Pskov district, Cheryokha village
History reference
Cheryokha is a village in the Pskov district of the Pskov region of Russia. The administrative center of the Yadrovskaya volost of the Pskov region. It is located between the rivers Velikaya, Cheryokha and Mnoga, 100 meters south of the southern border of the city of Pskov, actually being its suburb. Located on the highway St. Petersburg - Pskov - Nevel M-20 and railway Pskov - Island. In the village there is the Cheryokha railway station, built around 1896 by the Pskov businessman Georg Frantsevich Vikengeiser and for some time was called the “Wickengeiser platform”, the name “Cheryokha platform” appeared on the map of 1915, on the maps of the 1940s - “Cheryokha station”. Cheryokha railway station built by Wickengeyser
In Cheryokha, a monument was erected to the 6th company, which died in March 2000 in Chechnya. One of the airborne assault regiments (104th Guards Airborne Regiment) of the 76th Guards Airborne Assault Division of the Russian Airborne Forces is located in Cheryokha. The first mention of the village of Cheryokha in the Pskov chronicles dates back to 1329.
Monument to the 6th company ("Dome") - a monument in the village of Cheryokha, Pskov region, designed to perpetuate the memory of the feat of 84 soldiers of the 6th parachute company of the 104th guards paratrooper regiment of the 76th guards airborne division .
It was built in accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia No. 1334 of July 21, 2000 "On perpetuating the memory of paratroopers." Opened August 1, 2002. Architect - Anatoly Tsarik.
In the midst of the Second Chechen campaign, February 29, 2000, in the Argun Gorge, at an altitude of 776, a clash occurred between large forces of Chechen separatists retreating from the encirclement and a detachment of Russian paratroopers, composed mainly of the 6th company of the 2nd battalion of the 104th airborne regiment of the 76th Pskov divisions.
In the course of a desperate battle, the defenders showed mass heroism, but the forces were too unequal. Almost all paratroopers were killed.
It was on the first day of spring 2000 that the paratroopers of the 6th company under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evtyukhin entered into an unequal battle with Khattab's militants near Ulus-Kert. They prevented the breakthrough of 2.5 thousand members of illegal gangs, destroying 700 of them. Of the 90 fighters, 84 died. For their courage, 22 servicemen were awarded the title of Hero of Russia, 69 soldiers and officers were awarded Orders of Courage, 63 of them posthumously.
Almost all officers died in the first minutes of the battle. Trained snipers worked on the positions of the paratroopers. Later it would become known that Khattab brought the best mercenaries to the Argun Gorge, among whom were many Arabs.
They walked without even firing. In the last attack - in full height. Later, strong drugs were found at the height, which were injected by militants twenty times superior to the paratroopers. But the sixth still fought.
The dramatic course and outcome of the battle caused a significant resonance in Russian society.
For this feat, 22 guardsmen (21 of them posthumously) were awarded the title of Hero of Russia, 69 soldiers and officers of the 6th company were awarded the Order of Courage (63 of them posthumously). At the end of July 2000, President Russian Federation V.V. Putin ordered to erect a monument to the heroically dead soldiers in Pskov.
The monument is located on a small area between the Pskov federal highway and the checkpoint of the 104th airborne assault regiment stationed in Cheryokha. The stone fence of the checkpoint and the military camp, imitating fortress walls with guard towers at the corners, limits the area from the north, east and south.
The western border is the aforementioned road. In the northern and southern extremities of the square, a pedestrian crossing is organized across the highway, controlled by a traffic light with digital indication.
The close proximity of the regional center is emphasized by the roadside welcome sign "Pskov", located at a distance of about a hundred meters to the north of the monument in the line of sight.
The author of the monument was the Pskov architect Anatoly Tsarik. As a basis, he took the main symbol of the paratroopers - a parachute. The snow-white metal dome rests with steel straps on a pedestal stylized as a tetrahedral mountain peak.
The pedestal in the center of each side is covered by trapezoidal slabs of red granite, which in plan form an image of the St. George Cross. Granite slabs contain a list dead soldiers out of 84 families.
Lists of dead soldiers
The western plate, facing the highway, is marked with the golden star of the Hero of Russia and stores the names of 21 paratroopers marked with this honorary award. On the remaining slabs, 63 military personnel awarded the Order of Courage are grouped, as evidenced by the award symbol placed at the top of each slab.
