of the border troops has been carried out by the head of the border troops of the Ministry of State Security of the USSR, since 1953 - the head of the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, since 1957 - the head of the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR (with 1978 – KGB of the USSR).
Organizationally, the border troops consisted of border districts, border detachments, border commandant's offices, maneuver groups, checkpoints, etc., as well as various aviation and special units (units). For operations in sea and river sectors, the border troops had units of patrol ships. Equipping the border troops with modern aircraft, helicopters, patrol ships, off-road vehicles, armored personnel carriers, etc. has increased their combat capabilities and mobility. Personnel training was carried out in military educational institutions of the border troops. To improve the leadership of troops, military councils were created in the border districts in 1963, and in 1969, the Military Council of Border Troops.
After the introduction of the Limited contingent into Afghanistan in December 1979 Soviet troops, in January 1980, units of the USSR border troops entered the northern provinces of the DRA. In 1982–1986 The combat activities of the USSR Border Troops Group in Afghanistan were carried out along the entire length of the Soviet-Afghan border to a depth of 100 km and beyond.
The operational and combat activities of Soviet border guards in Afghanistan since 1980 consisted of solving the following tasks: ensuring the security of the state border of the USSR from sabotage actions of armed formations; providing military assistance to Afghan government authorities in the northern provinces of the country; military cover of Afghanistan's borders with Iran, Pakistan and China in the zone of responsibility of the USSR border troops; in cooperation with units of the 40th Army, clearing the northern regions of Afghanistan from armed formations. In addition, border units guarded and defended economic cooperation facilities and provided escort and delivery of humanitarian and military cargo. In 1988-1989 Border troops ensured the safety of the withdrawal of a limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. In February 1989, the Border Troops Group was withdrawn from Afghanistan. The last to cross the state border, on February 15, 1989 at 16.39, was the 5th motorized maneuver group of the Takhta-Bazar border detachment.
During the 10 years of war, more than 62 thousand border guards passed through Afghanistan. About 22 thousand people were awarded state awards for courage and bravery. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel V.I. Ukhabov (posthumously) and F.S. Shagaleev, majors A.P. Bogdanov (posthumously) and I.P. Barsukov, captains N.N. Lukashov and V.F. Popkov, foreman V.D. Kapshuk. The losses of the border guards were: irrevocable - 419 people, sanitary - 2540 people. Not a single border guard warrior was captured or left to lie dead in Afghan soil.
For the period 1965-1989. Soviet border guards detained more than 40 thousand violators of the state border of the USSR, of which 71% were violators from neighboring states. The number of border troops in 1989 was about 200 thousand people.
In December 1991, after the reorganization of the KGB of the USSR, the Main Directorate of Border Troops was abolished and the Committee for the Protection of the State Border of the USSR was formed with the Joint Command of Border Troops, the leadership of which was entrusted to the post of Chairman of the Committee - Commander-in-Chief of the Border Troops of the USSR.
On December 8, 1991, the presidents of the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine announced in Minsk the dissolution of the USSR and the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. As a result of the collapse USSR during 1991-1993 Up to 40 percent of the ground, sea, and aviation forces and assets with engineering structures and equipment, housing and barracks facilities in their places of deployment were lost, including all checkpoints on international routes in the western direction. In this regard, a significant part of the state border of the Russian Federation remained uncovered in military terms.
The collapse of the USSR acutely raised the problem of creating border troops of the Russian Federation. In 1992, the Border Troops of the Russian Federation were created, which were subordinate to the Ministry of Security. In 1993, the Federal Border Service was formed - the Main Command of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation with the status of a federal ministry, which since 1994 has been renamed the Federal Border Service (FBS of Russia). In accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 55-FZ of May 4, 2002 “On the Border Service of the Russian Federation,” the FBS of Russia was renamed into the Border Service of the Russian Federation, which consists of a specially authorized federal executive body for the border service (FBS of Russia), troops, authorities and other organizations.
A soldier in the border guard troops is a prestigious and responsible profession. Which person is it suitable for? this type activities? What needs to be done in order to be able to defend the borders of the Motherland? will tell you a little more about the border service than you already know.
Not everyone is suitable for the role of defenders of the state boundaries: educational institutions conduct a careful selection among applicants. Health status is assessed physical training applicants are subject to professional psychological selection (assessment of military-professional orientation and individual psychological qualities). Of course, one cannot do without the usual tests for applicants in the form of CT.
