This photo made me write this article:
This is a famous photo. Georgia, 08.08.08
After the defeat of the Georgian army, its retreating units regrouped and decided to return to Gori, but stumbled upon a Russian checkpoint. The photograph shows how a soldier of the Russian Armed Forces, with a machine gun at the ready, is confronting the motorized infantry of the Georgian Armed Forces; the officers of the column threatened the machine gunner to move out of the way and let them through, to which they heard in response “Iditenah..yb...t.”
Then the media who were moving with the convoy tried to talk to the machine gunner, and received the same answer.
As a result, the column turned around and moved back to where it had come from.
What was this soldier thinking? How did he feel at that moment? Wasn't he scared? Surely it was. Or he didn’t dream of having children and grandchildren, and living a long and happy life? Of course I did. Can you imagine a NATO soldier standing like this, with a machine gun in front of an enemy column? I don't. They value their lives too much. Then what's wrong with us? Why are we Russians different? And why do foreigners consider us crazy and unpredictable people?
Pictures from other places our soldiers had visited instantly flashed before my eyes.
- Here is the Slatina airport, the famous rush of our paratroopers to Pristina to help our Serb brothers. 200 Russian paratroopers against NATO soldiers. How did they feel standing face to face with superior enemy forces? I'm sure it's the same as our soldier in Georgia. Donbass, Novorossiya. 2014 Alexander Scriabin died as a hero, throwing himself under a tank with grenades. Alexander was 54 years old, he worked at the Talovskaya mine as a mining assembler. The deceased is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Were his feelings different from those experienced by Alexander Matrosov, covering the embrasure of a German bunker with his body? The point is not at all about fearlessness or a disregard for the most precious thing we have - our own life. Then what? I started looking for an answer. Are there other people who would so desperately love life and everything connected with it? We live with an open soul, with hussar scope. We are the ones who invite gypsies and bears to the wedding. We are the ones who are able to organize a holiday with our last money, generously feed all the guests, and wake up penniless in the morning. We know how to live as if every day of our life is the last. And there will be no tomorrow. There is only now. All our poems and songs are literally permeated through and through with love for life, but only we know how to listen to them and sob bitterly.
Only our people have sayings: “To fall in love is like a queen, to steal is like a million,” “He who doesn’t take risks doesn’t drink champagne.” This is from the desire to drink this life to the dregs, to experience everything in it that one can manage. Then why are we, Russians, standing and looking into the eyes of the enemy, able to part with this life so easily? This is embedded in our genetic code and dates back to the very times when the first aggressor set foot on our Russian soil.
It has always been this way. At all times. Only the chain mail and helmets changed, the spears were replaced by machine guns. We got tanks and learned to fly. But the code remains the same. And it always triggers in us when our home is about to be destroyed or captured. And he also haunts us if the weak are offended. How does this work? Disturbing music begins to sound within us, which only we can hear. This code sounds in us ringing bells until the uninvited guests are thrown out of our land.
And this is where the most important thing happens. A warrior awakens in each of us. In everyone, from small to large. And this connects us with an invisible thread. And foreigners cannot understand this. To do this you need to BE Russian. BE BORN by him. When our land is threatened, or someone is offended somewhere on earth, be it in Angola, Vietnam or Ossetia, our snipers become the most accurate, our tank crews become fireproof. Pilots turn into aces and remember such incredible things as a corkscrew and a ram. Our scouts work wonders, the sailors become unsinkable, and the infantry resembles staunch tin soldiers. And every Russian, without exception, becomes a defender. Even very old people and young children.
- Remember the grandfather from Novorossiya, who fed the enemy a jar of honey filled with explosives. This true story. And we have a whole country of such warriors!
Therefore, those who are planning to attack the Russians and expect to see kneeling Russians on Russian soil, with loaves of bread and flowers, will be very disappointed. They will see a completely different picture. And I don't think they'll like her.
