The heroes of our time are the exploits of ordinary people. Heroic deeds of people in our time: exploits of our days

During the battles, the children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War did not spare their own lives and marched with the same courage and courage as adult men. Their fate is not limited to exploits on the battlefield - they worked in the rear, promoted communism in the occupied territories, helped supply troops and much more.

There is an opinion that the victory over the Germans is the merit of adult men and women, but this is not entirely true. Children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War made no less contribution to the victory over the regime of the Third Reich and their names should not be forgotten either.

The young pioneer heroes of the Great Patriotic War also acted bravely, because they understood that not only their own lives were at stake, but also the fate of the entire state.

The article will focus on the children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), more precisely, on the seven brave boys who received the right to be called heroes of the USSR.

The stories of child heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 are a valuable source of data for historians, even if the children did not take part in bloody battles with weapons in their hands. Below, in addition, it will be possible to get acquainted with the photos of the pioneer heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, learn about their brave deeds during the hostilities.

All stories about the children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War contain only verified information, their full names and the names of their loved ones have not changed. However, some data may not be true (for example, the exact dates of death, birth), since documentary evidence was lost during the conflict.

Probably the most child-hero of the Great Patriotic War is Valentin Alexandrovich Kotik. The future brave man and patriot was born on February 11, 1930 in a small settlement called Khmelevka, in the Shepetovsky district of the Khmelnytsky region, and studied at the Russian-language secondary school No. 4 of the same town. Being an eleven-year-old boy who was only obliged to study in the sixth grade and learn about life, from the first hours of the confrontation he decided for himself that he would fight the invaders.

When the autumn of 1941 came, Kotik, together with his close comrades, carefully organized an ambush for the policemen of the city of Shepetovka. In the course of a well-thought-out operation, the boy managed to eliminate the head of the policemen by throwing a live grenade under his car.

Around the beginning of 1942, a small saboteur joined a detachment of Soviet partisans who fought during the war deep behind enemy lines. Initially, young Valya was not sent into battle - he was assigned to work as a signalman - a rather important position. However, the young fighter insisted on his participation in the battles against the Nazi invaders, invaders and murderers.

In August 1943, the young patriot, having shown an extraordinary initiative, was accepted into a large and actively operating underground group named after Ustim Karmelyuk under the leadership of Lieutenant Ivan Muzalev. Throughout 1943, he regularly took part in battles, during which he received a bullet more than once, but even despite this, he returned to the front line again, not sparing his life. Valya was not shy about any work, and therefore he also often went on intelligence missions in his underground organization.

One famous feat the young fighter accomplished in October 1943. Quite by chance, Kotik discovered a well-hidden telephone cable, which was not deep underground and was extremely important for the Germans. This telephone cable provided a connection between the headquarters of the Supreme Commander (Adolf Hitler) and occupied Warsaw. This played an important role in the liberation of the Polish capital, since the headquarters of the Nazis had no connection with the high command. In the same year, Kotik helped to blow up an enemy warehouse with ammunition for weapons, and also destroyed six railway trains with the equipment necessary for the Germans, and in which the Kievites were stolen, mining them and blowing them up without remorse.

At the end of October of the same year, the little patriot of the USSR Valya Kotik accomplished another feat. Being part of a partisan grouping, Valya stood on patrol and noticed how enemy soldiers surrounded his group. The cat did not lose his head and first of all killed the enemy officer who commanded the punitive operation, and then raised the alarm. Thanks to such a bold act of this brave pioneer, the partisans managed to react to the environment and were able to fight off the enemy, avoiding huge losses in their ranks.

Unfortunately, in the battle for the city of Izyaslav in mid-February of the following year, Valya was mortally wounded by a shot from a German rifle. The pioneer hero died of his wound the next morning at the age of some 14 years.

The young warrior was buried forever in his hometown. Despite the significance of the exploits of Vali Kotik, his merits were noticed only thirteen years later, when the boy was awarded the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union”, but already posthumously. In addition, Valya was also awarded the "Order of Lenin", the "Red Banner" and the "Patriotic War". Monuments were erected not only in the hero's native village, but throughout the entire territory of the USSR. Streets, orphanages, and so on were named after him.

Pyotr Sergeevich Klypa is one of those who can easily be called a rather controversial personality, who, being a hero of the Brest Fortress and possessing the "Order of the Patriotic War", was also known as a criminal.

The future defender of the Brest Fortress was born at the end of September 1926 in the Russian city of Bryansk. The boy spent his childhood almost without a father. He was a railway worker and died early - the boy was raised only by his mother.

In 1939, Peter was taken to the army by his older brother, Nikolai Klypa, who at that time had already reached the rank of lieutenant of the spacecraft, and under his command was a musical platoon of the 333rd regiment of the 6th rifle division. The young soldier became a pupil of this platoon.

After the Red Army captured the territory of Poland, he, along with the 6th Infantry Division, was sent to the area of ​​the city of Brest-Litovsk. The barracks of his regiment were located close to the famous Brest Fortress. On June 22, Petr Klypa woke up in the barracks already at the time when the Germans began to bomb the fortress and the barracks surrounding it. The soldiers of the 333rd Infantry Regiment, in spite of the panic, were able to give an organized rebuff to the first attack of the German infantry, and young Peter also actively participated in this battle.

From the first day, together with his friend Kolya Novikov, he began to go on reconnaissance in the dilapidated and surrounded fortress and carry out the instructions of his commanders. On June 23, during the next reconnaissance, the young fighters managed to find a whole ammunition depot that was not destroyed by explosions - this ammunition greatly helped the defenders of the fortress. For many more days, Soviet soldiers fought off enemy attacks using this find.

When senior lieutenant Alexander Potapov became the commander of 333-for the time being, he appointed the young and energetic Peter as his contact. He did a lot of good things. Once he brought to the medical unit a large supply of bandages and medicines, which were badly needed by the wounded. Every day, Peter also brought water to the soldiers, which was sorely lacking for the defenders of the fortress.

By the end of the month, the position of the Red Army soldiers in the fortress became catastrophically difficult. To save the lives of innocent people, the soldiers sent children, the elderly and women as prisoners to the Germans, giving them a chance to survive. The young intelligence officer was also offered to surrender, but he refused, deciding to continue participating in the battles against the Germans.

