Veterinary service of the Red Army during the Second World War. `About Military Veterinary Medicine at this stage of its development` Colonel of Veterinary Service

Libmonster ID: RU-12670

Major General of Veterinary Service Vitaly Petrovich Vetrov

(the only one in Russian Federation)

Brief biographical sketch

(Material in the book “Generals and Heads of Military Veterinary Medicine in Russia)

SOUTH. Boev, Head of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Chief Veterinary and Sanitary Inspector of the Armed Forces, Colonel of the Medical Service (2004 -2010)

Abbreviations: NPP- nuclear power plant,VVI- military veterinary institute,IN- military district, Sun- armed forces,GSh- General base,Cattle- cattle,Ministry of Internal Affairs- Ministry of Internal Affairs,OKVS- officer courses of veterinary service,RF- Russian Federation,R&D- research and experimental control work,research- research work,NSO- scientific-student society

Vetrov Vitaly Petrovich - Major General of the Veterinary Service in reserve, Honored Veterinarian of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Biological Sciences, combat veteran, Chairman of the Council of Veterans of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces, full member International Academy informatization, professor of the Academy of Military Sciences,

One of the main activities of Vitaly Vetrov as a military veterinary specialist is the protection of the territory of the USSR, CIS countries and the Russian Federation from the introduction of anthropozoonoses and the elimination of infectious animal diseases. Over a 50-year period of service, he went from a veterinary paramedic to the head of the country's Central Military Veterinary Authority, from lieutenant to general.

V.P. Vetrov was born on January 1, 1948 in the village of Saryagach, Chimkent region, Kazakh SSR, into a family of employees. After graduating from school, he entered the oldest (established in 1932) in Central Asia Kaplambek Veterinary College for the veterinary department. He graduated from technical school with honors and worked for about a year as a veterinary assistant at a training and production facility.

During this period, he was seconded to the special-purpose veterinary police detachment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kazakh SSR to eliminate foot-and-mouth disease of the “AI” type in the territory of Southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

STUDY, START OF SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES

In 1967, he continued his education at the Almaty Zooveterinary Institute.

By decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, a military-veterinary (special) cycle (1966) was organized at the combined arms department of the institute, intended for the training of veterinary personnel of the army and reserve veterinary service officers.

During his studies at AZVI V.P. Vetrov was repeatedly involved as a veterinary paramedic in veterinary anti-epizootic teams and expeditions to combat epizootics and outbreaks of infectious animal diseases in Central Asia, Mongolia and Eastern Kazakhstan (rabies, rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, sheeppox, brucellosis, classical swine fever, Newcastle disease ), and also successfully engaged in scientific work in the NSO in the problematic laboratory of virology on closed topics, under the guidance of famous domestic scientists X.

FAR EASTERN PERIOD

After graduating from university in 1972, V.P. Vetrov received the specialty of veterinarian - military veterinary and sanitary expert, the primary officer rank - lieutenant of the veterinary service and was assigned to the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. He began his service in the Far Eastern Military District as a veterinarian to control the meat supply of units deployed in the wartime states of the 123rd GuardsDukhovshchina-Khinganskaya, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov II degree and the October Revolution motorized rifle division. Due to official necessity, in addition to the main tasksActed as head of the garrison bakery. (district subordination) In terms of district anti-epizootic affairs, he organized measures to improve the health of a number of garrisons of the Primorsky Territory from brucellosis, classical swine fever, tick-borne encephalitis, infectious anemia of horses and other infections, for which he was encouraged by the Commander of the 5th OA with a valuable gift and presented for the next military rank , ahead of schedule.

In 1973 V.P. Vetrov graduated from the 43-OKVS MBA, on the basis of which the military veterinary faculty was created in 1978.

CUBAN PERIOD

In 1974, he was sent to the Republic of Cuba, where he participated in eliminating the consequences of African swine fever and carried out various activities aimed at preventing the disease among Soviet military and civilian specialists. I was studying veterinary and logistical support for the redeployment of Cuban troops to Angola in 1975. On duty, he took an active part in the training of military veterinary specialists from among Cuban officers. He participated in a number of hydrographic expeditions in the South Atlantic area, and also visited a number of Caribbean countries. He was directly involved in the logistical support of ships and vessels of the Seventh Operational Squadron Northern Fleet.

COASTAL PERIOD

In 1976 V.P. Vetrov continued to serve in the Far Eastern Military District as head of the veterinary service of a motorized rifle division. (in Primorye) At the same time, he successfully acted as chief for a year and a halffood service of motorized rifle regiment cover state border, head of the organizational planning department of the formation. During this period, it successfully fulfills the tasks of logistical support during the construction of “Battalion Defense Regions” on the Soviet-Chinese border. Takes an active part in the formation of teams of military personnel transferred to the reserve for the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. Participates in the organization of veterinary support for the Railway Troops at BAM. With his participation, a veterinary and epizootic reconnaissance was carried out and the veterinary and sanitary condition of the entire BAM route was determined.

At the same time, the veterinary staff of the railway teams and the veterinary service of the Far Eastern Branch carried out colossal scientific research in terms of identifying anthrax burials and identifying soil infections during the construction and movement of millions of tons of soil. The 44th district veterinary laboratory alone has conducted more than 489 thousand soil and soil tests. For services in this activity, V.P. Vetrov was awarded the State Award with the medal “For the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline”

SAKHALIN PERIOD

In 1978, for success in his career, he received another promotion - he was appointed to the position of senior veterinary inspector - head of the veterinary service of the combined arms army on Sakhalin. The area of ​​responsibility of the veterinary chief included the island and peninsular parts Far East and the Arctic coast was 4.5 thousand km from North to South to 2 thousand km, from East to West and 28.5 thousand miles along the coastline. The army's veterinary service included veterinary-epizootic units and veterinary laboratories; 886 VEO, veterinary service 23 OMSBRin the village of Coal Mines in Chukotka; 252 veo, N - veterinary laboratory, Rybachy village, veterinary services of the 22nd metropolitan division, in the village of Ust-Kamchatsk and 146 military state farm on the Kamchatka Peninsula; 249 VEO of Listvenichnoye village, 401 veterinary laboratory, veterinary service of the 33rd motorized rifle division, veterinarians of formations and units, veterinary service of the 147th military state farm on the island, Sakhalin, veterinary service of the machine-gun artillery division on the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan; and food quality laboratories at 12 district food warehouses, from the island. Iturup to Provideniya Bay.

During this period, along with solving everyday problems of veterinary support for troops, V.P. Vetrov worked as part of expeditions of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Pacific Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography) and carried out assignments through the General Staff of the Armed Forces in the field of scientific research.At the same time, considerable attention was paid to the study of the epizootic situation, the veterinary and sanitary state in the theater of military operations, as well as ethnographic and other expeditions to the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Chukotka and the mainland of the Far East.

In 1981 V.P. Vetrov participated in the liquidation of the consequences of Typhoon Dora on the island of Sakhalin, organizing anti-epizootic and veterinary-sanitary measures, organized the work of all services for the collection and disposal of about two thousand animal corpses in the southern regionsSakhalin Islands.Achieved lasting well-being of the island garrisons against a number of infections and zoonoses.

BELARUSIAN PERIOD

Since June 1983 V.P. Vetrov is the head of the veterinary service of the Belarusian Military District. A special milestone in his activities is the elimination of the consequences of the disaster in Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In the course of this work, veterinary support was organized for a more than 300,000-strong group of troops on the territory of Belarus, and it was possible to achieve the smooth functioning of the veterinary and radiation control system in the area of ​​​​responsibility. As a result, the veterinary service of the Belarusian Military District was recognized as the most prepared, efficient and mobile of all special services of a similar profile. She solved many national economic problems on the territory of the republic.

During these same years, V.P. Vetrov had to carry out combat missions in logistics and veterinary support for individual units and teams, in particular the formation of separate pack and transport companies for operations in mountainous desert areas in the territory of the Central Asian, Turkestan, Transcaucasian Military District and the Republic of Afghanistan. And ensure the rotation of personnel of the veterinary service of the Belarusian Military District to gain combat experience in 40 OA.

In addition, Vitaly Vetrov was responsible for providing veterinary equipment, equipment, biological preparations and other items to troops and naval forces; Northern Group of Forces (Poland); Baltic Military District; (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) Baltic Fleet; units and formations of the Strategic Missile Forces; VA reserve of the Civil Code and units of central subordination on the territory of the BSSR. And most importantly, the veterinary service of the BVI was entrusted with the formation of more than 20 veterinary institutions of the army and front-line level for the needs of the fronts and groups of troops of the Warsaw Pact.As a result, of the five years of service in Belarus, the bulk of my service time was spent at exercises, training grounds, and on business trips. tents and kungs.

