Anatoly Lebedev is a hero. Hero of the Airborne Forces Anatoly Lebed

Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed – officer of the 45th Separate Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Reconnaissance Regiment of the Airborne Forces, guard captain.

Born on May 10, 1963 in the city of Valga, Estonian SSR (now Estonia). Russian. He graduated from high school, a vocational construction school in the city of Kohtla-Jarve, and a DOSAAF parachute school.

In the Soviet Army since 1981. He served in the Airborne Forces: in the 44th Airborne Training Division in the village of Gaizhunai (Lithuanian SSR) and in the 57th separate air assault brigade in the village of Aktogay (Taldy-Kurgan region of the Kazakh SSR). From the troops in 1983 he entered a military school. In 1986 he graduated from the Lomonosov Military Aviation Technical School (Leningrad).

In 1986–1987, as part of a limited contingent of a group of Soviet troops, he took part in military operations in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, and as part of a helicopter regiment he made combat missions as a helicopter flight technician in the crew of Hero of the Soviet Union N.S. Maidanov. Then he served in the 329th transport and combat helicopter regiment and in the 337th separate helicopter regiment in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1994, together with his helicopter regiment, he was transferred from Germany to the city of Berdsk, Novosibirsk region. Since 1994 - in reserve. In the 1990s, he traveled to Serbia and took part in hostilities in the territory of the former Yugoslavia on the side of government forces.

Immediately after the attack by Chechen militants and foreign mercenaries on the Republic of Dagestan in August 1999, A.V. Lebed, on his own initiative, bought all the necessary equipment and flew to Makhachkala as a volunteer. He took part in hostilities as part of a detachment of the Dagestan militia, then in a combined police detachment.

In October 1999, he entered into a contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and went to the Chechen Republic to participate in the counter-terrorism operation. Served as deputy commander of the reconnaissance group of the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment of the Airborne Forces. In 1999–2007, he made over 10 business trips to the Chechen Republic, participated in special operations in the areas of the cities of Gudermes and Argun, as well as in the suburbs of Grozny and the Vedeno region.

In the summer of 2003, during one of the operations in the mountains near the village of Ulus-Kert, he was blown up by a mine. As a result of this injury, his foot was amputated. He received the second group of disability, but refused to resign from the Armed Forces, first he mastered the prosthesis, then parachute jumping (he had over 840 jumps) and hand-to-hand combat on the prosthesis. Already in December 2003 - January 2004, he participated in a winter operation in the mountains of the Republic of Dagestan to destroy the gang of field commander Ruslan Gelayev.

Since 2004 - commander of a reconnaissance group, since 2005 - deputy commander of a detachment in the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment. In a battle on January 9, 2005, on the territory of the Chechen Republic, a group of guards of senior lieutenant A.V. Lebed was ambushed. Two fighters were injured. When the militants tried to capture them, A.V. Lebed entered into an unequal battle and personally destroyed three militants. By his actions, he saved the lives of his subordinates. In a battle on January 24, 2005, he protected a wounded private from a grenade launcher shot with his own body. Having received a blind shrapnel wound in the lower back, he continued to command the lead patrol. Personally destroyed the grenade launcher and machine gun crew of the militants. As a result of that battle, the militants' base was captured and Shamil Basayev's contact was destroyed.

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of April 6, 2005, for courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty in the North Caucasus region, guard captain Lebed Anatoly Vyacheslavovich awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with a special distinction - the Gold Star medal.

In August 2008, as an officer of the 45th Separate Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Guard Reconnaissance Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel A.V. Lebed took part in hostilities against the Georgian Armed Forces, which committed genocide of civilians in South Ossetia. At the head of the unit, he made a daring raid on the port of Poti, sinking several combat boats of the Georgian Navy at the piers and dispersing the Georgian special forces guarding the base. For the valor and courage shown in this operation, he was one of the first in Russia to be awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree.

He continued to serve in the Russian Army. Since 2008 - operational duty officer of the operational directorate of the headquarters of the Airborne Forces.