In early July, the defenders of the fortress almost ran out of ammunition, water and food. Then, by all means, it was decided to go for a breakthrough. It ended in complete failure for the soldiers of the Red Army - the Germans killed most of the soldiers, and captured the rest. Only a few managed to survive and break through the environment. One of them was Peter Klypa.

However, after a couple of days of exhausting pursuit, the Nazis seized and captured him and other survivors. Until 1945, Peter worked in Germany as a laborer for a fairly wealthy German farmer. He was liberated by the troops of the United States of America, after which he returned to the ranks of the Red Army. After demobilization, Petya became a bandit and robber. He even had murder on his hands. He spent a significant part of his life in prison, after which he returned to a normal life and started a family and two children. Peter Klypa died in 1983 at the age of 57. His early death was caused by a serious illness - cancer.

Among the children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War (WWII), the young partisan fighter VilorChekmak deserves special attention. The boy was born at the end of December 1925 in the glorious city of sailors Simferopol. Vilor had Greek roots. His father, a hero of many conflicts with the participation of the USSR, died during the defense of the capital of the USSR in 1941.

Vilor studied well at school, experienced extraordinary love and had artistic talent - he drew beautifully. When he grew up, he dreamed of painting expensive paintings, but the events of bloody June 1941 crossed out his dreams once and for all.

In August 1941, Vilor could no longer sit back while others bled for him. And then, taking his beloved shepherd dog, he went to the partisan detachment. The boy was a real defender of the Fatherland. His mother dissuaded him from going to an underground group, since the guy had a congenital heart defect, but he still decided to save his homeland. Like many other boys of his age, Vilor began to serve in a scout.

He served in the ranks of the partisan detachment for only a couple of months, but before his death he accomplished a real feat. November 10, 1941, he was on duty, covering his brothers. The Germans began to surround the partisan detachment and Vilor was the first to notice their approach. The guy risked everything and fired a rocket launcher to warn his fellows about the enemy, but by the same act he attracted the attention of a whole detachment of Nazis. Realizing that he could no longer leave, he decided to cover the retreat of his brothers in arms, and therefore opened fire on the Germans. The boy fought until the last shot, but even then he did not give up. He, like a real hero, rushed at the enemy with explosives, blew himself up and the Germans.

For his achievements, he received the medal "For Military Merit" and the medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol".

Medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol"

Among the famous children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War, it is also worth highlighting Kamanin Arkady Nakolaevich, who was born in early November 1928 in the family of the famous Soviet military leader and General of the Red Army Air Force Nikolai Kamanin. It is noteworthy that his father was one of the first citizens of the USSR, who received the highest title of Hero of the Soviet Union in the state.

Arkady spent his childhood in the Far East, but then moved to Moscow, where he lived for a short time. As the son of a military pilot, Arkady could fly airplanes as a child. In the summer, the young hero always worked at the airport, and also briefly worked at a plant for the production of aircraft for various purposes as a mechanic. When the fighting against the Third Reich began, the boy moved to the city of Tashkent, where his father was sent.

In 1943, Arkady Kamanin became one of the youngest military pilots in history, and the youngest pilot of the Great Patriotic War. Together with his father, he went to the Karelian front. He was enlisted in the 5th Guards Assault Air Corps. At first he worked as a mechanic - far from the most prestigious job on board an aircraft. But very soon he was appointed as a navigator-observer and a flight mechanic on an airplane to establish communication between separate parts called U-2. This plane had a pair control, and Arkasha himself flew the plane more than once. Already in July 1943, the young patriot was flying without anyone's help - completely on his own.

At the age of 14, Arkady officially became a pilot and was enrolled in the 423rd Separate Communications Squadron. Since June 1943, the hero fought against the enemies of the state as part of the 1st Ukrainian Front. Since the autumn of the victorious 1944, he became part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

Arkady took part in communication tasks to a greater extent. He flew over the front line more than once to help the partisans establish communications. At the age of 15, the guy was awarded the Order of the Red Star. He received this award for helping the Soviet pilot of the Il-2 attack aircraft, which crashed on the so-called no man's land. If the young patriot had not intervened, Polito would have perished. Then Arkady received another Order of the Red Star, and after that, the Order of the Red Banner. Thanks to his successful actions in the sky, the Red Army was able to plant a red flag in occupied Budapest and Vienna.

After defeating the enemy, Arkady went to continue his studies in high school, where he quickly caught up with the program. However, the guy was killed by meningitis, from which he died at the age of 18.

Lenya Golikov is a well-known invader killer, partisan and pioneer who, for his exploits and extraordinary devotion to the Fatherland, as well as dedication, earned the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, as well as the Medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War, 1st degree." In addition, the homeland awarded him the Order of Lenin.

Lenya Golikov was born in a small village in the Parfinsky district, in the Novgorod region. Her parents were ordinary workers, and the boy could expect the same calm fate. At the time of the outbreak of hostilities, Lenya had completed seven classes and was already working at a local plywood factory. He began to actively participate in hostilities only in 1942, when the enemies of the state had already captured Ukraine and went to Russia.

In mid-August of the second year of the confrontation, being at that moment a young but already quite experienced intelligence officer of the 4th Leningrad underground brigade, he threw a live grenade under an enemy car. In that car sat a German major general from the engineering troops - Richard von Wirtz. Previously, it was believed that Lenya decisively eliminated the German commander, but he miraculously managed to survive, although he was seriously injured. In 1945, American troops took this general prisoner. However, on that day, Golikov managed to steal the general's documents, which contained information about new enemy mines that could cause significant harm to the Red Army. For this achievement, he was presented to the country's highest title of "Hero of the Soviet Union".

In the period from 1942 to 1943, Lena Golikov managed to kill almost 80 German soldiers, blew up 12 highway bridges and 2 more railway ones. Destroyed a couple of food depots important to the Nazis and blew up 10 ammunition vehicles for the German army.

