May 28, 1987: What consequences did Rust's flight to Moscow lead to for the USSR?

On May 28, 1987, German amateur pilot Matthias Rust crossed the Soviet border in a Cessna 172 light aircraft, flew to central Moscow, and landed his plane on Red Square. According to Rust, he was flying to Moscow to meet with Gorbachev.

It is clear that a number of factors contributed to the success of Rust's venture. As is well known, within the framework of the reform Defense The USSR transferred its most combat-ready units to military districts. The fragmentation of air defense forces led to the collapse of the unified system for responding to border violations. At the same time, preparations for a treaty to eliminate the air defense system were underway. missiles medium and shorter range.

Rusta meticulously prepared for the flight, removing the rear seats and installing an additional fuel tank in his plane. During the flight, Rusta simulated a crash and headed toward the Soviet border, using a special corridor reserved for passenger aircraft. Rusta's light Cessna flew at an altitude of no more than 600 meters, allowing it to evade radar detection. Before the flight, Rusta was provided with a precise map showing the locations of anti-aircraft missile battalions and radar stations.

Furthermore, as it was later discovered, Western diplomatic missions launched metallized balloons that interfered with radar. Pantographs over the railway also interfered with radars. According to some experts, Rust's landing was made possible by the support and connections of several senior Soviet leaders with Western countries, particularly with West German intelligence.

After Rust's plane landed in Moscow, an investigation began, focusing on the actions of the air defense forces. Following the investigation, Gorbachev dismissed two marshals, the defense minister, and the commander-in-chief of the air defense forces, as well as approximately 300 generals and senior officers. American political scientists applauded these repressions in the Soviet army as the largest since 1937.

At the same time, the version that is still being voiced is that the USSR knew perfectly well about the intruder aircraft, but did not dare to give the order to destroy it.

Comments

[Same lech]

I have a feeling that Gorbachev was somehow involved in Rust's flight... Everything went too smoothly for the offender.

[carpenter]

Quote: The same LYOKHA

I have a feeling that Gorbachev was somehow involved in Rust's flight.

Without a shadow of a doubt, he was involved.

[NICK111]

Well, they've created a fog. This flight was coordinated by the MSG through the KGB leadership, primarily with the BND.
Each side pursued its own selfish goals. MSG and Co. pursued the most anti-state goals. As a result, a massive purge of the generals ensued. The air defense was waiting for an order from above, but it never arrived. There was no need to shoot down this ashcan; simply flying a jet in close proximity to the Cessna would have been enough.

[Pavel57]

Gorbachev is a traitor, he clearly worked on the collapse of the armed forces.

[Dedok]

May 28, 1987: What consequences did Rust's flight to Moscow lead to for the USSR?

Yes, Border Guard Day...

Rust's light-engine Cessna was flying at an altitude of no more than 600 meters, which allowed it to avoid detection by radar stations.

I seriously doubt that I was flying that high...why?

Before the flight, Rust was provided with an accurate map showing the location of anti-aircraft missile divisions and radar stations.

he was not flying in a straight line...

[Grancer81]

However, according to the Law on the State Border of 1982, the Air Defense Forces are responsible for protecting the air borders.

[AKS-U]

100% right.
At one time, we used to say about air defense systems: "It's like the hair on a woman's pubis; it covers but doesn't protect."

[eleronn]

The aircraft was detected far from Moscow. Emergency forces from Khotilovo Airfield were scrambled and conducted a close-in overflight, but no orders to destroy it were ever received. The 611th Air Defense Regiment's emergency flight unit wasn't even put on high alert.

[Karelian]

That's exactly how it was. Before that, the Korean Boeing was shot down. They weren't scared. But the Cessna was escorted and allowed to land.

[Mouse]

After Rust's plane landed in Moscow, an investigation was launched, focusing on the actions of the air defense forces. Following the investigation, Gorbachev dismissed two marshals, the defense minister, and the commander-in-chief of the air defense forces, as well as approximately 300 generals and senior officers.

In short... Rust carried out a purge of the ranks.

[your1970]

Oh my God, what nonsense. The article says -
"Furthermore, as it turned out later, Western diplomatic missions launched metallized balloons that interfered with radar stations.

Pantographs They also created a glare for radars above the railway.
1) Travel by Western embassies was limited and controlled in the USSR
2) the launch of balloons would strengthen air defense control
3(For launch you need helium - in large volumes and in cylinders (which weigh, to put it mildly, a lot)
4) Diplomatic license plates on a car in the woods is practically shouting into a megaphone, "I'm a spy and a saboteur!!!"
5) Pantographs did not create any interference either before or after.