MOSCOW PERIOD

In March 1988, Vitaly Vetrov was appointed to the position of DeputyHead of the Military Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union.

Thoroughly studies the epizootic situation, flies and tours up to 200 subordinate units and institutions on the territory of the Soviet Union and Commonwealth countries, works on the ground, organizes close interaction with local party, government and veterinary authorities.

In 1988 V.P. Vetrov took a direct part in eliminating the consequences of the devastating Spitak earthquake in Armenia, organizing anti-epizootic work and other activities, ensuring the epizootic well-being of the entire Transcaucasian Military District, and in 1989 - Okha on Sakhalin.

From 1989 to 1998 successfully led the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the USSR Ministry of Defense, the United Armed ForcesCIS and Russian army. In the conditions of the collapse of the country and the army, he managed to maintain the military veterinary service at the proper qualitative and quantitative level, giving it a new regulatory and legal status. With his direct participation, the Russian Federation Law “On Veterinary Medicine” (1993) and the regulation “On State Veterinary Control and Supervision” (1994) were developed. Under his leadership, priorities were identified and the concept of development of the service as a single state system, a new type of logistics support was introduced - veterinary and sanitary. The timeliness of the reorganization of the service was especially clearly demonstrated in the organization of veterinary and sanitary support Russian troops in Abkhazia, Transnistria, Tajikistan, Kosovo and joint forces carrying out the task of disarmament of illegal armed groups on the territory of the Chechen Republic.

During these years, more than 70 documents were adopted regulating the legal, social and special status of the veterinary and sanitary service.

ORGANIZATIONAL EVENTS FOR MILITARY VETERINARY

Acting as a state customer for the creation of means of protecting farm animals and plants, central administration veterinary and sanitary service has achieved uninterrupted supply of law enforcement agenciesall types of material, technical and special means in the field of military veterinary medicine. More than 15 research and development organizations in the country and up to 30 co-executors were involved as performers of research and development in the interests of military veterinary medicine. New positions have been introduced, up to 350 veterinary specialists in some types and branches of the armed forces, and the staffing position of veterinary staff has been increased.

In addition, 22 laboratories for veterinary and sanitary examination of food were created, and to serve the livestock sector in the troops, more than 100 specialized veterinary units were organized, which served as the prototype of veterinary organizations (institutions)the new look of the Logistics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, now the organization of the veterinary and sanitary serviceLogistics support.

PARTICIPATION IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

In order to protect the territory of the Russian Federation from the introduction of infectious diseases (anthropozoonoses), 26 veterinary control points were established at military airfields and bases navy. The total number of veterinary personnel in the service was increased to more than three and a half thousand military personnel and civilian personnel.

WITH 1992 to 1998 V.P. Vetrov participated in combat missions on the territory of Abkhazia, the Chechen Republic, Ingushetia, North Ossetia and other regions of the North Caucasus. In 1993 and 1996, he carried out special assignments from the leadership of the Ministry of Defense in the countries of Central Asia and Tajikistan. Under his direct supervision, veterinary and sanitary support was provided to the KFOR peacekeeping forces in Kosovo, Bosnia and Transnistria.

In 1996 V.P. Vetrov became a candidate of biological sciences. He is the author of more than 250 scientific works, has 13 copyright certificates, trained 7 candidates of veterinary sciences. As a member of the bureau of the department of veterinary medicine of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, he has repeatedly represented the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in a number of government committees, commissions, as well as international conferences and symposiums.

Between 1994 and 1997 worked fruitfully as part of Interdepartmental Scientific and Technical Commission for the Protection of the Territory of the Russian Federation from the Import and Distribution of Particularly Dangerous Hazardsinfectious diseases of humans, animals and plants,as well as toxic substances under the Department of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health of Russia, created to consider and prepare proposals for the organization and implementation of work in the field of prevention and elimination of the consequences of the importation and spread of especially dangerous infectious diseases of humans, animals and plants on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as toxic substances.In terms of military veterinary medicine, (oversaw the veterinary structures of the ministries of the security bloc) organized the interaction of services of interested ministries, departments and organizations of the Russian Federation in carrying out measures to identify, localize and eliminate cases of importation and spread of especially dangerous diseases and toxic substances and determine the degree of their danger.

SCIENTIFIC AND EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES

In 1997, under his editorship, a collection of scientific articles “290 years of military veterinary affairs” was published. Lessons from history and challenges for the future.” V.P. Vetrov co-author of such publications as “Military symbols and heraldry of military veterinary medicine of the USSR and the Russian Federation” (1989, 1994, 2005), “300 years of military veterinary medicine of the Armed Forces” (2007), “Generals and leaders of military veterinary medicine of Russia”, “200 years military veterinary education in Russia" (2008). Co-author of the three-volume book “Examination of the Good Quality and Radiation Safety of Products, Their Standardization and Certification” (2008),“90 years of the Central Veterinary Warehouse” (2009) and several others. Under his methodological guidance, the symbolism and heraldry of military veterinary medicine, as well as the bodies of the state veterinary service of the Russian Federation, were determined (1994). V.P. Vetrov is one of the authors documentaries“An extraordinary service - a veterinary service” (2000), “300 years of Russian Military Veterinary Medicine” (2005). “Military veterinary education in Russia” (2006). “Veterinary and sanitary supervision and control in the Armed Forces” (2007).

As a senior researcher at the Military Veterinary Institute, a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute, V.P. Vetrov takes all necessary actions to promote the development of information and innovative technologies in the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the RF Armed Forces and VVI. Systematically travels to the troops and universities of the Armed Forces Logistics, participates in the educational process of military aviation, pays attention to patriotic and moral education cadets of the institute and military educational institutions of the Logistics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He took an active part in the republication of textbooks and teaching aids “Military Epizootology” (2006). “Field veterinary and sanitary examination” (2007). “Organization and tactics of veterinary and sanitary service” (2008).

Between 1999 and 2008. V.P. Vetrov works in the research laboratory of radiology and toxicology of the institute and fruitfully participates in Research and development on problematic topics. The work performed by the laboratory team in the field of creating means of protecting military and food animals has no analogues in world practice. Development materials have been repeatedly submitted for state and government awards of the Russian Federation.

STATE CIVIL SERVICE

Since August 4, 2008, V.P. Vetrov has been in the state civil service in the Office of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance in Moscow and the Moscow Region. As the head of the department of internal veterinary supervision and approvals of the territorial Office of Rosselkhoznadzor of the Russian Federation, he organizes and carries out control and supervisory activities over the subject veterinary services to implementfunctions transferred by the Russian Federation in the field of veterinary medicine. Performs the functions of coordinator of veterinary supervision departments in railway, road, air transport and temporary storage warehouses for supervised cargo, animal circulation and other tasks assigned to the state veterinary supervision of the Russian Federation. Participates in the development of the concept of veterinary legal and methodological framework, in the implementation of control and supervisory functions of the Rosselkhoznadzor bodies of the Russian Federation.Since January 2016; Independent expert of the Territorial Administration of Rosselzoznadzor for the city of Moscow, Moscowand Tula region.

MERIT AND AWARDS

major general in reserve V.P. Vetrov was awarded the Order of Courage, Honor, 38 medals, V. incl. combat: “For courage”, “For military merit” and “For military cooperation”. By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated February 6, 2008, he was awarded the Order of Honor for high personal performance in his career and many years of conscientious work. He has awards from foreign countries: the “Brotherhood in Arms” medal and the “XX Anniversary” commemorative medal (the assault on the Moncada barracks)Republic of Cuba. “Medal for Good Service to Afghanistan” Medal “From the Grateful Afghan People” DRA, Medal “60 Years of the Mongolian People’s Revolution” MPR.

He doesn't care awarded the honorary title “Honored Veterinarian of the Russian Federation” (1994), as well as “Internationalist Warrior” (1989), “Liquidator of the Chernobyl Disaster Consequences” (1986), “Combat Veteran” (2003). Honorary Veteran of the City of Moscow (2013) Has; Letters of gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation, Certificates from the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, his deputies.Insignia from ministries and departments, and also from public organizations and associations.

PUBLIC ACTIVITY AND SERVICE.