On January 24, 1943, the Leni detachment fell into a battle with the predominant forces of the enemy. Lenya Golikov died in a battle near a small settlement called Ostraya Luka, in the Pskov region, from an enemy bullet. Together with him, his brothers in arms died. Like many others, he was awarded the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union" posthumously.

One of the heroes of the children of the Great Patriotic War was also a boy named Vladimir Dubinin, who actively acted against the enemy in the Crimea.

The future partisan was born in Kerch on August 29, 1927. From childhood, the boy was extremely brave and stubborn, and therefore, from the first days of hostilities against the Reich, he wanted to defend his homeland. It was thanks to his perseverance that he ended up in a partisan detachment that operated near Kerch.

Volodya, as a member of the partisan detachment, conducted reconnaissance operations together with his close comrades and brothers in arms. The boy delivered extremely important information and information about the location of enemy units, the number of Wehrmacht fighters, which helped the partisans prepare their combat offensive operations. In December 1941, during another reconnaissance, Volodya Dubinin provided comprehensive information about the enemy, which made it possible for the partisans to completely defeat the Nazi punitive detachment. Volodya was not afraid to take part in the battles - at first he simply brought ammunition under heavy fire, and then stood in the place of a seriously wounded soldier.

Volodya had a trick to lead the enemy by the nose - he "helped" the Nazis find the partisans, but in fact led them into an ambush. The boy successfully completed all the tasks of the partisan detachment. After the successful liberation of the city of Kerch during the Kerch-Feodosiya landing operation of 1941-1942. a young partisan joined a detachment of sappers. On January 4, 1942, during the demining of one of the mines, Volodya died together with a Soviet sapper from a mine explosion. For his merits, the hero-pioneer was posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Sasha Borodulin was born on the day of a famous holiday, namely March 8, 1926 in the hero city called Leningrad. His family was rather poor. Sasha also had two sisters, one older than the hero, and the other younger. The boy did not live long in Leningrad - his family moved to the Republic of Karelia, and then returned to the Leningrad region again - in the small village of Novinka, which was located 70 kilometers from Leningrad. In this village, the hero went to school. In the same place, he was elected chairman of the pioneer squad, which the boy dreamed of for a long time.

Sasha was fifteen years old when the fighting began. The hero graduated from the 7th grade and became a member of the Komsomol. In the early autumn of 1941, the boy joined a partisan detachment of his own free will. At first, he conducted exclusively reconnaissance activities for the partisan unit, but soon took up arms.

In the late autumn of 1941, he proved himself in the battle for the Chascha railway station in the ranks of a partisan detachment under the command of the famous partisan leader Ivan Boloznev. For his courage in the winter of 1941, Alexander was awarded another very honorable order of the Red Banner in the country.

Over the following months, Vanya repeatedly showed courage, went to reconnaissance and fought on the battlefield. On July 7, 1942, the young hero and partisan died. It happened near the village of Oredezh, in the Leningrad region. Sasha remained to cover the retreat of his comrades. He sacrificed his life to let his brothers in arms get away. After his death, the young partisan was twice awarded the same Order of the Red Banner.

The above names are far, far from all the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. The children accomplished many feats that should not be forgotten.

No less than other child heroes of the Great Patriotic War, a boy named Marat Kazei committed. Despite the fact that his family was out of favor with the government, Marat still remained a patriot. At the beginning of the war, Marat and his mother Anna hid the partisans. Even when the arrests of the local population began in order to find those who harbor the partisans, his family did not give theirs to the Germans.

After that, he himself joined the ranks of the partisan detachment. Marat was actively eager to fight. He accomplished his first feat in January 1943. When there was another skirmish, he was slightly wounded, but he still raised his comrades and led them into battle. Being surrounded, the detachment under his command broke through the ring and was able to avoid death. For this feat, the guy received the medal "For Courage". Later, he was also given the medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War" 2nd class.

Marat died along with his commander during the battle in May 1944. When the cartridges ran out, the hero threw one grenade at the enemies, and the second one blew himself up so as not to be captured by the enemy.

However, not only the photos and names of the boys of the pioneer heroes of the Great Patriotic War now adorn the streets of large cities and textbooks. There were also young girls among them. It is worth mentioning the bright, but sadly cut short life of the Soviet partisan Zina Portnova.

After the war broke out in the summer of 1941, the thirteen-year-old girl ended up in the occupied territory and was forced to work in the canteen for German officers. Even then, she worked underground and, on the orders of the partisans, poisoned about a hundred Nazi officers. The fascist garrison in the city began to catch the girl, but she managed to escape, after which she joined the partisan detachment.

At the end of the summer of 1943, during the next task in which she participated as a scout, the Germans captured a young partisan. One of the local residents confirmed that it was Zina who then poisoned the officers. The girl was brutally tortured in order to find out information about the partisan detachment. However, the girl did not say a word. Once she managed to escape, she grabbed a pistol and killed three more Germans. She tried to escape, but she was taken prisoner again. After that, she was tortured for a very long time, practically depriving the girl of any desire to live. Zina still did not say a word, after which she was shot on the morning of January 10, 1944.

For her services, the seventeen-year-old girl received the title of Hero of the SRSR posthumously.

These stories, stories about the children-heroes of the Great Patriotic War should never be forgotten, but on the contrary, they will always be in the memory of posterity. It is worth remembering them at least once a year - on the day of the Great Victory.

Imagine that you are trying to save a blind man from a burning building, making your way step by step through burning flames and smoke. Now imagine that you are also blind. Jim Sherman, blind from birth, heard his 85-year-old neighbor's cries for help when she was trapped in her burning house. He found his way along the fence. Once he got to the woman's house, he somehow managed to sneak in and find his neighbor, Annie Smith, also blind. Sherman pulled Smith out of the fire and took him to safety.

Skydiving instructors sacrificed everything to save their students

Few people will survive a fall from several hundred meters. But two women made it through the dedication of two men. The first gave his life to save the man he saw for the first time in his life.

Skydiving instructor Robert Cook and his student Kimberley Dear were about to make their first jump when the plane's engine failed. Cook told the girl to sit on his lap and tied their straps together. As the plane crashed to the ground, Cooke's body took the brunt, killing the man and leaving Kimberly alive.

