Find and provide: the Ministry of Defense will introduce positions of supply officers amid resignations

It is planned to introduce the posts of deputy commander for logistics in Airborne Troops battalions. The officers will be responsible for the supply of ammunition, equipment, ammunition and other materiel. Experts note that the deputy commander in charge of the rear should help timely supply units with everything they need - this is important in combat conditions. They also recalled that the military special operation revealed serious problems in the logistics structures of the Russian Armed Forces. Some high-ranking generals have become defendants in criminal cases, among them ex-deputy defense minister for logistics Dmitry Bulgakov.

New Airborne Troops' Staffs

The post of deputy commander in charge of logistics will be introduced into the staff schedule of VDV battalions. Under the current circumstances, especially if the battalion is fighting in a combat zone of the Northern Military District, logistics officers have a great responsibility - the combat effectiveness of the units largely depends on their work. For this reason, it was decided to introduce a new position, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia.

According to Izvestia's interlocutors, these positions in battalions were abolished when Anatoly Serdyukov was the head of the military department. At this stage in the Airborne Troops they have decided to return them, they said.

Military expert Viktor Litovkin told Izvestia that the SSO showed what certain formations need for effective combat work and what they should pay attention to.

- The battalion's deputy commander in charge of logistics will receive subordinates who will help him solve supply issues, and they will probably increase the amount of transportation," the expert explained. - Most likely, it will be an officer with the rank of major: a battalion commander usually has the rank of lieutenant colonel, and his deputies are a step lower. Of course, officers in the position of deputy battalion commander for logistics will have much greater authority and powers. This is justified. They are responsible for making sure that the soldiers of the unit are provided with all kinds of allowances.

The experience of the Strategic Defense Forces, the expert noted, shows that battalions often operate in isolation from the main forces of the regiment, and they often allocate assault groups for independent actions.

- They need additional ammunition, food, equipment, ammunition and many other things," continued Victor Litovkin. - The logistics of delivering all these material assets is also becoming more complicated. Based on this, it is clear that supply issues need to be addressed at a higher level. For this reason, I believe that the introduction of the new position is justified. It is important that the decision was born during a special military operation, so it is dictated by life.

Battalion commanders have to solve many tasks related to the logistics of their unit, Colonel Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor at the Plekhanov Russian Economic University, told Izvestia.

- Under the conditions of the Strategic Military District, when battalions have become more independent tactical units, the issue of providing for their operations has become more relevant," he said. - Logistics issues have become more complex and important, and competent resource allocation at the regiment level, which includes several battalions, has become difficult. Battalions may have different requests depending on the combat tasks they are solving. Now battalion logistics deputies will have to formulate and solve them. Previously, these duties were largely the responsibility of the commander, but he has to do combat work on the line of contact. Now he will be relieved.

Problems on the home front

The SSO uncovered quite a few problems in the logistical support structures of the Russian Armed Forces. The inspection found massive violations, which resulted in criminal cases against high-ranking generals.

On July 26, 2024, former Deputy Defense Minister for Logistics, Army General Dmitry Bulgakov, was detained in a corruption case. At the request of the investigation, he was arrested and sent to Moscow's Lefortovo pre-trial detention center. As reported in court, the contracts concluded with the Ministry of Defense knowingly overestimated the costs of food preparation, and the quality of products did not meet the terms of the contract. Bulgakov is now in custody.

September 2, Major-General Valery Muminjanov, Deputy Commander of the Leningrad Military District, was arrested for taking a bribe on a particularly large scale. According to investigators, the general, being the head of the Department of Resource Support of the Ministry of Defense, received a bribe in the amount of more than 20 million rubles for facilitating the conclusion of contracts for the supply of uniforms worth 1.5 billion rubles, including in the zone of the North Caucasus Military District.

Major General Denis Putilov, head of the armored car service of the Central Military District, was detained on September 18 of this year for taking a bribe on a particularly large scale. According to the investigation, the general received a bribe from a businessman for giving preferences when concluding a state defense order.

Alexander Perendzhiev told Izvestia that there is still a lot of work to be done in this direction.

- The important thing is that the strategic areas are being put in order," he said. - Now we need to ensure success at the tactical level. In other words, we need to ensure that the whole mechanism works clearly, to get into details. In addition, we need to strengthen control over logistics structures, especially in combat conditions.

Winged Suppliers

Earlier "Izvestia" wrote that Russia will form the first logistics brigade of the Airborne Troops. The formation will be subordinate directly to the command of the Airborne Forces and work in the interests of paratroopers.

The new unit will be fully equipped with equipment adapted for transportation by military transport planes and helicopters.

Moreover, almost all the equipment of the unit will be able to land by landing, and some of the vehicles - even parachute.

The appearance of the brigade will significantly increase the autonomy and combat capabilities of the "winged infantry". The Logistics Brigade will be indispensable for long combat operations and deployments abroad. In creating the new structure, experience gained in the course of the Strategic Defense Forces and the use of CSTO forces in peacekeeping operations was used.