Pages of the history of Afghanistan. Among Russian stars there are real colonels who served in the war

Artists are generally considered to be pampered white-handed people, unable to hold anything heavier than a microphone in their hands. However, even among the stars spoiled by the attention of viewers, one can find real defenders of the Fatherland, ready to defend their homeland in word and deed. The paparazzi studied the biographies of famous actors, singers and sportsmen and found out that among them there were many holders of honorary military titles.

Oleg Gazmanov

Oleg Mikhailovich doesn’t really like being called a “jingoistic singer,” although his repertoire actually includes many songs on similar topics. It’s not for nothing that the public accepts Gazmanov’s military-patriotic hits so well. He is a hereditary officer, and from his lips the song “Gentlemen Officers” sounds more than sincere and significant.

Even before becoming a professional artist, Oleg Mikhailovich served in the Baltic Fleet, but he was awarded the officer rank much later, for his special contribution to art.

“My father was an officer,” the singer said in an interview. “He fought and reached Berlin. My mother is a doctor, she went to the front as a nurse, and after the Victory she continued to save the wounded in the war with the Japanese, in the Far East. I am proud that I myself am an officer. I was given another military rank: captain 3rd rank, although in the reserve. And the fact that this was announced from the stage of the Kremlin Palace at a concert dedicated to the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland is not only a tribute to my creativity. It means that it’s not for nothing that I’m growing. "in ranks. Although the most important thing in my life is music and poetry, and my main activity is as a composer and singer, I know that in the army environment they do not consider me a stranger. I always invite the military to my concerts for free, I constantly perform in garrisons and on ships , at outposts, in hospitals."

Alexander Rosenbaum

The famous singer dedicated many of his songs to the war in Afghanistan, the Great Patriotic War, and naval themes. And, although in his youth he did not join the army due to astigmatism and myopia, Rosenbaum managed to repay his debt to his homeland with interest. While still studying at the medical institute, he participated in construction teams, had an internship on ships of the Pacific Fleet, and after graduation, Alexander Yakovlevich served for a year on warships of the Baltic Fleet. Rosenbaum devoted the next five years of his life to working in an ambulance, and then finally decided to become an artist, but his songs always had a clearly visible military theme.

Alexander Rosenbaum is an honorary member of the Russian Naval Officers' Assembly and the Submariners' Club, and in 2000, by order of the Minister of Defense, he was awarded another military rank - Colonel of the Medical Service of the Naval Reserve Forces.

Alexander Yakovlevich puts on his military uniform only on holidays: on Victory Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, Navy Day and February 15, the day of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, because the singer once visited this “hot spot” three times. , supporting the morale of the soldiers with their songs.

Vladimir Zeldin

Actor Vladimir Zeldin has said more than once that only his acting profession saved him from certain death in the Great Patriotic War.

“I was waiting every day to be sent to the front, but an order came out from the Minister of Cinematography to continue filming the film “The Pig Farm and the Shepherd.” All the men involved in this work were given reservations. That’s how Musaib saved my life,” the actor said in an interview . Zeldin still had to serve his homeland, but as an actor, because after the war he was drafted into the Central Theater of the Red Army and played a huge number of military men.

“I played Field Marshal Kutuzov in the play “A Long Time Ago.” And for Admiral Sinyavin I received my first State Prize—then Stalin Prize—together with the other creators of the play “Admiral’s Flag.” I don’t even remember all the privates and officers I played ", shared Zeldin, who was once given a double-barreled shotgun by Marshal Zhukov himself with a dedicatory inscription.

But the 97-year-old actor received an officer’s rank for his efforts quite recently. “I finally became a reserve officer and received the medal “For Officer Valor”, 3rd class, marking 70 years of my service to the theater,” Zeldin said. “It’s a pity, if we had ever been certified as privates, we would have received discounts to military sanatoriums.”

Vladimir Etush

Vladimir Etush is not only a brilliant actor; during the Great Patriotic War he showed himself to be a valiant warrior and returned from the front with the rank of lieutenant.

“Although I had a reservation, I went to the front voluntarily. It was October 1941. I returned from the front in 1944, and the city really became different. Destroyed houses. Terrible poverty. And this went on for more than one year,” recalled Vladimir Etush in an interview. The actor had to fight the enemy in the Caucasus mountains, he participated in the liberation of Ukraine and southern Russia from the fascist invaders, and was seriously wounded in battle. For the courage and courage shown on the battlefield, Etush was awarded many medals and the Order of the Red Star.

