Arkady Mikhailovich Chernetsky was born in May 1950 in Nizhny Tagil. His father was an engineer at Uralvagonzavod, and his mother was a surgeon. After graduating from high school with a silver medal, he enrolled in the Metallurgical Department of the Ural Polytechnic Institute, which he completed in 1972. From 1972 to 1974, he served as a platoon commander in the Turkestan Military District. In 1974-1986, he worked at the Uraltransmash Production Association, where he rose from senior foreman to deputy director of the plant for production. In 1987-1992, he was the general director of the Uralkhimmash Production Association.

Since 1992, he has been the head of the Yekaterinburg city administration, and since 1995, he has been the head of the city.

- Arkady Mikhailovich, since the mid-19th century, Yekaterinburg has been known as a defense-related city. In the 1920s and 1930s, Sverdlovsk became a recognized center for heavy engineering and the military-industrial complex. What is the capital of the country's core region like today?

- Yekaterinburg is one of the largest cities in Russia, which has a strong industrial base, significant cultural and scientific potential, and good financial and economic resources. It is home to enterprises in almost all sectors of the national economy, including the defense industry. Readers of the military magazine are certainly familiar with the top-notch products of our defense enterprises, such as the famous Msta-S self-propelled howitzer, optoelectronic aiming systems, missile technology, S-300 systems, and more. There is hardly a branch of the military that does not rely on equipment manufactured in our city. Yekaterinburg is proud of its outstanding scientists and designers who have made significant contributions to our Armed Forces. For example, Academician Semikhatov, the chief designer, works at the Avtomatika Research and Production Association. He is an honorary citizen of Yekaterinburg, and many of his students work in the city administration. Moreover, both myself and almost all of my deputies are former defense and industrial workers.

- As the mayor, how do you assess the current state of the defense enterprises?

- Despite the difficulties, most of the military-industrial complex enterprises located in Yekaterinburg have retained their capabilities for producing military equipment, have not lost their technologies, and have even developed them in some ways, and continue to develop the latest models. Many have been able to find a balance between the production of defense and civilian products. In general, I do not believe that there have been any irreversible changes that would undermine the long-standing potential of our defense industry. Of course, the military-industrial complex enterprises are going through difficult times. The main problem, which unfortunately remains unresolved, is the volume of government orders on a long-term basis. It is simply impossible to work without a firm assurance that the product created by the hard work of the entire team will be in demand.

- Arkady Mikhailovich, since we are talking about the problems of defense enterprises, let's focus on another issue. It is no secret that defense industry enterprises, including those in Yekaterinburg, have lost a significant number of qualified personnel in recent years...

- There are indeed some losses. Many valuable personnel have left the defense factories. This applies not only to engineering and technical personnel, but also to highly qualified workers. Some have left for easier jobs, while others have been offered higher salaries. Currently, there is a situation where we sometimes have to refuse paid government contracts because we don't have the necessary personnel to fulfill them. This was the case at the Kalinin factory, although it was an isolated incident. The average age of those working in the defense sector is currently 54 years old. There are almost no middle-aged people in their 30s and 40s. However, I am confident that if serious decisions are made, this detrimental process can be stopped. However, I also understand that it will take a long time to restore the existing human and technological potential. We are already working on this issue through the city's employment service and the revival of vocational education. We are re-training individual vocational schools and technical colleges to provide their graduates with the most in-demand professions. Recently, we held a meeting with university rectors at the city administration. They are also concerned about the fact that graduates are not going into production. Today, we are jointly developing an entire program on how to attract

page 7

young specialists are sent to our factories.

- What other steps is the city administration taking to help the defense industry?

- Of course, we are aware that it is difficult for the municipality to solve all the problems facing the defense enterprises. However, we also understand that these problems need to be addressed collectively. We have already resolved the issues that could be done for our defense industry workers. The most important thing is that we have freed the enterprises from the burden of social services, such as housing that is often in poor condition, social and cultural facilities, outdoor recreation camps, and so on. I will provide just two examples. Before the factory housing was taken over by the municipality, the city was responsible for 7 million square meters of living space, but today it is responsible for 18 million square meters. We are not allocated additional funds for the repair and maintenance of this housing stock. We are looking for opportunities on our own, which gives our enterprises a free hand. We are also trying to support our defense industry companies through municipal orders, contributing to the conversion process. There are many examples of this. For example, the global project of producing the Spectrum tram at Uraltransmash. This modern tram will replace the Czechoslovak Skoda. Today, a number of defense industry enterprises are producing spare parts for Ikaruses using the latest technologies. At our request, the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant began producing medical equipment, such as incubators for newborns. Here again, at the request of the mayor's office, a new production facility was opened to produce traffic lights that have no analogues. Today, the plant has a large number of orders for these traffic lights from various cities across the country. Let's take a look at the companies that used to work in the rocket industry. Today, at our request, they produce excellent systems for measuring the consumption of hot water and electricity. In the absence of a stable government order, our assistance is crucial for the defense industry. First of all, it allows us to retain experienced specialists and the scientific potential of our enterprises. People are working and receiving salaries. On the other hand, the funds invested in these enterprises from the city budget are returned to us in the form of taxes. And the residents of the city receive high-quality civilian products produced in the conversion workshops. I believe that our contribution is also reflected in the fact that most of the defense enterprises in Yekaterinburg increased their production volumes last year.

