Unfadable braveness: Putin, Shoigu commemorate paratroopers who heroically died in battle in opposition to extremists twenty years in the past

Twenty years after heroic however vastly outnumbered Pskov paratroopers bravely battled jihadist forces within the Russian republic of Chechnya, President Vladimir Putin and Protection Minister Sergey Shoigu have honored the fallen.

“As we speak… we commemorate the courageous paratroopers, pay honors to their braveness and their heroic deed,” Putin mentioned as he reviewed the troops of the Pskov Airborne Division. He and Shoigu arrived within the northwestern Russian metropolis of Pskov, the hometown of Russia’s oldest and most elite airborne division, to put flowers at a memorial for many who fell in Russia’s second anti-terrorism marketing campaign within the early 2000s.

They stood in the way in which of lots of of militants and entered their final battle as true heroes, staying true to the perfect traditions of the brothers-in-arms which are held pricey by all generations of airborne troops.

The president additionally attended a memorial service in reminiscence of the paratroopers on the native St. George church and met with their family members.

Final stand

The sixth firm of the Pskov Airborne Division took their final stand in late February 2000, when the anti-terrorism marketing campaign had virtually ended. At the moment, the Russian Military sought to encompass a big power of Chechen militants – supported by Arab mercenaries linked to Al-Qaeda – who had been pushed out of the Chechen capital of Grozny and blocked into the Argun Gorge to the south of the town.

The paratroopers had been ordered to grab a excessive level overlooking one of many passes main out of the gorge. Nonetheless, earlier than they even managed to succeed in their vacation spot, they had been attacked by the vanguard of the extremist power, which launched a shock assault in an try to get out of the cauldron.

Quickly, simply 90 paratroopers discovered themselves dealing with the majority of the jihadist power led by Khattab, one of many leaders of Arab Al-Qaeda mercenaries, and infamous native warlord Shamil Basayev. Outnumbered virtually 30 to 1, the paratroopers fought bravely in opposition to some 2,500 extremists between February 29 and March 1. The battle was so intense that the Russian forces looking for to again up the corporate couldn’t struggle their option to the surrounded navy.

The militants had been attacking the corporate wave after wave, “with their eyes broad open and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar!’”, one of many few survivors of that battle, Guards Sergeant Andrey Proshnev, recalled later.

On March 1, 2000, the remaining few paratroopers ran out of ammunition and their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evtyukhin, known as an artillery strike on himself in an try to cease a large onslaught launched by the extremists.

The Russian artillery plastered the hill, the place the paratroopers had beforehand been entrenched, with hearth. Supported by artillery, the paratroopers ultimately killed between 400 and 500 extremists, reportedly together with not less than one senior jihadist area commander.

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Out of 90 paratroopers, 84 died, together with 13 officers. Twenty-two of them obtained the nation’s highest navy award – Hero of Russia – all however one posthumously. Sixty-eight troopers and officers had been additionally awarded the Order of Braveness.

The remaining extremist forces nonetheless managed to slide via a niche within the encirclement. Nonetheless, all of the jihadist commanders main the cost at the moment, together with Khattab and Basayev, had been hunted down and killed in Russia’s anti-terrorist operations within the years that adopted.

The paratroopers’ heroic deed has since impressed numerous films, TV sequence, and even a 2004 musical. A number of books had been additionally written concerning the stand, whereas numerous Russian music performers – together with the well-known Alexandrov Ensemble of the Russian Armed Forces – devoted songs to the reminiscence of the paratroopers.

Russia is happy with its paratroopers, Putin mentioned on Sunday, addressing the troopers who’ve joined the ranks of the well-known division which has, since that point, taken half in lots of operations. This contains the deployment of its medical specialists to Syria.

“We consider that you’ll firmly guard Russia’s pursuits, present safety and defend the lives of our residents,” the president mentioned. “Thanks in your service.”

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