“In the battles for the socialist Motherland against the German occupiers, he showed himself to be a brave and decisive commander,” the accompanying documents say. “In the offensive battles in the MOSPINO area on September 7, 1943, Comrade ETUSH was sent by the regiment command to help the battalion, which had a difficult situation in carrying out assigned combat mission, Comrade ETUSH fearlessly, not sparing his life, inspiring the soldiers, boldly led the company towards the enemy and with a skillful maneuver knocked out the enemy from the GORODOC area. The enemy lost up to 30 soldiers and officers and 1 light machine gun. , advancing on the regional center of KUIBYSHEVO, he personally and a group of fighters was the first to break into the village and in street battles destroyed 8 enemy soldiers and officers. For courage and bravery in battle, he was worthy of a government award - the Order of the RED STAR.

Alexander Tyutin

It’s not for nothing that the actor is so good at military roles, because before starting his acting career, he graduated from the Moscow Energy Institute and served as an officer in Georgia for two years, and was an engineer of radio-electronic systems of a military transport squadron. In cinema, Tyutin almost immediately plunged into the military theme: one of his first works was the role of a German soldier in the film “It was the fourth year of the war...”, and then the roles of people in uniform fell on the artist as if from a cornucopia.

“After graduating from the energy department, I joined the army, but as an officer,” said the actor himself. “And I spent all two years in Georgia, in aviation. Therefore, after service, on weekends, I regularly visited theaters. Well, after demobilization, I entered the Shchukin School. I really play a lot of different military men, not only Russian ones, but also foreign ones. Our FSB actually recognized me as one of their own: they gave me a watch with a thank you note from the director himself. But I don’t play one role, I play other roles, especially lately.” .

Sergei Glushko

Despite the very frivolous profession of a stripper, the husband of Natasha Koroleva, who became famous in Moscow under the pseudonym Tarzan, was at one time an exemplary defender of the Fatherland with an official rank.

“A career military man with the rank of senior lieutenant in the military space forces,” the artist, who has devoted more than one year to serving the Motherland, proudly says about himself. True, now Sergei does not really like to remember this period of his life.

“It’s all very sad. I joined the army at the insistence of my father, also an officer. But, I’ll tell you honestly, my profession didn’t give me any satisfaction, much less money,” Glushko frankly admitted. “We, the military, were paid pennies, yes and they always detained me. Imagine, I even worked as a barker in one fashionable private store. I was tired of a hopeless life that promised me nothing but hard drinking.” As a result, Sergei decided to finally leave the service and left to conquer the capital, which he has never regretted.

Yuri Shevchuk

The rock musician has many military awards for trips to hot spots, concerts for soldiers and patriotic songs. At the same time, Shevchuk practically did not serve in the army and gained all his experience in this area as a famous artist.

“I was drafted near Yakutsk. I served for two months,” Yuri Shevchuk said in an interview. “I was seriously injured and was discharged. My favorite saying is: I don’t serve in the army, but I serve the army. We give a lot of concerts for military personnel , we go to the troops. We need to play and sing not only where it’s easy and good, but also where it’s difficult for people to live. That’s where gentlemen artists could perform more often. And we’re trying to set an example.”

The list of all kinds of awards of Yuri Shevchuk is really impressive: the medal of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia "Participant in Emergency Humanitarian Operations", the insignia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs "Silver Cross" (twice), the Alexander Cross "For Service in the Caucasus" (twice), the award badge "Participant in Combat Actions in Chechnya" , medal "For military valor".

Alexander Marshal

A singer with such a military pseudonym, of course, has many military-themed songs in his repertoire. And even though Marshal never received the officer rank, he still repays his duty to his homeland in his own way. Alexander was born into a military family and after high school he entered the Stavropol Higher Military School of Air Defense Forces to master the specialty of combat control navigator. It was there that the future artist was jokingly nicknamed “Marshal,” although his military career ended after just two years of study. Just short of the rank of lieutenant, Alexander decided to retire from the Soviet army and took up music seriously. Having become a popular artist, Marshall not only sings about the military, he actively takes part in their lives.

“I am a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, I often visit units and ships,” says the singer. “The situation in which the army found itself in the early 1990s and now are different things. Everything is gradually getting better, going uphill "Our army and our navy are gaining the status they lost." By the way, Alexander has been hosting the “Listen, Soldier” program on Radio Russia for several years now, and he also has two FSB awards to his name.

Nikolay Rastorguev

The lead singer of the group "Lube" appeared in this material as an exception. After all, despite his brutal image and the image of a brave “battalion commander,” he never really served in the army. However, his services in the military sphere are appreciated at the highest level, not to mention thousands of soldiers for whom Rastorguev’s songs invariably raise their morale. So, five years ago, on the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day, Rastorguev was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree; in 2006, he received the FSB award for a cycle of military-patriotic songs; the artist also has commemorative diplomas and heraldic symbols of the Russian Army, which are awarded artists for their fruitful work with army audiences.

