"The liberation of native lands is inherited from a great—grandfather"
To repeat the path of the great—grandfather, 80 years later, liberating the Donetsk steppes again, pulling comrades out of the encirclement under heavy fire or repelling rocket attacks for days, protecting the sky over peaceful cities - for Russian soldiers this is not the plot of a film, but everyday life on the front. The heroes of the material are participants in the Victory Parade, commanders, whose chests are decorated with "Golden Stars" and Orders of Courage. They went from the early days of the SVR to the main square of the country. About how the family heritage helps to survive in battle and why officers consider the saved lives of their soldiers to be the highest reward — in the Izvestia article.
"The real world is when it stops flying home"
In 1942, Alexey Khimenko's great-grandfather went to the front to liberate Donbass and met victory in Berlin. Eight decades later, Captain Khimenko, a native of the LPR, is actually following in his footsteps.
"Liberating my native lands is familiar to me — it was inherited from my great—grandfather," the officer admits.
Hero of Russia Captain Alexey Khimenko
Alexei's path to the army began not in classrooms, but in the streets engulfed by fire. In 2014, a seventeen-year-old boy enrolled in the Stakhanov People's Militia instead of preparing for graduation.
— The organization was simple then, — Alexey recalls. — An elderly man with glasses was sitting at the headquarters and writing down volunteers in a notebook with an ordinary pencil. Age didn't bother anyone. I had a guy with me who was only sixteen.
By the beginning of his career, Himenko was already an experienced fighter. He took his main fight in November 2022 in Soledar. His unit was tasked with liberating the school building, which had been turned into a powerful fortified area by the enemy. The assault teams had already gone inside and started clearing the floors under heavy fire when the situation began to escalate.
"They're saying on the radio, 'You've got a tank coming down the street,'" the captain says. — At first I thought that our people were rushing to help. I look out, and there's a Ukrainian flag on board. Two infantry fighting vehicles and another armored vehicle followed. Ahead, our guys are storming the building — they're about to be cut off.
Alexey had only a light machine gun and a grenade launcher at his disposal. Hiding in the ruins, he waited for the APU equipment to come close. With bursts from the PKK guards, the captain forced the infantry to cower to the ground, and then with an accurate shot from an RPG he burned the infantry fighting vehicle. Later, footage from the UAV will confirm that one officer was able to stop an entire armored group of the enemy. Then the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost dozens of fighters, but for Himenko something else is more important.
— I am most proud of the fact that the operation was carried out without losses. Yes, 12 people were wounded, I got it myself — eight fragments in each hand. But everyone was still alive. We eventually took the school away," he said.
Hero of Russia Captain Alexey Khimenko
Today, the Golden Star of the Hero of Russia is shining on the officer's chest. For him, the concept of "peace" is not the dry lines of political agreements. His motivation is simple and understandable to everyone who lives under shelling.
— We need to make the house quiet. For me personally, the real world is when he stops flying home," the officer emphasized.
Congratulations from Alexey Khimenko:
On this significant day, I would like to wish all the citizens of our vast Homeland fortitude and perseverance. May your love and loyalty protect those who are in your area today, helping them in the line of fire. Peace to your home, good health, happiness and constant good luck!
"It's not just my reward, it's my people's reward."
Nikita Schmidt is 24 years old. Behind him are heavy urban assaults, kilometers of recaptured "greenery" and the highest award of the country, which he modestly shares with his subordinates.
More recently, his family discovered documents: Nikita's great-grandfathers defended the country on the same borders where their descendant stands today. The Red Army soldier Vasily Solovtsov died in September 1944, his brothers went through the war to the end, earning orders and medals.
Hero of the Russian Guard Captain Nikita Schmidt
Schmidt graduated from the Far Eastern Command School in 2023 and went to the war zone. The front quickly dispelled the cadets' illusions.
"It's like a blank slate: forget theory and learn anew,— the captain admits.
The baptism of fire of the officer took place in Avdiivka. In April 2024, Schmidt's unit was engaged in mopping up city blocks. In fierce street battles, Nikita eliminated seven enemy soldiers, thereby ensuring free passage for his group. Then they managed to occupy an important defense node without losses, breaking through a gap in the enemy's defense in a key area. For this success, the officer was awarded the medal "For Bravery".