Lived in the city of Moscow. Died on April 27, 2012 as a result of a traffic accident. The accident occurred in front of the gate to the territory of Sokolniki Park, at the intersection of Bogorodskoye Highway with Maysky Prospekt and Oleny Proezd. He lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a curb. He died on the spot from his injuries. He was buried at the Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery in Moscow.

Lieutenant colonel. Awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree (09/10/2008, No. 3), 3 Orders of Courage (04/28/2000; 02/02/2004, 01/26/2007), 3 Soviet Orders of the Red Star (05/05/1988; 10/13/1988; 12/25. 1989), Order “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd degree (04/04/1989), medals, including “For Military Merit”, personalized edged weapons.

And during the Battle of Stalingrad - in the Marine Corps. His father’s military background was one of the main reasons that pushed Anatoly to serve in the army.

On June 25, 2003, in the mountains near Ulus-Kert, Anatoly Lebed was blown up by a mine in the Argun Gorge, as a result of which his right foot was amputated. The command accommodated the combat officer and allowed him to continue serving with a prosthesis.

On January 9, 2005, he personally destroyed three militants in an unequal battle and thereby saved his wounded comrades. In one of the subsequent battles on January 24, he covered a wounded private with his own body from a shot from a grenade launcher. Having received a slight shrapnel wound in the lower back, he continued to command the lead patrol. As a result of that battle, the militants' base was captured and Shamil Basayev's contact was destroyed.

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated April 6, 2005, for the courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty in the North Caucasus region, Captain Lebed Anatoly Vyacheslavovich was awarded the title

Anatoly dreamed of heaven. And he began his journey with parachuting. He made 300 jumps even before joining the army. The guy was assigned to the Airborne Forces. Starting his service in Estonia, he continued...

Anatoly dreamed of heaven. And he began his journey with parachuting. He made 300 jumps even before joining the army. The guy was assigned to the Airborne Forces. Starting his service in Estonia, he continued in Kazakhstan. A serious landing school came in handy in life.

During his school years, Anatoly was fond of parachuting

First from left is A. Lebed, second from left is N. Maidanov.

The guy was from a family of a front-line soldier. He liked it in the army. But the sky beckoned and he entered the military aviation technical school, where they trained helicopter pilots for Afghanistan. “Beyond the river” was in dire need of such specialists.

Lebed chose a non-shooting specialty. But war changes the rules of the game. And during combat operations, various troops often depend on each other. The young officer wanted to get into the sky and he did. He was a persistent man.

The flight mechanic will tell you about the condition of the helicopter by the sound of the engine. Each rotorcraft has its own character. The flight mechanic is obliged to respect her no worse than the mood of his beloved wife or, even more so, his mother-in-law.

Swan in Afghanistan.

An experienced flight technician sees all sensor changes. He doesn’t wait for questions, but tells the commander the status of fuel consumption, temperature conditions and other flight parameters. “Bortach” loves his car like his own child and listens to it carefully.

1987 Already Afghanistan. He recalled that these years were the best in his service. Lebed made seven hundred flights in Afghanistan. They were shot down several times, sometimes they returned home at an altitude of 20 meters, they were shot at point-blank range by spooks, the blades and the car were shot through. But we got there.

The young officer was lucky. He ended up in the crew of Nikolai Maidanov. Maidanov became famous when he ended up in Afghanistan. His name was “Kolya the lucky one.” He is the only Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Russia in military aviation. Died in Chechnya. How many worthy guys died there.

But “beyond the river”, luck smiled on him. He went out to the caravan with amazing precision, regularly, as if on schedule. Lebed knew that luck is a prepared situation, carefully calculated by the pilot and crew.

Airborne special forces in Poti.

Maidanov made one and a half thousand flights in Afghanistan. Our hero took part in most of them. The landing in the movies does not happen the same way as in life. There, trained paratroopers pour into the open hatch, and in life the flight mechanic is the first to jump.

He must see where the “pinwheel” lands - what if it lands on its belly, or the ground floats? Anatoly was always the first to jump. And he often left with the landing force to work on the ground. In Afghanistan his name was Rimbaud. He took part in the destruction of a large caravan with 203 pack places and weapons.

