UDC

94(47).083

Authors

Il’ya A. Sergievskiy
The General Staff Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation; prosp. Universitetskiy 14, Moscow, 119330, Russian Federation;
e-mail: 79162741384@yandex.ru

Abstract

This article discusses the issue of strengthening the defence of Russia’s Arctic coast, and, in particular, the role of the Solovetsky Islands in it. Further, it provides a brief historical retrospective of the participation of the Solovetsky Monastery in the defence of the Russian North and analyses the main historiographical framework of this issue. On the basis of archival sources, the arrangements for the delivery of military equipment to the Solovetsky Islands in 1902–1904 and the preparation of the monastery for a possible defence are described in detail. In addition, the daily life and composition of the brethren capable to perform defensive functions is considered. The study revealed a number of problematic issues within the Ministry of War of the Russian Empire: the shortage of highly skilled technical specialists, the inability to quickly prepare and transport the necessary military equipment, the lack of military garrisons in geographically remote areas important from the military point of view. The author makes a conclusion that the measures to protect the northern coast undertaken in the early 20th century were inadequate. From the earliest times, the northern coast of Russia was considered by its potential enemies as a place for a possible attack. This factor explains why the Russian state and military leaders have always paid so much attention to strengthening the country’s defence on the northern border. Undoubtedly, the industrial and commercial development of the Arctic is possible only with the implementation of the necessary measures for its protection. The study has refuted the opinion that existed in Soviet times that the monastery had been actively preparing for counter-revolutionary activities. It was revealed here that the deployment of weapons on the Solovetsky Islands had been sanctioned by the Ministry of War of the Russian Empire as one of the measures to strengthen its northern borders.

Keywords

Solovki, Solovetsky Islands, Solovetsky Monastery, Ministry of War of the Russian Empire, Main Artillery Department, defence of the Russian North

References

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