The singer accepts all awards from the military with gratitude, but always directly says that he did not have the opportunity to repay his debt to his homeland in the ranks of the armed forces. “I didn’t serve in the army: our educational institution had a military department. And the attitude towards the army was respectful. They didn’t take me because of my health: I didn’t pass the medical examination and received a “white ticket,” although I was serious about serving, was waiting for conscription and dreamed to get into adult troops like the Airborne Forces,” Nikolai said in an interview. “I am a purely peaceful person, but I can say that, of course, it is necessary to serve. In a country like Russia, the army must be strong, capable and victorious.” His military ID says “private, fit for non-combatant duty in wartime.”

By the way, Alla Pugacheva “forced” Nikolai to try on the legendary tunic. The image turned out to be so successful that the lead singer of “Lube” performed in military uniform for many more years.

“I first wore it on the set of Alla Pugacheva’s “Christmas Meetings.” Alla Borisovna advised me to wear a military uniform while performing the song “Atas.” The arguments were as follows: since the song mentions Zheglov and Sharapov, it means you should look in the spirit of that time “,” the singer shared. “At first they thought it was a one-time incident, but the tunic, according to those around me, suited me, and I was simply persuaded to assign this image to the group.”

Not everyone thinks about it, but the largest percentage of star defenders of the Fatherland with officer ranks are athletes.

“Military ranks are another incentive, including a tool for financial incentives. Moreover, if previously the sporting peak was the rank of major, now it is lieutenant colonel. That is, a gifted person can calmly train, having a reliable rear provided by the army - an apartment, salary, social guarantees “, - explained the sports official to the chairman Alexey Miroshnichenko. “This is very important in such a competitive and nerve-consuming activity as sport, where victories are adjacent to defeats, and no one is immune from the game of chance.”

Evgeni Plushenko

The Olympic champion does not advertise this fact, but in 2006, after his victory in Turin, he not only had a gold medal and a three-room apartment in St. Petersburg, the athlete was also awarded an extraordinary military rank.

“Senior lieutenant. In reserve. Left because I am a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg,” Evgeniy himself once commented. By the way, one day, because of his military rank, the skater had a strong quarrel with Viktor Baturin, the ex-husband of his wife Yana Rudkovskaya.

“Say, he’s a guard officer, and I’m a clown who didn’t even serve in the Armed Forces. So, I don’t know what kind of guard officer he is, Baturin, and I, by the way, am a senior lieutenant,” Plushenko worried. “And I got it.” title from Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov."

Alexey Nemov

The famous gymnast, competing for the Armed Forces sports society, rose to the high rank of lieutenant colonel. Alexey started, of course, with more modest titles. So, after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the athlete became a captain, and then the nickname “Captain Nemo” even stuck to him. Since 2000, Nemov should have been called “Major Nemo”, and now “Lieutenant Colonel Nemo”.

According to Nemov, he serves as an instructor in the active army of the CSK Air Force. “I come sometimes. Because after all, it’s my native club,” says Alexey. “I once played for it. Therefore, I come, show something, we communicate. In principle, it’s not so hard. But this is a certain job, too. We defended “in tights and pads,” as they say, on the platform. But so, the flag was raised, and there was that feeling of patriotism that, God willing, our youth is now experiencing a very good trend in this. direction, but then, I believe that somehow we have more of this in our souls.”

Of course, Plushenko and Nemov are far from the only holders of officer ranks in the sports environment. Thus, Olympic champion in fencing Pavel Kolobkov has the rank of colonel; in addition to Alexey Nemov, the lieutenant colonels include Olympic champion in diving Dmitry Sautin, Olympic champions in bullet shooting Mikhail Nestruev and Sergei Aliferenko, as well as Olympic champion in fencing Stanislav Pozdnyakov.

There are already more majors among the athletes: Olympic champions in biathlon Svetlana Ishmuratova, Albina Akhatova, Olga Zaitseva, Pavel Rostovtsev, track and field athlete Tatyana Lebedeva, boxer Alexander Lebzyak have titles.

Olympic gymnastics champion Svetlana Khorkina has the title of captain, and trampolining champion Alexander Moskalenko has the same title.

In addition to Evgeni Plushenko, the rank of senior lieutenant is held by track and field athlete Elena Isinbaeva and Olympic luge medalist Albert Demchenko. Among the lieutenants are track and field athlete Elena Slesarenko, speed skater Dmitry Dorofeev and bobsledder Alexander Zubkov.

Yuri Nikulin
Senior Sergeant. Participant of the Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars, defender of Leningrad.
He was awarded the medals “For Courage”, “For the Defense of Leningrad” and “For Victory over Germany”.