They are destined to see our grandfathers, fathers, husbands and brothers. Behind them will be mothers, wives and daughters. And behind them will be the heroes of Afghanistan and Chechnya, soldiers of the Second World War and the First World War, participants in the Battle of Kulikovo and the Battle of the Ice.
Because we are Russians... God is with us!
Georgia 08.08.08
This is a famous photo. Georgia, 08.08.08
After the defeat of the Georgian army, its retreating units regrouped and decided to return to Gori, but stumbled upon a Russian checkpoint. The photograph shows how a soldier of the Russian Armed Forces, with a machine gun at the ready, is confronting the motorized infantry of the Georgian Armed Forces; the officers of the column threatened the machine gunner to move out of the way and let them through, to which they heard in response “Iditenah..yb...t.”
Then the media who were moving with the convoy tried to talk to the machine gunner, and received the same answer.
As a result, the column turned around and moved back to where it had come from.
What was this soldier thinking? How did he feel at that moment? Wasn't he scared? Surely it was. Or did he not dream of having children and grandchildren, and living a long and happy life? Of course I did. Can you imagine a NATO soldier standing like this, with a machine gun in front of an enemy column? I don't. They value their lives too much. Then what's wrong with us? Why are we Russians different? And why do foreigners consider us crazy and unpredictable people?
Pictures from other places our soldiers had visited instantly flashed before my eyes.
Here is the Slatina airport, the famous rush of our paratroopers to Pristina to help our Serb brothers. 200 Russian paratroopers against NATO soldiers. How did they feel standing face to face with superior enemy forces? I'm sure it's the same as our soldier in Georgia. Donbass, Novorossiya. 2014 Alexander Scriabin died as a hero, throwing himself under a tank with grenades. Alexander was 54 years old, he worked at the Talovskaya mine as a mining assembler. The deceased is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Were his feelings different from those experienced by Alexander Matrosov, covering the embrasure of a German bunker with his body? The point is not at all about fearlessness or a disregard for the most precious thing we have - our own life. Then what? I started looking for an answer. Are there other people who would so desperately love life and everything connected with it? We live with an open soul, with hussar scope. We are the ones who invite gypsies and bears to the wedding. We are the ones who are able to organize a holiday with our last money, generously feed all the guests, and wake up penniless in the morning. We know how to live as if every day of our life is the last. And there will be no tomorrow. There is only now. All our poems and songs are literally permeated through and through with love for life, but only we know how to listen to them and sob bitterly.
Only our people have sayings: “To fall in love is like a queen, to steal is like a million,” “He who doesn’t take risks doesn’t drink champagne.” This is from the desire to drink this life to the dregs, to experience everything in it that one can manage. Then why are we, Russians, standing and looking into the eyes of the enemy, able to part with this life so easily? This is embedded in our genetic code and dates back to the very times when the first aggressor set foot on our Russian soil.
It has always been this way. At all times. Only the chain mail and helmets changed, the spears were replaced by machine guns. We got tanks and learned to fly. But the code remains the same. And it always triggers in us when our home is about to be destroyed or captured. And he also haunts us if the weak are offended. How does this work? Disturbing music begins to sound within us, which only we can hear. This code rings a bell in us until the uninvited guests are thrown out from our land.
And this is where the most important thing happens. A warrior awakens in each of us. In everyone, from small to large. And this connects us with an invisible thread. And foreigners cannot understand this. To do this you need to BE Russian. BE BORN by him. When our land is threatened, or someone is offended somewhere on earth, be it in Angola, Vietnam or Ossetia, our snipers become the most accurate, our tank crews become fireproof. Pilots turn into aces and remember such incredible things as a corkscrew and a ram. Our scouts work wonders, the sailors become unsinkable, and the infantry resembles staunch tin soldiers. And every Russian, without exception, becomes a defender. Even very old people and young children.
Remember the grandfather from Novorossiya, who fed the enemy a jar of honey filled with explosives. This is a true story. And we have a whole country of such warriors!
