Railways of Soviet Russia as an object of law enforcement activity during the Civil War

Importance. The research of ways to ensure law and order at critical stages of history contributes to the development of the most effective mechanisms for organizing the activities of modern territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. At the same time, consideration of the functioning of special units and organizations for the protection of railway transport requires clarification of the boundaries of areas of responsibility. At railway transport facilities, such areas of responsibility run along railway lines. The purpose of the research is to determine the railway lines controlled by the Soviet government in the first years of its formation.

Research methods. The principle of historicism, along with a concrete historical approach, made it possible to analyze the positions of the leaders of the Soviet state in terms of organizing the activities of railway transport and ensuring its safety. Based on the principle of consistency, it was possible to identify elements of administrative-territorial division in the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic. The use of the cartographic method made it possible to relate the borders of the fronts of the Civil War, and the railway lines actually controlled by the Soviet government.

Results and Discussion. On the basis of archival materials, the boundaries of railway lines passing through the territories of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic controlled by the Soviet government in the first years of its formation were clarified. As a result of the research, the possible territorial boundaries of the activities of special units and services of the Soviet government to ensure law and order are determined.

Conclusion. As a result of the Civil War, the actual boundaries of the influence of the Soviet government passed along the front lines and were mobile. The obtained information about the railways controlled by the Soviet government makes it possible to identify railway lines as objects of law enforcement activity. The results of the research expand approaches to the study of the formation of Soviet nation-building in 1917–1922.

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