There were 4 helicopters in the sky, then 8. The battle went on for ten hours. And Lebed received the first military Order of the Red Star. Later there were more awards, more fights. Returning to his homeland, he was sent to Germany, where our troops were stationed.

Swan shows off his car.

With my beloved dog.

The troops stationed on German soil were considered the elite. Everyone was rushing there. But the demand was also great. Daily combat training, training, dropping paratroopers, your own jumps. There were often training exercises with the Germans. But all good things come to an end quickly.

In 1994 the troops were withdrawn from Germany. The regiment was stationed in Berdsk, where the grass is waist-deep and there is no room for helicopters. And Anatoly realized that the service, the one to which he had given all of himself, was over. There is no fuel, no flights, no salaries, no housing.

In a country where “democracy” was gaining strength, there is no longer an army. He was entitled to a military pension. And he left the army. Little is known about our hero’s life in civilian life. He liked to just work - to fight or prepare for war.

Lebed leaves for Yugoslavia. They made the decision themselves. Who are they? Russian officers. Brothers in arms. It is not vertical, but friendly ties that create the microclimate of military brotherhood.

He is respected by everyone who has made his mark in the Balkans. For what? Nobody reveals the details. They know how to keep their secrets. But a reservation in an interview for Ogonyok can clarify a lot: Military reconnaissance is capable of working in mountainous forest areas, in the desert, in the Balkans and in Chechnya.

Who was our hero in the war? The business trip in the Balkan War ended - he flew to mountainous Dagestan. Why did he do this? And again he is busy with his work. After a five-year break, he is taken into the airborne special forces. You have to understand that the doors are never closed for him.

He stayed in the Chechen Republic until 2005. Dozens of special operations in the warring republic. In battle, he stepped on a mine. Half the shoe was torn off along with the foot. But I've seen worse from others. Consider yourself lucky. The helicopter was unable to pick him up from the battlefield.

The friends carried their comrade on a cape for several hours to the ambulance turntable. An operation was performed at the Khankala hospital. The foot was amputated. Already in the Moscow hospital, the leg was cut, sewed, and altered. They taught me how to walk on a prosthesis.

The forty-year-old officer continued his journey in the mountains of Chechnya. He ran with everyone else and descended by parachute. No one noticed that the fighter was one-legged.

He took part in the liquidation of Ruslan Gelayev’s gang. The scouts searched for the gang for two weeks. They found the detachment and destroyed it. Two weeks later, Anatoly was wounded in the lower back, but his spine was not hit. He didn't leave the fight. The Lord protected him during the war.

He often said that he rarely gave orders. He is more interested in participating with the group in battles. In 2005, Lebed became a Hero of Russia. And again he left for the war zone. A peace enforcement operation was underway in Tskhinvali. In the face of loss of communication, thanks to American jammers, Airborne reconnaissance officers were forced to make the right decision.

They disarmed the Georgian unit, captured the airfield, port, and ships at the pier. The infrastructure of the Georgian military was almost completely destroyed. He believed that any enemy underestimates a Russian soldier when he has a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a convenient close-combat weapon, in his hands.

Anatoly looked a little like the devil. He is short, his figure is all muscle, a characteristic kink in the eyebrows, a shaved skull and a goatee. A black Mazda 6 completes the look. There was something attractive about this one-legged man. He could not be a peaceful man. Russian Rimbaud, man-war.

Anatoly Lebed died in Moscow, near Sokolniki Park, after losing control of his bike. How strange...

Today I want to tell you about a real Russian hero, who can easily be called the Russian "Rambo". He went all the way, starting from an ordinary aviation flight mechanic all the way to the chief intelligence officer of special forces, and all his life he fought against enemies, using the laws of honor and justice. I advise you to read it.

Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed (May 10, 1963, Valga - April 27, 2012, Moscow) - officer of the 45th separate guards orders of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky special purpose reconnaissance regiment, guard lieutenant colonel of the airborne special forces, Hero of the Russian Federation (2005), holder of the Order of St. George IV degrees (2008).