Therefore, those who are planning to attack the Russians and expect to see kneeling Russians on Russian soil, with loaves of bread and flowers, will be very disappointed. They will see a completely different picture. And I don't think they'll like her.
They are destined to see our grandfathers, fathers, husbands and brothers. Behind them will be mothers, wives and daughters. And behind them will be the heroes of Afghanistan and Chechnya, soldiers of the Second World War and the First World War, participants in the Battle of Kulikovo and the Battle of the Ice.
Because we are Russians... God is with us!
In 2008, during the Georgian attack on South Ossetia, Russian soldiers showed many examples of heroism and courage. Western media carefully hushed up these facts or did not pay attention to them, but one incident shocked even them. Soldier Russian army single-handedly stopped a column of Georgian special forces.
The story took place on August 8, 2008 in South Ossetia. Scout of the 71st motorized rifle regiment Bato Dashidorzhiev served at a checkpoint on the way from Gori to Tskhinvali, the capital of the unrecognized republic. The Georgians, who had previously been driven away from the capital, regrouped and were about to repeat their attempt to capture Tskhinvali. However, on the way they came across a checkpoint, which was set up by Russian soldiers who had arrived to help the Ossetians.
One soldier, Private Bato Dashidorzhiev, came out to meet the column of cars filled to capacity with armed Georgians. They shouted at him to get out of the way, to which Bato, spreading his legs wider for stability, raised his machine gun and, in native Russian, sent them in a known direction.
While the puzzled Georgians were talking among themselves, foreign journalists traveling with the convoy managed to photograph the situation, then they themselves tried to persuade the stubborn Buryat to give way. But they couldn’t make an impression on him, so the media representatives were also sent to hell.
As a result, the indecisive Georgians retreated. And although Bato was not completely alone there (it is not visible in the frame, but to the left behind him there was a Ural, behind which his commander and another soldier were lying), this does not in the least detract from his courage. While the Georgians were deciding what to do next, two T-72 and T-62 tanks arrived to our aid.
The private's feat was appreciated all over the world. “Russian 300 is not necessary enough for one,” foreign media wrote. The photo of the hero who stopped the convoy of equipment spread throughout almost the entire world.
“What was this soldier thinking? How did he feel at that moment? Wasn't he scared? Didn’t he really want to live a long and happy life, raise children and grandchildren?” - foreign bloggers were surprised. Later, citizens of Mongolia, where the Buryats are considered siblings, approached the Russian President with a request to award the warrior the title of Hero of Russia.
“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, I sincerely ask you to pay attention to the fact of the heroic act committed by Private Bato Dashidorzhiev during his service at the post entrusted to him. He single-handedly went out to meet an entire column of motorized infantry of the Georgian army, not allowing it to follow further to escalate the conflict. By doing this, he prevented the death of hundreds and hundreds of civilians and soldiers on both sides. This feat is undoubtedly worthy high rank Hero of Russia. He, the heroic son of Russia, died in that war, protecting the innocent inhabitants of Ossetia. I ask you to posthumously reward the Hero, we believe in you.”
Unfortunately, if Dashidorzhiev is awarded the title of Hero of Russia, it will be only posthumously. Bato died in South Ossetia a few days later.
Georgia's invasion of South Ossetia is called differently: Ossetians - genocide, Georgians - restoration of constitutional order, official Russia - forcing Georgia to peace, but for the whole world this conflict is simply called “08.08.08”. Our country did not abandon the fraternal people in trouble and sent an army to help them.
Our military has repeatedly demonstrated heroism in this conflict and once again reminded everyone that victory depends not only on weapons, but also on fortitude. Just look at the story of how Russian peacekeeper Sergei Kononov, during an artillery shelling of a Russian base, held back an attack by Georgian tanks for three hours alone, with one machine gun.
Hero of the war in South Ossetia: the last battle of Private Kononov
This year marks 10 years since the end of the armed conflict in South Ossetia, when Georgian troops, on the orders of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, attacked the unrecognized republic.