Another skydiving instructor, Dave Hartstock, also saved his student from being hit. It was Shirley Dygert's first jump and she jumped with an instructor. Digert's parachute did not open. During the fall, Hartstock managed to get under the girl, softening the blow to the ground. Dave Hartstock injured his spine, the injury paralyzed his body from the very neck, but both survived.

A mere mortal Joe Rollino (Joe Rollino, pictured above) during his 104-year life has done incredible, inhuman things. Although he weighed only about 68 kg, in his prime he could lift 288 kg with his fingers and 1450 kg with his back, for which he won various competitions several times. However, it was not the title of "The Strongest Man in the World" that made him a hero.

During World War II, Rollino served in the Pacific and received a bronze and silver star for gallantry in the line of duty, as well as three purple hearts for battle wounds, for which he spent a total of 2 years in the hospital. He took 4 of his comrades from the battlefield, two in each hand, while also returning to the heat of battle for the rest.

A father's love can inspire superhuman feats, as two fathers in different parts of the world have proven.

In Florida, Joesph Welch came to the rescue of his six-year-old son when an alligator grabbed the boy's arm. Forgetting his own safety, Welch hit the alligator in an attempt to force it to open its mouth. Then a passer-by arrived and began to beat the alligator in the stomach until the beast finally let go of the boy.

In Mutoko, Zimbabwe, another father saved his son from a crocodile when it attacked him in a river. Father Tafadzwa Kacher started poking the cane into the animal's eyes and mouth until his son ran away. Then the crocodile took aim at the man. Tafadzwa had to gouge out the animal's eyes. As a result of the attack, the boy lost his leg, but he will be able to tell about the superhuman courage of his father.

Two ordinary women lifted cars to save loved ones

Not only men are capable of displaying superhuman abilities in critical situations. The daughter and mother showed that women can be heroes too, especially when a loved one is in danger.

In Virginia, a 22-year-old saved her father when a jack slipped from under the BMW he was working under and the car fell on the man's chest. There was no time to wait for help, the young woman lifted the car and moved it, then gave her father CPR.

In Georgia, the jack also slipped and a 1,350-kilogram Chevrolet Impala fell on a young man. Alone, his mother Angela Cavallo lifted the car and held it for five minutes until her son was pulled out by neighbors.

Superhuman abilities are not only strength and courage, it is also the ability to think and act quickly in an emergency.

In New Mexico, a school bus driver suffered a seizure, putting children in danger. The girl waiting for the bus noticed that something had happened to the driver and called her mother. The woman, Rhonda Carlsen, took immediate action. She ran next to the bus and gestured to one of the children to open the door. After that, she jumped inside, grabbed the steering wheel and stopped the bus. Thanks to her quick reaction, none of the students were hurt, not to mention the people passing by.

A truck with a trailer was driving along the edge of a cliff in the dead of night. The cab of a large truck stopped right above the cliff, the driver was in it. A young man came to the rescue, he broke the window and pulled the man out with his bare hands.

This happened in New Zealand in the Wayoka Gorge on October 5, 2008. The hero was 18-year-old Peter Hanne, who was at home when he heard the roar. Without thinking about his own safety, he climbed onto the balancing car, jumped into a narrow gap between the cab and the trailer, and broke the rear window. He carefully helped the injured driver out while the truck staggered under his feet.

In 2011, Hanne was awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal for this heroic act.

The war is full of heroes who risk their lives to save fellow soldiers. In the movie Forrest Gump, we saw how a fictional character saved several of his co-workers, even after he was wounded. In real life, you can meet the plot and abruptly.

Here, for example, is the story of Robert Ingram, who received the Medal of Honor. In 1966, during the siege by the enemy, Ingram continued to fight and save his comrades even after he was wounded three times: in the head (as a result, he partially lost his sight and became deaf in one ear), in the arm and in the left knee. Despite being wounded, he continued to kill the North Vietnamese soldiers who attacked his unit.

Aquaman is nothing compared to Shavarsh Karapetyan, who rescued 20 people from a sinking bus in 1976.

The Armenian speed swimming champion was jogging with his brother when a bus with 92 passengers ran off the road and fell into the water 24 meters from the shore. Karapetyan dived, kicked out the window with his feet and began to pull out people who by that time were in cold water at a depth of 10 m. They say that it took 30 seconds for each person he saved, he saved one by one until he lost consciousness in cold and dark water . As a result, 20 people survived.

But the exploits of Karapetyan did not end there. Eight years later, he rescued several people from a burning building, suffering severe burns in the process. Karapetyan received the Order of the Badge of Honor of the USSR and several other awards for underwater rescue. But he himself claimed that he was not a hero at all, he just did what he had to.

A man lifted a helicopter to save his colleague

The TV show site was turned into a tragedy when a helicopter from the hit series Magnum P.I. crashed into a drainage ditch in 1988.

During landing, the helicopter suddenly banked, went out of control and fell to the ground, while everything was filmed. One of the pilots Steve Kaks (Steve Kux) was trapped under a helicopter in shallow water. And then Warren "Tiny" Everal (Warren "Tiny" Everal) ran up and lifted the helicopter from Cax. It was a Hughes 500D which weighs at least 703kg empty. Everal's quick reaction and his superhuman strength saved Cax from a helicopter pinning him in the water. Despite the fact that the pilot injured his left hand, he escaped death thanks to a local Hawaiian hero.

Modernity, with its measure of success in the form of monetary units, gives rise to far more heroes of scandalous gossip columns than true heroes, whose actions cause pride and admiration.

Sometimes it seems that real heroes are left only on the pages of books about the Great Patriotic War.

But at any time there are those who are ready to sacrifice the most precious thing in the name of their loved ones, in the name of the Motherland.

On Defender of the Fatherland Day, we will remember five of our contemporaries who accomplished feats. They did not seek glory and honors, but simply fulfilled their duty to the end.

Sergey Burnaev

Sergei Burnaev was born in Mordovia, in the village of Dubenki on January 15, 1982. When Seryozha was five years old, his parents moved to the Tula region.

