Starship Trooper: how an Airborne tankman became a Hero of Russia at the age of 20
The tank crew of the Airborne Troops, in which Timofey Matveev served, destroyed 14 tanks and many other equipment in the Kherson area. For these fights, he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia at the age of 20. And then he received two orders of Courage. Timofey's story refutes the fears that some had at the beginning of the special military operation — that the younger generation of Russians would not survive this ordeal. Today, the soldier is studying at the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, preparing to become an officer in special forces units.
From military service to free
Timofey Matveev was born in the early 2000s in the Far East. He grew up as an ordinary boy, as he himself notes, he was not particularly different from his peers and did not stand out. After school, he entered the Birobidzhan Polytechnic College, from which he successfully graduated in 2021.
— After studying, it's time to repay the debt to the Motherland. He went into military service. First, I joined a tank training regiment near Khabarovsk, and then, when the Pskov paratroopers came to recruit a separate tank battalion, I asked to join them," says Timofey.
When his military service was coming to an end, he signed a contract.
— To be honest, I've always wanted to serve under contract. At that time, I imagined that perhaps this was the only way for me to break into the world. Therefore, the decision was ripe for more than one moment. However, I could not even imagine at the time that a special military operation would begin in just a couple of weeks. Back then, no one forced us to go to their place. They just asked: "Whoever goes, get out of line." I made a move," Timofey recalls.
So on March 8, 2022, as part of a tank crew, he boarded a railway train and left for the area of a special military operation.
— We didn't go in right away. We stood on the border of Ukraine for some time. After a certain period, we moved towards Kiev," the paratrooper recalls.
A set of exploits
At the end of March, his unit came under the first attack.
— I was just on night duty. My shift ended around 23:59. And at that time, the arrivals began. I didn't immediately understand what was coming or if it was for us at all, since the shells weren't very close. The second wave of blows was already closer, right with a bang. Then my self-preservation instinct kicked in, and I climbed into the tank. And that's it, and we've already started to get a good flight. They bombed until five in the morning. These were enemy Grads," Timofey recalls, specifying that his battalion did not suffer serious damage to equipment and personnel losses.
The unit had to withdraw from the positions identified by the enemy.
— We have moved forward, towards Kiev. Then they took different positions. There were also local skirmishes with the enemy. This situation developed until about the end of April. Then we started waiting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to attack," says Matveev.
He notices that it was at this time that the enemy began using FPV drones.
— One day, a drone flew into the hull of our tank. There was no critical damage, but the wiring started smoking. We decided to drive to a safe place and put out the fire there," he clarifies.
A few days later, he had his first serious fight, as he himself notes.
— Then we stood in a tank ambush for six to eight hours for several days, waiting for passing enemy vehicles. We were very well camouflaged, and the enemy did not expect to meet us in this place at all. In one area, we even dismantled a ruined building and threw boards and slate onto a tank, disguised as a house. And so they waited for the approaching enemy equipment. When the enemy came at us with two tanks, a Kozak armored vehicle and infantry, we destroyed them all," Timofey recalls.
According to him, later the crew had to participate in similar combat episodes in this area more than once. However, things were moving towards the summer of 2023, when the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched their unsuccessful counteroffensive.
— We were transferred to the Kherson direction. There we stood on the defensive, almost daily restraining the enemy's attacks. They attacked, as a rule, using tanks and other equipment. Well, and the infantry, of course. In general, by about August 2023, we had destroyed about 14 APU tanks, plus I don't remember how many lightly armored vehicles and manpower," Matveev recalls.
Later, the entire crew was presented with the title of Hero of Russia. On December 30, 2023, Vladimir Putin presented state awards to military personnel in Rostov-on-Don.
— Emotions, of course, were mixed. That is, I didn't immediately realize how big an event had happened in my life. Then, when I went home on vacation, it gradually began to dawn on me that this is the highest award a military man can earn, and that I received it from the hands of the Supreme Commander—in-Chief," Timofey says, clarifying that his military career did not end there.
After that, he continued his service and was awarded two Orders of Courage for his participation in the battles in the Zaporozhye area.
The decision to be an officer and the wedding
The young man had already won the Order of Courage as part of another crew.
— When I returned to my homeland, I was appointed to the position of tank commander. Accordingly, other people have already fought with me. I had two guys who were 26 years old. And I was 20 then. We also had a good time with them," Timofey continues.
According to the now-paratrooper cadet, enrolling in the renowned Airborne school was his personal decision.
— At some point, I thought that I had reached a certain level in the tank business and had nowhere to go. I decided to change my profession. I chose to serve in the Airborne Forces," explains Matveev.
He studies at the Special Forces faculty.
— Everything is interesting to me here. The high intensity of classes and specific training, of course, requires serious dedication and attention. But I understand that I need all this myself first of all. Therefore, I try to treat my studies with maximum diligence," Timofey emphasizes.
Almost simultaneously with his admission to college, another important event occurred in his life.
— After I enrolled, I got married. I met my wife back in Pskov. She was waiting for me with HER. We have feelings that have been tested by time and life events. I am very glad that everything turned out this way," Timofey Matveev summed up.
Timofey Matveev is currently continuing his studies and preparing to serve in a new capacity, as an officer.
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