Anatoly Lebed was born on May 10, 1963 in the city of Valga, Estonian SSR. Anatoly’s father, Vyacheslav Andreevich Lebed, went through the entire Great Patriotic War. He served in the Northern Fleet, and during the Battle of Stalingrad - in the Marine Corps. His father’s military background was one of the main reasons that pushed Anatoly to serve in the army.
While studying at vocational school No. 11 in Kohtla-Jarve, Anatoly was actively involved in parachuting at the local DOSAAF school. By the end of technical school, he had about 300 jumps. Unable to enter the Borisoglebsk Flight School, Lebed got a job as a repairman at the Akhtmensky Mechanical Repair Plant, from where he was called up for military service on November 3, 1981. He took the oath in the 44th Airborne Training Division, stationed in the village of Gaizhunai, Lithuanian SSR. He served as a squad commander - commander of a combat vehicle in the 57th separate air assault brigade, in the village of Aktogay, Taldy-Kurgan region, Kazakh SSR.

In 1986 he graduated from the Lomonosov Military Aviation Technical School with the rank of lieutenant. He was assigned to the 307th helicopter regiment of the Trans-Baikal Military District, but was soon sent to the Turkestan Military District, where he was trained for six months to perform tasks in the specific climate of Afghanistan. From April 25, 1987, he fought in Afghanistan as part of the 239th separate helicopter squadron of the Air Force of the 40th Combined Arms Army. He flew combat missions as a flight technician on the Mi-8 helicopter in the crew of Nikolai Maidanov.
For a year and a half in Afghanistan (with a five-month break), Lebed participated in the evacuation of the wounded, searching and destroying caravans with weapons from the air, seizing enemy ammunition and equipment in ground operations. Later, he served in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, the Trans-Baikal and Siberian military districts - in the 329th transport and combat helicopter regiment and the 337th separate helicopter regiment.

In 1994, he retired from the reserves and worked at the Afghan Veterans Foundation in the Moscow region.
He fought as a volunteer in the Balkans for the Serbs, but did not talk about this period of his life.
Since November 1999, he participated in the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. Having purchased all the necessary equipment, he flew to Makhachkala as a volunteer to protect Dagestan from an attack by militants. He was assigned to the consolidated police detachment.

When the military operation moved into Chechnya, he went to Moscow and signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, after which he returned to the war with the rank of senior lieutenant. He served as deputy commander of the reconnaissance group of the 218th battalion of the 45th separate special forces regiment of the Airborne Forces in the area of ​​Gudermes, Argun, in the suburbs of Grozny, in the Vedeno region.
On June 25, 2003, in the mountains near Ulus-Kert, Anatoly Lebed was blown up by a mine in the Argun Gorge, as a result of which his right foot was amputated. The command accommodated the combat officer and allowed him to continue serving with a prosthesis.

On January 9, 2005, he personally destroyed three militants in an unequal battle and thereby saved his wounded comrades. In one of the subsequent battles on January 24, he covered a wounded private with his own body from a shot from a grenade launcher. Having received a slight shrapnel wound in the lower back, he continued to command the lead patrol. As a result of that battle, the militants' base was captured and Shamil Basayev's contact was destroyed.
By decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated April 6, 2005, for the courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty in the North Caucasus region, Captain Lebed Anatoly Vyacheslavovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
In 2008, he took part in hostilities with Georgia in the Abkhaz direction. He was part of the group that captured the naval base in Poti and sank Georgian Navy boats. For the successful completion of tasks, he was awarded to become a Knight of the Order of St. George, IV degree, second after the commander of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District - Sergei Makarov.

The President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, during the award ceremony on October 1, 2008, said:
“Among us is also a special forces officer of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed. During combat operations, he was at the forefront of the attack and invariably demonstrated examples of personal courage.”