Anatoly Papanov
Senior sergeant, anti-aircraft artillery platoon commander. At the age of 21 he became disabled of the third group,
having been seriously wounded in the leg near Kharkov. Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I and II degrees.

Evgeniy Matveev
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. He didn't stay at the front for long.
For his excellent knowledge of military affairs, he was appointed as a teacher at the Tyumen Infantry School.
He was eager to return to the front, but his numerous requests remained unheeded.

Alexey Smirnov
Scout, fire platoon commander of the 3rd artillery battery of the 169th Red Banner Mortar Regiment
3rd artillery Zhitomir Red Banner Order of Lenin breakthrough division of the RGK.
He was awarded the Order of Glory II and III degrees, the Order of the Red Star, the medal “For Courage” and “For Military Merit.”

Nikolay Trofimov
During the Great Patriotic War he served in the Navy.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, Order of the Red Star,
medal “For the Defense of Leningrad”, “For Victory over Germany”.

Elina Bystritskaya
During the war, she worked in a front-line mobile evacuation hospital as a nurse.
She was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, and the medal “For Victory over Germany.”

Innokenty Smoktunovsky
Participant in the battle of Kursk, the crossing of the Dnieper, and the liberation of Kyiv.
Reached Berlin. Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, two medals “For Courage”,
medal "For victory over Germany".

Zinovy ​​Gerdt
Senior lieutenant of a sapper company. He volunteered for the front. In February 1943, near Belgorod, he was seriously wounded in the leg.
underwent 11 operations, as a result of which his leg became shorter by 8 centimeters, and the lameness remained for life.

Nikolai Boyarsky
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, ended the war in Koenigsberg. Awarded the Order of Glory II and III degrees,
Order of the Red Star and other medals.

Pavel Luspekayev
He volunteered for the front at the age of 15. Member of the partisan reconnaissance group (“Task Group 00134”).
He was seriously wounded in the arm by an explosive bullet and miraculously escaped amputation.
During one of the reconnaissance raids, I lay in the snow for four hours, having seriously frostbitten feet.
Subsequently, because of this injury, doctors were forced to amputate both of Luspekayev’s feet.

Antonina Maksimova
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, radio operator.

Nikolay Grinko
Guard sergeant major, radio operator gunner on long-range bombers, regiment Komsomol organizer.
Awarded the medal "For Military Merit".

Sergei Bondarchuk

Leonid Chubarov
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Artilleryman.

Evgenia Kozyreva
A participant in the Great Patriotic War, she volunteered for the front.

Vladimir Gulyaev
Attack pilot of the 826th Vitebsk attack air regiment of the 335th attack air division.
Made 60 combat missions. Fought in Belarus and the Baltic states. He was wounded and shell-shocked several times.
The only front-line actor who was twice awarded the Order of the Red Banner and twice -
Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. Participant in the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945

Petr Glebov
He volunteered for the front. Served in an anti-aircraft artillery regiment,
which protected the western sector of the Moscow region from Nazi planes: Ochakovo, Peredelkino, Vnukovo airport.
He was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, the Order of the Red Star and the medal “For the Defense of Moscow”.

Gulya Queen
Medical instructor, participant in the Great Patriotic War.
She volunteered for the front in the medical battalion of the 280th Infantry Regiment.
She died on November 23, 1942 near the Panshino farm, near Stalingrad.
During the battle for height 56.8, she carried 50 wounded soldiers from the battlefield, and when the commander was killed,
raised the soldiers to attack, was the first to break into the enemy trench,
with several grenade throws she destroyed 15 enemy soldiers and officers.
She was mortally wounded, but continued to fight until reinforcements arrived.
Awarded the Order of the Red Banner (posthumously).

Oleg Golubitsky
Participant of the Great Patriotic War.

Valya Litovsky - Pushkin in the film “The Youth of the Poet”, died in the summer of 1941 near Minsk.

Vladislav Strzhelchik
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, served in the infantry. Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree.

Boris Bityukov
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. In 1939-1945 he served in the Red Army. I fought from the first to the last day.

Evgeniy Vesnik
He fought for three years. Awarded two medals “For Courage”, the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree,
the Order of the Red Star, the medal “For the Capture of Koenigsberg”, two medals “For Courage”, the medal “For Victory over Germany”.

Vladimir Etush
Volunteer. He graduated from the school of military translators in Stavropol. Fought in the mountains of Kabarda and Ossetia,
liberated Rostov-on-Don, Ukraine. Senior lieutenant, assistant chief of staff of the regiment.
In 1943 he was seriously wounded and discharged. After the hospital I received the 2nd group of disability.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, Order of the Red Star, medals “For the Defense of the Caucasus”,
“For the defense of Moscow”, “For victory over Germany”.

