Viktor Vladimirovich Vlasov was born on October 21, 1950, in the village of Krugloe, Lipetsk Region.

After graduating from the Voronezh Engineering and Construction Institute in 1973, he was called up from the reserve for two years to serve as an officer. He was the deputy commander of a construction company and a supervisor at the Construction and Repair Department. After completing his service, he retired, but two years later, he voluntarily re-enlisted in the Armed Forces.

Since February 1977, he has served in various positions in the Baltic Military District: Head of the Construction Site, Head of the Construction Management Unit, Chief Engineer of the Construction Unit, Head of the Construction Unit, and Chief Engineer of the Construction Department of the Baltic Military District. From 1988 to 1991, he served as the Head of the Construction Department of the Baltic Military District. From 1991 to 1992, he held the position of First Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Special Construction.

In 1992, he became Deputy Head of the Main Quarters and Operations Directorate, and in December 1996, he was appointed Head of the Main Quarters and Operations Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel General in May 1997.

He was awarded the Order of Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 3rd Class, the Order of Military Merit, and seven medals.

He is married and has a daughter and two sons.

In the eyes of many military personnel, the Main Quarters and Operations Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and its subordinate units are a kind of archipelago of hope. In both literal and figurative sense, these structures can be considered key to the military department. They oversee the operation of entire military towns and provide people with keys to their apartments. They also ensure that military complexes are supplied with heat, energy, and other essential resources. Therefore, the morale of the country's defenders directly depends on these organizations.

In our conversation, Colonel General Viktor VLASOV, Head of the Main Directorate for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, talks about what is being done to ensure that the soldiers' heads are less occupied with the problems of "roofing their homes" and that their mood is not marred by everyday worries.

- Comrade Colonel-General, the housing issue is certainly extremely important, but it is far from exhausting the functional field of the department entrusted to you. I understand that it would take a long time to list all the things you do. However, please provide an overview of the main achievements.

- During the past year, 670.1 thousand square meters of living space were put into operation, providing 9,433 apartments.

By the heating season of 1999-2000, we had prepared 228,000 military buildings, more than 40,000 residential buildings, 5,900 boiler houses, 12,900 power plants and electrical substations, and 124,000 kilometers of engineering networks. These measures allowed us to enter the winter operation mode in an organized manner. Winter has always been considered the most rigorous exam. Once again, we were able to pass this challenging test. In preparation for winter, we managed to reach the following targets: the military districts were supplied with 40 days of solid fuel and 80 days of liquid boiler fuel for their winter needs. We also completed the assigned tasks of delivering fuel to the Far North and remote garrisons in the Far East. Here, we would like to highlight the efforts of the housing and utilities departments of the Volga, Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern military districts.

I would like to highlight the work of Major General Yu. Gunkin and the team of the First Directorate, headed by Colonel V. Polyakov, in solving the problems of preparing the fund and municipal facilities for winter operation.

- The operation of the huge housing and utilities service is impossible without a well-established logistics system. How is the Main Housing and Utilities Department dealing with the current difficult situation?

- I won't be disingenuous if I say that we are fully provided with the necessary construction materials and items of housing allowance. I would like to point out that the task of the logistics service is to ensure the maximum (based on its capabilities) supply of the troops' needs. In addition to the expenses incurred by the military districts for these purposes, the central bases of the Main Command and Control Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation released 115.6 million rubles worth of supplies in 1999, in accordance with the supply plans.

In accordance with the Federal Law and the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, tenders for the placement of state orders for the supply of general industrial products for the needs of the service are held to replenish the spent material resources and ensure repair and restoration work. The capacities of 15 industrial enterprises of the Ministry of Defense are fully utilized.

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under the operational management of the Main Directorate for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The products are also being received under a state contract for the supply of construction materials, equipment, and furniture by Ukraine as compensation to Russia for the natural gas supplied.

Nevertheless, I am forced to state with regret that financing of housing and operating expenses remains one of the most difficult problems. In recent years, underfunding of capital and current repairs has led to a sharp physical deterioration of buildings and structures. For example, it takes up to 1.5 billion rubles to carry out restoration work to bring buildings and structures out of emergency conditions. The deterioration of municipal facilities has increased by 1.8 times and is now 43 percent, which in turn leads to an increase in accidents and failures in engineering equipment.

