Nizhny Novgorod participant in the special military operation: "Our strength lies in steadfast spirit. That's how we will win."

      Commander of a reconnaissance platoon, a Nizhny Novgorod SRW soldier with the call sign "Serkhan" has been on the front lines for over a year. For military merits, he was awarded the "Participant of the SRW" medal. Currently, the man is on leave in his hometown, and then he will return to "the front."

      "Serkhan" grew up in Krasnodar Krai and moved to Nizhny Novgorod in 2008, where he got married. He is a welder by profession, but despite his peaceful trade, he was proficient with weapons even before being sent on the special operation.

      "I have a father who is a hunter, and I have been a good shot since childhood. This helped me on the front line. As for getting used to combat, the first two weeks are the hardest, but then it becomes normal. The first mission was, of course, unforgettable. We had to steal a car from territory controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We tracked when their drone was flying away, and within those 20 minutes, we stole the vehicle," recalls the soldier.

      Once, Serkhan's reconnaissance unit was tasked with finding and evacuating a missing engineering squad. It turned out the engineers were hiding from enemy snipers in a dugout. The scouts successfully evacuated them, but Serkhan was wounded during the operation.

      The serviceman recalls events of the year spent at the front: how they captured "scouts" and whole groups as prisoners, how surrendered soldiers and officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were all called "drivers" and "signalmen."

      "By the way, about prisoners. There was an incident with a fair amount of daring and humor. But essentially — heroic. We once covered a storming group. There was a fighter, a real daredevil, with the call sign 'Artist.' He took a grenade, left his rifle, and went to the enemy positions. After a while, our 'Artist' was walking in just undershirt in minus 10 degrees, followed by 27 prisoners," Serkhan recalls with laughter.

      It turned out that "Artist" outflanked the enemy through a forest belt, removed his uniform, and appeared at the Ukrainian positions, claiming to be "one of theirs," saying he got lost. In Ukrainian, he asked for a cigarette, said he was tired of fighting, and decided to surrender to the Russians. And 27 people followed him.

      "Humor is essential on the front line. And friendship and understanding are equally important. By the way, people of different nationalities fight side by side with us — no conflicts. Our strength lies in our collective resilient spirit. That’s how we will win," confidently states the reconnaissance platoon commander.

      Let us remind you that the state provides material support to the defenders of the homeland and helps their families. Additionally, those who sign contracts and go to the SRW zone receive certificates for 10 acres of land in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The certificate can be used two years after receipt.

      Furthermore, the Nizhny Novgorod region has a mechanism for concluding military social contracts that guarantee the soldier's family an additional 10,000 rubles per month for each child, benefits for utilities, preschool services, and other support. Individual support for the soldier's family is also provided.

      The dispatch of residents of Nizhny Novgorod to the service location and the issuance of additional equipment are managed by the coordination center for supporting servicemen, mobilized personnel, and their families, based at the House of People's Unity. The region continues to actively support soldiers by sending humanitarian aid to the SRW zone.

      For detailed information about contract service and issued equipment, please contact the Volunteer Recruitment Center by phone: 8-800-10-17-017 or visit: https://служунн.рф/. The unified selection point is located at: Nizhny Novgorod, Lyukina Street, 2.