The boy grew and matured, and the era around him changed. Peers rushed who into business, who into crime, and Sergei dreamed of a military career, he wanted to serve in the Airborne Forces. After graduating from school, he managed to work at a rubber shoe factory, and then was drafted into the army. He ended up, however, not in the landing, but in the Vityaz special forces detachment of the Airborne Forces.

Serious physical activity, training did not frighten the guy. The commanders immediately drew attention to Sergei - stubborn, with character, a real commando!

During two business trips to Chechnya in 2000-2002, Sergei proved himself to be a true professional, skillful and persistent.

On March 28, 2002, the detachment, in which Sergey Burnaev served, carried out a special operation in the city of Argun. The militants turned the local school into their fortification, placing an ammunition depot in it, as well as breaking through a whole system of underground passages under it. The special forces began to inspect the tunnels in search of militants who had taken refuge in them.

Sergey went first and ran into bandits. A battle ensued in the narrow and dark space of the dungeon. During the flash from the automatic fire, Sergei saw a grenade rolling on the floor, thrown by a militant towards the special forces. Several fighters who did not see this danger could suffer from the explosion.

The decision came in a split second. Sergei covered the grenade with his body, saving the rest of the fighters. He died on the spot, but averted the threat from his comrades.

A gang of 8 people in this battle was completely eliminated. All of Sergei's comrades in this battle survived.

For courage and heroism shown during the performance of a special task in conditions involving a risk to life, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 16, 2002 No. 992, Sergeant Sergey Alexandrovich Burnaev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).

Sergeant Sergei Burnaev is forever enrolled in the lists of his military unit of the Internal Troops. In the city of Reutov, Moscow Region, on the Alley of Heroes of the military memorial complex "To All Reutovites Who Died for the Fatherland", a bronze bust of the hero was installed.

Denis Vetchinov

Denis Vetchinov was born on June 28, 1976 in the village of Shantobe, Tselinograd region of Kazakhstan. He spent the usual childhood of a schoolboy of the last Soviet generation.

How is a hero brought up? Probably no one knows this. But at the turn of the era, Denis chose the career of an officer, after enlisting in a military school. Maybe it also had an effect that the school he graduated from was named after Vladimir Komarov, a cosmonaut who died during a flight on the Soyuz-1 spacecraft.

After graduating from a college in Kazan in 2000, the newly-made officer did not run away from difficulties - he immediately ended up in Chechnya. Everyone who knew him repeats one thing - the officer did not bow to the bullets, he took care of the soldiers and was a real “father to the soldiers” not in words, but in fact.

In 2003, the Chechen war ended for Captain Vetchinov. Until 2008, he served as deputy battalion commander for educational work in the 70th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment, in 2005 he became a major.

An officer's life is not sugar, but Denis did not complain about anything. His wife Katya and daughter Masha were waiting for him at home.

Major Vetchinov was destined for a great future, general's shoulder straps. In 2008, he became deputy commander of the 135th motorized rifle regiment of the 19th motorized rifle division of the 58th army for educational work. In this position, he was caught by the war in South Ossetia.

On August 9, 2008, the marching column of the 58th Army, on the way to Tskhinval, was ambushed by Georgian special forces. Cars were shot from 10 points. The commander of the 58th Army, General Khrulev, was wounded.

Major Vetchinov, who was in the convoy, jumped off the armored personnel carrier and joined the battle. Having managed to prevent chaos, he organized a defense, suppressing Georgian firing points with return fire.

During the retreat, Denis Vetchinov was seriously wounded in the legs, however, overcoming the pain, he continued the battle, covering his comrades and the journalists who were with the column with fire. Only a new severe wound to the head could stop the major.

In this battle, Major Vetchinov destroyed up to a dozen enemy special forces and saved the lives of Komsomolskaya Pravda war correspondent Alexander Kots, VGTRK special correspondent Alexander Sladkov, and Moskovsky Komsomolets correspondent Viktor Sokirko.

The wounded major was sent to the hospital, but he died on the way.

On August 15, 2008, for the courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty in the North Caucasus region, Major Denis Vetchinov was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).

Aldar Tsydenzhapov

Aldar Tsydenzhapov was born on August 4, 1991 in the village of Aginskoye, in Buryatia. There were four children in the family, including the twin sister of Aldar Aryun.

My father worked in the police, my mother as a nurse in a kindergarten - a simple family leading a normal life for residents of the Russian outback. Aldar graduated from high school in his native village and was drafted into the army, ended up in the Pacific Fleet.

Sailor Tsydenzhapov served on the destroyer "Fast", was trusted by the command, was friends with colleagues. There was only a month left before the “demobilization”, when on September 24, 2010, Aldar took up duty as a boiler crew operator.

The destroyer was preparing for a military campaign from the base in Fokino in Primorye to Kamchatka. Suddenly, a fire broke out in the engine room of the ship due to a short circuit in the wiring at the time of the fuel line break. Aldar rushed to block the fuel leak. A monstrous flame raged around, in which the sailor spent 9 seconds, having managed to eliminate the leak. Despite the terrible burns, he got out of the compartment himself. As the commission subsequently established, the prompt actions of the sailor Tsydenzhapov led to the timely shutdown of the ship's power plant, which otherwise could have exploded. In this case, the destroyer itself and all 300 crew members would have died.

Aldar was taken to the hospital of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok in critical condition, where doctors fought for the hero's life for four days. Alas, he passed away on September 28.

By Decree of the President of Russia No. 1431 dated November 16, 2010, sailor Aldar Tsydenzhapov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

Sergey Solnechnikov

Born on August 19, 1980 in Germany, in Potsdam, in a military family. Seryozha decided to continue the dynasty as a child, not looking back at all the difficulties of this path. After the 8th grade, he entered a cadet boarding school in the Astrakhan region, then without exams he was admitted to the Kachinsk military school. Here he was caught by another reform, after which the school was disbanded.

However, this did not turn Sergei away from a military career - he entered the Kemerovo Higher Military Command School of Communications, which he graduated in 2003.

A young officer served in Belogorsk, in the Far East. “A good officer, real, honest,” friends and subordinates said about Sergey. They also gave him a nickname - "battalion commander the Sun."

