Armavir is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the left bank of the Kuban River. Population: 188,832 (2010 Census); 193,964 (2002 Census); 160,983 (1989 Census); 144,000 (1969). Armavir was formerly the second-largest industrial center of Krasnodar Krai, after Krasnodar.
It was founded in 1839 by Cherkesogai Armenians as Armyansky aul (ÐрмÑÌнÑкий ауÌл). It happened due to the strengthening of Islamic radicalism in mountain areas originally inhabited by the Cherkesogai, which motivated Christian Armenians to leave those settlements. It was renamed in 1848 in honor of the ancient capital of Armenia and was granted town status on January 18, 1914. During the Russian Civil War of 1918–1920, a number of brutal battles took place near the city. The Taman army’s military campaign ended in Armavir in 1918. The Soviet authority was established in Armavir in March 1920. During World War II, the city was occupied by the German Army. It was liberated by the Red Army in January 1943.
Armavir Radar Station is an early warning radar station near Armavir in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is a key part of the Russian early warning system against missile attack and is run by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. There are two radars here – one faces south west and one south east. They provide radar coverage of the Middle East.
The station is located on the former Baronovsky Airfield (Russian: аÑродром БароновÑкий) 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south west of the village of Glubokiy and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south west of Armavir.
The station was described as starting to operate at the end of 2006 and then entering “experimental combat mode” in 2008. On the day in 2009 that Russia lost coverage from radars in Ukraine it was announced that it had “begun operations”. In May 2012 it was announced that it would go on combat duty before the end of 2012. In December 2012 it was announced it will be in the first quarter of 2013.
It was developed by NIIDAR and was built by Spetsstroy . Equipment installation was performed by Spetstehmontazh .
Municipality of Armavir is located in the south- eastern part of the Krasnodar region , on the left , in part, on the right bank of the Kuban River at the confluence of its left tributary – river Urup . The municipality borders the land and the Assumption Novokubansky areas of the province .
At the beginning of the XIX century Mountain Christian Armenians began to move to the borders of Russia . The main reason for this shift was to zakubanskih Armenians maintain their own national identity and the Christian religion, as well as a desire to establish a strong trade ties with the Russian Empire . For its part, Russia has been interested in the settlement of the plains of the Kuban. With the mediation of the Mountain Armenians military authorities hoped to attract people Zakubanie to peaceful trade and fisheries. Mass transition Circassian Guai to the Russian border to lead the team Kuban line , Major General Baron von Sass Hristoforovich Gregory , who played a major role in the founding of Armavir . April 21 ( May 3 , New Style) in 1839 on the left bank of the Kuban River , the fortress of rugged Trench , at the command of Maj. Gen. G.H.Zassa Venerovskim undercover soldiers Tenghinka Infantry Mountain Armenians were relocated , which were the first settlers unnamed Armenian village.
In 1848, at the initiative of the Armenian priest in Stavropol Petros Patkanyan settlement of Armenians was called ” Armavir” , in memory of the capital of the ancient Armenian kingdom in bringing prosperity in the second half of the first millennium BC. In the same year granted permission from the governor of the Caucasus rename Armenian village in the Armavir .
In 1861, Armavir was completed Armenian Gregorian Church , was opened in 1865, the first Russian church school .
New big push in the further development of village was the fact that in 1875 passed through the Armavir Vladikavkaz Railway, resulting in Armavir began to develop oil pressing business, started working mechanical repair workshops farm implements .
After numerous complaints to various government departments Armavir aul in 1876 became the village. The number of inhabitants was 3715 people. Gradually the village of Armavir became a major commercial and industrial center of the North Caucasus. By 1896, in the village there were four churches, 17 public and 2,389 private houses , 235 shops , two tobacco factories , cotton mill, three brickyards , lime plant , 3 and 4 butter- soap factory. Developed greatly trade .
In 1904 , construction began on the first Armavir power plant, which was built in 1905.
In 1908, the joint-stock company ” Armavir- Tuapse railroad .” The purpose of the society is the United industrialized Armavir village and the surrounding villages to the Black Sea coast. The length of the Armavir- Tuapse railroad with a branch at Maikop was 252 miles. Constant movement on Armavir- Tuapse railroad was opened February 15, 1915 .
March 23, 1914 , old style village of Armavir on the orders of Emperor Nicholas II was transformed into the city of Armavir.
In the city, survived 13 archeological sites , 262 monuments of history and culture.
The town is crossed chain of mounds of the Early and Middle Bronze Age , there are two settlements of the early Iron Age.
In the city there are 189 buildings , monuments of architecture. Including the building of Armenian Apostolic Church “St. – Astvatsatsin ” ( Assumption of the Blessed Virgin) ( start of construction – 1843 , the end date ( sanctification ) 08.25.1861 years). On the central square is a monument to Vladimir Lenin , established in 1926 (sculptor VVKozlov ) . From the same mold was then cast and a monument at the Smolny Palace in St. Petersburg.
