No, our army did not suddenly become stronger and more combat-ready. That doesn't happen. It's just that the military has finally gained the opportunity to carry out its tasks. Already in Dagestan, they managed to convince many people that, despite years of humiliation and vilification, the Russian army has retained its necessary reserves of strength and a high level of professionalism. Once again, the world was shown that Russia has always had brave warriors and skilled military leaders. Colonel General Viktor Kazantsev, Commander of the North Caucasus Military District, is one of the central figures in the military operations against extremist gangs and terrorists.

... General Kazantsev's heart was filled with anxious expectations for more than a month or two. They never left him, even despite the so-called peace agreements with Chechnya. Tension was in the air. Viktor Germanovich was no stranger to the Caucasus. Since his days as a lieutenant, he had become familiar with the region. He had developed a deep respect for the best qualities of the people who lived there. He had also learned to assess the situation thoroughly and comprehensively, analyzing facts and trends. The neighboring Chechen territory was dangerous and unpredictable.

... The key aspect of General Kazantsev's work was the creation of a cohesive and efficient team within the North Caucasus Military District, which worked harmoniously and effectively for many months, often without rest or holidays. The officers and generals spent their days and nights in the assigned units and formations of the district. The training grounds and tank drills were bustling with activity. But this required an incredible effort on the part of the commander - try to achieve timely supplies of fuel and lubricants and other resources in the required quantities in the current economic conditions. General Kazantsev knew how to do this. And the troops were learning how to fight. It was possible to conduct full-scale regimental exercises with crossing water obstacles and building pontoon bridges. The Daryal mountain training ground, which had been damaged during the Ossetian-Ingush conflict, was restored, and soldiers and officers trained day and night to master the art of fighting in the mountains. These skills proved invaluable in the future.

One of the authors of these lines happened to attend a meeting, perhaps the last one held under "peaceful" conditions. It was noteworthy how calmly Kazantsev listened to the report of General Troshchev, who had returned from the escalating conflict zone.

- Comrade Commander, two helicopters have been damaged at the landing site in Botlikha, and there are casualties and wounded...

However, this was the calmness of a will that had been trained over the years. No one but Viktor Germanovich himself could have known what was behind it. What was the commander thinking at that moment, or about whom? Perhaps it was about his son, an officer who had been severely injured during the Chechen campaign. While still recovering in the hospital, Captain Sergei Kazantsev had written a request to continue his service in the Armed Forces. It was necessary. It was necessary for the country and for them, the Kazantsev family.

The commander summed up Troshev's report:

- I have to fly to the area immediately. I'll take a small group of officers and generals with me. We'll assess the situation. The bandits must be eliminated. I'll be accompanied by a scout, an artilleryman, and an aviator.

He immediately ordered that the families of the deceased pilots be given maximum care and attention.

Viktor Germanovich wrote something in his notebook in a large, размашистый handwriting. The highlighted text was underlined with two thick lines: "Protect the people. Don't lose control. Help the families of the dead and wounded..."

Colonel-General Kazantsev doesn't give the impression of being a formidable commander. However, in any extreme situation, he is a bundle of willpower, determination, and personal courage. Kazantsev has been preparing himself for military service since he was a young boy. He donned the uniform of a Suvorov school cadet at the age of ten. He excelled in his studies, and his commanders held him up as an example. He always strived to live up to the name "Victor," which his parents had given him. This name means "victor" in Latin.

With his assertive personality, he was used to taking life by storm. Like any normal guy, he dreamed of becoming a well-rounded individual. Since his time at the Suvorov Military School, he has been known for his creative nature, his love of poetry, and his strong and determined personality.

His great-grandfather fought in the Caucasus. He came here as a young lieutenant. He served in Transcaucasia as a battalion commander. With his salty sweat dripping from his sun-baked uniform, he proved to his soldiers that the mountains do not accept the weak. Viktor Germanovich's military unit was known for its emphasis on physical training and martial arts. As a master of these combat sports, Kazantsev understood better than anyone else the importance of maintaining physical fitness in combat situations. And now he won't let the commander get away with it if his subordinates aren't in good physical condition.

Those who remember General Kazantsev from his service in Transcaucasia and Central Asia, his studies at the Frunze Military Academy and the General Staff Academy, and his service in Transbaikalia, as well as those who know him from his current service in the war-torn North Caucasus Military District, have many positive things to say about him. However, there is one thing they all agree on: Kazantsev does not favor idle talkers who fail to take care of their subordinates. However, many people have fond memories of his demanding nature, his knowledge of the situation, and his leadership skills during combat operations.

Viktor Germanovich is well known in Dagestan and Chechnya. They are confident that he came here to protect civilians from bandits. Russian soldiers were also welcome guests in the cities and villages. People in the regions formed militia and self-defense units to support them. The only question that interested everyone was when the bandits would be expelled. This question was also addressed to the commander. He consistently replied that they did not intend to delay, but they would not allow any unnecessary casualties among their troops.

More than once, during "field" conversations with media representatives, the commander will ask:

- Write more about our people, they are fighting heroically.

General Kazantsev spoke about his subordinates as if he were standing next to them. But as the classic said, everyone has their own place in war. Viktor Germanovich's place is clearly not empty.

"It's not often that I've seen such freedom from templates in making crucial decisions," said Lieutenant General Vladimir Bulgakov, who played a significant role in the successful operation in Dagestan. "The commander was focused on victory, rather than on how his actions would be perceived 'above.'" This decisive approach was shared by all of us.

When, after the defeat in the Botlikh district and the blockade of the extremists in the Kadarsky zone, the militants once again invaded Dagestan in the Novolaksky district, the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan appealed to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation with a request to reappoint Colonel-General Kazantsev as the head of the federal group. However, Viktor Kazantsev's respite was short-lived. Once again, he arrived on the long-suffering land and led the fight against the bandits. The day that the plane carrying Kazantsev landed at Makhachkala Airport must have been a dark day for the bandits. From that moment on, victory was clearly out of the question...

At one of the solemn evenings dedicated to the Day of the Young Officer, young North Caucasian lieutenants gathered. Listening to the district commander, the young officers listened respectfully to every word of the commander. But how surprised they were when Colonel-General Kazantsev suddenly began to read poetry. Your own, your own. About the Motherland, about friends, about family. And you didn't have to be too much of a connoisseur and connoisseur of poetry to understand that God had put an extraordinary gift in this man. The poet. Citizen. Soldier of the Fatherland...

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