Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Photo: Dmitry Kharichkov/Press Service of the Russian Defense Ministry/TASS
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov visited the Peter the Great Military Academy of Strategic Missile Forces. Since 2015, the Academy has been located in Balashikha near Moscow, and the history of the university dates back to 1820, when the officer department of the Artillery School was opened in St. Petersburg.
Andrei Belousov inspected the buildings of the Academy and congratulated the cadets on the Day of Knowledge in the solemn formation.
“Today a new academic year begins at the Peter the Great Military Academy of Strategic Missile Forces,” he said. – You have a great honor. You are receiving education at one of the best military educational institutions in the country. Your educational institution is also a major scientific center. Extensive applied military research is carried out here. Traditions of invention are developing, unique specialists are being trained, whose knowledge is especially in demand in modern military conflicts.
According to Andrei Belousov, the Strategic Missile Forces Academy trains specialists for a special type of troops, the combat effectiveness of which is crucial for the security of the country.
“To maintain high combat readiness, the Strategic Missile Forces are equipped with modern and advanced missile systems, such as Avangard, Sarmat, Yars,” the minister said. – You must perfectly master military affairs, learn to think outside the box, come up with bold and innovative ideas and solutions and become part of the country’s officer elite.
This year, there are 280 first-year students at the school. In total, more than a thousand cadets study at the Academy. One of them, Andrei Golub, told reporters that he is a representative of the fourth generation of space scientists.
“My great-grandfather was at the origin of the founding of the Strategic Missile Forces in 1959,” the cadet said. – My grandfather served in the Kostroma missile formation and adopted the R-16 complexes, and my father participated in the testing of the latest missile weapons at the Kapustin Yar test site. That is why I made the decision to become a military man. I knew from an early age who I would be. When I graduate, I plan to continue serving in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the Uzhur Missile Force, to continue the work of my ancestors.