The inner side of the parachute dome is covered with images of the autographs of the dead paratroopers, and the dome is crowned with a stylistic star of the Hero of Russia, enclosed in a polar hole. The central axis of the monument is a composition of 84 funeral candles directed upwards.
IN dark time day each of the candles lights up a dim orange light. On the western side of the monument, at the foot of a bunch of candles, there is a shield with the inscription: "6 company of grateful Russia" .
GROZNY, March 2 — RIA Novosti. The grand opening of the monument erected in memory of 84 Pskov paratroopers from the legendary 6th company, who took an unequal battle with militants in the Argun Gorge in 2000, took place in Chechnya.
Shamanov honored the memory of the paratroopers who died in the Argun GorgeOn the Day of Remembrance of Paratroopers in Pskov, mourning events were held dedicated to the feat of 84 paratroopers who, at the cost of their lives, stopped the many times superior forces of terrorists.A granite monument weighing 10 tons and 2.6 meters high was erected at the site of the battle - in the village of Ulus-Kert. The ceremony was attended by the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, the governor of the Pskov region Andrei Turchak, the command of the Airborne Forces, relatives and friends of the dead paratroopers, members of the regional government.
Kadyrov expressed condolences to the families of the victims and noted that the officers and soldiers of the sixth company of the 104th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment became an example of valiant service to the Motherland. "Today we can proudly declare that we won the fight against international terrorism. And your children, fathers, brothers, together with the Chechen people, defended the integrity of our country. It is the duty of everyone - not only a soldier, but also a citizen - to defend the Motherland, to protect the people, Kadyrov said.
The governor of the Pskov region Andrey Turchak noted that the memorial sign was erected "in memory of all those who gave their lives in the fight against international terrorism without distinction into religions, creeds, age, ranks and ranks." He thanked the head of Chechnya for his help in erecting the monument. “In 2015, we agreed on this. And today we are present at this place. Thanks to everyone who helped realize the will of our parents, and once again I want to remember all the guys who died here,” Turchak said.
The battle between large forces of Chechen separatists retreating from the encirclement and a detachment of Russian paratroopers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Yevtyukhin took place on February 29, 2000 at an altitude of 776 near the village of Ulus-Kert in the Argun Gorge. During a desperate battle, 84 out of 90 paratroopers died, but they prevented a breakthrough of 2.5 thousand members of illegal gangs, destroying 700 of them. For their heroism, 22 servicemen were presented with the title of Hero of Russia, 68 fighters were awarded the Order of Courage. Their feat is captured in the book "Rota Goes to the Sky", films have been made based on this story, including "Storm Gates", as well as several TV series. Monuments to the 6th company were installed in Pskov, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Also in honor of 84 Pskov paratroopers in 2008, a street in Grozny was named.
A worship cross in honor of 84 paratroopers of the 6th company was opened on Thursday, March 2, in Chechnya. A memorial sign was erected in the village of Ulus-Kert, Shatoi region, where, on March 1, 2000, at an altitude of 776, paratroopers of the 76th Airborne Assault Division under the command of Guards Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evtyukhin died in an unequal battle with superior terrorists.
The opening ceremony of the memorial sign was attended by the Governor of the Pskov Region Andrey Turchak, the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, relatives of the dead military personnel, many of whom were at the site of the death of their loved ones for the first time, representatives and leadership of the Russian Airborne Forces, representatives of the Pskov Region and residents of Chechnya.
Opening the ceremony, the Head of the Chechen Republic, Hero of Russia Ramzan Kadyrov, stressed that defending the Fatherland is the duty of every patriot when the Motherland is in danger. “At such moments, true heroes show miracles of selflessness, courage and courage. An example of such a valiant service to Russia is the officers and soldiers of the 6th company of the 104th regiment of the 76th air assault division. The whole country knows the feat of the paratrooper heroes who fought against the militants outnumbered. They fulfilled their duty to the end by protecting our country, our people from terrorists. Their feat is forever inscribed in the history of Russia. Their names will forever remain in our memory,” said Ramzan Kadyrov.
The head of the Chechen Republic also noted that international terrorists chose the Chechen Republic as a platform for their crimes through no fault of Chechen people. And Chechnya itself suffered greatly during the war years: thousands of ordinary civilians died, the infrastructure was completely destroyed. But today Chechen Republic defeated terrorism, including thanks to the paratroopers of the 6th company. “Your children, fathers, brothers defended the integrity of our state,” said Ramzan Kadyrov.