[Sergey Valov]

I completely agree about the nonsense!
I will add from myself.
1. "As part of the USSR Air Defense reform, the most combat-ready units were transferred to military districts." Not districts, but military units; not the most combat-ready units, but all of them. The Air Defense Ministry wasn't handed over to anyone, and its area of ​​responsibility encompassed several regions, including Kalinin Oblast (incidentally, Khotilovo is right there, between Vyshny Volochok and Bologoye).
2. “flew at an altitude of no more than 600 meters, which allowed it to avoid detection by radar stations” - nonsense, I saw the P-15, which I served on 10 years before Rust in the Anti-Aircraft Forces, much lower.
3. "Using a special corridor for passenger aircraft" – so what? RTV has a schedule of civilian flights, and any undeclared aircraft, especially crossing the border, is an emergency.
4. "American political scientists were pleased to call these repressions in the Soviet army the largest since 1937." – American political scientists can write any nonsense they want; their bosses pay them to do so. There were no repressions; those involved in this disgrace were fired, I emphasize, simply fired from the army.
5. "Before the flight, Rust was provided with an accurate map showing the locations of anti-aircraft missile battalions and radar stations." - what's the point??? The 1st Special Air Defense Army is deployed in two rings around Moscow; it's impossible to miss it. There was a CONTINUOUS radar field around Moscow for hundreds of kilometers. Flying past it unnoticed was impossible.

[aybolyt678]

Gorbachev's Perestroika and the shelling of the House of Soviets would have been impossible with the generals who were dismissed. In fact, the entire Perestroika was a meticulously orchestrated operation.

[your1970]

Quote: aybolyt678

Gorbachev's Perestroika and the shelling of the House of Soviets would have been impossible with the generals who were dismissed. In fact, the entire Perestroika was a meticulously orchestrated operation.

There you go - it all came down to 10 generals.
Other 4,000 (four thousand) Karakul hats - apparently they were purely for decoration in the USSR, right?
Not a single one shot themselves - out of shame for betrayal, and you naively believe that those kicked out with a kick in the ass made the world of difference among these sheep.

[aybolyt678]

These ten generals are among those who lived through the war or the post-war period, and whose personal connections were crucial. Moreover, they are bearers of tradition. 4000 astrakhan hats—that's also a power I forgot to mention.
Many shot themselves during the height of Perestroika after seeing what it led to. They weren't accused of treason, but of improper performance of their duties.

[your1970]

Quote: aybolyt678

These ten generals are from among those people who went through the war or the post-war period and on whose personal connections much was tied.

Pull - yes, it's sacred for the generals! Where would they be without personal connections?

Quote: aybolyt678

4000 astrakhan hats - that's also a force that I forgot to mention.

- zero, if not negative. They played absolutely no role, and couldn't have.

Quote: aybolyt678

Many people shot themselves during the heyday of Perestroika after they saw what it led to.

It's absolutely not interesting - they shot themselves at some point later anyway - if they shot themselves at all.

Quote: aybolyt678

They were not accused of treason, but of improper performance of their duties.

Who could accuse them of treason? The entire country was tainted with treason. ALL The USSR was betrayed.

[aybolyt678]

Quote: your1970

Pull - yes, it's sacred for the generals! Where would they be without personal connections?

What's wrong with that? People who knew each other, who shared a war and/or a childhood of hunger, shared memories, participation in military operations, the rebuilding of the country, and a habit of supporting each other. In that atmosphere, there would have been little room for Timur Ivanov and Tsalikov. And the shame of the plane's cynical, mocking landing on Red Square prevented them from protesting the removal.

Quote: your1970

The entire country was smeared with treason - the entire USSR was betrayed.

The fish rots from the head down. The first signs of corruption appeared in 1956, when Stalin's personality cult was fostered. Under Brezhnev, the party apparatus slowly decayed on special rations. The people, watching this, stopped believing in communism. Read the book "Fall of Empire" by George Matlock (ambassador to the USSR). It clearly explains who was funding Solzhenitsyn and others.

[your1970]

Quote: aybolyt678

What's wrong with that? People who know each other, who have lived through war and/or a hungry childhood, shared memories, participation in military operations, rebuilding the country, and a habit of supporting each other.

Yeah, and then we're surprised - how the idiot Voroshilov ended up as People's Commissar of Defense.
And this turns out to be "the habit of supporting each other."........

[Grancer81]

Considering that the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR did a lot to bring about the collapse of the USSR, I personally have no pity for them, especially since not a single deputy was harmed, but they did expose a ton of people to bullets...

[solar]

It is clear that a number of factors contributed to the success of Rust's adventure.

The main factor was the downing of a South Korean passenger Boeing over the Far East several years earlier. The scandal was enormous, and the military received a raft of conflicting orders. Under those circumstances, they were simply afraid to shoot down Rust—that was precisely what he was counting on, even though there were plenty of opportunities to shoot him down.