Georgy Yumatov
From 1942, he became a cabin boy on the torpedo boat “Brave,” and a year later he became a helmsman. Liberated Budapest, Bucharest, Vienna.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, Ushakov sailor medal, medals “For the capture of Budapest”,
“For the capture of Vienna”, “For the victory over Germany”.

Mikhail Pugovkin
He volunteered for the front. Scout, served in the 1147th Infantry Regiment.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, and the medal “For Victory over Germany.”

Grigory Pluzhnik
In the first days of the war, having abandoned his armor, he volunteered for the front.
Participated in the Battle of Stalingrad and the liberation of Romania. Junior lieutenant, telegraph technician.
Awarded medals “For Military Merit”, “For the Defense of Stalingrad”, “For Victory over Germany”.

Vladimir Samoilov
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree.

Vladimir Zamansky
Tanker. Having increased his age, at the age of 16 he volunteered to go to the front. Burnt in the tank, saved the commander.
He was awarded the Order of Glory, III degree, and the medal “For Courage”.
At the end of the war, he was illegally convicted and received nine years of camp regime.

Sergey Gurzo
At the age of 16 he volunteered to go to the front. In Poland in 1944 he was seriously wounded, after which he was treated in hospitals for a year.

Nikolai Eremenko Sr.
At the age of 15 he went to the front, was wounded, was surrounded, was captured,
tried to escape from a fascist concentration camp several times.
Then he fought as part of an underground resistance group.

Leonid Obolensky
In October 1941, together with other VGIK teachers, he joined the Moscow People's Militia.
In the Bryansk-Vyazemsky encirclement he was captured and sent to a concentration camp in Bavaria. Escaped from captivity.
Before the liberation of Moldova, he hid in a monastery near Bendery under the name of monk Lawrence.
After the war he was arrested and convicted. In 2005 (posthumously) rehabilitated.

Boris Ivanov
Lieutenant of the Quartermaster Service. He fought on the Northwestern Front.
Chief of staff of the battalion in the 14th Guards Regiment of the 7th Guards Division of the 10th Guards Army.
In April 1942, he was seriously wounded and was in hospital until September with the threat of amputation of his arm.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I and II degrees.

Mikhail Gluzsky
Since 1940 he served in the Red Army, a participant in the Great Patriotic War.

Pavel Vinnik
At the age of 16, taking credit for the missing years, he became a soldier in a rifle regiment. Reached Berlin.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War I and II degrees, the Order of the Red Star, medals “For the capture of Budapest”,
“For the capture of Berlin”, “For the victory over Germany”.

Nikolay Pastukhov
In 1942 he volunteered for the front. He fought as part of the Latvian division and received a specialty as a signalman,
served in a tank unit and was wounded.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, Order of the Red Star and medal
“For military merits”, “For victory over Germany”.

Evgeniy Burenkov
He went to the front from school and went through the entire war. He fought in units of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet.
Awarded the Order of the Red Star.

Alexander Vokach
In 1944 he volunteered for the front, fought, and served in the flying troops until 1947.

Borya Yasen - Mishka Kvakin in the film “Timur and His Team” died at the beginning of the war.

Vladimir Basov
Captain, commander of the battery of the 424th motorized rifle regiment of the 14th anti-aircraft artillery division of the Riga Reserve of the SVGK Civil Code,
Deputy Chief of the Operations Department of the 28th Separate Artillery Breakthrough Division of the Reserve of the High Command.
He was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star and the medal “For Military Merit”.

Vasily Korzun
In 1941, he volunteered to join the army and was sent to the front with the rank of junior lieutenant.
Participated in battles and was wounded. He ended the war in Estonia. Awarded the Order of the Red Star

Vladimir Kashpur
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Aviation navigator, took part in hostilities.
Awarded the medal "For Victory over Germany".

Valentin Zubkov
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Fighter pilot.

Zoya Vasilkova
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. She volunteered for the war at the age of 17. In the battles she was wounded and shell-shocked.

Yuri Katin-Yartsev
Senior sergeant, assistant platoon commander of the 63rd bridge railway battalion.
Awarded the Order of the Red Star, medals “For Military Merit”, “For Victory over Germany”.

Alexey Vanin
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Having credited himself with a year, he volunteered to go to the front.
He fought as part of Stalin's Siberian Division and was wounded. Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree,
Order of the Red Star, medal "For Courage".

Nikolay Zasukhin
Participant of the Great Patriotic War. From 1940 he served in the army for six years.

Alyosha Lyarsky - Lesha Peshkov in the film “Gorky’s Childhood” - volunteered for the front at the age of 17,
died on February 15, 1943 near Leningrad.