On April 27, 2012, Anatoly Lebed crashed in front of the gates of Sokolniki Park in Moscow, getting into an accident. The accident occurred around 17:45 at the intersection of Bogorodskoye Highway with Maysky Prosek and Oleny Proezd. The swan lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the curb. He died on the spot from his injuries. He was buried in the Alley of Heroes of the Preobrazhenskoe Cemetery in Moscow. In July 2013, a monument was erected at the paratrooper’s grave, made at the expense of his colleagues and veterans of the Russian airborne forces.

On August 2, 2014, the Rossiya 1 channel aired the documentary film “Anatoly Lebed. The Dossier of the Russian Rambo,” the plot of which is dedicated to Guard Lieutenant Colonel of the Airborne Forces Special Forces Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed.

Today, when many people join the armed forces for a salary, and it is no longer fashionable to serve the Motherland for an idea, those who act differently attract attention. Moreover, those who managed to remain an officer and a person during the difficult years of the collapse of the country, despite everything, fulfilling their duty, not on paper or in words, but in conscience. One of the real heroes of our time was Anatoly Lebed - lieutenant colonel of the 45th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment, hero of Russia, Knight of St. George, legend of the Airborne Forces and special forces.

A lot has been written about Anatoly Lebed, a documentary film has been made, there are memoirs of colleagues, stories of those who had to meet him during the war. The Airborne Veterans Medal was established in his honor, sports competitions are held in his memory, and many in the army remember him. But most often the hero is presented as a sort of “poster guy” standing somewhere against the backdrop of a mountain pass - bulging muscles, a bold look, a weapon in his hands. However, Anatoly, among other things, was a thinking person with a big, kind heart, capable of responsiveness, self-sacrifice and love. A warrior who not only goes forward when ordered, but above all, serves for his conscience. Colonel Lebed, the owner of a unique military biography, did not seek to “promote himself” or appear better than he is. Therefore, our story about him is not only about “Russian Rambo”, as the media tried to present him, but above all – as about a real hero, a warrior from God.

“There are many order bearers - there are few people. And Tolya was not only a Warrior with a capital W, but also looked at the things that were happening in the world and in the country correctly. I always gladly agreed to take part in patriotic events with children; we recently held several such meetings; I deeply shared the idea that the real and most important war now is not with a machine gun in hand, but for the hearts and souls of children. Therefore, it was very rare to see him at any pompous or secular paramilitary parties. In his free time, if he had any, he tried to be where he was most useful and needed, tried to pass on his experience to the young, he categorically rejected the role of a “wedding general.” Among his military qualities, I would like to note that he was always ready to listen to the experiences of others, adopt them, and comprehend them. Going through the war with a show-off attitude is not about him.

Tolya was a good comrade in the war and a faithful friend in civilian life, not an insensitive superman, as some try to present him, but a wonderful person with a subtle mental organization, but at the same time a real man, a soldier, a son of his Motherland”().

Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed was born on May 10, 1963 in the city of Valga in Estonia. His father, Vyacheslav Andreevich, went through the Great Patriotic War, served in the Marine Corps, and was on the verge of life and death more than once. His father's military biography, his stories about the war, medals and exploits undoubtedly left an imprint on his son's life choice. While still a very young man, while studying at a vocational school, Anatoly became interested in parachuting and made about 300 parachute jumps (!) in a club at DOSAAF. He entered the flight school, but having failed the exam in mathematics, he was not accepted. However, the dream of heaven still came true. In the fall of 1981, Anatoly Lebed was called up for military service, ended up in the 44th Airborne Training Division, after which he went to serve in Central Asia in the 57th separate airborne battalion. At the end of his military service, Sergeant Lebed entered the Lomonosov Military Aviation Technical School, which he successfully graduated in 1986. By assignment he ended up in the 307th helicopter regiment of the Trans-Baikal Military District - ZabVO, which was jokingly deciphered - “forget to come back.” But he was soon sent to the Turkestan Military District, where he spent six months preparing to carry out tasks in Afghanistan. From April 25, 1987, he fought in Afghanistan as part of the 239th separate helicopter squadron of the Air Force of the 40th Combined Arms Army. I spent a total of a year and a half “beyond the river” - in Afghanistan.

