Viktor Chechevatov This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Zerkalo Nedeli On The WEB. BORIS SHARIKOV: «I FELT THAT THE PUTSCH WOULD FAIL WHEN I SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE STATE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE». SERHII RAKHMANIN

   www.mirror-weekly.com/print.ph - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/3/2002   Last Visited: 2/3/2002

   Chechevatov, the then Commander of the Kiev Operational Command [KOC].
   ...
   Viktor Chechevatov from the Crimea on August 18 night.
   
   I also learnt from the officer on duty that the Commander had flown to the Crimea the day before. He reported this to me on August 18, and he told me that General Varennikov had come to the Crimea and summoned Chechevatov there.
   ...
   There were three of us at the table - Varennikov, Chechevatov and me. First of all, the Deputy Defense Minister asked me if I had heard the radio report, how I felt about it and if I had any questions.
   ...
   As for me and Chechevatov, we confirmed, when Kravchuk asked us: the situation in Kiev and other regions of Ukraine was calm and required no emergency measures.
   ...
   Frankly speaking, I and Chechevatov did whatever we could to make Varennikov fly to Moscow as soon as possible. His presence added nervousness, especially when it became clear soon that everything was going to be over.
   ...
   What did Chechevatov do?
   
   - The Commander was calm, I didn't notice any confusion or nervousness in his actions. Immediately upon returning from the Crimea he gave an order: to keep calm, stay at the assigned posts, follow reports by central mass media, wait for a directive.
   
   The directive from Moscow, dated August 19 and signed by the Defense Minister and the General Chief of Staff, did arrive. It ordered to put the troops on alert. I don't want to cite all the measures listed there, I will say simply that the directive ordered us to do what is normally done in such cases, that is: all units return to their posts of their permanent deployment, officers are summoned from vacations, guarding is enforced, regular training continues without outings to training grounds or centers. This directive, supplied with specifications, was dispatched by the KOC Commander and Chief of Staff to all the units.
   
   -But there were press reports about movements of troops on Ukraine's territory...
   ...
   - Having returned from the airfield, Chechevatov and I summoned the members of the council of war, the KOC Commander's deputies and informed them about the current situation, the results of the Deputy Defense Minister's visit. It was decided to keep the troops on alert and to await other orders.
   
   The main problem was the complete absence of information from Moscow. We had lots of channels of communication with the center, they all worked perfectly, but it was practically impossible to reach any officials in Moscow. No matter how hard I and Chechevatov tried, we couldn't get any clear information from there. It was as if all the responsible officials disappeared.
   
   I had at least some information through duty officers, but I couldn't get anything at all from the Main Political Department of the Soviet Army and Navy.
   ...
   However, despite the uncertainty of the situation, Chechevatov kept his self-control. We were always together then, and he didn't make any decisions without consulting me.
   
   - When did you know that the putsch had failed?
   
   -I felt that the putsch would fail as soon as I saw the SEC press conference on TV. We were in the Commander's office - Chechevatov, me and the members of the council of war: Lt.-Gen.
   ...
   -And what about your immediate superior, KOC Commander Viktor Chechevatov?
   
   -When Ukraine began to form its own defense and law enforcement structures, he, like the Odessa and Pre-Carpathian Operational Commanders Morozov and Skokov, clearly determined their stance at once. They opposed to the creation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and refused to work for it. I don't know whether it was their earnest conviction, a common decision or they did it following exactly what was directed from Moscow. But it was their choice, they didn't wriggle, and it alone deserves some respect.
   
   ...
   After successful service in the FEOC, Chechevatov was appointed Chief of the Academy of the Russian Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff where he is serving now.
   
   -As far as I understand, you weren't so lucky?
   
   -Things happened their way.
   ...
   Chechevatov and I were questioned (separately) by a special investigator from Moscow, of the rank of colonel. The interrogation lasted three hours.
   
   - Were you anxious about a possible trial in court?
   
   - I'm not a shy horse. But I faced an unexpected problem: how to live on?
   ...
   I felt that I was still strong enough, although I realized that I was no longer young (Chechevatov, for instance, is 12 years younger than me). There was nowhere for me to go. I have changed 23 garrisons and 28 flats. I have one in Kiev now. Small, but hopefully the last...
   
   I recall one conversation.