Alexey Mironov
At the age of 17, he volunteered for the army, crediting himself with a year.
Fire platoon commander of the 1342nd anti-aircraft artillery regiment of the 23rd anti-aircraft artillery division.
He fought on the North-Western, Voronezh and 1st Ukrainian fronts. Participated in the battle for Moscow,
The Battle of Kursk, the Battle of the Dnieper, the liberation of the Right Bank and Western Ukraine, the storming of Berlin.
Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I and II degrees, medals “For Courage”, “For the Capture of Berlin”, “For Victory over Germany”.

Washed vests and blue berets will fill the streets on August 2 – the landing force, according to established tradition, begins to celebrate the holiday in the morning. Some come with their children and wives, others prefer to meet with colleagues in an all-male group.

By the way, the Airborne Forces were born on August 2, 1930 - then, during major exercises, the advantages of parachute units were assessed. In 1941, five airborne corps were equipped with 10 thousand people each. Both during the Great Patriotic War and today, paratroopers are always on the front line! We will tell you about famous personalities who served in the Airborne Forces.

Writer Boris Vasiliev

Author of brilliant stories (“Whose are you, old man?”), novels (“Don’t shoot white swans”), novellas (“Not on the lists”). But most readers discovered it and fell in love with it for the story “The Dawns Here Are Quiet.”

The writer’s father was a career officer, so as soon as the war began, Boris Lvovich went to the front while still a schoolboy. He served in the landing force, but in 1943, after a severe shell shock, he had to leave the active army.

Director Grigory Chukhrai

An entire generation grew up watching the films of Grigory Naumovich - “The Ballad of a Soldier”, “Forty-First”, “Clear Sky”, “I Will Teach You to Dream”. Chukhrai’s father was a military man, but after his parents’ divorce he was raised by his stepfather, the chairman of a Ukrainian collective farm.

In 1939, Chukhrai was drafted into the Red Army and began serving in Mariupol as a cadet in the regimental school of the 229th separate communications battalion of the 134th Infantry Division.

During the Great Patriotic War, he fought as part of airborne units on the Southern, Stalingrad, Don, 1st and 2nd Ukrainian fronts.

In 1943, he took part in the airborne operation “Dnieper Landing”.

Colonel General Vladimir Shamanov

The famous military leader understands like no other what it means to be a paratrooper. From 1974 to 1976, Vladimir Anatolyevich was a cadet of the 12th company (Airborne Forces) of the Tashkent Higher Tank Command School. Then he graduated from the Ryazan Airborne School, the Frunze Military Academy, and the Military Academy of the General Staff.

He fought in the Karabakh conflict, carried out combat missions in Chechnya, and led the operation to eliminate the Wahhabi stronghold in Dagestan. In 2000, the Colonel General was elected governor of the Ulyanovsk region. Since 2009, he has been appointed to the post of commander of the airborne forces of the Russian Federation.

Actor Fyodor Dobronravov

I liked the merry fellow and joker Ivan Butko from “Matchmakers” from the first episode, and one cannot help but sympathize with the bright images of Fyodor Dobronravov in the sketch comedy “6 Frames”. But appearances can be deceiving, for the actor is none other than a real paratrooper. In 1978, Fyodor Dobronravov came to Moscow to enter the circus school in the clownery department. But there was a rule there: young men should not be accepted into the army. He was offered to repay his debt to his homeland and return two years later. Fedor had the opportunity to serve in the airborne troops from 1979 to 1981 in Azerbaijan.

As the actor himself later recalled in an interview, he dreamed of “getting” a paratrooper jumping out of a plane, but never got a tattoo. Using his example, Dobronravov refuted the well-known saying “Whoever served in the army does not laugh in the circus.” Hochmit, how he laughs!

Politician Yunus-Bek Yevkurov

Acting President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov is, well, the most paratrooper. He served in the Marine Corps, but then entered the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School. He served in the reconnaissance company of the 350th Guards Parachute Regiment in Belarus, and held command positions in the Airborne Forces. He took part in counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus. In 2000, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation for his attack on Pristina by Russian paratroopers. Evkurov survived many assassination attempts and was wounded, but always emerged victorious.

True, just recently, on July 27, he broke his leg - he landed unsuccessfully with a parachute. This, by the way, was his 249th jump. The politician immediately joked, saying that he did it on purpose so that the people would regret it, since the elections were just around the corner.

Showman Ivan Demidov

Remember this fit jock in the constant dark glasses?! In the 90s, advanced youth watched his program “MuzOBOZ”; he often “shone up” on the KVN jury.