Despite the existing difficulties, real, albeit incomplete, funding for housing and operating expenses began in 1999.

- Can we assume that the tasks facing the housing and utilities department will be adjusted in the near future?

- Based on the technical condition of the barracks and housing facilities of the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as the tasks of reforming the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the most important issues for the housing and utilities service in the coming years are: further development of the troops' accommodation facilities, increasing the pace of housing construction, implementing technological advancements in the operation of public utilities, energy-efficient and resource-saving technologies to reduce fuel and energy consumption, and improving the quality of public utilities services for military personnel and their families. It is obvious that all of this can only be solved by ensuring the advanced development of the entire municipal sector, increasing the capacity of engineering equipment, and guaranteeing funding for operating costs.

- Over the past 5 to 10 years, there have been significant changes in the field of municipal management. The use of computer networks is opening up new horizons. How does the existing technical base for ensuring proper management in your field meet the demands of the day?

- These changes have not been passed by the Main Directorate for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. However, our ability to create extensive computer networks and maintain a well-equipped database is limited by our financial resources. Nevertheless, we have established a computerized database of all military personnel in need of housing. This is a significant breakthrough in the system of housing management, as it allows us to monitor the housing needs of each individual soldier. Currently, we have information on the housing situation of almost every contract soldier.

I would like to point out that the introduction of this system has led to a decrease in the total number of homeless military personnel in the Russian Armed Forces by 10,000. As of January 1, 2000, the number of homeless military personnel was 91,400.

In the future, we intend to systematize accounting for capital construction, as well as the operation and repair of facilities. However, this is still a desired prospect. Unfortunately, we cannot afford even basic long-distance communication at the moment.

If we continue to talk about our plans, we need to mention the information base of the system, the so-called "Card of Residential Facilities Provided to Military Personnel," which is created once and serves the military personnel throughout their service, with periodic updates and additions (place of service, family composition, information about receiving and surrendering housing, etc.).

The issue of including "Account Cards..." in the list of documents stored in a serviceman's personal file is currently being considered.

- Your department is, in a sense, a landmark department. People judge its work in many ways.

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about the progress of military reform. How would you rate the ongoing transformations? What are the prospects?

- The Armed Forces need a guiding eye from the outside. We are the people directly involved in the process. It is difficult for us to make assessments. Yes, we are stakeholders, and it is our duty to ensure that military personnel have housing, barracks, and dormitories, and that water, heat, and electricity are supplied without interruption. However, it is up to others to judge the results based on our actions.

If we're talking about fundamental approaches, I view transformations as a way to bring order to our home. The key is to "not throw away the old furniture before we can buy new one."

- What are the main parameters that characterize the work of GlavKEU today? What adjustments have the events in Dagestan and the Chechen Republic brought to your activities?

- The burden of a soldier, officer, and general participating in a counter-terrorism operation in Chechnya is very difficult. These people are courageous. The Russian government has taken measures to provide social protection for the families of military personnel who have died or been injured in combat. The Ministry of Defense has prepared a number of draft government resolutions to strengthen social protection for these citizens, including in the housing sector. There are already practical steps being taken to implement these measures. For example, during the counter-terrorism operation, more than 1,000 families of officers and warrant officers received apartments in the permanent locations of military units from which the servicemen were deployed to the combat zone. The Main Directorate for Housing and Communal Services of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has established a special group that deals with the resolution of urgent housing issues for combatants. We are committed to ensuring that there are no violations of the law or any instances of bureaucracy or red tape.

This is another important aspect. During the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, it became clear that the federal military presence there needed to be strengthened. In October 1999, when the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation visited the troops in the Chechen Republic, he set the task of establishing permanent garrisons for Russian troops in the region. There is a decision to establish a full-strength motorized rifle division in the Chechen Republic.

Currently, the necessary units of the military construction complex have been formed to carry out the assigned task, and work is underway to restore the existing facilities in the Khankala and Kalinovskaya garrisons, as well as to prepare for the deployment of troops in the Borzoy garrison.