In the cinema , ” Mars “, which I passed Congress of Soviets of the Kuban region , were Kuprin A., Vladimir Mayakovsky 100 years of the city has one of the oldest in the North Caucasus, drama and comedy Lunacharsky .
The city preserved buildings of the Tatar mosque , a Jewish house of worship .
Pride armavirtsev – art gallery “Thinking about mothers ‘ away in the walls of the central children’s library. The gallery is a unique collection of paintings, graphic works and sculptural forms on the subject of motherhood. Collector and donor of this collection was S.A.Dangulov (1912-1990) – Soviet writer , born in Armavir.
Status of Armavir received in 1914 and is a city of regional subordination. Status of the municipality was in 1996. Municipality of Armavir , Krasnodar Territory law from April 1, 2004 â„– 684 -CP “On establishing the boundaries of the municipality and city of Armavir empowering its status of a city district” have the status of city district.
The city has its own symbols – the flag and coat of arms , which are approved by the decisions of Armavir City Council on October 20, 2005 number 102 , 103, and entered into the State Register of the Russian heraldic number under the number 2046 , 2047 .
“Radar new generation” Voronezh-DM “system of missile warning, created by the technology of high operational readiness in the town of Armavir, Krasnodar region, reached its final stage of preparation for intercession on alert” – Zolotukhin said.
According to him, the state tests radar is planned before the end of the year, according to their results, the state commission decides whether the station is ready to be put into service warning system.
In early September, Colonel-General Oleg Ostapenko, the then commander of the East Kazakhstan, reported that the radar went on duty in Armavir in the first quarter of 2013.
Russia has a large early warning radar station, a Daryal radar, in Gabala in Azerbaijan. It provides coverage of the Middle East, Iran and Iraq. It was built during the Soviet Union and ended up in the now independent state of Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union collapsed. Russia leases the station from Azerbaijan and the lease is due to expire at the end of 2012. Public negotiations on the future of the station are concerned with geopolitical issues and the increase in annual rent from $7 million to $300 million USD.
Data from Armavir, together with Gabala was offered to the United States as part of the negotiations over Russian opposition to US missile defence in Europe. Armavir is close to Iran, like Gabala, and also provides intelligence on missile activity in the Middle East.
Armavir cannot completely counter the loss of Gabala. Gabala is further south and has a longer range. Armavir may also be affected by the Caucasus Mountains.
In 2007 Vladimir Popovkin, then commander of the Russian Space Forces, said that Gabala, together with Balkhash in Kazakhstan and the two stations in Ukraine, cannot be relied upon as Russia cannot be sure it will have access to them in periods of international tension and war.
On 3rd September 2013 Armavir detected two US/Israeli ballistic test launches in the Mediterranean towards Syria.
The all-seeing eye Russia
In NC N3, 2009 , we reported that near Armavir has taken over pilot alert one of the two radars ( radar) high operational readiness ( CEV ) ” Voronezh- DM” ( UHF ) . We managed to visit this site a missile defense system (NMD ) and talk to her supervisor and chief designer .
ABM object composed of two stations VZG ” Voronezh DM” height of about 30 m ( 10- storey building) and their common Complex -fabricated modules , was founded in May 2006 in the Krasnodar region , south- west of Armavir, on a former airfield the Air Force.
In the same year was built the first phase of construction of the station for the control of the south -west , has more than one container modules with the equipment at the end of the year ( 15 December 2006 ) obtained the first images of space objects.
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Stations VZG of ” Voronezh DM” developed at the Research Institute of distant radio ( NIIDAR ) led S.D.Saprykina , manufactured Corporation of Concern “RTI Systems” . Construction work is “Spetsstroy ” equipment installation – ” Spetstehmontazh .”
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Now , in March 2009 , the station , which controls the south- west direction , is completely ready . It completed all construction works .
The complex is fully prepared and pre-fabricated modules , consisting of three parts: the command module , communications and data transmission The training module and the maintenance and logistics . It was here, in the command module , the command post located radar south -west . Hence, too, will be carried out and the radar control the south , the body of which is also elevated .
Not far from the checkpoint built a fire department for two cars – in case of fire of both hardware and grasslands around. Although all modules have a radar freon fire extinguishing system , the presence of fire brigade in the vicinity seems out of place .
The whole area of both stations together with a set of modules and the control room surrounded by several rows of barbed wire to the alarm system. Everywhere – the order , bobbed , despite the end of March , lawn , asphalt and tile walkways.
Russian media reported that the radar in Armavir began operations as the radars in Mukachevo and Sevastopol in Ukraine stopped supplying their data to the Russian early-warning system. Russia terminated the agreement with Ukraine on the use of information from these radars in February 2008, complaining that Ukraine does not operate the radars properly.
It is not clear if the radar in Armavir (or, rather, one of the two antennas being built there) has actually reached operational status. So far it has been operating in an experimental mode. Armavir has a humid subtropical climate.