I did not have time to start a family - too much time was spent on the service. The bride patiently waited - after all, it seemed that there was still a whole life ahead.

On March 28, 2012, at the training ground of the unit, the usual exercises for throwing the RGD-5 grenade, which are part of the training course for conscripts, took place.

19-year-old private Zhuravlev, excited, threw a grenade unsuccessfully - having hit the parapet, she flew back, where his colleagues were standing.

The confused boys looked with horror at death lying on the ground. The battalion commander Sun reacted instantly - throwing the soldier back, he closed the grenade with his body.

The wounded Sergei was taken to the hospital, but he died on the operating table from numerous injuries.

On April 3, 2012, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Major Sergei Solnechnikov was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously) for the heroism, courage and dedication shown in the performance of military duty.

Irina Yanina

"War has no woman's face" is a wise phrase. But it just so happened that in all the wars that Russia waged, women turned out to be next to men, enduring all the hardships and hardships along with them.

Born in Taldy-Kurgan of the Kazakh SSR on November 27, 1966, the girl Ira did not think that the war from the pages of books would enter her life. A school, a medical school, a position as a nurse in a tuberculosis dispensary, then in a maternity hospital - a purely peaceful biography.

Everything was turned upside down by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russians in Kazakhstan suddenly became strangers, unnecessary. Like many, Irina and her family went to Russia, where there were enough problems of their own.

The husband of the beautiful Irina could not stand the difficulties, he left the family in search of an easier life. Ira was left alone with two children in her arms, without normal housing and a corner. And then another misfortune - my daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, from which she quickly died out.

From all these troubles, even men break down, go into a binge. Irina did not break down - after all, she still had her son Zhenya, the light in the window, for the sake of which she was ready to move mountains. In 1995, she entered the service of the Internal Troops. Not for the sake of exploits - they paid money there, they gave rations. The paradox of recent history is that in order to survive and raise her son, a woman was forced to go to Chechnya, into the very heat. Two business trips in 1996, three and a half months as a nurse under daily shelling, in blood and mud.

The nurse of the medical company of the operational brigade of the Russian Interior Ministry troops from the city of Kalach-on-Don - in this position, Sergeant Yanina got into her second war. Basayev's gangs rushed to Dagestan, where local Islamists were already waiting for them.

And again the battles, the wounded, the dead - the daily routine of the medical service in the war.

“Hello, my little, beloved, most beautiful son in the world!

I missed you very much. You write to me, how are you doing, how is school, with whom are you friends? Are you sick? Don't go late in the evenings - now there are a lot of bandits. Be near home. Don't go anywhere alone. Listen to everyone at home and know that I love you very much. Read more. You are already a big and independent boy, so do everything right so that you are not scolded.

Waiting for your letter. Listen to everyone.

Kiss. Mother. 08/21/99"

Irina sent this letter to her son 10 days before her last fight.

On August 31, 1999, the brigade of internal troops, in which Irina Yanina served, stormed the village of Karamakhi, which was turned by terrorists into an impregnable fortress.

On that day, Sergeant Yanina assisted 15 wounded soldiers under enemy fire. Then she went to the line of fire on an armored personnel carrier three times, taking another 28 seriously wounded from the battlefield. The fourth flight was fatal.

The armored personnel carrier came under heavy enemy fire. Irina began to cover the loading of the wounded with return fire from a machine gun. Finally, the car managed to move back, but the militants from grenade launchers set fire to the armored personnel carrier.

Sergeant Yanina, while she had enough strength, pulled the wounded out of the burning car. She did not have time to get out herself - ammunition began to explode in the armored personnel carrier.

On October 14, 1999, Medical Service Sergeant Irina Yanina was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously), she was forever included in the lists of personnel of her military unit. Irina Yanina became the first woman to be awarded the title of Hero of Russia for her military actions in the Caucasian wars.

Names of this year's heroes that should not be forgotten

They say that there were too many tragic events in the outgoing year, and there is almost nothing good to remember on the eve of the New Year. Tsargrad decided to argue with this statement and collected a selection of our most prominent compatriots (and not only) and their heroic deeds. Unfortunately, many of them accomplished a feat at the cost of their own lives, but the memory of them and their deeds will support us for a long time and serve as an example to follow. Ten names that thundered in 2016 and should not be forgotten.

Alexander Prokhorenko

A special forces officer, 25-year-old Lieutenant Prokhorenko, died in March near Palmyra while conducting Russian air strikes against ISIS militants. He was discovered by terrorists and, being surrounded, did not want to give up and caused fire on himself. He was awarded the title of Hero of Russia posthumously, and a street in Orenburg was named after him. The feat of Prokhorenko caused admiration not only in Russia. Two French families donated awards, including the Legion of Honor.

Farewell ceremony for the hero of Russia, senior lieutenant Alexander Prokhorenko, who died in Syria, in the village of Gorodki, Tulgansky district. Sergei Medvedev/TASS

In Orenburg, where the officer comes from, he left a young wife, who, after the death of Alexander, had to be hospitalized in order to save the life of their child. In August, her daughter Violetta was born.

Magomed Nurbagandov

A policeman from Dagestan, Magomet Nurbagandov, and his brother Abdurashid were killed in July, but the details became known only in September, when a video recording of the execution of police officers was found on the phone of one of the liquidated militants of the Izberbash criminal group. On that ill-fated day, the brothers and their schoolchildren rested in nature in tents, no one expected the attacks of bandits. Abdurashid was killed immediately because he stood up for one of the boys, whom the bandits began to insult. Mohammed was tortured before his death, because his documents of a law enforcement officer were found. The purpose of the bullying was to force Nurbagandov to renounce his colleagues on record, acknowledge the strength of the militants and call on the Dagestanis to leave the police. In response to this, Nurbagandov addressed his colleagues with the words "Work, brothers!" The enraged militants could only kill him. President Vladimir Putin met with the brothers' parents, thanked them for their son's courage and awarded him the title of Hero of Russia posthumously. The last phrase of Mahomet became the main slogan of the outgoing year and, one might assume, for years to come. Two small children were left without a father. Nurbagandov's son now says that he will only become a policeman.

