Uzhur
62nd Missile Division (military unit 32441)
55°20'N 89°48'E

The location of the 62nd Uzhurskaya Red Banner Division. 60th anniversary of the USSR, or military unit 32441 is ZATO Solnechny (former Uzhur-4) of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The unit itself is small, it is located on the territory of the division and occupies only one barracks in four floors. In various years, the missile division was armed with R-36 missiles (from 1966 to 1979), R-36M (from 1975 to 1992), R-36MUTTKh (from 1979 to 2008), R-36M2 (from 1990 to the present). The personnel of the Uzhur missile formation are on alert on the silo-based Voevoda missile systems with RS-20V ICBMs.

The unit consists of 4 regiments, which have different numbering (military units 54093, 14443, 74832 and 45832). The division also includes a technical missile base, a missile construction battalion, a communications center, a communications regulatory base, a separate combat support battalion, a guard and reconnaissance battalion, a mobile command post, a separate helicopter squadron and several other units. Since 2009, the repair and technical base of the division belongs to the 12th GUMO. There is a military hospital on the territory of the garrison.

Uzhur is located 300 kilometers from Krasnoyarsk on the border with the Republic of Khakassia. Despite the fact that this is the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in winter the temperature there often drops below 40 degrees, and in summer, on the contrary, it is very hot, and then, among the locals, the coolness of numerous lakes is at a high price, the most famous of which are Shira and Uchum.

Like most of today's missile divisions, the Uzhur missile formation traces its history back to the days when nuclear deterrence weapons were talked about in an undertone and behind closed doors. The history of the Uzhur missile division dates back to the heroic past of the 109th Guards Rifle Division, which was formed in July 1943 near the village of Abinskaya, Krasnodar Territory, from the 6th and 9th rifle brigades. For the successful fulfillment of combat missions, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of Suvorov II degree, received the honorary names "Borislavskaya" and "Khinganskaya".

On November 1, 1960, a missile regiment was formed on the basis of the 109th Guards Rifle Division, the commander of which was appointed Colonel V.T. In May 1964, an operational group of a missile division was formed with a temporary deployment point in Tomsk on the basis of military unit 54093. On September 8, 1964, Colonel Petr Mikhailovich Prikhodko arrived and took up the duties of the commander of the operational group. He also became the first commander of a missile division.

On December 1, 1964, the division's operational group was redeployed to the point of permanent deployment in Uzhur, Krasnoyarsk Territory. By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 22, 1968, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its great contribution to strengthening the defensive power of the Soviet state, successes in combat and political training, mastering complex military equipment and in connection with the 50th anniversary of the SA and the Navy.

From 1968 to 1974, the division's combat crews conducted 11 combat training launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles. By the decision of the Military Council of the Strategic Missile Forces of November 21, 1972, the division was awarded the Challenge Red Banner of the Military Council of the Missile Forces for high performance in combat and political training.

By the decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated December 13, 1972 for high performance in combat and political training, achieved in socialist competition, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the formation of the USSR, the division was awarded the “Jubilee Badge of Honor”. By the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of November 26, 1979, the unit was awarded the Pennant of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR "For Courage and Military Valor" for high performance in combat and political training.

The Uzhur ICBM Complex is located in the south-eastern mountains region of Western Siberia, in the Krasnoyarsk Kray. This was the eastern most of the six deployed Type IIIC ICBM complexes for the SS-9 missile system. It consisted of eight launch groups, complex support facilities, and a rail-to-road transfer point. The complex support facilities are at the southern edge of the city of Uzhur. The rail-to-road transfer point is located approximately 2.8 nautical miles (nm) west-southwest of the city.

The complex is deployed over approximately 1,600 square miles of gently rolling terrain, except for some scattered sharp ridges. Elevations range between 1,000 and 2,600 feet above sea level, with the highest launch site at an elevation of 2,100 feet. The area is sparsely populated, with agriculture and lumbering being the predominant occupations. The climate in this region of Western Siberia is characterized by cold winters and mild summers. Snow cover is usually established by late October and lasts until early April.

Rail service for the complex is provided by a single-track branch line which runs south from the Trans-Siberian Railroad at Achinsk, 55 nm north-northeast of Uzhur, to Abakan, llO nm south-southeast of Uzhur. Air service facilities are provided by an improved sod landing strip approximately 0.5 nm west of the railhead and storage area. A system of improved primary roads connects Uzhur to the larger towns in the area. The secondary road system, which connects Uzhur to the surrounding settlements, has been improved and expanded in order to link the launch sites to the complex support facilities. Two SA-2 sites were located 34 and 40 nm north-northeast of the complex support facilities.

