The veteran shared his memories of the "iron grandmother" Koltakova.

Maria Koltakova, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War (WWII), a participant in the Battle of Kursk, known as the "iron grandmother", actively collaborated with public organizations of the Belgorod region on issues of military-patriotic education and the transmission of traditions of the army and navy. On September 2, Vladimir Nosov, Chairman of the Board of the Belgorod Regional Branch of the Russian Peace Foundation International Public Foundation, told Izvestia about her active work with the younger generation.

Koltakova's funeral service was held in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Belgorod. Colleagues and relatives came to honor the memory of the veteran who carried hundreds of wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

"She was an honorary member of the board, and we held many events together. We traveled through the districts, we visited schools, we visited educational institutions where we conducted lessons of courage and showed how modern youth should live in order to leave a memory on this earth," Nosov said.

According to retired Captain Anatoly Burik, a Navy veteran, she was actually an "iron grandmother." Besides, Koltakova loved life and people.

Burik also believes that she will be remembered as a person with great willpower, courage and a love of life. The "Iron Grandmother" was duly honored with government awards.

"Her work will live forever. We will do everything possible to perpetuate her memory and pass on her good deeds to our youth from generation to generation," the veteran emphasized.

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16-time record holder of the Russian Book of Records Koltakova died at the age of 104 on August 31. She became the oldest participant in the air pistol shooting tournament and the jeep trial competition. The Iron Grandmother also participated in extreme races in Sochi, flew an L-29 jet in North Ossetia, operated a T-72 tank in Belgorod, and flew an L-13 Blahnik glider in the Belgorod Region as part of the crew. The WWII veteran celebrated her 100th birthday with another record - she stood on nails for 100 seconds.

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