V..P. Vetrov - Chairman of the Council of Veterans of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces (1999), member of the Council of Veterans of the Far East Forces (1992), and the All-Russian Heraldic Society (1994). Chairman of the District Coordination Council of the ROO Soyuz "Chernobyl" CJSC Moscow (2008). Member of the Public Council of the Western Administrative District of Moscow.

December 26, 2008 – Major General of Veterinary Service in the Reserve V.P. Vetrov was elected Deputy Chairman of the Central Council of the Interregional Public Organization of Logistics Veterans of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

From February 2011 to present. Inspector of the group (inspectors) of the Department and then the Logistics Support Headquarters . Google. Yandex

Permanent link for scientific papers (for citation):

Boev Yuri Gennadievich, MAJOR GENERAL OF VETERINARY SERVICE VITALY PETROVICH WINDS // Moscow: Russian Libmonster (site). Update date: 11/15/2016..03.2020).

The story of Vetrov Vitaly Petrovich, Chairman of the Interregional Public Organization "Council of Veterans of Veterinary and Sanitary Service" Armed Forces". The organization is part of the MOO "Council of Veterans of the Logistics of the Armed Forces."

Military rank: Major General of Veterinary Service.

Honorary titles, academic degrees:

- "Honored Veterinarian of the Russian Federation" (1994);

Honorary member of the All-Russian Heraldic Society (1990);

Honorary veteran of the city of Moscow;

Candidate of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Academy of Military Sciences, Academician of the International Academy of Informatization.

Field of activity:

Veterinary medicine and biology, organization, strategy and tactics of veterinary support. One of the main activities of V.P. Vetrov as a military veterinary specialist - protecting the territory of the USSR, CIS countries and the Russian Federation from the introduction of anthropozoonoses and eliminating infectious animal diseases.

Over a 52-year period of service and work in the Ministry of Defense, V.P. Vetrov went from a veterinary paramedic to the head of the country's Central Military Veterinary Authority, from a lieutenant to a major general of the veterinary service (the only one in the Russian Federation)

He has publications in the Libmonster digital library and other Internet portals.

Orders, medals and other awards:

Order of Courage (1998), Order of Honor (2008), 38 medals, including combat medals: “For Courage” (1979), “For Military Merit” (1987), “For Military Commonwealth” (1990). He has awards from foreign countries: the “Brotherhood in Arms” medal and the “XX Anniversary” commemorative medal (the storming of the Moncada barracks) Republic of Cuba. "Medal for Good Service to Afghanistan" medal "From the Grateful Afghan People" DRA, medal "60 Years of the Mongolian People's Revolution" of the MPR, as well as "Internationalist Warrior" (1989), "Liquidator of the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster" (1986), "Participant liquidation of the consequences of the Spitak and Okha earthquakes." "Combat Veteran" (2003). He has letters of gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation, Certificates from the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, his deputies, insignia from ministries and departments, as well as from public organizations and associations.

Credo, life position – Serve while awake.

Cuban period of activity:

Why are military veterinarians needed in war? History repeats itself many times; any military conflict, economic or other sanctions by states inevitably lead to the emergence of epidemics or epizootics.

The Cuban state experienced an epizootic of African swine fever in 1971, which broke out in state farms a number of provinces. Whether it was sabotage or an accidental introduction of the infectious agent with food remains unknown to a wide range of specialists, although the remaining samples of field strains in the current state of science could partly help establish the origin of the infectious agent.

The African swine fever virus, which is not found on the American continent, was used as a biological agent. In all likelihood, it could have been delivered by CIA agents from a secret testing station, a branch of the Dugway Chemical and Biological Test Site, from the Howard military base in the Panama Canal zone. The pathogen was used covertly, in a landfill, near the location of the Soviet training center, there was also a subsidiary farm of the military unit, which was liquidated during the outbreak.

During the period of confrontation between the two world superpowers, a version of the emergence of an epizootic of African plague in Cuba in foreign media mass media was fabricated professionally and correctly and aimed, first of all, at discrediting the Soviet troops. They say that the Soviet military contingent brought swine fever to the Island with food, which caused irreparable damage to the Cuban people: it undermined the country’s economy, set agriculture back ten years, etc. But using the remaining samples of strains, our scientists established the origin of the infectious agent, which excluded accidental introduction of the virus with food. In addition, this infection was not recorded at all on the territory of the USSR during that period.

The political leadership of the Republic of Cuba, with the help of Soviet specialists, made the only right decision: to exterminate the pig population on farms affected by this disease and to carry out a set of strict anti-epizootic measures. In the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana, and Matanzas, about 500 thousand pigs were destroyed. At the same time, it was believed that the appearance of African swine fever on the Island was an economic war of the United States against Cuba. There is no doubt that there was a political background here.

In connection with these events, which caused significant economic damage to the economy of the young state, it was decided to strengthen the country’s veterinary service. At the same time, the position of head of the veterinary service was introduced into the staff of the Soviet contingent of troops in Cuba. These are the circumstances that preceded the arrival on Freedom Island in 1974 of senior lieutenant of the veterinary service Vitaly Petrovich Vetrov, a graduate of the special faculty of the Alma-Ata Zooveterinary Institute.

The main tasks facing the head of the veterinary service of the 12th training center were:

Carrying out service activities aimed at preventing diseases common to humans and animals among military personnel, workers and employees of the Soviet Army, members of their families, the crew of a separate squadron of Navy ships and civilian personnel performing national economic tasks, totaling several thousand people;

Ensuring epizootic well-being and proper veterinary and sanitary condition of areas and places of deployment of military units, institutions, individual commands and units, as well as places of residence of officers;

Ensuring the safety of food products supplied to the Soviet contingent.

II. Memories

Vetrov Vitaly Petrovich:

In 1974, I was sent to Cuba, where I performed multifaceted tasks in organizing veterinary and logistics support. Participated in eliminating the consequences of African swine fever in a number of provinces of the Republic of Cuba. Provided logistical support and veterinary and sanitary measures during the redeployment of Cuban troops to Angola by air and sea in 1975. He took part in hydrographic expeditions in the Caribbean, Sargasso Sea, Panama Canal, and other diverse logistics tasks. As part of providing assistance to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, he took part in the training and education of veterinary specialists from among Cuban officers.

Having arrived at the site and studied the epizootic situation and the veterinary and sanitary condition of the training grounds, areas of deployment and operation of troops, as well as the placement of PMTO (material and technical support point), and fleet forces (Seventh OPESK - operational squadron of the USSR Navy, designed to solve combat missions in the Atlantic Theater of Operations), and in addition to all military installations located in the Republic of Cuba, I reported to the SAF Logistics Command in Cuba on the state of affairs.

The corresponding chief made a decision to equip a veterinary and sanitary examination laboratory and a permanent veterinary and sanitary post at the Joint Logistics Warehouse near the port of Havana. I had to start from scratch. It was difficult to constantly argue with management, to prove that one was right and that veterinary influence was necessary on many areas of activity of an already well-functioning rear-facing organism.

Vetrova Galina Vladimirovna:

After a long sea passage on a motor ship, we finally found ourselves in the beautiful Havana, which we did not have time to really see. Then all the tedious formalities and an official meeting with the chief military adviser ended. All newly arrived officers and their families were brought to the training center, fed well, distributed among villages, and their husbands were put into service. All! The free life of the passengers ended, and combative and cheerful everyday life began. It’s bad that no one met us; my husband was the first of all Soviet military veterinarians in Cuba. But we had a great time, a couple of years later we met his replacement.

It was much more difficult to live in Cuba than in the Union during the first five-year plans and subsequent years. There is discipline and order, there are all-powerful organizations of the KZR (Committees for the Defense of the Revolution), vigilantly monitoring all the events taking place, including the village of Managua, where we were located. The life of Soviet military specialists and their families in the settlements was not very diverse. Officers and warrant officers lived according to the general routine of the combat unit, where all issues were outlined and verified to the smallest detail. All military families were tied and adapted to the same daily routine. The Russian village of Managua was located 14 km from the deployment of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade (7th separate motorized rifle brigade) in a semi-hilly and abandoned area, far from the central roads. True, 7 kilometers from the village there was national park named after V.I. Lenin.