Honesty, discipline, resistance to stress, the ability to make quick decisions and work in a team are important personal characteristics of a fighter. The everyday life of a border guard is not monotonous: one day he struggles with routine, the next he resolves a situation in which people’s lives are in danger. Only a person who is steadfast in spirit and strong in body will be able to adapt to service in such conditions.
Monument to border guard soldiers in Grodno. Photo by Boris Mavlyutov He must know state laws and regulations that govern the border service, and understand the technology of document verification. To communicate, you will need knowledge of psychology and foreign languages.
The main task of the border guard is to ensure that nothing illegal happens at a distance between border points. If it is a land border, it is usually patrolled on foot or by vehicle. If the border passes by sea, then floating vehicles and air equipment are used.
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Border Guard Day.
On May 28, Russia celebrated Border Guard Day. One of the most revered military holidays, untouched by the political situation.
May 28, 1918 The Border Guard of the RSFSR was established by decree of the Council of People's Commissars (SNK). It was created then.
Officially, USSR Border Guard Day was established in 1958.
IN modern Russia Border Guard Day was established by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 23, 1994 “in order to revive the historical traditions of Russia and its Border Troops.”
The Federal Border Service (FBS) of the Russian Federation was created by the Decree of the President of Russia of December 30, 1993, and was subordinated directly to the President and the Government of the Russian Federation. By decree of the President of Russia of March 11, 2003, the Border Service was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia.
Historical roots.
The history of the Russian Border Service goes back to the distant past. The fight against steppe nomads forced the Russian principalities to build heroic outposts, as well as border fortress-cities, on the approaches to their possessions.
In the second half of the 14th century, due to frequent Tatar raids on Russian territory, guard detachments (watchmen) and villages began to be deployed on the southern and southeastern outskirts of the Moscow principality, which sent mounted observers. Later, abatis and border fortified lines began to be erected.
In 1571, the “Code on Village Service” appeared, regulating the rights and responsibilities of the guards and the procedure for protecting borders. In 1574, a single commander was appointed over the guard and village service. With the growth of foreign trade, border customs houses were created in 1754. Border protection was carried out by dragoon regiments dispersed among outposts and customs civilian patrolmen.
In October 1782, by decree of Empress Catherine II, the institution of “customs chain and guards” was established to protect borders and implement border control. In 1827, the “Regulations on the structure of border customs guards” came into force, which was subordinated to the Department of Foreign Trade of the Russian Ministry of Finance.
In October 1893, the border guards were separated from the department of foreign trade into a separate corps of the border guards of the Ministry of Finance (OKPS). The main tasks of OKPS were the fight against smuggling and illegal border crossing. With the outbreak of the First World War, most OKPS units came under the control of the military command and became part of the field armies. In 1918, OKPS was disbanded.
On March 30, 1918, the Main Directorate of Border Guard was created under the People's Commissariat of Finance of the RSFSR, which in 1919 was transferred to the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat of Trade and Industry. The border guard was responsible for combating smuggling and violations of the state border. On November 24, 1920, responsibility for protecting the border of the RSFSR was transferred to the Special Department of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK).
On September 27, 1922, border protection came under the jurisdiction of the United State Political Directorate (OGPU), and a separate border corps of OGPU troops was formed.
Since July 1934, the leadership of the border troops was carried out by the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Security of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the USSR, since 1937 - by the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR, and since February 1939 - by the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the NKVD of the USSR.
In 1946, the border troops were transferred to the jurisdiction of the newly created Ministry of State Security of the USSR, and in 1953 - the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of the USSR.
In 1957, the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the USSR was formed.
Guardians of the borders of the new Russia.
In December 1991, after the reorganization of the KGB of the USSR, the Main Directorate of Border Troops was abolished and the Committee for the Protection of the State Border of the USSR was formed.
In October 1992, the border troops were included in the Ministry of Security.
On December 30, 1993, the Federal Border Service - the Main Command of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation (FBS - Glavkomat) was created as an independent federal executive body.
In December 1994, the FPS - Main Command was renamed the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation (FPS Russia); since 2003, the Border Service has been part of the structure of the FSB of Russia.
Border Patrol today.
Border Service of the FSB of Russia – structural unit FSB of Russia, dealing with issues of organizing the activities of federal security service bodies in the implementation of protection and security: the state border of Russia; economic and other legitimate interests of Russia within the border territory, the Russian exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, as well as the protection outside the exclusive economic zone of Russia of stocks of anadromous fish species formed in Russian rivers.