The Uzhur ICBM Complex contained 48 Type IIIC single-silo launch sites deployed in eight groups, A through H. The complex also includes support facilities and a rail-to-road transfer point. The complex support facilities consist of the headquarters command and control facility, a housing areas with their services, and the railhead and storage area. The rail-to-road transfer point is 2.5 nm west of the complex support facilities. The base functions in the general support of the deployed missiles and consists of a propellant handling facility, a receiving, inspection, and maintenance (RIM) facility, a ground support equipment maintenance and storage area.

An alternate complex command and control facility was constructed adjacent to Launch Control Site 34F, which is 15 nm east of the complex support facility. There was ample space around the complex for continued deploy­ ment and the sparsely inhabited area to the northeast of Uzhur offers ideal expansion room. The amount of prefabricated silo components in the railhead and storage area appeared to be more than required to complete the one group presently under construction in 1969.

The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will replace the Voyevoda ICBM in divisions in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in East Siberia and in the Orenburg Region in the South Urals, Russian Strategic Missile Force Commander Sergey Karakayev said May 06, 2016. In particular, Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles will arrive for the missile division based in Uzhur in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in East Siberia and the Dombarovsky position area in the Orenburg Region in the South Urals, Karakayev added. "The development of the Sarmat silo-based missile system with a heavy missile is nearing completion. It will replace the Voyevoda missile system in the Uzhur missile division and theDombarovsky position area," the commander said. The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile was developed to replace the R-36M2 VoyevodaICBM, also known as the RS-20V missile.

On July 30, 1988, the first regiment armed with RS-20B Voyevoda missiles was placed on combat duty in the Dombarovka missile formation in the Orenburg region. With a takeoff weight of over 210 tonnes, the missile's maximum range is 11,000 kilometres and can carry a payload of 8,800 kilograms. The 8.8-tonne warhead includes ten independently targetable re-entry vehicles whose total power is equal to 1,200 Hiroshima nuclear bombs. A single missile can totally eliminate 500 square kilometres of enemy defences. By 1990, Voyevoda missiles had been placed on combat duty in divisions stationed outside of Uzhur, Krasnoyarsk Territory, and Derzhavinsk, Kazakhstan. Eighty-eight Voyevoda launch sites had been deployed by 1992.

Pointing out that the soldiers of the Uzhur-4 missile unit (note: with 6 SS-18 ICBMs) had not been paid for 5 months, General Alexander Lebed, governor of Krasnoyarsk Province, somewhat facetiously suggested in July 1998 taking over the base and feeding the unit in exchange for nuclear powerstatus for Krasnoyarsk. See Aleksey Tarasov: "Women Revolt Again. But This Time in a Nuclear Missile Division," Izvestiya July 25, 1998 (FBIS-UMA-98-205).

By 1981 programs to upgrade the SS-18 missile system were underway at the six deployed SS-18 complexes to modify the 19 oldest SS-18 launch groups to accept the SS-18 MOD-4 (and probably any SS-18 payload deployed in the near future) and increase silo hardness. This program was underway in launch groups A at Dombarovskiy, Kartaly, and Uzhur SSM complexes, three of the 19 SS-18 launch groups completed before June 1978. Upgrading of the launch control facility (LCF) was an integral part of launch group modification. Launch group modification would be completed within eight to 12 months of silo unloading. The silo modification program was completed by late 1983.

The launch group modification program had begun by August 1980 with the construction of temporary support areas (TSAs) outside the launch sites and LCFs of launch groups A at Dombarovskiy, Kartaly, and Uzhur SSM Complexes. No TSAs had been constructed at Dombarovskiy ICBM Launch Sites 4A and 6A. The TSAs consisted of at least one large, single-story, wood-frame building similar to the temporary support buildings constructed during the IIIC (SS-9) to IIIF (SS-18) conversion program. The TSAs were almost complete at the three complexes by January 1981 and unloading began at Kartaly and Uzhur Launch Group A during late January and early February 1981. Silo unloading began at Dombarovskiy Launch Group A during mid-April 1981. Concurrent with unloading, empty three-car canister capsule (CAN/CAP) trains arrived at the complex rail-to-road transfer points (RTPs) to transport the unloaded missiles out of the complex for inspection and probable refurbishment.

Although an increase in SS-18 canisters had not been observed, the two facilities best suited to accomplish refurbishment were Bobrovskiy Missile Support Rear Depot (MSRD; and/or Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development and Production Complex (DMDPC). Alternatively, if these missiles were not refurbished, they may be used at Tyuratam Missile/Space Test Center for crew training and/or missile development launches. Bobrovskiy MSRD could also provide interim storage. At Kartaly ICBM RTPthereplacement modified launch control capsule with associated containers arrived at the same time as theempty CAN/CAP trains. Shortly after their arrival, the empty CAN/CAP trains were loaded with missile canisters from Launch Group A. Five SS-18 MOD-3 missiles were launched from Uzhur Launch Group A. Three SS-18 probable MOD-2 missiles were launched from Kartaly Launch Group A during April 1981.