The village consisted of approximately 60 good-quality cottages (kas), a summer cinema club, a closed club, a Cuban security commandant's office with a canteen and a food warehouse ("dry rations"). Families of Cuban guards lived in 4 casas, and the commandant was Cuban sergeant Ramon. Water was supplied for 4 hours a day into five-cubic-meter asbestos-cement tanks placed on the roofs, and this amount was enough for two or three families. Electricity, by American standards, was 110 volts and was often absent due to tropical downpours and stormy weather conditions. The electric shower satisfied all hygienic needs. True, on the territory of the brigade there was a luxurious regular officer’s bathhouse with a steam room, but the inhabitants of the village of Managua did not go there, and it was so hot. Only husbands sometimes celebrated on Saturdays, to the “accompaniment” of the couple. External insulated wiring lay directly on the roofs and trees and amazed our electrician Vitaly, who installed an ownerless radio relay antenna on the roof, receiving a television program from the USA. Before the revolution, the American contingent was stationed in Managua, and then after 1962 there were Soviet missilemen and military motorized rifle regiments. In this village there were officers who were not directly subordinate to personnel influencing the combat readiness of the brigade. Motor transport (Gaz-51 cars - a version of cargo taxi) went according to a schedule between the village and the brigade: the first car arrived at 5 in the morning and the last at 1 in the morning. In the morning, the wives accompanied their husbands to work, at 11 o'clock they gathered at the dry ration station, at which time a car with food arrived. The lunch break was set from 14:00 to 17:00, i.e. during the hottest time, and work continued until 19:00. Then dinner and with the onset of darkness at 21:45 the cinema began every day, sometimes two or three films or episodes until one in the morning. And in the morning it all started all over again. At lunchtime, as a rule, there was a 30-minute downpour with a half-meter flow of water, and then within 20 minutes everything dried up and the bright sun shone again. The weather was always sunny with high air temperatures and humidity, only once during a dry period, at night the temperature once dropped to plus 14 degrees Celsius, then all Cubans wrapped themselves in blankets when they went outside. On Sundays, the families of officers and warrant officers were taken by buses and trucks to Guanabo Beach, a specially designated area of ​​​​an excellent beach 60 km from Havana. There was a complex of cottages, a dining room and a bar for Sovetiko Militar, providing a comfortable rest.

Vetrov Vitaly Petrovich:

I will now add a little about the peculiarities of the work of specialists in the military veterinary service in the Republic of Cuba and in particular mine. I had to start everything from scratch. During the Cuban missile crisis, 42 thousand Soviet troops were deployed to Cuba, so veterinary property and equipment was supplied for an entire veterinary detachment and a field meat processing plant, but by 1974 it was gathering dust in warehouses and was practically ownerless. We had to return, also not without difficulty, the property and premises belonging to the service.

Having studied the situation, I decided to equip a veterinary laboratory and a veterinary specialist’s workplace in a food warehouse and military trade department in the Havana port area. I met the officials of the revolutionary Cuban armed forces, the sanitary, quarantine and phytosanitary service of the commercial port. Once I did not allow about 130 tons of fresh frozen flounder to be supplied. By decision of the command, this batch of fish had to be transferred to the Havana Zoo to feed crocodiles and other animals, and partially disposed of. My Cuban work colleagues were very wary of our offer to donate almost a dozen truckloads of fish to them. The specialists were terribly afraid of the introduction of infection - African swine fever was in everyone’s minds. Interestingly, this product was, in principle, of good quality, but was defrosted twice and during heat treatment fell into small pieces, so that only fishmeal could be prepared from it.

With the permission of the unit’s logistics chief and former front-line soldier, Colonel Vasily Andreevich Chukov, I organized the construction of a base laboratory for veterinary and sanitary examination. One morning, the formation commander himself checked the progress of the work and, making sure that this was not empty talk, gave the command to increase the pace of construction. I did a tremendous job and within a month I delivered a turnkey building of two hundred square meters, equipping it with everything necessary. A team of internationalist soldiers and Cuban builders worked hard on the construction! Based on an application submitted to the Military Veterinary Department of the USSR Ministry of Defense, all laboratory equipment and property were received. Starting from this time, the service was able to carry out the tasks of veterinary support for the contingent of Soviet troops in full.

Since that time, the service has kept all incoming food under strict control, taking all spheres of veterinary influence into its own hands. Up to six non-staff veterinarians and paramedics served in responsible areas; at our request, the main department of the Ministry of Defense specially selected them in the Union, and, in particular, in the Leningrad region. I got a taste for the creative excitement and created a special construction team. Electric welders assembled typical poultry farm and rabbitry premises from metal. A small rabbit farm already existed at that time and had good economic results. So ideas socialist construction were put into practice far from the homeland with practical testing of production technology at constructed facilities. To give credit where credit is due, there was plenty of building material, including hard-to-find materials.

But the Cuban comrades, seeing our economic zeal, delicately recommended: “You don’t need to raise animals and poultry, we will provide you with everything you need for free.” It was very correct and timely advice. In the Revolutionary Armed Forces and other armies of the world there were no subsidiary farms, as in the Soviet army. The “first” type that existed in our troops, a legal fund of any commander and superior, contributed to the possibility of additional food for personnel without any significant costs, but in the conditions of the host country this did not justify itself.

At the Soviet base, located on the territory of the port in Havana, leased from the Cuban authorities, a small veterinary laboratory was equipped with instruments and reagents, which made it possible to carry out the necessary volume of rapid research on food products. At the same time, the technical basis of the laboratory consisted of instruments available in the medical service, foreign-made equipment, as well as a regular military veterinary laboratory (standard set 14), which was used during direct visits to ships. The presence of a workplace for a veterinary and sanitary expert directly in the port, as well as free access to all berths of the port of Havana, made it possible to quickly solve the tasks of the veterinary service - to provide practical assistance in determining the quality of food products to battalions of arriving ships of the Soviet merchant fleet, while drawing up the relevant documents. Next to the laboratory, a place was equipped for storing fumigation and disinfection agents, which were supplied through the quarantine and sanitary service of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) of the Republic of Cuba.

Large reserves of flour were stored at the Soviet base, which were constantly refreshed, and the operation of two mechanized bakeries was ensured, baking 6-10 tons of bread per day. Control over this process by the military veterinary service was clearly established for the main reason - the massive development of flour pests in conditions of 95% air humidity and in particular the flour moth, the entire development cycle of which fit within a two-week period. To interrupt this cycle, under the guidance of a veterinary specialist, disinfestation work was regularly carried out in premises with a total area of ​​up to 15 thousand square meters.

Four times a week, our veterinary fumigator went to Havana, to the port base, who, together with representatives of the sanitary and quarantine services of the RVS, poisoned billions of flour pest larvae with a special gas. Only such harsh methods were used to suppress grain pests; On the Cuban side, this problem did not exist, because all the flour from the “wheels” went into production.

The bakery was equipped with a laboratory assistant's workplace, and a full-time specialist carried out his activities under the constant and methodological guidance of the head of the veterinary service. The main scope of work was to conduct a veterinary and sanitary examination of food products, and, first of all, perishable ones. Every day, up to three tons of fresh pork were delivered to the base directly from a primitive slaughterhouse, where veterinary control took place only when preparing documents for the issuance of finished products. I have been convinced of this more than once, despite the high professional level of my Cuban colleagues. It’s just that the methodology for approaching the examination of products and raw materials was far from perfect. The European school of veterinary examination was the most rigid, principled and somewhat cumbersome. This was primarily due to the presence of a large number of infections and invasions on the Eurasian continent than in Latin America. For example, every week I conducted up to 60-80 different tests and laboratory tests. He even examined pork carcasses for trichinosis, beef for finosis, and selectively, when such invasions were practically not recorded in Cuba. But this was prescribed to us by the instructions for veterinary services, or rather the Veterinary Support Guidelines. Vegetables and fruits raised virtually no doubts; ensigns-forwarders and non-staff veterinarians could easily handle the vegetable depots.

One day, the head of the library of the 12th educational center approached me and explained that they had tried all the remedies for cockroaches, but they still terribly overcame the library.

Save! The main book fund is disappearing! - she said. - Cucarachis - large yellow cockroaches - literally devour the bindings of books and publications.

It turned out that during the rainy season, cockroaches, in search of food, found in the library ordinary wood glue, which is used to make book bindings. I remembered how I once treated sheep for scabies in Central Asia with hexachlorane, so I lit hexachlorane bombs in the library, in the smoke of which not only the cockroaches died, but also all the mosquitoes in the area.

Another problem was rats, which in large numbers inhabited all structures, communications and ships in the port of Havana. But not all baits used had an effect on them. Thus, zoocoumarin, as was experimentally established, had practically no serious effect on them. Therefore, the main means of combating rodents was the bait prepared by the service based on zinc phosphide. Objects of veterinary supervision were located in garrisons (so-called colonies), remote at a distance of up to 190 km, and therefore one veterinary specialist was physically unable to carry out the required volume of activities.