Over 4,000 military personnel, military builders, and civilian specialists, as well as about 300 pieces of construction equipment, vehicles, and machinery, are currently working on the construction sites.

This year, a number of buildings and structures that ensure the accommodation and normal functioning of the Kalinovskaya garrison have been put into operation.

The restoration of capital buildings and structures is being completed in the Khankala garrison. Residential buildings are being converted into apartment-type officer dormitories.

In addition, the construction of more than 40 barracks and housing facilities made of prefabricated rapid-erection structures of the "Module" type and facilities that ensure the functioning of not only the military group, but also the state authorities in the Chechen Republic (an administrative building, a field office of the Bank of Russia, etc.) has been launched.

By the end of this year, all priority military facilities in the Khankala garrison will be completed, the necessary conditions will be created, and personnel will be fully accommodated in permanent buildings and structures.

Work has begun on the arrangement of military construction units in the Borzoi garrison.

In the second half of this year, the necessary measures will be taken to deploy (in the field version) military units in the Shali garrison.

It is also necessary to note the work on the restoration of residential buildings destroyed as a result of the explosions in the city of Vladikavkaz. An 80-apartment residential building was built and put into operation in a short time. Three residential buildings were restored.

- The housing problem continues to be one of the most pressing issues for the Armed Forces. Viktor Vladimirovich, is there any "light at the end of the tunnel" for many, many army waiting lists?

- In the context of a transitional economy, the level of social protection for military personnel and their families remains low. As of January 1, 2022, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that just over 120,000 military personnel were in need of housing. Of these, 75.2% were homeless, 24.5% were in need of improved housing conditions, and 0.3% were living in dilapidated or unsafe housing.

The most difficult situation with housing is observed in the Moscow Military District (Smolensk, Voronezh, and Lipetsk garrisons), the North Caucasus Military District (Rostov, Krasnodar, and Novorossiysk garrisons), the Privolzhsky Military District (Samara, Syzran, and Kazan garrisons), the Ural Military District (Yekaterinburg garrison), the Far Eastern Military District (Khabarovsk, Ussuriysk, and Vladivostok garrisons), as well as in the Moscow and St. Petersburg garrisons.

The solution to the housing problem lies mainly in the economic policy of the state. Consider the following: reviewing the results of the implementation of state programs for providing housing to military personnel and their families, we can state that none of them have been fully implemented over the past 6 years due to underfunding by the Ministry of Defense.

For example, the State Housing Program for Military Personnel for 1993-1995 provided for the acquisition of 220,000 apartments. However, only 98,800 apartments were actually acquired, representing 45% of the planned number. Similarly, the program for 1996-1997 was only 76% complete. No programs were adopted for 1998 or subsequent years.

The waiting period for military personnel to receive housing has increased from 1 to 3 years in the mid-1970s, during the so-called "stagnant" period, to 7 to 9 years currently.

- Are there any effective ways to solve the housing problem today, and what can those who are starting their service hope for?

- The changing social structure of society, the emerging housing market, and the insufficient level of government funding for social programs have required the Russian Ministry of Defense to adopt new approaches to addressing the housing issue in the army and navy in recent years.

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They were defined back in 1996 and are currently being implemented.

One of the ways to improve the level of social protection for military personnel is to improve the legislative and regulatory framework and bring it up to date.

As a result, paragraph 8 of the Decision of the Russian Federation Council of Defense dated March 26, 1996, stated: "To provide for a set of measures that include: transition to a system of providing military personnel with service housing; formation of a service housing fund; reform of the construction complex that provides for special construction; construction of housing for military personnel and individuals who have been dismissed from military service." On November 25, 1996, the President of the Russian Federation signed Decree No. 1592 "On Measures to Ensure Military Construction in the Russian Federation."The federal executive authorities were instructed to develop a set of measures for transitioning to a system of providing military personnel with service housing and to begin the first stage of forming a service housing fund in closed military towns.

To ensure the legal implementation of the President of the Russian Federation's Decree, the Law of the Russian Federation "On the Status of Military Personnel" was revised, clearly defining the range of individuals who can be provided with office space, housing guarantees before and after military service, and the legal status of a closed military town.