After silo unloading, the first silo modification activity to occur is the excavation of the area around the silo door pocket and headworks. This is done to allow reconstruction of the upper silo facing, which serves as a retaining wall when upper silo components are removed. Gantry crane and concrete-block service apron construction usually began at this time. The first component to be removedfrom the silo is the SS-18 in-silo suspension/shock isolation systems. The suspension cage, acomponent of the suspension/shock isolation system, was probably dismantled onsite.

The IIIF silo door, door pocket, headworks, and headworks base were then removed from the silo and dismantled on the service apron. The replacement IIIF headwork sections were delivered to the launch site and assembled on the service apron. (At one site, the new headworks was being assembled on the service apron before the old headworks was removed). The launch site hardened antennas (dome and hook or plus antennas) were replaced by their newer counterparts, the modified hardened dome antenna and the hardened linear antenna. In addition, the passageway from the partially underground security/surveillance building to its entrance was excavated while silo modifications were underway. No discernible modifications had been made to the exposed passageway.

Launch Control Facility [LCF] Modifications were designed to technically upgrade facilities and improve survivability. LCF modifications includef the replacement of the launch control center (LCC) silo headworks; the probable addition of a second LCC silo headworks base; and the replacement of the silo door pocket, door, and LCC capsule. The original control support building was razed and a type III LCF control support building was constructed. The type III LCF control support building was centered on and perpendicular to the LCC silo. It was probable that the hardened dome and washer antennas at the LCF were modified or replaced. The underground passageway of the security/surveillance building at the LCF was also excavated.

Silo modification program support was observed in the complex support facilities of Dombarovskiy, Kartaly, and Uzhur SSM complexes. Support activity includes the arrival of empty CAN/CAP trains, replacement modified LCC capsules and associated containers, and replacement SS-18 MOD-4 missiles in the complex RTPs. New type IIIF and type IIIX LCC upper silo components arrived in the silo materials receiving areas and the number of cable spools significantly increased.

Nuclear-associated railcars arrived in the RTPs to deliver new MOD-4 warheads and probably transport warheads removed from Launch Group A missiles to national-level nuclear storage sites.

ZATO Solnechny is located in the southern part of Uzhur. The garrison is not separated from the city in any way, it is simply surrounded by a concrete fence from the side of the division. Military unit 32441 - in the village itself with a fairly developed infrastructure. ZATO is funded directly from Moscow, thanks to which there are apartment buildings for the residence of military personnel and civilian personnel. The soldier is accommodated in a four-story standard barracks. They pass the course of a young soldier in the division, and then are distributed to other units. Moreover, not throughout Russia, but only in Uzhur.

The food for the soldiers is handled by civilian personnel. They are fed differently, but for the holidays they always set tables with various delicacies. On Sunday afternoon nap is practiced, and on Saturday, it is a business day in the park. Soldiers of military unit 32441 hand over their mobile phones to the commanders of the unit.

Military towns have their own aura and zest. Starting from the names of the streets (Karbysheva, Gvardeyskaya, Yubileinaya, Nedelina) and ending with the main advantage - walking distance of everything needed. Hand in hand to chain stores, beauty salons, cafes, clinics, and of course, to the House of Culture of the Russian Army, which has been headed by reserve lieutenant colonel Sergei Yezzhalov for more than 20 years. Now the DKRA is one of the best not only in the Strategic Missile Forces, but in all the Armed Forces. It concentrates: a cinema, an auditorium, an adult and children's library, the editorial office of the local newspaper Solnechny Novosti, which, by the way, is in great demand. Residents of ZATO have a children's club with a play area, a billiard room, as well as many different sections and circles, ranging from chess to English and dancing. Needless to say, DKRA is a popular place for families - there is a buzz here on weekends.

On the territory of Solnechny, after a major overhaul, the Dolphin sports complex, headed by Sergey Mostakov, resumed its work. The highlight of the sports complex is a 25-meter swimming pool that meets all the requirements for holding various competitions, including regional and on the scale of the Strategic Missile Forces. In addition to the swimming pool, Dolphin has a gym, a fitness area, a multifunctional hall where residents can play basketball, volleyball, mini-football or tennis. There is also a stadium with a football field and running tracks near the sports complex. In winter, a ski track runs, skating and ice hockey grounds are flooded. By the way, in ZATO they love hockey very much, and when the local team "Voevoda" plays, the audience actively supports it.

By the end of 2020, the Red Banner Missile Division deployed in the Krasnoyarsk Territory became the best in the Strategic Missile Forces among the formations that are on alert on stationary missile systems. The Uzhur strategists reacted to such a high assessment calmly - with their characteristic Siberian composure. Not that they are used to being always the best, they just perfectly understand that there is no time to sit and rest on their laurels at all. Despite the fact that the division is armed with the most powerful weapon in the world - the Voevoda missile systems, in the near future the Uzhurs are expected to be massively re-equipped with the Sarmat missile systems. So the division intends to defend the title of the best formation of the "OS" type (separate start) again.