It would seem like an ordinary biography of an officer of that time. But it's not that simple. Already in Afghanistan, Anatoly Lebed became a legend who won the glory of a decisive and experienced officer in battles. Thus, being a flight engineer by military specialty, contrary to instructions, he personally took part in the combat operations of special forces, which helicopter pilots delivered to the battlefield. And Anatoly had to fly with another legend of military aviation - Nikolai Maidanov, a “pilot from God” as he was called, a hero of Russia who died in Chechnya. It was in Afghanistan that Lebed gained valuable experience of fighting in the mountains, in difficult terrain with a serious enemy. There, his signature fighting style was developed - with passion, pressure, and at the same time with calculation and great intuition, which never let him down.

After serving in Afghanistan, Lebed returned to Transbaikalia, and was soon transferred to the Western Group of Forces - to Germany (Magdeburg). There he served until the withdrawal of troops and in October 1993, together with his native 337th separate helicopter regiment, he was transferred to the Siberian Military District - to the city of Berdsk, not far from Novosibirsk. At this point, the military service of Senior Lieutenant Lebed, holder of three military orders of the Red Star, ended. Serving in the army, where there was no kerosene for flying, salaries were paid once every six months, and the airfield was overgrown with waist-deep grass, did not work out. And like many military men, in 1994 Anatoly Vyacheslavovich had to go into civilian life. At this time, he already had a wife and a small son, a tiny “veteran’s” pension for those times, no apartment and no prospects in life. And as we remember, times were dashing...

At that time, a combat officer, an “Afghan”, with experience in special operations, most often attracted criminal structures. “Showdowns” and “shooters” using firearms and explosives have become commonplace. Moreover, when hundreds of thousands of Armed Forces veterans found themselves on the streets. However, Anatoly Lebed did not make a deal with his conscience and did not become a bandit. Moreover, I tried to honestly survive in this difficult era. He was engaged in ferrying cars from Germany, worked as a security guard at the “Afghan” market in Moscow, in short, he did what he could. But he did not forget about his main male profession. And a few years later - in 1998, he volunteered to fight in Kosovo - Yugoslavia. Here's how he talked about it himself in an interview:

– Did you leave the army and voluntarily go to war?
- Yes.
- Why?
- Why? We need help. Especially the Orthodox ones. Especially to the state, and not to some private individuals or companies.
– Was it your decision or were you asked?
- No, ours. We do everything ourselves.
– Who is “we”?
– Our military, former and current, Russian officers. Or airborne veterans.

(Anatoly Lebed, interview, Ogonyok magazine No. 29 (5138) dated July 26, 2010)

This is how Anatoly Lebed ended up in the war in Yugoslavia. There, as part of a company of Russian volunteers, he took part in hostilities, about which not much is known. However, it was precisely at this time that such an important character trait of the officer as responsiveness to the grief of others appeared. After all, he went to war for his own money, without any guarantees from the state, in fact, at his own peril and risk. And he helped many during that war. Undoubtedly, his enemies also paid attention to him, recognizing Anatoly (as he did them) on the radio by his voice. And soon, he also independently went to war in Dagestan - after an attack by militants in August 1999. With his own money he purchased all the necessary equipment and ammunition, and volunteered to join the local militia. After a series of successful battles, Anatoly Lebed, together with his friend Igor Nesterenko, again entered military service, signing a contract with the 45th Airborne Regiment. Lebed’s friend, Igor, died in December 1999 near Argun. Anatoly's fate turned out differently.

This is how one of his comrades talks about it: “It was then that I met Senior Lieutenant Lebed. He amazed me with his fanaticism and unconventional approach to business. He looked for the enemy where they usually don’t look, and climbed where they usually don’t climb for security reasons. And he always found and carried out the task in such a way that the commanders had nothing to criticize the “freethinker” for. I asked him why he went to war again, why he was freezing in the mountains and risking his life, because he paid “his debt to the Motherland” back in Afghanistan. “If a bandit picks up a weapon and kills, steals someone else’s property, he must be destroyed immediately. Yes, here in the mountains, otherwise he will feel impunity and go out to rob in the center of Moscow. The militant must know: he did something evil, he won’t be able to hide, we will find him, and he will have to respond like an adult. You see, the more we crush at the top, the fewer of them will go down to the cities,” answered Lebed” (Ryan Farukshin - http://artofwar.ru/f/farukshin_r_n/lebed.shtml).