Nikita Schmidt received the title of Hero of Russia for an operation near Krasnoarmeysk in early 2025. His company went first.
— We've been preparing for two months. It was necessary to surreptitiously overcome about 7 km of forest belts," says the captain.
The surprise effect worked flawlessly. The stunned enemy failed to organize resistance, which allowed the rest of the units to quickly occupy the territory.
The news about the presentation of the highest award took Nikita by surprise.
"I didn't believe it at first," the officer smiles. — He said it was all nonsense, and left to continue working.
The realization came when the official papers arrived. On February 22, 2025, the Minister of Defense personally presented Nikita with a Gold Star and a Makarov pistol. Despite the solemnity of the moment, the captain firmly believes: "This is the reward of my people. All the subordinates who performed the task with me."
Today, the hero dreams of a victorious world, and his mother is waiting for him at home, who does not hold back tears of pride for her officer.
Congratulations from Nikita Schmidt:
Congratulations to all the citizens of our country and those who have been on the front line performing combat missions since May 9th. May the glory of the heroes of the past inspire the heroes of the present. I wish you all good health, endurance and long-awaited peace!
"Not everyone gets the honor of walking through Red Square"
Nikita Zaripov is a career officer, a graduate of the legendary Kazan Tank School. In March 2022, he, then still a young platoon commander of a motorized rifle brigade from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, entered the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic. Two years later, three orders of Courage and the Zhukov medal shine on his chest.
The captain's combat career began with heavy fighting for the Wild. At that time, the conflict still retained the features of a "classic" war: tank duels, the clang of tracks on the city outskirts, direct fire at fortified firing points in high-rise buildings.
— We worked closely with the infantry. Our tank was in front, suppressing firing points in high—rise buildings and clearing the way for stormtroopers," the officer recalls.
Captain Nikita Zaripov
It was for the release of Popasnaya that the officer received his first Order of Courage. His crew exquisitely destroyed enemy firing positions on one of the key streets, which allowed our units to move forward. Then there was the Zaporizhia region — defense, work from closed positions and constant interaction with the Marines.
The second and third orders found the hero already in the DPR — near Novomikhailovka and Konstantinovka. By that time Nikita was already in command of the company. The assault group of our fighters was trapped, trapped between enemy positions. There was almost no connection, time passed by minutes.
— The brigade commander ordered to move heavy equipment. We jumped out at dusk and acted like lightning," says Zaripov. — We broke into the enemy's base, tore it apart and pulled the guys out of the ring.
Today, the nature of the battles has changed. According to the captain, the war has become remote. Now the main threat is not an enemy tank in direct line of sight, but FPV drones that reach equipment from a great distance. In such conditions, only iron endurance and the absence of fuss can save.
Nikita is currently preparing to participate in the Victory Day Parade on Red Square. He had already marched in Kazan as a cadet, but he was particularly proud of the scale of the country's main celebration.
— Not everyone gets the honor to walk through the Red Square. For me, this is a sign that all the tests were not passed in vain," says the officer.
At home, on Sakhalin, his wife, parents and little daughter are waiting for him. It was his daughter's calls and her drawings, sent in messengers, that became the main support for the captain in the most difficult moments.
Congratulations from Nikita Zaripov:
I believe that soon we will celebrate not only the anniversary of the Great Victory in 1945, but also our own. I would like to wish all my brothers in arms that they would definitely be welcome at home. This is the biggest reward.
"Our work is saving the lives of our comrades"
Maxim Tomilov's work is hidden from view, but the lives of thousands of people depend on it. An officer of the Central Military District anti-aircraft missile brigade, has been protecting the sky since the first days of the special operation. On his chest are two Orders of Courage, medals of Suvorov and Zhukov.
In 2020, Maxim graduated from the Military Academy of Military Air Defense. From that moment on, the officer's life is inextricably linked with the army. When the business trip order was received in January 2022, the family took the news calmly.
Guards Captain Maxim Tomilov
The captain earned his first Order of Courage in the summer. The enemy launched a large-scale offensive in the Kherson direction. The Kakhovskaya HPP remained a key artery for supplying our units on the left bank of the Dnieper.