Elizabeth Glinka

Photo: Mikhail Metzel/TASS

The resuscitator and philanthropist, popularly known as Doctor Lisa, has done a lot this year. In May, she took the children out of the Donbass. 22 sick children were rescued, the youngest of whom was only 5 days old. These were children with heart disease, oncology, and congenital diseases. For children from Donbass and Syria, special treatment and support programs have been created. In Syria, Elizaveta Glinka also helped sick children and organized the delivery of medicines and humanitarian aid to hospitals. During the delivery of another humanitarian cargo, Dr. Liza died in a Tu-154 plane crash over the Black Sea. Despite the tragedy, all programs will continue. Today for the guys from Lugansk and Donetsk there will be a New Year's tree...

Oleg Fedyura

Head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Primorsky Territory, Colonel of the Internal Service Oleg Fedyura. Press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Primorsky Krai / TASS

Head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Primorsky Territory, who proved himself during natural disasters in the region. The rescuer personally visited all the flooded cities and villages, led search and rescue operations, helped evacuate people, and he himself did not sit idly by - he has hundreds of such events on his account. On September 2, together with his brigade, he was heading to another village, in which 400 houses were flooded and more than 1,000 people were waiting for help. Crossing the river, KAMAZ, in which Fedyura and 8 other people were, collapsed into the water. Oleg Fedyura saved all the personnel, but then he could not get out of the flooded car and died.

Love Pechko

The entire Russian world learned the name of the 91-year-old female veteran from the news on May 9th. During the festive procession in honor of Victory Day in Slavyansk, occupied by Ukrainians, the Ukrainian Nazis threw eggs at a column of veterans, doused with brilliant green and sprinkled with flour, but the spirit of the old warriors could not be broken, no one was out of order. The Nazis shouted insults, in the occupied Slavyansk, where any Russian and Soviet symbols are prohibited, the situation was extremely explosive and could turn into a massacre at any moment. However, the veterans, despite the threat to their lives, were not afraid to openly put on medals and St. George ribbons, after all, they did not go through the war with the Nazis in order to be afraid of their ideological followers. Lyubov Pechko, who took part in the liberation of Belarus during the Great Patriotic War, was splashed with brilliant green in the face. The pictures, in which traces of brilliant green are wiped from the face of Lyubov Pechko, circled social networks and the media. From the resulting shock, the sister of an elderly woman, who saw the abuse of veterans on TV, died and had a heart attack.

Danil Maksudov

In January of this year, during a strong snow storm, a dangerous traffic jam formed on the Orenburg-Orsk highway, in which hundreds of people were blocked. Ordinary employees of various services showed heroism, leading people out of ice captivity, sometimes endangering their own lives. Russia remembered the name of police officer Danil Maksudov, who was hospitalized with severe frostbite after giving his jacket, hat and gloves to those who needed it most. After that, Danil helped to get people out of the traffic jam for several more hours in a blizzard. Then Maksudov himself ended up in the emergency traumatology department with frostbite on his hands, it was about the amputation of his fingers. However, in the end, the policeman went on the mend.

Konstantin Parikozha

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Orenburg Airlines Boeing 777-200 crew commander Konstantin Parikozha, who was awarded the Order of Courage, during the state awards ceremony in the Kremlin. Mikhail Metzel/TASS

A native of Tomsk, the 38-year-old pilot managed to land a liner with a burning engine, in which there were 350 passengers, including many families with children and 20 crew members. The plane was flying from the Dominican Republic, at an altitude of 6 thousand meters there was a bang and the cabin was shrouded in smoke, panic began. During landing, the landing gear caught fire. However, thanks to the skill of the pilot, the Boeing 777 was successfully landed and none of the passengers were injured. Parikozha received the Order of Courage from the hands of the President.

Andrey Logvinov

The 44-year-old crew commander of the Il-18, which crashed in Yakutia, managed to land the plane without wings. They tried to land the plane to the last and in the end they managed to avoid casualties, although both wings of the plane broke off on impact with the ground and the fuselage collapsed. The pilots themselves received multiple fractures, but despite this, according to the rescuers, they refused help and asked to be the last to be evacuated to the hospital. "He managed the impossible," they said about the skill of Andrei Logvinov.

Georgy Gladysh

On a February morning, the rector of an Orthodox church in Krivoy Rog, Priest George, as usual, was riding his bicycle home from the service. Suddenly, he heard cries for help from a nearby body of water. It turned out that the fisherman fell through the ice. Batiushka ran to the water, threw off his clothes and, signing himself with the sign of the cross, rushed to help. The noise attracted the attention of local residents, who called an ambulance and helped pull the already unconscious retired fisherman out of the water. The priest himself refused honors: " I didn't save. It was God who decided for me. If I had been driving a car instead of a bicycle, I simply would not have heard the cries for help. If I started to think whether to help me a person or not, I would not have time. If the people on the shore had not thrown a rope at us, we would have drowned together. And so everything happened by itself". After the feat, he went on to perform church services.

Julia Kolosova

Russia. Moscow. December 2, 2016. Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Anna Kuznetsova (left) and Yulia Kolosova, winner in the "Children-Heroes" nomination, at the awards ceremony for the winners of the VIII All-Russian festival on the subject of security and salvation of people "Constellation of Courage". Mikhail Pochuev/TASS

Valdai schoolgirl, despite the fact that she herself is only 12 years old, she was not afraid to enter a burning private house, hearing the screams of children. Julia took two boys out of the house, and already on the street they told her that one more of their little brothers was left inside. The girl returned to the house and carried a 7-year-old baby in her arms, who was crying and was afraid to go down the stairs shrouded in smoke. In the end, none of the children were hurt. " It seems to me that in my place, any teenager would do this, but not every adult, because adults are much more indifferent than children", - the girl believes. Caring residents of Staraya Russa collected money and gave the girl a computer and a souvenir - a mug with her photograph. The schoolgirl herself admits that she did not help for the sake of gifts and praise, but she, of course, was pleased, because she is from a poor family - Yulia's mother is a seller, and her father works at a factory.