Demidov is one of the founders of the VID television company. In 2000, he starred in the film “Brother 2” and participated in the reality show “The Last Hero 3: Lost.”

But he was far from a glamorous party; he considered serving in the army his duty.

From 1981 to 1983, he served as a conscript in the Airborne Forces on the territory of the Lithuanian SSR, and retired to the reserve with the rank of sergeant.

In 2005, Demidov founded the Orthodox TV channel Spas.

Politician Dmitry Kozak

Military bearing, decisive character - why not a paratrooper?! The Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation from 1976 to 1978 served in the ranks of the Soviet Army.

The politician agrees that the army toughens a man, and to this day he readily recalls those two years spent in the airborne forces.

First earthquake. Having not been in Afghanistan for even a month, we had the opportunity to feel that the earth beneath us was alive, and it was breathing, just like us. An earthquake is as common for these places as snow or rain is for central Russia. I woke up because the bunk bed I was sleeping on was shaking. “Perhaps the old-timers remind us of their status?” a thought flashed through. I open my eyes and the light bulbs on the ceiling burst. And a moment later the orderly’s command: “Get up!” We jump up, quickly get dressed and run out from the second floor onto the street. We line up in front of the barracks. The elders are trying to intimidate us, they say, slow down a little, and they will cover you like blind kittens. These barracks were built by the Afghans, they were built under Amin, for themselves, and these walls have proven their reliability more than once. But the officers lived in barracks-type plywood houses called “modules.” And the medical unit was the same structure. Once, I also had the opportunity to survive another earthquake in such a module in the medical unit. It's funny. I sit with my back against the radiator, warming myself. Suddenly the walls creaked and began to move from side to side! But after three minutes it was all over.<…>

In addition to the “Afghan”, there was another misfortune in Afghanistan, from which it was impossible to hide. August always greeted us with a huge infestation of flies. It was this month that became the peak of their dominance. There was no way to fight them! I was left with the most unpleasant impression - wherever I went, flies were buzzing and swarming everywhere. I had to come to terms with this too, which was extremely difficult!

<…>The last days of the service were “fun”. The order had already gone out, and I was going home. And suddenly in the evening, when I was about to go to bed, the authorities arrived at the regiment in a UAZ:
-Well, are there young people around? Major operation. You will go as a senior. Ready?
-Ready.
-Well, then come on, suit up and go!
And at that moment something pinched a little. In my mind I was already home, because there were only two days left! And now the questions haunted me: “Why? What if? Young people could not be sent to a major military operation, but I could. Fate sent me a new test.

At that time, there were practically no people at our site who could and knew what to do in an unforeseen situation. Pasha Glinkov had already been home in Minsk for six months, and the commanders decided that Sergeant Mironov would be able to cope with this task. We reached a certain point from Kabul and began to deploy the field unit. But then a new order came out, canceling the operation, and I, sitting on the armored personnel carrier, once again, looking around Kabul and the surrounding area, returned to the unit. By the time I finished my service, I was in the position of head of hardware communications.

We returned to our homeland from Kabul on an IL-18, flying to Tashkent. And from Tashkent to Moscow - by airbus. I remember that there was a delay with tickets - there were many people who wanted to fly away quickly, and there weren’t enough tickets. But, fortunately, this issue was resolved.

I went to the army as one person, and returned home as a different person. It’s impossible to describe a meeting with family and friends – you just have to see it! After returning, the attitude of friends and acquaintances was very respectful - he served not just anywhere, but in Afghanistan!

Amazingly, for eight years after my return, I dreamed of being called up again to serve in Afghanistan, again and again the summons came. I asked the same question: “How is this possible? After all, I already served in Afghanistan!” However, I was called to serve. The more time passed, the less often I dreamed about it. Afghanistan did not allow itself to be forgotten for a long time.

Man proposes, but God disposes. If I hadn't been in the army, I would have been completely different. Now there is not the slightest regret about the past. There were a lot of people around me who could be called real heroes. I'm glad I got to know them. I was happy to fulfill my modest mission - I supported the guys with music and song. A song, figurative and capacious in form, always tells its story, comforts the soul and heart, and heals wounds. She was with us for two years of service. And it remains with us to this day.

October 2011

Assisted in preparing the text of the memoirs Elena Konstantinovna Filina, 1st year student at Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman.

Therefore, during the filming of the film, it was not difficult for him to realistically perform the song “The Blue Splashed” together with the paratroopers. The actor admits that he owes his good physical shape to his service in the Airborne Forces - in a special intelligence platoon. And although Ian came to the St. Petersburg Theater Academy for the first time wearing a blue beret, he himself is not particularly fond of Airborne Forces Day. “The holiday unfolds according to the same scenario: a touching beginning, the laying of flowers, and in the end a showdown and a scuffle. I’m a little old for all this,” admits the actor.