The head of Chechnya expressed condolences to the families and friends of the fallen servicemen present at the ceremony, and thanked the leadership of the Pskov region for not leaving them without attention for 17 years. “We are glad that you all came here. This is for you and for us Holy place", - said Ramzan Kadyrov and expressed the hope that this would never happen again in the life of Russia and the Chechen people.
The governor of the Pskov region Andrey Turchak, in turn, recalled that a series of anniversaries, dedicated to the memory of servicemen who died in the line of duty, began on February 21. “And today we all gathered together at the place of memory of those who gave their lives in the fight against international terrorism, without dividing into religions, age, ranks and titles. Everlasting memory heroes, eternal glory to them,” said the Head of the region.
On behalf of the Administration of the Pskov Region and himself personally, on behalf of the parents of the paratroopers of the 6th company and residents of the city of Pskov, Andrei Turchak thanked Ramzan Kadyrov for being "a man of word and deed." “with you about the installation of a memorial sign in Chechnya, and today we have fulfilled this agreement. Thanks to everyone who helped realize the will of our parents,” the Governor added.
Deputy Commander Airborne troops on work with personnel, Major General Viktor Kupchishin called today's event significant in the history of Russia. He stressed that the commemorative sign would be a real reminder to the living and future generations of those who stood in the way of international terrorism in defense of the integrity of the country. The Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces also thanked Ramzan Kadyrov and Andrei Turchak for perpetuating the memory of the paratroopers of the 6th company.
Lidia Evtyukhina, mother of the battalion commander of the Hero of Russia Guards, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evtyukhin, spoke on behalf of the relatives and friends of the paratrooper heroes. She stressed that for all members of the families of the dead servicemen, this is a significant day, which they have been waiting for a very long time. “Today we are installing a memorial sign near the height where our children died. As a mother, I understand that in those years, many trials fell on the Chechen land. But we are proud that you are with Russia, and we are united in our desire to preserve peace and kindness,” she said.
After the speeches, the flag was removed from the memorial sign by Governor Andrey Turchak, Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov and Lidia Yevtyukhina. Then the participants of the ceremony honored the memory of the legendary 6th company with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the foot of the Poklonny Cross.
Weighing 10 tons, it is a cross 2.6 meters high, mounted on a foot stone. The sign is made of dark gray granite of the color of the Pskov stone. On the cross is engraved the inscription "Nika", which means "victory", and at the base - "In memory of the fallen." The author of the sculpture is the artist Alexander Stroilo.
Since there were people of different faiths among the dead paratroopers, the Worship Cross combines sacred signs that are universal for different religions: solar motifs, the image of the world tree, a symbol of life and death. The project of the commemorative sign was widely discussed with the involvement of the public, the military personnel of the 76th division and the parents of paratrooper heroes. It was they who approved the final sketch of the monument. The memorial was erected by the Russian Military Historical Society.
I'm wondering why this news is somehow not discussed today by anyone. Here some drooling emanated all sorts of nasty things and wrote about Chechnya, about Kadyrov, about the Caucasus.
I'll say this, I was born in the Caucasus, my ancestors lie in the land of the Caucasus, I once served in the Caucasus - but I'm Russian. And there is no Caucasian who will tell me that he loves the Caucasus more than me. I know the history of the Caucasus and it just so happened that it is inextricably linked with the history of Russia.
And the whole history of relations between the Russians and the peoples of the Caucasus has shown that we and the peoples of the Caucasus are strong, courageous and brave warriors and are ready to give our lives for honor and freedom. But when we are together, we become stronger many times over than alone.
And our enemies understand this and are trying with all their might to drive a wedge into the unity of the peoples of the Caucasus and the Russian people. That's why this news is hushed up.
The grand opening of the monument erected in memory of 84 Pskov paratroopers from the legendary 6th company, who took an unequal battle with militants in the Argun Gorge in 2000, took place in Chechnya.
A granite monument weighing 10 tons and 2.6 meters high was erected at the site of the battle - in the village of Ulus-Kert. The ceremony was attended by the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, the governor of the Pskov region Andrei Turchak, the command of the Airborne Forces, relatives and friends of the dead paratroopers, members of the regional government.
Kadyrov expressed condolences to the families of the victims and noted that the officers and soldiers of the sixth company of the 104th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment became an example of valiant service to the Motherland.
"Today we can proudly declare that we won the fight against international terrorism. And your children, fathers, brothers, together with the Chechen people, defended the integrity of our country. It is the duty of everyone - not only a soldier, but also a citizen - to defend the Motherland, to protect the people, Kadyrov said.