The saying goes: “God helps the brave,” and the exploits of Anatoly Lebed are a clear example of this. He not only discovered and destroyed militants, but also showed determination and courage where it was most needed. After all, despite his years (at forty years old, not everyone will be able to run through the mountains with a machine gun) and combat experience, Anatoly Lebed always held the same position - senior of the head marching patrol, that is, the first to go as part of a reconnaissance group. Accordingly, such a person has the greatest chance of dying - after all, he is not only the first to detect the enemy, but most often the first to receive a bullet. But being a warrior from God, Anatoly won every time, despite the fact that at times he himself was on the verge of death.

“At noon on June 25, 2003, a reinforced reconnaissance group, which included Lebed, discovered a well-fortified militant base, which was located in a mountainous and wooded area above the notorious village of Ulus-Kert, on the descent into the Argun Gorge. The militants were killed and the base was blown up. Towards evening, while combing the territory adjacent to the base, Lebed was blown up by an anti-personnel mine: he received a mine-explosive wound with a traumatic separation of his right foot, an extensive soft tissue defect, 1st degree shock and acute blood loss of up to one liter" (http:// www.bratishka.ru/archiv/2012/08/2012_8_2.php). It would seem that after such a serious injury one could forget about further combat service. But that was not the case - Anatoly Vyacheslavovich, with a prosthetic instead of a foot, walked through the mountains, fought and continued to make parachute jumps (!) as before.

“Already from December 2003 to January 2004, Lebed participated in a winter operation in the mountains of the Republic of Dagestan to destroy the gang of field commander Ruslan Gelayev. Since 2004, he has held the position of reconnaissance group commander, and since 2005, he has been deputy detachment commander in the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment. In a battle on January 9, 2005 on the territory of the Chechen Republic, a group of guards of senior lieutenant Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed was ambushed. Two fighters were injured. When the militants tried to capture them, Lebed entered into an unequal battle and personally destroyed three militants. By his actions, he saved the lives of his subordinates.

15 days later, in battle, on January 24, 2005, he covered a wounded private from a shot from a grenade launcher with his own body. Having received a blind shrapnel wound in the lower back, he continued to command the lead patrol, personally destroying the grenade launcher and machine gun crew of the militants. As a result of that battle, the militants’ base was captured and Basayev’s liaison was killed.” (http://ruspekh.ru/events/item/lebed-anatolij-vyacheslavovich). More than 80 bandits were destroyed in this battle! It was for this truly heroic battle that Lebed received the title of Hero of Russia and captain's shoulder straps. After all, if it were not for the officer’s initiative and his quick decision-making on the spot (according to the Charter, he was only supposed to detect the enemy), then the result of the collision could have been different. In fact, Anatoly Lebed’s reconnaissance patrol came point-blank to the enemy’s location and destroyed the militants’ base on their own, despite their significant numerical superiority. It would seem - where are there more feats? But Lebed’s achievements did not end there.

In August 2008, after Saakashvili’s adventure, which launched the Georgian army’s offensive on Tskhinvali, Anatoly Lebed’s reconnaissance group, together with paratroopers from Novorossiysk and Stavropol, advanced to carry out combat missions on the Georgian-Abkhaz border. One of the tasks was to advance scouts to the city of Poti, the base of the Georgian Navy, near which the Lebed group clashed with local special forces. Forces of equal size (platoon size) met head-on in one place. Georgian special forces were preparing to meet our scouts and took up defensive positions. Lebed instantly made the only right decision - he jumped off the armored vehicle and shouted, “Commander, come to me, let’s talk.” As a result of the “negotiations”, thanks to charisma, determination and willingness to die but not surrender, Lebed captured 22 special forces soldiers without a fight! But it could have been different - and a lot of blood would have been shed...