1. (56 words) Feat is a big word. But this is how one can describe the act of Guli Koroleva, described in the book dedicated to her “The Fourth Height” by Elena Ilyina. During the battle, she took out 50 wounded soldiers from the field, and after the death of the commander, she took command. And even being mortally wounded, she continued to fight until her last breath. One can only admire the courage of this girl.
2. (47 words) Despite the fact that the hero of A. Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" does not consider his act a feat, he can be considered a hero. The man, ignoring the great risk, selflessly swims across the river to convey an important report to the command. It could cost him his life, but he still decided on this act.
3. (48 words) In M. Sholokhov's story "The Fate of a Man", the theme of not only a military feat, but also a moral one, is raised. The driver Andrey Sokolov, being at the front, learns about the death of his entire family. Despite this, he found the strength not to break down and adopt an orphaned boy. The strength of the character of the hero cannot but delight.
4. (50 words) B. Vasiliev's story “The Dawns Here Are Quiet…” tells about the military feat of a whole group. During reconnaissance, the women's detachment and the foreman have to engage in a desperate battle with the enemy. Each of the women dies heroically and painfully. Even realizing the danger, they broke out to the front and sacrificed their lives on a par with men.
5. (52 words) "The Tale of a Real Man" by B. Polevoy is not by chance that it has such a name. The author tells about the real story of the pilot Alexei Meresyev. The hero was shot down by a fighter over the territory occupied by the Germans, tried to find his way back through the forests until he went out to his own. Even having lost both legs, the man continues to repulse the enemy. Such a person can truly be called great, and his deed - a feat.
6. (61 words) In the story "Obelisk" by V. Bykov, a controversial attitude to the hero's deed arises. Teacher Ales Morozov creates an anti-fascist group with his students during the war. Not listening to the teacher, the guys commit the murder of a brutal policeman. After their capture, Ales is offered to surrender voluntarily. The man comes, realizing that the students will not be released. Subsequently, they are all executed. Years later, someone considers this act reckless, and the witness of the events - a feat.
7. (44 words) In the epic novel "War and Peace" L.N. Tolstoy shows us that a feat is not always noticeable. Captain Tushin, who practically took the bullets on himself, was reprimanded for going out without an order, although the courageous resistance of his battery shocked even the enemy. The feat was noticed only thanks to the intercession of Prince Andrei.
8. (52 words) Thomas Keneally's novel Schindler's Ark tells the story of a real person - the German Oskar Schindler. The man saved a huge number of Jews during the Holocaust. He illegally hired them as his workers, sheltering them from persecution. After the capitulation of Germany, the hero was forced to flee, but entire generations of Jews remained, grateful to him for the moral feat that he accomplished.
9. (53 words) "Alpine Ballad" by V. Bykov is a story about bitter self-sacrifice. Ivan Treshka, who accidentally escaped the concentration camp, meets Julia. The sudden feeling that flared up between them is interrupted by the fascists pursuing them. Here the hero accomplishes his feat: having reached a dead end, Ivan saves the girl, throwing her from the gorge into a snowdrift, while he himself remains to be torn to pieces, sacrificing his life.
10. (59 words) B. Vasiliev's story "He Wasn't on the Lists" tells about the defense of the Brest Fortress. Undoubtedly, everyone who rebuffed the enemy in that battle accomplished a feat. But the only surviving lieutenant Pluzhnikov is striking in his stamina. Deprived of his comrades, he continues to fight valiantly. But even being taken prisoner, he so admired the Nazis with his courage that they took off their caps in front of him.

Examples from life, cinema and media

1. (57 words) In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the son of a concentration camp commandant befriends a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence. Eventually, the parents find out about it and insist on moving. However, the boy manages to get over the fence to help his friend in search of his father. Despite the tragic outcome of events, even such a sincere desire to help can be considered a feat.
2. (41 words) Rescuers or firefighters constantly risk their lives to save others. Each shift is a new challenge. Such work requires incredible courage and fearlessness, it takes a lot of nerves. Often they themselves do not consider this a feat, but for the people who receive their help, they are real heroes.
3. (42 words) Not all feats are on a grand scale. A boy who is afraid of heights, but takes a small kitten from a tree, also accomplishes a feat. He struggles with his fear, stepping over it in order to ultimately save a defenseless animal. Within himself, he overcomes a great barrier. It deserves respect.
4. (56 words) Once my friend and I were sunbathing on the beach. Nearby, in shallow water, a girl was wandering, but suddenly she abruptly disappeared from sight. We got excited and my friend went to check out that place. It turned out that there was a double bottom - she fell and began to sink. A friend, not afraid of danger, dived after her and saved her life. I consider this a real feat.
5. (43 words) A feat can be completely different. My friend is constantly helping homeless animals. I can call this a feat, as she sincerely cares for them, takes them home and keeps them warm and comfortable. Despite all the difficulties, she picks up the rejected pets, keeping them alive.
6. (47 words) I once came across an article about a young man who saved a little girl who had fallen out of a window. The guy just walked by, reacted incredibly quickly and managed to catch the child. With this action, he accomplished a real feat. Heroes are among us. And they do not wear developing raincoats at all, but ordinary jeans and T-shirts.
7. (42 words) In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II, the protagonist performs an incredible feat when he decides to sacrifice his life to save the entire wizarding world. He meets with the main evil face to face. Ignoring the persuasion of friends who are ready to fight, Harry remains steadfast.
8. (40 words) I have always considered the adoption of a child to be a moral feat. I admire how people are able to take on such responsibility, to give love and warmth to a stepchild. Such a feat was accomplished by my uncle and aunt. I respect them immensely for such a complex and generous decision.
9. (47 words) People very often become attached to their pets. The hero of a story I stumbled upon on a news website wanted to protect his pet so much that he rushed at the bear when it attacked his puppy. The man showed inhuman courage, thanks to which his pet survived. This can be called a real feat.
10. (62 words) In my opinion, Stephen Hawking's first wife accomplished an incredible feat. Jane did not leave the scientist when he began to develop an illness that later led to paralysis. She continued to look after him as long as possible, gave him three children, literally devoted all her youth to him. Even though the couple divorced many years later, this choice of a woman still fascinates me.