The governor of the Pskov region Andrey Turchak noted that the memorial sign was erected "in memory of all those who gave their lives in the fight against international terrorism without distinction into religions, creeds, age, ranks and ranks."
He thanked the head of Chechnya for his help in erecting the monument. "In 2015, we agreed on this. And today we are present at this place. Thanks to everyone who helped realize the will of our parents, and once again I want to remember all the guys who died here," Turchak said.
The battle between large forces of Chechen separatists retreating from the encirclement and a detachment of Russian paratroopers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Yevtyukhin took place on February 29, 2000 at an altitude of 776 near the village of Ulus-Kert in the Argun Gorge.
During a desperate battle, 84 out of 90 paratroopers died, but they prevented a breakthrough of 2.5 thousand members of illegal gangs, destroying 700 of them. For their heroism, 22 servicemen were presented with the title of Hero of Russia, 68 fighters were awarded the Order of Courage.
Their feat is captured in the book "Rota Goes to the Sky", films have been made based on this story, including "Storm Gates", as well as several TV series. Monuments to the 6th company were erected in Pskov, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Also in honor of 84 Pskov paratroopers in 2008, a street in Grozny was named.
Material source: mpsh.ru
Who would have thought that a monument to the fallen paratroopers in Chechnya would still be opened: let it be near Uluk-Kert, let it be in the forearm of Mount Istykort, and even specially build a road. The first persons of the two constituent entities of the country will speak weightily about the significance of the moment, the public will tightly clutch the flagpoles, and the parents will cry and look with their eyes for that nameless mountain where their loved ones have forever remained.
FROM THE AUTHOR: Probably, all the country's media reported on the move that on Thursday, March 2, in the Argun Gorge, in the village of Ulus-Kert, the authorities solemnly opened a monument to the Pskov paratroopers of the 6th company. The ceremony was attended by family members of the victims, the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, the governor of the Pskov region Andrey Turchak, delegations of the Airborne Forces, the Pskov division, the regional Assembly, the city of Pskov, as well as representatives of various movements.
I confirm that this was the case. But since the official speeches have already been voiced by everyone, and I happened to visit Chechnya that day, I will allow myself to tell about what was left behind the scenes.
thanks to parents
For this trip to Chechnya, one should honestly say thanks to the mother of the deceased paratrooper Mikhail Zagoraev and the regional governor Andrei Turchak.
So, Alexandra Alexandrovna Zagoraeva was the first to call me a month ago and asked: “Olezhka, you know, we are enrolled in Chechnya for the opening of a monument to the 6th company. But I'm already sick, and we have a lot of them. We can't take the road. Who better than you to go, you were the first to tell the truth about our sons. We trust you and can send a letter to the governor.”
Naturally, I did not know about the formation of a team to Chechnya, but, fortunately, mother's requests were not needed. On the same day, the governor briefly replied via SMS: “You are going!”.
Place for the cross
So, the ancient Russian Poklonny cross in a circle from time immemorial was installed on Pskov and Novgorod lands. It was made, as a rule, from limestone, the same one is carved from granite. Height - 2.6 meters, including the footstone. On the cross, as happened in the old days, the word "nika" (that is,
"victory of the spirit"), and at the base - "in memory of the fallen." Weight - about 9 tons. The author is the famous Pskov artist Alexander Stroylo.
Some colleagues hastily reported that the monument was installed at an altitude of 776.0. I hasten to clarify, in fact we are talking about the forearm the mountainsIstykort located between the village Ulus-Kert and the same nameless height where our paratroopers died. Just from this point to the place where our reconnaissance took the first battle, about 150 meters.
At least, this is how former contractors led by Sergey Yeshin, who were part of the delegation, explained to me and even showed me a map (see notation). By the way, I met them in Chechnya in 1999. In front of my eyes, mothers often approached the children and asked: where is the same cherished height, indicate at least the direction? And the guys showed...
Why is the monument located in this place and not in its own place? No one has asked this question out loud.
But you don't need to have a brain to understand that putting up a hefty Orthodox cross at a height of 776.0 is unrealistic, both because of the lack of a road and because of security. The war ended relatively recently, thousands of dead on both sides - how many people, so many opinions. What kind of preservation of the monument can we talk about, even if in Grozny the signs on the street of 84 Pskov paratroopers are sometimes desecrated (all of them are immediately put in order - ed.).