I must note that all non-staff veterinary service specialists worked conscientiously, and the volume of special activities they performed was very significant.

III. Photos:

(prepared by Sinelnikov Alexander Nikolaevich)

1. Officers of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade and the headquarters of the GSVK carry out a task in the province of Oriente. Taking this opportunity, we went on an excursion to Casa Siboney, where the legendary Fidel Castro and his comrades began the assault on the Moncada barracks on June 26, 1953. Thus began the Great Cuban Revolution, which is already 65 years old. In the well on which V.P. sits. Vetrov, political worker Pyotr and the commander of the Il-14, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Ivanovich, Fidel Castro and his comrades hid their weapons. Santiago de Cuba, 1974.

1. Main entrance to the former 7th separate motorized rifle brigade in Narocco, province of Havana, Republic of Cuba

1. Head of the veterinary service of the 12th training center, senior lieutenant Vitaly Vetrov in Park 4 of the Motorized Rifle Brigade.

1. Officers check the boat's motor before going out to sea. The goal is reconnaissance and study of the coastline in the theater of military operations, or the area of ​​probable amphibious landing. Military veterinarian, senior lieutenant Vitaly Vetrov (right) studies, analyzes and predicts the epizootic situation, while simultaneously conducting veterinary, sanitary and epizootic reconnaissance of the area and its economic component.

1. Laboratory of Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise of Food of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade. The head of the veterinary service of the brigade is V. Vetrov, the head of the food service of the brigade is A. Loginovsky. Narocco, 1975

1. The work of brigade logistics officers in the province of Oriente. At the walls of the legendary Moncada barracks. Photo for memory. Vitaly Vetrov on the left. Santiago de Cuba, 1975

1. The personnel of a separate automobile company of the brigade carried out long marches along Liberty Island. The picture shows senior lieutenant Vitaly Vetrov with smart military drivers. Highway Havana - Cumagüey. 1975

1. At the location of a separate motorized rifle brigade, Vitaly Vetrov, with his daughter Svetlana, and the head of the field department of the State Bank, Alexey Fedorov, with his daughter. Narocco, 1974

1. The Vetrov family and neighbors in the village of Managua, province of Havana at cash register No. 53. 1976.

1. The daily journey to Havana exhausts the drivers, the drivers are tired. Small stop. Vitaly Vetrov is on the right. Ciego de Avila, 1975.

1. Cuban New Year, meeting with one-barochniks (cabin neighbors), Galina Vladimirovna is busy with her son Shurik. 1976

1. Part of the work of military veterinarian Vitaly Vetrov is related to the maritime component in the Republic of Cuba. With ships and support vessels of the Navy, and in particular, 7 OPEC of the Northern Fleet, which replenished supplies at the PMTO (material and technical support point) of the USSR Navy. The picture shows officers of BOD 290 off the far coast of Africa, 1975.

1. A military veterinarian is a universal rear fighter and combines up to three dozen specialties and specializations. Along with the main areas of activity, Vitaly Vetrov in Cuba mastered a rare profession - taxidermist. Narocco, 1975

1. Joint tactical and special exercises with our colleagues. And the veterinary service conducts a study and assessment of sea hydrobionts.

1. Checking and actually testing the standards established for specialists, and more photos for memory. Vitaly Vetrov is on the right. 1975

1. A team of ichthyologists and rear soldiers landed on the shore. Puerto Manati. One fighter caught a sand shark. Vitaly Vetrov is second from the right. 1976

1. The officers and enlisted personnel of the brigade, in addition to service and work, had pleasant moments, such as excursions and visits to memorable and historical places in the Republic of Cuba. Medical soldiers on the ruins of a sugar (cane) factory. Vitaly Vetrov on the left.

1. The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba are a powerful and effective organization in terms of ensuring the Revolutionary order. Vigilant member of the KZR Jose checked the suspicious Sovetiko Militar car standing on the side of the highway. For excellent service he was awarded a mug of dry wine by Vitaly Vetrov. 1974

1. Interacting services in all commissions are brigades, financiers, logistics officers, political workers, veterinarians and others. Vitaly Vetrov and head of financial service Vyacheslav Ivanchikov. Narocco, 1975.

1. Head of the veterinary service of the 12th training center, senior lieutenant Vitaly Vetrov, commandant of the 12th center, lieutenant colonel N.V. Kruglov and the military conductor of the 12th training center, Major V.F. Generals. Conversation on free topic. Brigade military band. 1975

1. Very interesting, complex, unpredictable and responsible work of military veterinarian Vitaly Vetrov in a distant country. Which on special issues obeys only itself! And his main boss, Major General of the Medical Service Oleg Belenky, was far away in Moscow, on Red Square!

1. Work card of the head of the veterinary service of the training center, senior lieutenant of the veterinary service Vitaly Vetrov, for working out special issues.

1. 50 percent of military veterinarian Vitaly Vetrov’s working time was devoted to accepting general cargo from the Soviet Union and Commonwealth countries. A bulk carrier or ship with a displacement of up to 25 thousand tons was unloaded in no more than three days. Port of Cienfuegos. 1974 As a senior commander, Vitaly Vetrov serves borscht to his colleagues. Romantic and meaningful.

1. The closed Cienfuegos Naval Base, at one time there was a floating dock here for nuclear submarines of the USSR Navy, which greatly worried the American military leadership. Far away is the exit to the Caribbean, officer Vitaly Vetrov worked here more than 30 times. 1974

1. The ebb and flow of the tides in the Bahama Strait reaches two kilometers from the coast. It was very convenient to reload weapons and equipment, driving along the hard seabed, straight into the abyss. Ichthyopathologist Vitaly Vetrov in the center (biologists and veterinarians are involved in this fishery, in accordance with the Veterinary Charter of the USSR of 1968.) Old Bahama Strait. 1975

1. Command of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade and officers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba. Commander of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade, Colonel Shevchenko in the center

1. Officers and warrant officers of the Logistics Services of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade. Deputy brigade commander for logistics, Colonel V.A. Chukov in the center. The head of the brigade's veterinary service, senior lieutenant Vitaly Vetrov, is third from left, second row. Narocco, Republic of Cuba, 1976.

1. Parking and maintenance day in the troops. This is equivalent to general cleaning carried out by any housewife at home. This day concerns all commanders, superiors and ordinary soldiers; it is held in parks, barracks, canteens, utility yards and other places. In the photo, soldiers of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade and 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade are restoring order in the barracks. 1976

1. Vitaly Petrovich Vetrov – today.

IV. Video

(prepared by Sinelnikov Alexander Nikolaevich)

6 comments

Quote:
“At the Soviet base, located on the territory of the port in Havana, leased from the Cuban authorities, a small veterinary laboratory was equipped with instruments and reagents, which made it possible to carry out the necessary volume of express research on food products. At the same time, the technical basis of the laboratory consisted of instruments available in the medical service, foreign equipment production, as well as a full-time military veterinary laboratory (standard set 14), which was used during direct visits to ships. The presence of a workplace for a veterinary and sanitary expert directly in the port, as well as free access to all berths of the port of Havana, made it possible to quickly solve the problems of the veterinary service - provide practical assistance in determining the quality of food products to the battalions of arriving ships of the Soviet merchant fleet, while preparing the relevant documents. Near the laboratory, a place was equipped for storing fumigation and disinfectants, which were supplied through the quarantine and sanitary service of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (RAF) of the Republic Cuba".

Vitaly:

Dear Alexander, thank you for your wonderful review. Your time will soon come, passing on your vast experience to the younger generation. As far as I know, your service has been carried out for more than 25 years in extreme conditions Far East and Arctic, in permafrost and polar night. This is not Crimea or the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Only people who are strong in spirit, dedicated to the cause and service of the Motherland, are capable of such deeds and feats! I wish you military happiness, promotion and success!

Belenky Oleg Samaryevich - one of the leaders of military veterinary medicine, head of the military veterinary service of the USSR Ministry of Defense (1970 -1989), major general of the veterinary service.

Born in the village. Pliski, Bakhmach district, Chernihiv region, in the family of a military man. In the Armed Forces since 1941. In 1945 he graduated from the Military Veterinary Academy. Member of the Great Patriotic War- veterinarian of the 391st front-line veterinary hospital of the 1st Ukrainian Front. In peacetime, he continued to serve as head of the training forge of the Moscow Military District, head of the veterinary infirmary and head of the hippophysiological laboratory of the Red Banner Higher Officer Cavalry School, veterinarian of formations in the Moscow and North Caucasus military districts.

