Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (448)
Mar 21, 2026
A former Soviet Interior Troops officer recalls rapid mobilization, officer radio and field training in Lithuania, and running communications from Riga. He describes guarding strategic sites, bunker command centers, police battalions patrolling cities, encrypted radiograms delivered to the KGB, and readiness for unrest in the Baltics and Poland.
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Volunteering Led To Rapid Officer Placement
- Ihor volunteered for two years service and was fast-tracked into officer training in Lithuania rather than conscript ranks.
- He left Lviv within days, travelled to Šiauliai near Vilnius, and received uniforms and officer papers almost immediately.
Hands-On Radio Training Emphasized Officer Competence
- Ihor trained on radio communications including shortwave transmitters, antenna setup and relay stations capable of interfacing with telephone networks.
- Training emphasized officers doing tasks themselves, from shooting at ranges to erecting antennas and operating encrypted equipment.
Interior Troops Handled Internal Security And Key Sites
- Troops of the Ministry of Interior had broad internal security roles separate from the regular army under the Ministry of Defence.
- They guarded strategic sites like nuclear plants, courts and bridges and also handled anti-terrorism and public disorder across Soviet territory.