According to the First Deputy Director of the FSB - Head of the FSB Border Service, Army General Vladimir Pronichev, today one of the main tasks of the Border Service is the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal migration and smuggling at the state border. If previously the border security system was focused on detaining border violators, now the main efforts are aimed at suppressing cross-border illegal activities at the border. Every year, more than 100 organized crime groups engaged in illegal activities at the border are identified and disrupted.
In 2009, more than 6 thousand border violators were detained, about 40 thousand violators of the border regime and regime at checkpoints. Goods and items transported across the border smuggled and in violation of customs rules were detained in an amount exceeding 900 million rubles. Border authorities inspected over 30 thousand vessels, detained more than 180, of which about 1 thousand tons of fishery products were seized.
Units and divisions of the Russian border service are armed with modern weapons, military, automotive and special equipment.
Conscripts are no longer recruited into border guard agencies. In 2008, the last conscript soldier was discharged. The border troops have been completely transferred to contract service, since special research by scientists and the situation on the ground have shown: professional service makes it possible to more effectively and with less cost. economic costs carry out the task of protecting the state border.
In the future, the leadership of the border service plans to completely abandon the private and non-commissioned personnel of the contract service. The initial rank for service on the border will be warrant officer. For this purpose, corresponding courses are already being created at border universities.
In 2008, the Border Patrol celebrated its 90th anniversary. Commission for awarding public awards and memorial signs An anniversary public medal “90 years of the Border Service” was established.
According to tradition, on Border Guard Day, all those who served in the border troops put on a uniform, always a green cap, and gather in parks. these are Sokolniki, Izmailovo, Gorky Park and Poklonnaya Gora.
On Border Guard Day, festive fireworks are displayed in hero cities and in cities where the departments of border districts and groups of border troops are located.
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The borders of the Russian state were defended in the most difficult trials. According to V.O Klyuchevsky, “the fight against the steppe nomad... lasted from VIII almost until late XVII v., is the most difficult memory of the Russian people...” The defensive system was created under the Grand Duke of Kiev Vladimir (980-1015), fortress-cities were built along the rivers. The first known written mention of the border is “The Tale of Bygone Years,” which contains an order from Grand Duke Vladimir on the establishment of border cities along the Sula, Trubezh, Osetra rivers and a set of “ best husbands"from the Slavic tribes for the "protection of the Russian land", the organization of border protection of the southern and south-eastern borders of Rus' (988). They were populated with “the best men from the Slavs: Novgorodians, Krivichi, Chud and Vyatichi.” In the 30s of the 11th century. the same line was added from 13 cities along the Ros River, and in the second half of the 11th century. The continuous raids of the Polovtsians on the southern outskirts of Rus' forced the creation of a third line of 11 cities along the Dnieper.
The words of the chronicle have also reached us that the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily III “established his land with outposts” (1512). Activities for the direct protection of the border of the Russian state began to be called the border service.
Under Tsar Ivan the Terrible Russian state increased, its borders moved to the south and east. On January 1, 1571, Ivan the Terrible appointed the “most famous warrior of his time” M.I. Vorotynsky as head of the village and guard service, who distinguished himself in campaigns against the Swedes, Volga and Crimean Tatars, as well as during the capture of Kazan, being the governor of the Great Regiment. In February of the same year, under the leadership of Vorotynsky, it was developed and then approved by the tsar “Boyar verdict on stanitsa and guard service”. This document essentially became the first border charter, which determined the order of service for protecting the borders of the Moscow state. Another important historical document has also been preserved - Synodic of the Assumption Cathedral. It contains the names of deceased Russian warriors on the German, Lithuanian and southern borders. The Orthodox Church prayed for the “Christ-loving Russian army,” wishing them victory over the enemy.
The 18th century was a time of major territorial acquisitions by Russia, military successes, the formation of the Russian Empire, and administrative reforms. These acts are associated primarily with the names of Peter the Great, Catherine II and outstanding Russian commanders A.V. Suvorov and P.A. Rumyantsev. For example, Suvorov, being the commander of the Kuban Corps (from January 1778), traveled around the entire region, compiled a similar topographical description of it, built 10 fortresses and redoubts on the Kuban River, established a cordon and reconnaissance service, organized the defense of the Crimean Peninsula, introduced an alarm and warning system between coastal batteries and the young Black Sea Fleet. Strengthened the borders in Finland and on the Karelian Isthmus.
The guards of the border already in ancient times fought against smugglers - those transporting illegal goods across the border. Turkish scimitars and flintlock pistols, in particular, were popular. Border service under Peter I was carried out by ground units, settled troops (land militia) and Cossacks, and from 1782 to 1827, according to the Decree of Catherine II “On the Establishment of the Customs Chain” - by civilian border guards.