- Arkady Mikhailovich, you recently participated in a meeting of mayors of Russia's largest cities with President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Was the issue of defense enterprises raised during this meeting?

- This particular issue was not raised. However, both I and other mayors have raised the issue of military personnel living in our cities with the President. It is no secret that the government's program to provide housing for this category of citizens is progressing very slowly. There are also shortcomings in the "State Housing Certificates" program. The financial support for the program is clearly insufficient and does not match the cost of housing in major cities. Although a 100-apartment building for military personnel who have received certificates was recently completed in Yekaterinburg with the help of a municipal bank, the problem remains serious. It places an additional burden on the administration.

- It is known that you take many steps to help the people in uniform who serve in the Yekaterinburg garrison...

- We have good business relations with the UrVO command and with the commanders of all units stationed here. Recently, we adopted a resolution to provide assistance in solving economic and household issues for the Simferopol unit. In particular, the administration has committed to making a significant contribution to the reconstruction of the memorial and to providing a dormitory for young officers who took part in the military operations in Chechnya. We have already allocated 11 rooms for this purpose in the dormitories of Yekaterinburg's enterprises, including the flour mill, the Vector plant, and others. 80 children whose parents are fighting in Chechnya will go to summer camps. Circus performers and leading theaters in the city are holding charity events for all military personnel. The list of such events can be continued.

- Yekaterinburg is one of the few cities in Russia where there have been almost no problems with conscription in the last five years...

- This is true. Although the regional budget has been financing military conscription since January 1997, we are not standing aside from this important national task. First of all, the city's district administrations provide both material and organizational support to the district military enlistment offices. There are dozens of military-patriotic associations in the city, including the "Winged Guard" and "Winged Guard of the North."

page 8

"Marines" and many others. These clubs help young people find the right direction in life and inspire them to serve their country. For several years now, we have been taking care of the nuclear-powered submarine "Yekaterinburg" of the Northern Fleet. We exchange delegations and provide financial support. I have established monthly scholarships of 250 rubles each for four Yekaterinburg residents who are currently serving on the submarine.

- Arkady Mikhailovich, it is clear that you have great respect for military service. Perhaps this is because you yourself served in the army?

- I really believe that any healthy man should go through the army. It polishes the character and personality. Naturally, the Armed Forces themselves should create conditions for the formation of a positive personality, rather than an embittered one... I served in the army as an officer after graduating from university, commanding a tank platoon in the city of Kazandzhik in Turkmenistan. Officer service is a different aspect than soldier service. On the one hand, it is simpler, but on the other hand, it is more challenging. For me, a yesterday's student, the army, I can say this quite unequivocally, as for a future leader, gave incomparably more than the institute and everything else combined. It was the best and, probably, timely school. The army experience turned out to be extremely useful. Very many qualities that I later used in life, I received it during the army service.

- Could you please specify what these qualities are?

- First of all, it's a sense of responsibility for the people and the equipment entrusted to you. It's the ability to achieve your goals. It's what's known as a sense of camaraderie, where you understand that you can't accomplish everything on your own without the help of your comrades. However, I would like to emphasize that the most important aspect is the sense of responsibility. After serving in the military, I found it easier to work with people because I had these qualities. I quickly gained momentum and was not afraid of leadership and administrative roles. In the workshop, which I was entrusted with two years after returning from the army, there were almost 500 people. Then the tasks became more complex and responsible.

- I've learned from the press that you've had both joyful and truly tragic moments during your military service. In fact, you didn't command a platoon for long before assuming the roles of company commander and battalion technical officer. These positions are not often entrusted to graduates of civilian universities. According to my colleagues, you even found yourself in an emergency situation, pulling a crew out of a burning tank while sustaining serious injuries.

- Yes, there was such a case. In general, there were many memorable moments. Training in the Karakum Desert, for example. When the temperature in the tank was 50 degrees Celsius. Mechanics and gunners, for some reason, were the specialists who lost consciousness when the vehicle was in "combat mode." And I had a hard time myself, especially when crossing "contaminated areas" in the tank, wearing a gas mask and protective clothing. These are, of course, serious loads on the body. They can only be endured in youth.

- Why didn't you stay in the army? There were such offers, weren't there? And as I understand it, your military career was going well,

- You know, I've always considered myself a civilian. After graduating from university, I had good prospects - I was invited to work at the Uralvagonzavod. I did my thesis there, on an interesting research topic related to vanadium steels. I also had the opportunity to work at the university and engage in scientific research. In other words, the life prospects that emerged during my fifth year of university made me think of military service as an inevitable and necessary, but still temporary, phase in my life. However, I would like to emphasize once again that I am grateful to the army for the education I received there, and I always remember my service with fondness.

- Arkady Mikhailovich, many of your fellow Yekaterinburg residents are serving in military units and ships today. What can you wish for those who wear epaulettes today?

- The most important thing is not to lose optimism. I have the impression that the most difficult times for the Russian army are already behind us. Many of our politicians and congressmen have been sobered by the armed conflicts that our soldiers and officers have been involved in in recent years. In my opinion, we have simply stopped on the edge of a precipice and are now taking a serious look at ourselves and realizing that a great nation, as we aspire to be, must have a strong military.

page 9