Since 1959, he continued to serve in the military veterinary department of the USSR Ministry of Defense as a senior officer, then chief epizootologist and deputy head of the department. In 1970 – 1989 - Head of the Military Veterinary Service of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

In this position, Oleg Samaryevich paid great attention to the development of military theoretical issues and guidance documents, which contributed to the development of the military veterinary service, its improvement, improvement of the organizational and staffing structure, the growth of veterinary institutions and the number of veterinary specialists in the troops. He achieved the creation of the Military Veterinary Faculty at the Moscow Veterinary Academy, which made it possible to staff the troops with highly qualified veterinarians with high military training.

Strengthening business relations and close interaction with state veterinary authorities and veterinary research institutions, skillful management of service specialists contributed to epizootic well-being in most military districts, air defense districts and fleets, and increased the efficiency of medical work.

Solving multifaceted issues of veterinary support for troops, O.S. Belenky paid main attention to improving veterinary and sanitary supervision over the supply of troops with products of animal and plant origin, as a result of which there were no diseases in the troops associated with eating poor-quality products for a number of years.

For 18 years, Oleg Samaryevich was a member of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Logistics of the Armed Forces and the Ministry Agriculture USSR, for 12 years he was a member of the editorial board of the journal “Veterinary Medicine”.

Oleg Samaryevich was awarded the Order of the October Revolution, the Patriotic War, 1st degree, the Red Banner of Labor, the Red Star, for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 1st and 2nd degrees, and 22 domestic and foreign medals.

Major General Veterinary reserve service Vitaly Petrovich Vetrov is 60 years old. Of his 32 years of service in the Armed Forces, he served 13 in the Far East. Then there were Sakhalin, Belarus, Cuba... I traveled throughout the Soviet Union and many countries of the former Warsaw Pact. He is a witness and direct participant in very significant events, including tragic ones...
From November 1974 to December 1976, Vetrov served in Cuba as a veterinarian of a separate military unit. There he solved multifaceted problems in organizing veterinary support, did everything to prevent diseases common to humans and animals among our military personnel, workers and employees, members of their families, Navy sailors and civilian personnel performing tasks of national economic importance. He was also in charge of ensuring the food safety of food products supplied to the Soviet contingent in various parts of the world.
A notable event for him was his participation in eliminating the consequences of African swine fever in a number of provinces of the Republic of Cuba, and veterinary support for the redeployment of Cuban troops to Angola by air and sea in 1975. As well as participation in hydrographic expeditions in the Panama Canal zone, the Caribbean Islands, the Sargasso Sea and other places.
Providing assistance to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, Vitaly Vetrov took an active part in the training of veterinary specialists from among Cuban officers.
In 1978–1983 Vetrov is a senior veterinary inspector of the separate army of the Far Eastern Military District. During that period, along with solving everyday problems of veterinary support, he paid great attention to the arrangement of his departments, the reconstruction of veterinary service institutions in the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Chukotka and on the mainland of the Far East. His job was reconnaissance of theater of operations in remote areas of the island and peninsular parts of the Far Eastern Military District, participation in a number of research expeditions through the General Staff and the USSR Academy of Sciences. In 1981, during the liquidation of the consequences of Typhoon Dora, he took prompt measures to dispose of dead animals in the Aninsky Bay area on Sakhalin, which ensured the epizootic well-being of the island.
At the same time, the young officer had to solve the problems of veterinary support for a limited contingent of Soviet troops on the territory of the Republic of Afghanistan.
In 1983, Veterinary Service Major Vetrov was appointed head of the veterinary service of the Belarusian Military District. He devoted five years to this position. During this time, the service under his jurisdiction did not allow a single case of anthropozoonoses or toxic infections among military personnel and family members of military personnel. According to estimates by the Military Veterinary Department of the USSR Ministry of Defense, it was the leader in all respects, ensuring complete well-being in its area of ​​responsibility in 1983–1988.
A special milestone in the activities of Vitaly Vetrov was the leadership of the organization and implementation of activities assigned to the district’s veterinary service during the liquidation of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. From the very first days, the military veterinary service became involved in ensuring radiation safety of both livestock products and agricultural facilities. The functioning of a system of veterinary and radiation control posts was ensured, radiometric monitoring of all agricultural products was organized, and the radiation safety of food products in the BVI territory was ensured. At the same time, there was not a single case of meat and milk contaminated with radionuclides entering processing enterprises in Belarus. These and other measures of the veterinary service made it possible to protect the health of the personnel of the district troops and members of their families, as well as the population in the radioactively contaminated area of ​​the BSSR.
The veterinary service of the BVI, headed by Vetrov, during the liquidation of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, showed itself to be the most prepared, operational and mobile service among all paramilitary units that performed similar tasks.
Since March 1988, Lieutenant Colonel of the Veterinary Service Vetrov has been deputy head of the Military Veterinary Department of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In this position, he was directly involved in eliminating the consequences of the devastating Spitak earthquake in December 1988, was involved in organizing veterinary support for troops and civilians, placing veterinary institutions and units in the destruction zone, and monitoring the epizootic situation on the territory of the Armenian SSR.
Since 1989, Colonel of the Veterinary Service Vitaly Vetrov led the military veterinary service of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, the joint Armed Forces of the CIS, the Russian Federation, successively occupying the corresponding positions. In 1995 he became a general.
Richest practical experience, high military-theoretical training and, most importantly, dedication to the work of Vitaly Vetrov became the basis not only for the confident leadership of the service, but also for its successful reform in the conditions of the construction of the Russian army.
With the direct participation of V.P. Vetrov, in the Law of the Russian Federation “On Veterinary Medicine”, the military veterinary service was given the regulatory and legal status of a departmental veterinary and sanitary service, which significantly expanded its rights and responsibilities. Under his leadership, the priorities of the service were determined, the concept of its development as an integral part was reworked unified system state veterinary supervision. The military veterinary service was also reorganized into a veterinary and sanitary service, as a result of which the organizational and staffing structure of the service was as close as possible to the modern composition and purpose of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. New documents for the service were properly developed and previous documents were revised, its composition was brought into line with the actual scope of work on in-depth examination of food and diagnosis of infectious animal diseases.
All this allowed the service to reach a modern, high-quality new level and greatly improve work efficiency. The skillful management of the veterinary and sanitary service in the context of a difficult economic situation in the country and underfunding of the Armed Forces made it possible to ensure the stable epizootic well-being of the areas where troops and naval forces are deployed, as well as the safety of food products at the stages of production, procurement and storage in reserves. At the same time, the service put a strict barrier against abuses associated with the supply of unsuitable food to the troops.
The timeliness of the reorganization of the service was especially clearly demonstrated in the organization of veterinary and sanitary support for Russian troops in Abkhazia, Transnistria, Tajikistan, Kosovo, as well as joint forces opposing illegal armed groups on the territory of the Chechen Republic.
Vetrov was a member of the bureau of the department of veterinary medicine of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, represented the military department in the Interdepartmental Scientific and Technical Commission for the Protection of the Territory of the Russian Federation from the Import and Spread of Particularly Dangerous Infectious Diseases of People, Animals and Plants, as well as Toxic Substances under the Department of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Ministry of Health of Russia.
Major General of the Veterinary Service Vitaly Vetrov was distinguished by a deeply thought-out, balanced and scientifically based approach to the management of the service. This was greatly facilitated by the multifaceted scientific activity, a wide range of his scientific interests.
Vitaly Petrovich – author of about 150
scientific works. Under his leadership, textbooks, teaching aids, manuals, manuals and instructions on the veterinary and sanitary service were revised and published. He has 13 copyright certificates. It should be noted in passing that Vetrov is a co-author of a number of projects on military-veterinary symbols and heraldry. He paid close attention to this too.
Realizing the role and significance of the intensive development of informatization; Vetrov, as the head of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, did a lot for the development information technologies and service processes.
Under Vetrov, the role and importance of military veterinary medicine in the country increases noticeably. Thus, in 1990, by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Military Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Defense was assigned the functions of the general customer for the creation of veterinary and phytosanitary protection products. The membership of the head of military veterinary medicine in the bodies of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and a number of state committees and commissions.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated
On June 7, 1995, the highest military rank of major general of the veterinary service was introduced as the head of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service - chief veterinary and sanitary inspector of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Veterinary and sanitary support for troops as one of the types of logistics support takes on a preventive direction in terms of creating anti-epizootic and veterinary and sanitary well-being of the activities and deployment of troops, naval forces and other formations where military service is legally provided for.
In recent years, more than 40 documents have been adopted, including military ones, regulating the legal, social and special status of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service, and an organizational and mobilization body has been formed within the department. More than 15 research and development organizations were involved in research and development work in the interests of military veterinary medicine.
In some branches and branches of the Armed Forces, the number of veterinary specialists was increased to 300 people, the official position of veterinary personnel was increased, a three-year training period was introduced at the military veterinary faculty and special programs for higher military educational institutions of the rear of the Armed Forces with a specialization in “Veterinary and sanitary support for troops.”
In addition, 22 laboratories for veterinary and sanitary examination of food were created, and to serve the livestock sector, more than 100 specialized veterinary units were organized in the troops, and about 20 veterinary control points were formed at military airfields and naval bases. The total number of veterinary personnel in the service has been increased to three thousand military and civilian personnel. All this was created with the active participation of General Vetrov, thanks to his efforts.
After discharged to the reserve in 1998. Vitaly Petrovich works at the Military Veterinary Institute. Devoting a lot of time to scientific research and experimentation, he does not shy away from social activities; for more than 10 years he has chaired the Council of Veterans of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces.
Quite recently, a three-volume manual was published: “Examination of the good quality and radiation safety of products. Their standardization and certification.” This work explores one of the most vital areas of veterinary medicine - the examination of the good quality, safety and nutritional value of food products. In an age of catastrophic increase in pollution in all spheres of human habitation, this direction is of paramount importance in terms of ensuring the health, and therefore the life of mankind.
The manual is intended for a new generation of young professionals who are starting their responsible path through life. How tutorial The three-volume volume will accompany cadets of the Military Veterinary Institute, centers (courses) for training reserve officers, and students of veterinary universities throughout all years of study. The manual presents all the necessary material on the history of the subject, radiobiology, general and private veterinary and sanitary examination of products, their good quality, safety and usefulness.
As an applied manual, the three-volume book will be indispensable for practicing military specialists in veterinary and sanitary services, all structures of the power unit, including specialists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as it contains the latest scientific developments on a number of topical issues of examination of the goodness and safety of food products, as well as a description of new progressive examination instruments and methods of their use. One of the authors of this manual is Vitaly Vetrov.
It is worth adding that he is also the only veterinary chief of the post-war period who was awarded a personalized firearm. Vitaly Petrovich was also awarded state awards. Among them are the Orders of Courage, Honor, medals “For Courage” and “For Military Merit”. Vetrov is an Honored Veterinarian of the Russian Federation. But most of all, I think, he values ​​​​the fact that he still remains for all employees of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service an example of dedication to the profession and military duty.