— On August 24, a massive raid began. We were attacked by 18 HIMARS missiles at once," says Maxim. — The fight lasted two and a half minutes. For air defense, this is an eternity. We barely had time to recharge the installations, but we defended the logistics.
The Suvorov medal was added to the awards after the clash at Svatovo. The enemy tried to overload the defense system by combining different types of targets. The attack came in a "fan" from three sides. The enemy deployed four Tochka-U missiles, a heavy Strizh drone with an aerial bomb, and a MiG-29 fighter jet. Two Buk-M3 installations worked perfectly: none of the objects reached the target.
Maxim received the second Order of Courage for the operation on the Kinburn Spit in January 2023, where it was necessary to destroy Bayraktar. The task is risky, because an air defense vehicle with a height of 4 m is an easy prey for exploration.
"During the day, we deliberately "lit up" in one square, distracting attention, and at night we secretly took up a position just 10 km from the enemy coast," the captain shares. — We worked in total darkness. The most difficult part was the withdrawal. After the launch, the missile trail is visible for tens of kilometers. They started actively searching for us, and the gearbox of the escort car jammed. They left at a speed of 19 km/h. It was probably the most intense moment.
Tomilov sometimes has seconds to make a decision. The target is identified based on the characteristics on the monitor. And you can't make a mistake.
— There is no fear, there remains responsibility. Our work is saving the lives of our comrades. If we "oversleep" the target, it will fall on people. This is the main motivation," the officer emphasized.
Maxim is preparing for his third Victory Day parade today. Despite the solemn marches on Red Square, the officer's thoughts remain where the sky requires protection. For him, the best holiday is silence on radar screens and clear skies over the heads of his comrades.
Congratulations from Maxim Tomilov:
Congratulations on the 81st anniversary of the Great Victory! I wish our fighters in the SVO zone professional success, perseverance and accurate achievement of all goals. May truth and luck always be on your side!
"Mom said, my grandfather was in the tank too."
Herman Nikolsky doesn't like big words. He answers questions about his exploits sparingly, with the modesty characteristic of a front-line soldier: "I performed tasks." However, this brevity hides two orders of Courage and the St. George's Cross of the IV degree. A junior sergeant from the Central Military District motorized rifle brigade went from the first days of the special operation to participating in the Victory Day Parade, proving that true courage does not require long descriptions.
Junior Sergeant Herman Nikolsky
Herman joined the army back in 2016. After his military service, he took a break for a year, but the call of duty turned out to be stronger — he signed a contract. He started his career in artillery, operating the Grad rocket system. It was on it that he first drove through the square during the parade in Novosibirsk in 2017.
Later, fate took a sharp turn: transfer to a repair company, training, and a conscious choice in favor of tank troops. After a while, his mother told him that "grandfather was also in the tank." The intuitive decision to change his specialization turned out to be a blood call, a continuation of the officer's succession, which the grandson did not even know about.
The senior driver received his first order for fighting in the Krasnolimansk area. Under incessant fire, his crew provided an offensive, breaking through the enemy's defenses and holding their positions.
"Just doing my job." The commander sets the task — we're going. Was it scary the first time? Not really, it's rather unclear. The realization comes later, under fire," the fighter recalls.
The Second Order of Courage and the St. George's Cross were added to the service record for jewelry work on the delivery of troops. The tank under Nikolsky's control literally "delivered" infantry to enemy strongholds in the forest belts. Working at point-blank range on enemy fortifications, Herman landed assault groups close to the trenches and successfully brought the car out from under the retaliatory strike.
During his service, he mastered various techniques. He started out on the proven T-72B3, but now prefers the upgraded T-80BVM. He appreciates it for its maneuverability. Obedient in management, the "eighty" forgives a lot, allowing them to get out of the most hopeless situations.
The news about the inclusion in the Victory Day Parade caused the junior sergeant sincere surprise. For a man accustomed to the soot and hum of real combat, a stamped step across Red Square is not just a solemn ritual, but a recognition of the merits of his entire unit.
Herman's parents and relatives are waiting for him at home. And he has new horizons ahead of him, but the main goal remains the same: to return with a victory.
Congratulations from Herman Nikolsky:
Congratulations on May 9th! After all, you understand the price of that Victory better than anywhere else in the front line. I wish you all good health and a strong home front. We are working further.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