If anyone does not know, this is already the 3rd memorial sign in Chechnya for our paratroopers. The first was on the plain, in one of the base camps Russian army. After the end of the war, the memorial pedestal was taken deep into Russia. So, at least, it was told to journalists. Another sign - an Orthodox cross - in the first years after the death of the company, was independently installed at an altitude of 776.0 by one of the parents of the paratroopers. But this sign did not last long and was destroyed in the bud by unknown people.
Even now, you cannot put a soldier or a policeman on every mountain, which means that the current decision is the only right one. At least, under the existing vertical of power in Chechnya, the elders and local residents of Ulus-Kert, one must think, will be responsible for the new rural monument (which is 300-400 meters from the village).
Without any doubt, tourists and delegations will come here sooner or later. Here is a new place of power for you. We saw the highlanders themselves when we drove along the street. All of them were friendly and welcoming. Judging by the photographs, no one was holding a “fig in his pocket” ...
Only facts:
During the rally, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, noted that ... " International terrorists have chosen the Chechen Republic as a platform for their crimes through no fault of the Chechen people. And Chechnya itself suffered greatly during the war: thousands of ordinary civilians died. The infrastructure was completely destroyed. But today the Chechen Republic has defeated terrorism, thanks in part to the paratroopers of the 6th company. Your children, fathers, brothers defended the integrity of our state". To the point said.
A few words about Chechnya
Yes, this was actually my 3rd trip to Chechnya. The first was in April 1997, when the speaker of our regional Assembly, Yuri Shmatov, and the writer Yuri Shchekochikhin, were dragging three Russian soldiers out of captivity. The second time I happened to be on the banks of the Terek at the end of October 1999. Then, by no means through Russia's fault, the 2nd Chechen war began.
I remember that the impression of what I saw was terrible: broken houses, Minutka square ironed with hail, tree trunks burned by Grads, mined fields and our padded armored personnel carriers.
The authorities were different, and the people were just as friendly, they even invited me over for tea. Then, in March 2000, it happened, for the first time I published in Novosti Pskov information about the death in the Argun Gorge not of individual Pskov paratroopers, but of an entire company. Willingly or involuntarily, but the path to Chechnya was ordered for 17 years.
... And here is the third time. I also fly by plane, only from Ostrov - and immediately to Grozny. I am flying with relatives of the 6th company, the governor, the speaker of the regional Assembly, the head of the city of Pskov, deputies ... Together with 120 people accompanying us - consider it a reinforced sixth company. Symbolically.
Distant guests were met really at the highest level - Ramzan Kadyrov's deputies. Nearby were foreign cars and 8 minibuses. At high speed, we rushed to Ulus-Kert - this is 45 kilometers from Grozny. It immediately became clear that the main thing for the hosts was our safety. The road was blocked, at all the forks and intersections there were either two or three police officers, or bearded special forces in perfectly fitted uniforms. Law enforcement officers everywhere saluted.
What struck me from the first minute: in Grozny and in other settlements signs on shops and public buildings - exclusively in Russian. And there is construction everywhere. Thus, Minutka Square has changed beyond recognition and sprouted with a new shopping mall"Minute". Even the trees are whitewashed not only along the streets, but also outside the city. Feeling like I'm in Soviet Union somewhere in the Sochi region or in Turkey 5 years ago (if we talk about the construction boom).
Women peacefully trade in tents, all in both national and secular attire. (although the latter are rather guests). Communicated with us everywhere in Russian, and respectfully, and it was from the heart. Huge posters were also surprising - congratulating women on March 8 or signs on minibuses from the “Ministry of Transport of the Republic”, calling for complaints by a specific phone about this driver if he violates traffic rules.
The architecture was also a pleasant surprise, we often came across buildings unusual shape(in the form of a ball, sphere). To the question "Is this a library?", the answer was: "No, a restaurant."
As for prices, according to local residents, they are the same as ours. And in Lately bite very hard: “With one hand, the authorities add the same pension, with the other it takes away”. As for traffic cops, they, like ours, are strict, they love fines, and some ... money.
But what Chechens are proud of is their families. When it comes to the number, as we were told, on average, Chechen families have from 10 to 15 children. So draw your own conclusions!
About symbolism: earth and bikers
Knowing that the Pokloniye Cross would not be erected at a height of 776.0, I could not help but combine these new and old shrines in absentia.
So, the day before, in Cheryokha, together with Sergei Elizarov, he took land from Putin's memorial stone to the 6th company. At the same time, paratroopers from the new 6th company served there quite “accidentally”. Mystic, and only. In addition, he took with him some land from a height of 776.0, since last year the governor brought it from Chechnya and handed it over to the editors during his hotline in Courier.