The situation in the region has been tense since the late 1980s due to the fact that South Ossetia declared its autonomy from Georgia. All this time, discontent was constantly growing, and clashes broke out periodically. To prevent bloodshed, a group of Russian peacekeepers was sent to the capital of Georgia, Tskhinvali.
The attack began on the night of August 8 with a massive shelling of Tskhinvali, which was carried out from small arms, grenade launchers, mortars and Grad multiple rocket launchers. The fire lasted almost the entire night and in the morning Georgian infantry and armored vehicles began to enter the city. The main target of the offensive was the base of Russian peacekeepers.
Not expecting to encounter much resistance, a tank column with infantry support launched an assault. But at the entrance to the unit, the traffic stopped. On their way was a 21-year-old peacekeeping soldier, Private Sergei Vitalievich Kononov. An artillery raid found him at his post - he was standing guard on one of the observation towers located along the perimeter of the military camp. When the first explosions were heard, he quickly went down to the pillbox. The long-term firing point was a narrow concrete “glass” buried in the ground, with loopholes for observation and firing. Here the fighter decided to hold the line. At this time, shells were exploding on the territory of the unit, 20 servicemen had already died, and the commander of the contingent was wounded, the barracks, canteen, technical buildings and first aid post were on fire. The groans of the wounded and the screams of commanders trying to organize the soldiers could be heard all around.
The peacekeepers pulled the wounded out from under the rubble and carried them to the boiler room, which stood a little to the side and somehow miraculously avoided being hit. Sergei remained at his post. Snuggling up to concrete wall, he pressed his eyes to the viewing slit. The Georgian border is literally a couple of hundred meters over the hill. And from behind him, slowly, Georgian tanks began to crawl out. First, second, third, fourth... Behind them, crouching and hiding behind armored vehicles, trotted the Georgian special forces. Kononov's weapon was AKSU - a shortened version of the classic Kalashnikov, with a shorter barrel. The compactness had to be paid for with accuracy - the sighting range of such an assault rifle is shorter than that of its “big brother.” The silhouette of one of the enemies appeared at the front sight. Pulling the trigger, the peacekeeper saw the enemy’s figure fold in half and collapse to the ground. Sergei moved his aim to the next one... After an hour of battle, where the Russian soldier remained unshakable, the equipment began to fail: from continuous firing the machine gun became hot, and powder soot clogged the barrel and gas tube. The spread of bullets became larger, the machine gun jammed and spit (when a bullet, due to a dirty or poor-quality barrel, flies out at a lower speed and almost immediately falls to the ground). And the ammunition was running out. It would seem that there was no way out, but suddenly the attack fizzled out and the equipment began to retreat back.
Wary Georgians did not want to get into trouble, thinking that they were facing at least a platoon. At this time, someone from the Ossetian militia was able to set fire to one of the tanks. Taking advantage of the unexpected respite, Sergei jumped out of the “glass” to get more ammunition and change weapons. Pure hell was going on in the area. Having made his way into the armory, Private Kononov grabbed the AK-74 and cartridges and ran back. There was only one goal - to gain time, to delay the advance while the guys carried their comrades to a safe place. Meanwhile, from behind the hill, the roar of tank engines and the screams of enemies were heard again. For another two hours the impregnable pillbox continued to snarl with fire. Machine guns and machine guns fired bursts towards the unit to no avail - the “glass” was barely noticeable and the invaders were unable to determine the source of fire.
Perhaps the strength of spirit and Russian weapons could continue to resist the Georgian troops, but where the sword of a warrior is powerless, there will always be a place for the dagger of a traitor. The fireman who was in charge of the boiler room turned out to be an infiltrator. By mobile phone he adjusted the fire and transmitted the coordinates of the pillbox to his masters. And although the unit’s medic was able to identify the “sent Cossack”, noticing that he was the only one with a normal connection (the rest of the mobile phones were jammed by the suppression system that the US military provided to Georgia), it was already too late - the information was gone. The tank rolled up the hill and fired a salvo at the pillbox. For such calibers, a distance of 200 meters is almost point blank. Concrete structure could not withstand a direct hit from a projectile designed to penetrate meter-long armor. Remaining at his combat post until the end, Sergei Kononov died. At the cost of his life, he saved dozens of his comrades who were able to escape from the fire.