IN Patriotic War In 1812, the Cossacks were engaged in reconnaissance, organizing the partisan movement behind enemy lines, and took part in the Battle of Borodino.
After 1812, the Russian economy developed at an accelerated pace, trade with foreign countries. At the same time, smuggling was also growing on the border. The civilian customs guards did not always cope with this flow. A turning point that radically changed the character of the border guard itself was the decision to transform it.
In 1823, E.F. Kankrin, who became Minister of Finance, introduced a new customs tariff, which sharply increased duties on imported foreign goods. Customs revenues increased from 30 to 81.5 million rubles.
On August 5, 1827, E. F. Kankrin submitted for approval to Emperor Nicholas I “Regulations on the structure of border customs guards.” The document noted that “the main changes in this situation consist in a firm military division of the guard, in the appointment of military commanders...”
TO end of the 19th century century, the tasks of the guard became more complicated, which led to its separation from the customs department. The initiator of the reforms was the Minister of Finance S.Yu. Witte. By decree Alexandra III(October 15, 1893) the Separate Border Guard Corps (OKPS) was formed, the chief of which was Witte himself. The decree of October 15, 1893 identified among the main tasks of the border guard the fight against smuggling, as well as border protection. From 1893 to 1908, the commander of the Separate Border Guard Corps was artillery general A.D. Svinin.
OKPS troops included the Directorate, 7 districts, 31 brigades, Belomorsky and Kerch special departments, detachments and posts. The total strength of the corps is 36,709 people, of which 1,033 are generals, staff and chief officers.
In 1901, the Zaamur Border District was created on the basis of the Security Guard of the Chinese Eastern Railway. His task was to protect roads, stations, stages, crossings, and lumberjacks from bandit attacks. At the beginning of the war with Japan, the Trans-Amur people entered into battle with the enemy, fought in Port Arthur, near Liaoyang and Mukden.
In 1893, the Baltic Customs Cruiser Flotilla also became part of the OKPS. In instilling moral principles among border guards, an important role belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church. The staff of each brigade provided for the positions of priests.
With the outbreak of the First World War, border guards became part of the active army (except for two Central Asian brigades) and fought on various fronts. Many of them became Knights of St. George. After the February Revolution, when power in Petrograd passed to the Provisional Government, border guards were asked to “maintain complete calm.” Despite the revolutionary upheavals, the service continued. However, the situation on the border and in the building changed dramatically. Corps commander N.A. Pykhachev and chief of staff N.K. Kononov, many generals and officers were removed from their posts. The collapse of the corps began.
The formation of the Soviet border guard took place in difficult times. The old was destroyed, but the new was not created. There was no longer a Corps, but there were veterans who continued to serve. Their experience was necessary for the border guard of the Soviet state.
After the revolution, the functions of establishing order in the country were performed by the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC). He worked to strengthen Soviet power and ensure the country's security, including protecting its borders. Order of the Military Revolutionary Committee of November 3 (16), 1917 and Instructions to the commissioners of the Torneo station and other points European border RSFSR, approved by the Military Revolutionary Committee on November 12 (25), 1917, announced the temporary closure of the border and that exit from and entry into the country was permitted only by the Military Revolutionary Committee signed by specially authorized persons.
The Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR of May 26, 1918 established a border service, which was entrusted with the protection of the border interests of the RSFSR, and within the border strip, the protection of the person and property of citizens. The first leaders of the border service of the republic were V.R. Menzhinsky - People's Commissar of Finance, deputy chairman of the Cheka, and then deputy chairman of the OGPU; A.L. Pevnev - military head of the Main Directorate of Border Guard of the RSFSR; P. F. Fedotov - military commissar of the Main Directorate of Border Guards, member of the Military Council of the Border Guards of the RSFSR.
Pevnev's biography is an interesting development human destiny. Kuban Cossack, who since 1892 connected his life with military service, graduated from the Academy of the General Staff in 1900. A participant in the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars, he met 1917 with the rank of major general. Was awarded by many Russian orders. Entered service in the Red Army in October 1917.
The civil war and foreign military intervention somewhat slowed down, but did not stop, the search for the most suitable form of organizing the border service and creating border troops in new historical and socio-political conditions.