He connected this land and poured it out in front of his parents behind the Poklonny Cross. Moreover, he was understood by mothers from a half-word. Moreover, they even insisted on capturing this moment with a camera.
I decided this for myself: if something happens, the earth will always remain here and cleanse itself - with rain, snow, sun or wind. So the symbolic particles of the souls of the dead are already in one place. Moreover, the rector of our military church of Alexander Nevsky Father Oleg Teor sprinkled this place and the monument with holy water, consecrating the Cross.
What else pleased from the "accidents"? The fact that Dagestan, St. Petersburg and Pskov bikers came here. And it was their conscious step. One of the bikers, Yuri Burlin from Pskov, came up to me, reminding me that last year we walked 40 miles around Pskov together with the Peace March. Know, not in vain ...
The guys also traveled here with adventures, one of the cars broke down, they had to look for a new one in an unfamiliar republic. Nothing, at the last moment, but in time for the opening. Everywhere bikers met with support.
Seeing off
They also saw us off in aerobatics: 120 guests from Pskov were invited to a gala dinner (without alcohol!) at the luxurious five-star hotel Grozny City, which is located in the famous skyscrapers.
The young Chechens who happened to be nearby listened attentively to the stories about the war and the hostages, asked clarifying questions and, it seems, sincerely regretted aloud that we were leaving so quickly. They offered to come in the summer, be sure to visit their new shrines, places of rest and admire the city at night.
So far, this is a utopia for us, but who knows what lies ahead... According to the interlocutors, the flow of tourists on weekends in Grozny increases many times over.
Our Diaspora
At ten o'clock in the evening on March 2, I was already at home - tired, but satisfied. At work, the next day, the head of the Chechen diaspora, the chairman of the Pskov Center for Chechen Culture "BART", Said DUKAEV, dropped in on me.
Last autumn, he was among the first who responded to our call for the preservation of the remains of Muslim soldiers buried at the end of the 19th century in the Porkhov region, in one of the quarries washed out by bad weather ...
During the conversation, I felt embarrassed that there was no place for at least one representative of the diaspora in the Pskov delegation. After all, it would be easier for us to navigate in Grozny and its environs ... Said Akhmadovich did not complain, but was sincerely glad for our trip, for the erected monument and told about the first responses.
It turns out that almost a stream of calls fell upon him. The people of Pskov (I will clarify, Russians by nationality) sincerely thanked the Chechen diaspora for the strong-willed decision of the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, to install the Poklonny Cross, for the fact that this is an act of a strong man and costs so much - at least erases the former misunderstanding and the brink of war.
Word of parents
It was hard to disagree with this. After all, even yesterday I myself, it seemed, was going to a Caucasian republic hostile to us, but in fact I saw and experienced the exact opposite. May God keep it that way...
We flew back to Ostrov via Moscow, so that it would be easier for the relatives of the paratroopers of the 6th company to get home. Suddenly, with joy for myself, I found out that among us were the parents of promezhitsky special forces who died in Chechnya on February 21, 2000.
It turns out that we are becoming wiser before our eyes, if for the first time we were able to unite Chechen mothers fallen heroes. For me they are all equal. Peace to you, my dear, health and long life ...
At home, I also realized that I forgot to take with me a copy of the hand-made icon-picture, in which our heroes are depicted against the sky with Nicholas II. This image has been around for ten years. I remember that I re-shot it along with a portrait of paratrooper Alyosha Nishchenko in the Bezhanitsky historical and cultural center (museum) of the Philosophers in the village of Red Sun. The current step towards the installation of the Pokloniye Cross in Chechnya, in my opinion, just brings the idea of the sanctity of our heavenly company closer to everyone. But I won't get ahead of myself...
Yes, on the way back, fortunately I was on the plane nearby, I could not help but ask the mother of the company commander Mark Evtyukhin, Lidia Ivanovna Evtyukhina, who spoke heartily at the rally on behalf of all parents. My question was: “I wonder if you know how much this wonderful Pokloniye Cross costs?”. I honestly didn't know.
To these words of mine, the wise woman answered briefly, but succinctly: “I don’t know. For me and for all the parents, the main thing is that he is now here (in Chechnya)!” But it's better not to answer! So forgive us, 6th company, for doing this belatedly ...
Oleg KONSTANTINOV,
Pskov-Island-Grozny-Ulus-Kert