The fact that it took more than two years to revise this law in close cooperation with the State Duma shows how difficult it is to change the legislative framework.

- The legislative process is long and complicated. But now that the guidelines for the formation of the service housing fund have been adopted, what will this mean for military personnel?

- An important area of solving the housing problem in the army and navy has been the transition to a system of providing military personnel in closed military towns with service housing, with a guaranteed provision of permanent housing at the time of their retirement or dismissal. This includes the creation of a service housing fund to meet the needs of military units and formations, which means that each military garrison will provide service housing for the families of officers, warrant officers, and contract soldiers during their military service. Upon completion of their service or contract, military personnel will receive permanent housing in their chosen location.

According to the plan approved by the Chief of Construction and Quarters of Troops, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, 13,100 apartments were included in the number of service apartments in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation between January 1, 1997, and January 1, 1999. As of January 1, 1999, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation had a total of 143,000 service apartments. Additionally, 43,200 military personnel were recognized as needing service apartments as of January 1, 1999.

According to the decision of the Board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the next plan for the formation of the service housing fund for the period of 1999-2002 will be approved this year. It will be taken into account that in the coming years, the number of military personnel in need of permanent housing will decrease objectively, while the share of military personnel in need of service housing will increase.

Given the average length of military service (25 to 30 years), it can be assumed that the final transition to providing military personnel with service housing will be completed in 2020 to 2025.

- Viktor Vladimirovich, how would you rate the "State Housing Certificates" program?

- Preliminary results of the first two years of implementation of the presidential program "State Housing Certificates" indicate that it allowed to speed up the solution of the housing problem by providing military personnel with the opportunity to purchase ready-made housing on the market and in a fairly short time, which is in the interests of military personnel; to provide military personnel with the right to freely choose between the quality and location of an apartment; not to waste public funds to eliminate "long-term construction" and unfinished construction; to increase control over the targeted spending of budget funds sent directly to recipient military personnel; to save budget funds by increasing the interest of military personnel in obtaining housing as soon as possible and readiness to partially use their own and credit funds.

The disadvantages of the program include the fact that the cost of the certificate must be recalculated on a quarterly basis, rather than once a year. Military personnel are entitled to free housing, but the program only covers a portion of the cost of the housing purchased with the certificate; it does not cover the additional living space required by law for certain categories of military personnel; the program is voluntary for discharged military personnel, but it often becomes the only option for them to solve their housing problems.

- Please provide a brief qualitative description of the personnel of the Main Command and Control Directorate.

"If I may say so, the old guard is already gone. But the senior shift was able to pass on their experience in the apartment maintenance service to the younger ones, who will be able to continue to keep the GlavKEU brand of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation at a high level. For example , the new version of the Federal Law " On the Status of Military Personnel "(Article 15), the new" Procedure for providing residential premises in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation " is largely the result of the work of the new shift.

There are many worthy people in the center and in the regions. It is a pleasure to recognize their hard work and dedication. In the past year, the honorary title of "Honored Worker of Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation" was awarded to Colonel Sergei Veniaminovich Gladkov, former head of the North Caucasus Military District's Construction and Quartermaster Department, and Colonel Alexander Arsenievich Nikiforov, who recently became Deputy Commander of the Leningrad Military District for Construction and Quartermaster. Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Vasilyevich Kril, Chief Engineer of the Far Eastern Military District's Construction and Quartermaster Department, was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Pavel Valentinovich Pilyukov, Chief Engineer of the Landenpokhskaya KEE (Leningrad Military District), received his captain's epaulettes ahead of schedule. Colonel Nikolai T. Gavrilov, Colonel Vladimir I. Gromov, Colonel Alexander V. Kireichev, Colonel Yuri N. Pisarenko, Colonel Georgy N. Sedlov, Colonel Vladimir N. Stogniy, Colonel Vladimir N. Ulyanov, Colonel Nikolai N. Ferlevsky, and Colonel Nikolai N. Ferlevsky were awarded the Order of Honor. Officers Avoev R. V. and Trigub A. N. were awarded the Medal "For Saving the Drowning", and more than a hundred military personnel were awarded the Medal "For Distinction in Military Service".

Thank you to my colleagues for their excellent service!

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