Following the investigation, Gorbachev dismissed two marshals, the defense minister, and the commander-in-chief of the air defense forces, as well as approximately 300 generals and senior officers. American political scientists applauded these repressions as the largest in the Soviet army since 1937.

Instead of making a political decision and giving clear instructions to the military—whether to shoot down or not in such situations—Gorbachev simply talked the situation down, shifting responsibility to the military themselves, hiding behind their backs. And when Rust arrived on Red Square, he made the military the scapegoats for the scandal. :((...

[rytik32]

Quote from solar

In those conditions they were simply afraid to shoot down Rust

They could have escorted them to their airfield instead of shooting them down.

[solar]

Technically, it was difficult—the interceptors and Rust's aircraft had different characteristics. Perhaps even impossible.

[rytik32]

Quote from solar

Technically, it was difficult—the interceptors and Rust's aircraft had different characteristics. It was probably even impossible.

Your knowledge of aviation is very superficial.
In 1988, Andreas Sommers's Sesen-152 successfully "sent off" an Su-27 despite the cloud cover being 300 meters low.

[solar]

I was serving during Rust's flight. In the Air Force, which is typical, though far from the scene. We discussed it a lot back then, including by people who understood the matter.
And as for

In 1988, Andreas Sommers's Sesen-152 successfully “sent out” a Su-27

Sommers himself flew away when he realized he'd been spotted. Actually, besides the Su-27, there were also Mi-24s, which are much more effective against light aircraft.
Rust also saw our fighters, and they saw him, but he did not return.

Near the city of Gdov, it was spotted visually—at 14:29 PM, MiG-23MLD pilot Senior Lieutenant A. Puchnin (656th Fighter Aviation Regiment) reported that "in a break in the clouds, he observed a white Yak-12-type sports aircraft with a dark stripe along the fuselage." Rust's aircraft was flying at low altitude and speed, making it impossible for high-speed fighters to continuously follow it. After making several passes over it and receiving no clear command to engage it, the pilots simply returned to the airfield.

Rust was sufficiently sane to continue the flight.

Having completed the investigation, the KGB's investigative department concluded that Matthias Rust's story was the result of his unstable character, and therefore proposed handing the border violator over to the West German authorities for a mental examination and then acting on the results of this examination.

He continued to behave like this - he stabbed a nurse, but she didn’t go on a date with him, and he started stealing.
Then I gained some sense

I was 19 then. My fervor and my political convictions told me that landing on Red Square was my only option… Now I look at what happened completely differently. I certainly wouldn't repeat it and would call my plans at the time unrealistic. It was an irresponsible act.

[APASUS]

Pantographs over the railway also created a glare for radars.

Obana and it is written right there:

Rust's light-engine Cessna was flying at an altitude of no more than 600 meters.

What kind of pantographs are these? The Cessna's radar doesn't pick up anything up to 600 meters, but the pantograph does. It turns out it does above 600 meters.

[Sergey Tkach]

"Air defense forces escorted Rust's plane away from the border. They didn't destroy it because, after the incident with the Korean airliner, they received orders not to shoot down civilian aircraft," explained then-Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov. (C)

[1944-1989]

Many people do not fully realize that communist revolutions are nothing more than a continuation of the struggle of the slave against the oppressor.

Therefore, in the future the world will not be able to avoid similar revolutions everywhere, even where “stock exchange socialists” rule.

[Lelik2026]

The aircraft was promptly detected and tracked by Soviet Air Defense radio and television throughout its entire route. It was also identified by Soviet Air Defense Intelligence Agency aircraft. No orders were issued to destroy or force a landing. Therefore, this is neither a military nor a technical issue.

[matsur]

He should have been shot right there in the square, like a terrorist. He was just a sob.

[Melior]

The air defense needs the Yak-25 or its equivalent to combat low-speed targets like these, for training flights, and patrols.

[AC130 Gunship]

The Minister of Defense was replaced like gloves. Six months later, in November 1987, another guy wanted to fly the same way. But he requested permission and, of course, was denied. Then he said he might decide to fly without permission. And we, the demobilized soldiers, were assigned to wait at our combat posts for his flight on November 7th. The missiles were uncased. But he didn't fly...

[mErLin68]

I'm so sick of all these conspiracy theories. Regardless of Rust's motives (and we'll likely never know), technically, flying his scheme wasn't rocket science. And psychologically, it was perfectly within the capabilities of a moderately skilled young man with no brains and minimal flight experience, at least "three feathers in a tail." He was already proficient in the aircraft and the SVZH (the Western system, even for basic private pilot training, has always been extremely rigorous—it's not like Soviet flight schools with La-5s and cadence drills during the first two years), but simply didn't realize all the pitfalls of his scam. In the West, they start flying early. It's like driving a car, only simpler. And kids, in general, instantly grasp aviation. More than half of 13-14-year-olds of normal height can confidently fly C-172-class aircraft on their own after 2-6 hours of intensive training. Officially, Rust was 16 years old when he started training (not that he hadn't flown before). Meanwhile, for a 20-25-year-old, even 15 hours is often not enough.