Among the first leaders of the border guard was Andrei Nikolaevich Leskov, the son of the famous Russian writer Leskov. He devoted over 30 years to the Russian border guard service. Colonel of the tsarist army, an excellent staff officer, made a great contribution to the training of command personnel for the border troops. In 1923, he developed the Instructions for the protection of the northwestern borders, temporarily holding the position of chief of staff of the Petrograd border district during this period.
On September 6, 1918, border uniforms were introduced, in particular, caps and hats with a green top. The end of the civil war and the conclusion of agreements with neighboring states on the establishment of diplomatic relations and cooperation opened up the opportunity for the Soviet government to more intensively and purposefully resolve issues of organizing the border service along the entire perimeter of the state border of the Republic.
The issue of training command staff for the OGPU troops became acute. In 1923, the Higher Border School was opened. During these years, the border checkpoint service was formed.
Just one example. In December 1935, a Japanese diplomat tried to smuggle two female spies abroad through the Negoreloe checkpoint in two suitcases.
During the formation years of the checkpoint service, there were measures for its material incentives: “All 100 percent of the amount proceeds from the sale of contraband detained directly by the border guards of the GPU (troops and bodies), with the exception of payments for direct and indirect detainees, is transferred to the GPU to improve the clothing and food supply of the border guards GPU and to improve the fight against smuggling.”
One of the most important tasks of the Soviet Republic in strengthening its borders and protecting them was the organization of maritime border guards, which was completed by the end of 1923.
Captain 1st Rank M.V. Ivanov became the organizer of the maritime border guard. Under his leadership, the Finnish-Ladoga Flotilla was formed on the Baltic, Lake Peipus and Pskov Lakes, marking the beginning of the revival of the naval forces of the border troops.
With the end of the civil war, when external fronts were eliminated, the border troops concentrated their efforts on fighting spies sent into our country by foreign intelligence services. Over three years (1922-1925), 2,742 violators were detained only in the area of five border detachments of the western border, of which 675 turned out to be agents of foreign intelligence services.
In 1929 - the conflict in the Chinese-Eastern railway, which broke out on July 10 and ended with the defeat of a group of Chinese troops by mid-December of the same year. Border guards, together with the troops of the Special Far Eastern Army and the sailors of the Amur Military Flotilla, made a significant contribution to restoring the normal situation on the CER.
In the 1930s, the use of service dogs in border protection became increasingly important. Service dog breeding and tracking in the border troops is becoming an independent area of operational activity.
Hero of the Soviet Union Nikita Fedorovich Karatsupa, a legendary border guard, a search dog guide, a noble tracker in the 30s, has 467 detained saboteurs, spies and other criminals. The Poltavka outpost of the Grodekovsky border detachment, where N.F. Karatsupa served, was named after him.
In accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Labor and Defense of the USSR dated July 21, 1932, the first aviation detachments were formed as part of the border guard and OGPU troops in 1932-1934.
In the mid-30s, Japanese activities intensified on the Far Eastern border. On October 12, 1935, a detachment of Japanese soldiers crossed the border at the Volynka outpost site. Border guards were forced to fight. A cavalry group led by squad commander Valentin Kotelnikov arrived to help them. The Japanese were expelled from Soviet territory. The squad leader died in battle. Upon learning of his death, his cousin Pyotr Kotelnikov volunteered to serve in the border detachment. This example marked the beginning of the patriotic youth movement “Brother - to replace brother.”
In July 1938 at Far East In the area of Lake Khasan, the Japanese started a military conflict. In the battles at the heights of Zaozernaya and Bezymyannaya, together with the troops of the rifle corps, which carried out the defeat of the aggressor on August 11, fighters of the Posyet border detachment took part.
In May 1939, the Japanese military command launched large-scale military operations on the territory of the Mongolian People's Republic. A combined battalion of border guards took part in the battles to repel the attack and defeat the aggressor in the area of the Khalkhin Gol River as part of the Soviet troops.
From the first to the last day, border guards took part in the war with Finland. For the successful completion of command tasks, the 4th, 5th, 6th border regiments and the Rebolsky border detachment were awarded the Order of the Red Banner. 1961 border soldiers were awarded orders and medals, 13 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The heroism of border guards during the Great Patriotic War is well known historical fact. A lot has been done by the border troops to establish peaceful life after the war.
If we talk about the recent past, the Federal Border Service - the Main Command of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation (FPS-GC RF RF) was created on December 30, 1993 by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 2318. In its current form, the FPS has existed since December 30, 1994 (Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 2245, according to which the FPS-GK PV RF was renamed the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation). The Border Service of the Russian Federation is the legal successor of all border structures of the Russian state.
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