Still from the film “Bitter!”

Fedor Dobronravov

The broken, cheerful fellow Ivan Budko from the TV series “Matchmakers” is a stern man in life, who received real army training in the Airborne Forces. In 1978, Dobronravov came to Moscow to enter the circus school in the clownery department. But then young men who had not served in the army were simply not accepted into the school. And the future artist was offered to return after demobilization, in two years. By assignment, Fedor ended up in Azerbaijan, in the airborne troops, where he served from 1979 to 1981. He later admitted that military service made him disciplined, efficient and romantic. “There is a lot of romance in the army. It is in service, and in weapons, in guys like you, in the sky, in the Motherland that you defend. We call our colleagues, meet, congratulate each other on this day,” Dobronravov said. “During my service, I learned to follow orders, which is very good for an artist.”

Still from the TV series “Matchmakers”

Vladimir Tishko

TV presenter Vladimir Tishko. Photo: Global Look Press

The TV presenter honestly served for two years of his life in the 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Vladimir admits that it was the army that strengthened him and made him a man. Despite his fear of heights, he jumped with a parachute along with the others. “Wonderful feelings remained, although the service was not easy,” recalls Vladimir. “Once the parachute lines injured my neck. But these are trifles, because service in the Airborne Forces has become the best school of life.”

Maxim Drozd

As a boy, he dreamed of continuing the family tradition and becoming an actor. But Maxim failed to follow in the footsteps of his father, Georgy Drozd, who was a People’s Artist of Ukraine, immediately after school. Having failed exams at a theater school, Maxim went into the army. He got into the Airborne Forces thanks to his youthful hobby - while still at school, he began to seriously engage in boxing and even became a master of sports. The athletic and strong guy was quickly assigned to the paratroopers.

After the service, Drozd fulfilled his dream and entered the theater. According to him, his army experience has come in handy more than once in his acting profession: “And not only in work, but also from an everyday point of view, the army gave me a lot. I served in a reconnaissance company because I was a sporty guy with good reactions. You understand that in reconnaissance you need to think and act quickly and accurately. I believe that every man should undergo military service. Such experience is simply necessary: ​​not enough sleep, not enough food in the name of a serious man’s business. I have great respect for service people who take an oath and then follow their duty, no matter what the cost.”

Still from the film"Late Repentance"

Alexander Pyatkov

In the film about paratroopers “In the Zone of Special Attention,” the actor played one of his best roles - the fearless captain Zuev. This year the film turns 40 years old.

“I will never forget that time, and I always say that the birthday of the airborne troops is both my birthday as a citizen and as an actor. And Vasily Margelov, commander of the USSR Airborne Forces, is my godfather,” says the artist. “He sent me straight from the service to shoot the film “In the Zone of Special Attention.” I consider it a great blessing that I got this role then, and I will be forever grateful for it. Winged infantry has no equal in the world. I congratulate everyone with the words with which we, paratroopers, usually begin to greet each other: “Glory to the Airborne Forces!”

After his first parachute jump, Pyatkov wrote a song, which he now calls the unofficial march of the airborne troops. When the composition became truly popular, the commander of the Airborne Forces, General Shpak, gave the actor a watch from his own hand.

Actor Alexander Pyatkov. Photo: Global Look Press

Ivan Demidov

The famous TV presenter also gave two years to the airborne assault. And this despite the fact that Ivan’s father had the position of Deputy Minister of Communications of the USSR; in 1981, he sent his son to the army. Demidov served in the airborne forces in Lithuania, where he received the rank of junior sergeant.

TV presenter Ivan Demidov. Photo: Global Look Press

Evgeniy Sidikhin

As a child, the future actor dreamed of becoming a sailor, and as he grew up, he ended up in Afghanistan. A talented first-year student at the acting department of the Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography was unexpectedly drafted into the army due to a shortage. Even People's Artist of Russia Igor Vladimirov (Alice Freindlich's husband) asked for Evgeniy: he went to the military commissar, and he promised that the guy would study.

“Then, apparently, some kind of check came upon them, and naturally, as a “thieve,” they first of all took me away for two years,” recalls Sidikhin. - We were sent first to the Turkestan Military District, and then distributed to Afghanistan. I served there for a year, it was in 1983-1984. I fell ill with typhus and was admitted to the hospital. However, Afghanistan seemed to me a very worthy place.”

In Afghanistan, Sidikhin had to take part in hostilities. Having been demobilized in 1985, Evgeniy reinstated himself at the institute, enrolling in Lev Dodin’s course, where he studied until his successful graduation in 1989.

Still from the movie "Viking"