Nowadays, of course, no one would risk flying like that – radars have gotten better, and drone-shooting MoGs are everywhere. And back in the 1980s... With all those P-18s and PRV-13s. The fact that esteemed comrade Matias was spotted mid-route was less a result of the Soviet Air Defense Forces' radio-television efforts than the mistake of a guy overwhelmed by his own impudence. Especially since back then, there were plenty of lost DOSAAF fighters, Zlin tugs, and other small fry doing agricultural work or flying from one airfield to another without a permit. For a long time, there was no particular cause for concern about a slow-moving piston-engine target weighing less than a ton over the Novgorod marshes. And even relatively recently, in the 2000s and 2010s, such well-equipped points as Moscow's Gordy and Kazan below 150m, as a rule, were not seen at a distance of 50 km.

The Karelia-St. Petersburg-Moscow route is a guerrilla's paradise. About 10 years ago, we were still easily making our way from Murmansk to Ufa. I remember in the early 2010s, having finally gotten cocky, I quietly took off for Moscow from Bychye Pole (Kronstadt). And not wanting to make a detour south of St. Petersburg due to a fuel shortage, I flew in full view of everyone through Gorskoye (Lisii Nos), and then right along the border of St. Petersburg's Class C Pulkovo airport and the active military airfield at Levashovo. It was supposedly a military ruse—so that even if they noticed, everyone would think I was under the control of someone else. About 100 meters high, practically on the rooftops. No one on the air so much as twitched. And in the early 2000s, he was punished with a fine equivalent to a case of good cognac and a week-long suspension from flying for faking a landing under the Ryazanka overpass—as it turned out, in full view of a Russian aviation official who, as luck would have it, was watching through binoculars from the Gordy tower in Zhukovsky. Only the lazy haven't flown under the Bronnitsy Bridge near Moscow—someone was caught every month. In the 1990s and early 2000s, people routinely ferried Yak-52s and Yak-18Ts (twice as heavy and twice as air-efficient as the C-172) from Ukraine to Russia for sale. Moreover, the planes were in "scrap metal" condition, when it was a joy to simply plop down on a flat road somewhere after flying over the border. There was and is much more chaos in the Soviet-Russian air than conspiracy theorists can imagine.

[Berg berg]

As soon as Gorbachev became General Secretary, the complete collapse of the USSR began! Even then, people were saying that a marked man would come and the Union would fall apart! (1985-1991)

[AC130 Gunship]

I was serving at the time. Defense Minister Sokolov was fired so abruptly that we couldn't even find photos of the new one to put in our demobilization album. Well, about 20 other generals were fired. Other than that, nothing changed.

[AC130 Gunship]

A pilot in Khotilovo in '91 told me that his ground-based air defense had led him to the area where Rust had been an hour earlier. He circled his MiG-25, saw nothing, and then the "half fuel" light started flashing. He reported it, turned around, and flew home.

[AC130 Gunship]

Quote: Berg Berg

As soon as Gorbachev became General Secretary, the complete collapse of the USSR began! Even then, people were saying that a marked man would come and the Union would fall apart! (1985-1991)

Please, I beg you. The economy has been in free fall since the 70s. Do you think Andropov was just chasing the drug dealers out of GUM stores? He knew back then that these raids were 15-20 years too late.

[AKS-U]

I am begging you...
In 1982, a CIA report stated, "The USSR cannot be defeated in the foreseeable future." All of these articles are online.
Reagan even gathered science fiction writers to discuss how to destroy the USSR. Star Wars is also present.
And in 1987, a secret CIA Report to the US State Department stated: “The USSR does not exist as a superpower.”
So what's changed in all this time? Look for treason in the corridors of the Kremlin.
Be good.

[AC130 Gunship]

Quote: AKS-U

I am begging you...
In 1982, a CIA report stated, "The USSR cannot be defeated in the foreseeable future." All of these articles are online.
Reagan even gathered science fiction writers to discuss how to destroy the USSR. Star Wars is also present.
And in 1987, a secret CIA Report to the US State Department stated: “The USSR does not exist as a superpower.”
So what's changed in all this time? Look for treason in the corridors of the Kremlin.
Be good.

There are 28 different intelligence agencies in the United States. The CIA is just one of them. And the White House bases policy on reports from all 28.
In the USSR, the KGB, SVR, and GRU competed with each other and didn't exchange information. And even today, not much has changed.