In the photo: in the hands of Vitaly Vetrov is a new textbook on military veterinary medicine.

Born in Orel on August 6, 1961. Graduated from the paramedic department of the Oryol Medical School with honors (1981), the Military Veterinary Faculty at the Moscow Veterinary Academy (1986). In 1986, he was appointed to the position of head of the veterinary and sanitary service of a motorized rifle division in Western group troops. From 1991 to 1993 - head of the 231st veterinary-epizootic detachment of the Group of Russian Forces in Transcaucasia. In 1993-1999 - Head of the veterinary and sanitary service of the GRVZ. In 1999 - 2001 - Head of the veterinary and sanitary service of the PriVO. In 2001-2004 - Head of the veterinary and sanitary service of the Purvo. Since June 5, 2004 - Head of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He took part in the elimination of infectious animal diseases in the Transcaucasian and North Caucasian regions, the Republic of Tajikistan. It has state awards. Author of the book "Treatment Book of Military Cynology". Married, two children.
The Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is one of the oldest in the Russian Army. It is a system of governing bodies, organizations of central, district, naval, army subordination, military specialists, designed to oversee the implementation of veterinary legislation in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Organizes and carries out the entire range of anti-epizootic, veterinary-preventive, therapeutic measures, veterinary-sanitary quality control and food safety of food and food raw materials supplied to the troops (forces), thereby ensuring the protection of Armed Forces personnel from diseases common to humans and animals , food toxic infections and toxicoses.

FROM THE DECREE OF PETER I

Its history began with the decree of Peter I of July 12, 1707 on the establishment of “animal doctors” (furriers) in the cavalry. Essentially, this is the history of domestic veterinary medicine. The creation of military veterinary medicine was primarily related to the needs of the army. Veterinary specialists first began to be trained in the second half of the 16th century. for the Stable Department, which had its main goal of equipping the army with horses. It laid the foundation for the establishment of domestic horse breeding, i.e. the actual origin of veterinary science and practice, being decades ahead of developed European countries in this regard.

From the moment of its formation to the present day, domestic military veterinary medicine has been an integral part of society and its Armed Forces. Together with them, it developed, obeyed the laws of army development, undergoing changes in the course of reorganization, rearmament and various state-building reforms.

Little information has been preserved about the activities of farriers in the regular army. Few documents convey to us the following: historical facts: by 1711, it was planned to have 330 farriers in the states of 33 cavalry regiments (10 per regiment, 100 dragoon and 30 “cart” horses per master). By 1712, the artillery staff provided for the regimental headquarters to contain one farrier, three assistants and ten horseshoemakers. Their main task was to preserve state-owned horses.

The need for this was very great, therefore, in 1715, Peter I issued a decree in which it was proposed to find Swedish specialists in order to teach Russian people “blacksmithing” and “good farrier science” in each province to send them to the regiments assigned to the provinces.

By 1740, horse factories were established under the cuirassier, dragoon, field and garrison regiments, and farriers and blacksmiths were among those accepting horses. At each horse farm, provision was made for the construction of “passenger stables”. Undoubtedly, the work of farriers was useful, and their practical experience was widely used in the regiments, which was reflected in the Regulations on the maintenance of horses in the cavalry and artillery, put into effect in 1766.

A special educational institution is being created to train military veterinary specialists. This was the Artillery Horse School, opened in 1803. In 1812, at the veterinary department of the St. Petersburg Medical-Surgical Academy, the first graduation of domestic veterinary doctors took place, who were assigned to military service.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, the horse composition of the Russian army numbered 300 thousand horses. From the point of view of the history of the development of veterinary support for the active army, the organization this year of the first field horse hospitals (depots) deserves special attention. The initiative to create them belonged to Commander-in-Chief M.I. Kutuzov. Thus, after the Battle of Borodino, individual cavalry divisions led up to 300 sick and wounded horses. In this regard, M.I. Kutuzov ordered General Barclay de Tolly to organize the collection and evacuation of sick and wounded horses.

In 1864, the division of troops into corps was abolished, military districts were formed, and therefore a full-time position of a military district veterinarian was introduced, subordinate to the military medical inspector of the district (the system of managing the veterinary unit was changed). The general dynamics of growth in the number of full-time specialists in the army by period of combat operations is shown in the table.

To manage military veterinary affairs in the Russian Army, a central body was created in 1896 - the Military Veterinary Department under the Main Military Medical Directorate. And it was preceded by temporary military administration bodies, such as the Provisional Veterinary Committee (1847) and the Veterinary Department of the Main Military Medical Directorate, which functioned effectively until 1895.

During the Russian-Japanese War, 123.5 thousand horses (60%) fell ill over 20 months, 2439 (1.97%) had gunshot wounds. In the combat areas, there were 148 forward, 136 convoy, and 11 stage veterinary hospitals, but the distribution of veterinary personnel was uneven. In transports there was one doctor per 300-400 horses, and in divisional convoys there was one doctor per three thousand. Significant work has been done to service food herds of cattle that are vulnerable to plague and foot-and-mouth disease.

The management of the veterinary unit in the active army was carried out by full-time veterinary inspectors. In June 1905, the Office of the Field Veterinary Inspector of the Army was established, uniting the veterinary service in the theater of war. Since 1910, the service has become independent from the center to the regiments. The Veterinary Department reports directly to the Minister of War.

During the First World War, there were more than 2,930 thousand animals in veterinary hospitals, and about 370 thousand horses were registered as infected with infectious diseases. Irreversible losses amounted to 400 thousand (30.5% of the average payroll). Moreover, as of January 1, 1916, there were an average of 500 horses per veterinarian, and 100 per paramedic.