He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. In this war, Russia did not abandon its citizens, and many of our military personnel demonstrated unparalleled courage.
But 21-year-old Sergei Kononov was one of the first to stand in the way of the invaders and show what a Russian soldier is worth.
In 2008, during the Georgian attack on South Ossetia, Russian fighters showed many examples of heroism and courage. Western media carefully hushed up these facts or did not pay attention to them, but one incident shocked even them. A Russian army soldier single-handedly stopped a column of Georgian special forces.
The story took place on August 8, 2008 in Midday Ossetia. Scout of the 71st motorized rifle regiment Bato Dashidorzhiev served at a checkpoint on the way from Gori to Tskhinvali, the capital of the unrecognized republic. The Georgians, who had previously been driven away from the capital, regrouped and were about to repeat their attempt to take control of Tskhinvali. However, on the way they came across a checkpoint, which was set up by Russian soldiers who had arrived to help the Ossetians.
A single soldier, Private Bato Dashidorzhiev, came out to meet the column of cars filled to capacity with armed Georgians. They shouted at him to get out of the way, to which Bato, spreading his legs wider for stability, raised his machine gun and, in eternal Russian, sent them in a known direction.
While the puzzled Georgians were talking among themselves, foreign journalists traveling with the convoy managed to photograph the situation, then they themselves tried to persuade the stubborn Buryat to give way. But they couldn’t make an impression on him, so the media representatives were also sent to hell.
As a result, the indecisive Georgians retreated. And although Bato was not entirely alone there (it is not visible in the frame, but to the left behind his hump there was a Ural, behind which his commander and another soldier lay), this does not in the least detract from his courage. While the Georgians were deciding what to do next, two T-72 and T-62 tanks arrived to our aid.
The private's feat was appreciated all over the world. “Russian 300 is not necessary enough for one,” foreign media wrote. The photo of the hero who stopped the convoy of equipment spread throughout almost the entire world.
“What was this fighter thinking? How did he feel at that moment? Wasn't he scared? Didn’t he really want to live a long and happy life, raise children and grandchildren?” – foreign bloggers were amazed. Later, citizens of Mongolia, where the Buryats are considered siblings, approached the Russian President with a request to reward the warrior with the title of Hero of Russia.
“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, I sincerely ask you to pay attention to the fact of the heroic act committed by Private Bato Dashidorzhiev during his service at the post entrusted to him. He single-handedly went out to meet an entire column of motorized infantry of the Georgian army, not allowing it to flow further to escalate the conflict. By doing this, he prevented the death of hundreds and hundreds of civilians and soldiers on both sides. This feat is undoubtedly worthy of the high title of Hero of Russia. He, the heroic son of Russia, died in that war, protecting the innocent inhabitants of Ossetia. I ask you to posthumously reward the Hero, we believe in you.”
Unfortunately, if Dashidorzhiev is awarded the title of Hero of Russia, it will be only posthumously. Bato died in Midday Ossetia a few days later.
Georgia’s invasion of South Ossetia is called differently: Ossetians – genocide, Georgians – restoration of constitutional order, official Russia – forcing Georgia to peace, but for the whole world this conflict is simply called “08.08.08”. Our region did not abandon the fraternal people in trouble and sent an army to help them.
Our military has repeatedly demonstrated heroism in this conflict and once again reminded everyone that victory depends not only on weapons, but also on fortitude. What is worth just the story of how Russian peacekeeper Sergei Kononov during an artillery shelling Russian base For three hours alone, with one machine gun, he held back the attack of Georgian tanks.
Is the material useful?