In the port of Poti, Lebed’s group again accomplished the impossible - “8 ships were blown up by us in the roadstead, their guards fled in a punk. 15 high-speed landing boats, 5 armored Hummers, intended for trips to the front of President Saakashvili, and therefore equipped with appropriate controls, navigation and closed-circuit communications, 4 thousand small arms, a huge amount of ammunition and medicine, became trophies.” (http://artofwar.ru/f/farukshin_r_n/lebed.shtml). For these exploits in the “August” war, Anatoly Lebed was honored to become a Knight of the Order of St. George, IV degree, second after the commander of the North Caucasus Military District, General S.A. Makarov, who decided to start the operation. People at the top started talking about the talented officer.

By the way, about career. Anatoly Lebed - an officer, a hero, a unique person in his own way, received a service apartment only at the age of 46 (!), having spent many years with his family in hostels. He refused the general position of head of the Russian military base in South Ossetia offered to him, remaining in his position in the 45th Airborne Regiment. Moreover, he was a hero not only in war, but also in peaceful life, he was not afraid to speak the truth in the eyes of the “powers that be” - the Minister of Defense, the Prime Minister, and the President. At the same time, he did not at all strive to get involved in politics, taking advantage of his extensive military acquaintances. On the contrary, he served God and his Motherland with all his might in his place. The officer also had a hobby - photography. Hundreds of photographs of Lebed from combat missions are known, reflecting his entire long combat journey.

Anatoly was also distinguished by such a quality as mercy towards the enemy - he taught to treat captured militants the way we ourselves would like to treat ourselves. And this is the purely evangelical attitude of a Russian officer even towards his enemy. Having seen everyone on combat missions, Lebed did not become embittered, and as people who knew him closely say, under the body armor and the mask of a stern warrior hid a vulnerable, peace-loving heart. Anatoly was not a “fan of war” at all, he simply could not ignore how others were beaten - both in war and in peaceful life.

Here is how he himself spoke about it: “You need to be able to stand up for yourself both at the state level and at the level of each person. We need to prepare for the worst so that this doesn't happen. And walk around wearing rose-colored glasses, la-la-poplar, and then you were hit at a green light, and the one who hit you disappeared and nothing will happen to him. This is what awaits everyone who is hiding. And if someone is being beaten on the street, it doesn’t matter who - a girl, a boy, a homeless person - and you walked past and didn’t intervene - that’s it, damn it, the same thing will happen to you. If you can’t hit him, at least just call the police. It’s already good.” (https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1443609).

“Looking at photos and videos of Anatoly Lebed, you understand that this man had powerful energy. Anatoly is more reminiscent of an ancient warrior or a Zaporozhye Cossack than a modern military man, overwhelmed by everyday problems, superiors and writings. It seems that all the hardships and deprivations of service did not leave their mark on him. As if he wasn’t the one who lost many friends in the war, he wasn’t the one who had his foot blown off, it wasn’t he who spent most of his life wandering around dorms, not even having his own home. Only in the eyes there is a slight sadness and fatigue. By the way, he was left-handed. This is noticeable in all the photos where Anatoly poses with a weapon. Left-handers are often non-standard people, but also more vulnerable...” (http://www.modernarmy.ru/article/160).

Of course, Lebed had not only friends and colleagues, but also enemies. There are many oddities in the death of the hero of Russia. Anatoly died on April 27, 2012 in Moscow near Sokolniki Park. The military officer, who had excellent command of various equipment, according to the official version, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed (they say that one of his heart valves failed). However, a number of colleagues and friends of the deceased also put forward a version of Anatoly’s murder. Moreover, such operations are not difficult for specialists, and the officer had plenty of enemies... Obviously, if he would not have ignored the current civil war in Ukraine, he would not have kept silent about the treacherous policy of the leadership... Lieutenant Colonel Lebed was and remained a real Russian officer.

Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed was buried at the Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery (Alley of Heroes).