SOVIET PERIOD

The organizational design of the military veterinary service of the Red Army dates back to May 8, 1918, when the College of Veterinary Administration was created. Of the numerous reorganizations in 1918-1924, noteworthy was the reassignment of the Military Veterinary Directorate of the Red Army to the People's Commissariat of Military Affairs of the USSR in 1924. At that time, the Military Veterinary Directorate was entrusted with the management of the veterinary service of the Red Army, OGPU troops, Border Troops, as well as convoy guards.

In 1924, research institutions of the military veterinary service were organized: the Veterinary Chemical Laboratory of the Red Army and the Veterinary Microbiological Institute. Since 1925 - the military veterinary department at the Kazan Veterinary Institute, later reorganized into a faculty, then into the Military Veterinary Institute and in 1938 into the Military Veterinary Academy of the Red Army (Moscow). The training of veterinary paramedics is carried out by the Leningrad Military Veterinary School. By 1929, the service's research institutions were already subordinated to the Military Veterinary Directorate of the Red Army, educational establishments, central veterinary warehouses.

During the Great Patriotic War, units of the active army with a significant number of horses were provided with full-time divisional and corps veterinarians. In the armies and at the fronts there were governing bodies - veterinary departments. At the front there are several front-line veterinary hospitals, a front-line veterinary warehouse and a front-line laboratory. The heads of the veterinary service were subordinate to the corresponding logistics chiefs, but this hierarchy did not exclude the direct report of the head of the veterinary service to the commander of the troops (formation commander) and members of the military council.

Despite the high degree of motorization of the army, horses served as combat weapons in the cavalry and reliable draft force in the artillery and other branches of the military and logistics services. The combat effectiveness and mobility of troops and their timely combat and logistics support largely depended on the equipping of formations and units with horses and their performance. The veterinary staff of military units and formations, both personnel and those called up from the reserve, performed their duties in difficult combat conditions. And yet, more than 90% of horses were returned from veterinary hospitals after treatment.

In addition, the service’s specialists carried out significant work on veterinary and sanitary supervision of the work of meat processing plants, field offices and military food warehouses, and veterinary control over the quality of meat supplied to the troops and navy. In herds of food-producing livestock, veterinary-preventive, anti-epizootic measures, veterinary and sanitary examination of meat and products of animal origin were carried out in full.

The post-war years (1948-1954) became a turning point in the history of the service. Due to the further mechanization of the army and the almost universal replacement of horses with machines, there was a significant reduction in the number of personnel and institutions of the military veterinary service. New stage The development of the service turned out to be associated with training troops to conduct combat operations using weapons of mass destruction. The tasks of protecting personnel from diseases common to humans and animals, as well as from diseases that can be caused by the use of animals exposed to the damaging factors of weapons of mass destruction, were brought to the fore. In 1958, instead of veterinary hospitals designed for inpatient treatment of military animals, multi-purpose veterinary-epizootic detachments were formed.

By 1965, the following organization of the service had developed: in the center - the Military Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Defense, to which the Advanced Courses for Veterinary Service Officers and the central veterinary warehouse are subordinated; in districts, groups of troops, in fleets - a veterinary service, which is in charge of a veterinary laboratory, veterinary-epizootic units, a veterinary warehouse, military veterinarians, and specialists from the military state farm service.

In 1978, in accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the military veterinary faculty at the Moscow Veterinary Academy named after. K.I. Scriabin.

In 1990-1994, the history of the veterinary and sanitary service is associated with an increase in the volume of activities carried out in the interests of protecting the health of military personnel and naval forces. Thus, in 1994, due to market economic conditions in the country, there was a significant reorientation of the activities of military veterinary medicine to ensure the quality of food and food raw materials supplied to the troops and navy. The military veterinary service is given a new legal status - the departmental veterinary and sanitary service of the Armed Forces as an integral part of the state veterinary supervision, ensuring the implementation of the regulations of the law "On Veterinary Medicine" in all law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation. In particular, the service monitored the implementation of veterinary and sanitary rules and regulations by military units, institutions and agricultural enterprises of the Ministry of Defense. Ensuring the food safety of food procured for military and naval personnel. Carried out measures to prevent the introduction into the territory of the Russian Federation of pathogens of infectious animal diseases, dangerous pests, plant diseases and quarantine weeds at military vehicle border checkpoints. And whole line others.

AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR

The activities of the veterinary and sanitary service after the collapse of the USSR turned out to be complicated by the fact that the authorities procuring food for the Armed Forces were forced to use the services provided by various commercial organizations. This occurred in conditions of widespread disease in agricultural production, including those common to humans and animals, as well as the uncontrolled use of mineral fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical plant protection products and animal treatment.

A set of events carried out in the late 90s. last century on the reorganization of the military veterinary service into the veterinary and sanitary service of the Armed Forces, made it possible to make the service a departmental subsystem of the unified state veterinary and sanitary supervision of the Russian Federation. All veterinary laboratories of military districts and fleets were transferred to reinforced staff, receiving a new name - veterinary and sanitary examination laboratories - and having qualitatively different capabilities in terms of carrying out activities for veterinary and sanitary examination of food, food raw materials and forage. Additionally, specialized institutions were formed at military airfields and at the bases of naval vessels - veterinary control points, which ensured the implementation of a set of veterinary, sanitary and quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of infectious animal diseases, quarantine pests, plant diseases and weeds into the territory of the Russian Federation.

The Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Russian Federation was included in the functional subsystem of the unified state system of prevention and liquidation emergency situations. Military Veterinary Faculty at the Moscow State Academy veterinary medicine and biotechnology named after. K.I. Scriabin was transferred to a three-year period of study with a corresponding increase in the number of faculty students. Reworked learning programs for the training, retraining and advanced training of logistics service officers in higher military educational institutions of the Logistics of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, unified data banks on special issues have been introduced into the practice of veterinary and sanitary service institutions of districts and fleets.

Over the years, military veterinarians have repeatedly confirmed their dedication to their work, showing high professionalism and dedication during all the significant events of the past century. Including veterinary support for combat operations of the 40th Army troops in Afghanistan; ensuring veterinary control and radiation safety of food supplied to the population and troops as a result of the Chernobyl disaster; organizing anti-epizootic support for troops in interethnic and local conflicts in Transnistria, Tajikistan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Chechnya, the North Caucasus, Yugoslavia and peacekeeping operations of Russian troops abroad.

We can also recall the elimination of outbreaks of acute contagious infections on the territory of military districts, such as foot and mouth disease, anthrax, tuberculosis, brucellosis, rabies, bird flu. On the organization and implementation of veterinary, sanitary and preventive measures during the Spitak and Okha earthquakes, natural disasters, man-made accidents and disasters...

Positive experience in the veterinary and sanitary service of the Armed Forces recent years in terms of veterinary and sanitary supervision and control, it is successfully used in organizing work in this area in various structures of state veterinary medicine of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. In 2000, on the basis of the existing Military Veterinary Faculty, a unique and only higher military institution in the world was created - the Military Veterinary Institute, which trains veterinary specialists for all law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation in basic specialties.

The service received further improvement on August 22, 2004, when, in accordance with Federal law Russian Federation 122-FZ, the veterinary and sanitary service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is included in the system of state veterinary service. Based on Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 16, 2004 No. 1082, it implements state policy in the field of veterinary and phytosanitary supervision in the Armed Forces, other troops, military formations and bodies. It is appropriate here to cite the statement of Andrei Matveevich Rudenko, Privy Councilor, Master of Veterinary Sciences, timed to coincide with the acquisition of independence of the Russian military veterinary department exactly 100 years ago. "If a difficult lot and an uncertain legal status the veterinarian is felt at every step even now, what happened to him at the dawn of Russian military veterinary medicine,” he wrote. - The history of Russian military veterinary medicine is the history of the progress of veterinary medicine in general and military veterinary medicine in particular, on the one hand; on the other hand, it is a story of grief, sadness and suffering of former veterinarians who fought for the independence and originality of their work."

Over the 300-year path of development of military veterinary medicine in the Russian Army, there has been a tendency to maintain the status of a “stable military structure” in the Armed Forces, in proportion to the number of troops (naval forces) in Russian Empire, USSR and Russian Federation. Most likely, this situation will continue in the future, since it is associated with the unpredictability of the military-political situation in the world, global change climate and ecology on the planet, the likely mutation of pathogens of especially dangerous diseases and other unfavorable factors, under which the role and significance of military veterinary medicine, as a complex of biological sciences, will undoubtedly increase. Therefore, it seems that the Veterinary and Sanitary Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will remain an integral and integral part of the logistics support of troops and naval forces both in peacetime and wartime.