8 main heroes of the Russian-Georgian war of 2008
The main heroes of the Russian-Georgian war of 2008
Russian-Georgian battle of 2008: who changed its course
Russian is not a nationality. This is the spirit, this is the attitude towards the world. To duty, honor and your comrades. This is the willingness to sacrifice oneself in the name of Russia, in the name of duty, in the name of the Motherland. All this is completely incomprehensible to liberals, but it is understandable to any Russian, regardless of his nationality. So liberals and... not Russians. In your spirit and attitude.
An excellent article from the resource sevkavinform.ru tells us unknown page our recent history.
08.08.2008, South Ossetia. War. Russian soldier and a column of Georgian infantry.
“This famous photo. Georgia, 08.08.08 After the defeat of the Georgian army, its retreating units regrouped and decided to return to Gori, but stumbled upon Siysk checkpoint.
Has everyone seen this photo!? Who thought about the essence of what happened?
The photograph shows how a soldier of the Russian Armed Forces, armed with a machine gun, is confronting the motorized infantry of the Georgian Armed Forces; the officers of the column threatened the machine gunner to move out of the way and let them through, to which they heard in response “Go to hell...!” Then the media who were moving with the convoy tried to talk to the machine gunner, and received the same answer. As a result, the column turned around and moved back to where it had come from. Foreign journalists then published an article entitled “You don’t need 300, one is enough.”
What was this soldier thinking? How did he feel at that moment? Wasn't he scared?
Surely it was. Or did he not dream of having children and grandchildren, and living a long and happy life? Of course I did.
Can you imagine a NATO soldier standing like this, with a machine gun in front of an enemy column?
I don't. They value their lives too much. Then what's wrong with you? Why are you Russians different?
And why do foreigners consider you crazy and unpredictable people?
The point is not at all about fearlessness or a disregard for the most precious thing we have - our own life. Then what? I started looking for an answer.
Are there other people who would so desperately love life and everything connected with it?
You live with an open soul, with a hussar's scope. You are the one who invites gypsies and bears to your wedding. You are the one who can throw a party with your last money, generously feed all the guests, and wake up penniless in the morning. You know how to live as if every day of your life is the last. And there will be no tomorrow. There is only now.
All your poems and songs are literally permeated through and through with love for life, but only you know how to listen to them and sob bitterly.
Only your people have sayings: “To fall in love is like a queen, to steal is like a million,” “He who doesn’t take risks doesn’t drink champagne.” This is from the desire to drink this life to the dregs, to experience everything in it that one can manage.
Then why are you Russians, standing and looking into the eyes of the enemy, able to give up this life so easily?
This is embedded in your genetic code and dates back to the very times when the first aggressor set foot on our Russian soil. It has always been this way. At all times.
Only the chain mail and helmets changed, the spears were replaced by machine guns. You got tanks and learned to fly. But the code remains the same. And it always triggers in you when your home is about to be destroyed or captured. And he also haunts you if the weak are offended.
How does this work? Disturbing music begins to sound in you, which only you can hear. This code rings a bell in you until uninvited guests are thrown out of your land.
And this is where the most important thing happens. A warrior awakens in each of you. In everyone, from small to large. And this connects you with an invisible thread. And foreigners cannot understand this. To do this you need to BE Russian. BE BORN by him.
When your land is threatened, or someone is being offended somewhere on earth, be it in Abkhazia or Ossetia, or in the Donbass, your snipers become the most accurate, your tankmen become fireproof. Pilots turn into aces and remember such incredible things as a corkscrew and a ram. Your scouts work wonders, your sailors become unsinkable, and your infantry resembles staunch tin soldiers.
Therefore, those who are planning to attack the Russians and expect to see kneeling Russians on Russian soil, with loaves of bread and flowers, will be very disappointed. They will see a completely different picture. And I don't think they'll like her.
They are destined to see a Russian man who has become a Warrior, next to whom will stand fearless brothers - wars, of all peoples and nationalities living in Russia!
P.S. The Russian soldier in the photograph is not of Slavic appearance or nationality at all. But who dares to call it non-Russian?
