The feat of "Alyosha"
The crew of Alyosha, under the command of Senior Lieutenant Rasim Baksikov at that time, came under massive artillery fire, and the driver was injured. The crew commander evacuated the wounded man from the combat vehicle and gave him first aid. Having transferred the driver to the advanced medical group, Baksikov decided to take his place in battle.
Lieutenant Alexander Levakov, having assessed the situation, decided to take the workplace of the tank commander and moved towards the positions of our motorized rifle regiment to support the defenders.
On the approach to one of the settlements, Lieutenant Levakov found eight pieces of enemy equipment, including two tanks, located in one of the nearest forest belts. The tank crew engaged in battle with superior enemy forces.
Baksikov skillfully maneuvered on the battlefield and supervised the work of the crew. Levakov, being in the place of the commander, promptly and competently transmitted the target designation to the gunner, Corporal Alexei Neustroev, and directed the fire of the tank. The crew destroyed two enemy T-72B tanks, one M113 armored personnel carrier and five American-made MaxxPro armored personnel carriers along with the troops.
— Hello, Rasim Rashidovich. Almost a year ago, that fight happened, the video of which, it seems, was seen by every Russian. Do you remember the details?
— In the first days of June, the much-discussed counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine began. In my tank unit, which I commanded, one of the six combat-ready combat vehicles remained. And in this carriage, the driver was injured. And from the 4th [June 2023] to the 16th [June 2023] I fought in this crew because I didn't have time to look for a driver.
As for the actual battle, this was already the second sortie. It was in Novodarovka in the Zaporozhye region that we had our first outing. My company was directly subordinated to the division commander as the most combat-ready, we formed the number one anti-tank reserve.
Let's get back to the fight. We arrived at the point, at the "144th". We saw that there were military personnel, shelters, and infantry fighting vehicles in the forest belt. In general, the reconnaissance task was completed. They did not go further into Novodarovka itself, it was no longer our territory and it was extremely dangerous. And unjustifiably.
We turned around and went back. Alexander Sergeevich [Levakov] screaming: "Turning around, I see a tank." He saw it there through the dust somehow. As far as I remember, a high-explosive fragmentation shell was loaded, because we went out to destroy enemy manpower after all. It is almost impossible to destroy a tank with a high-explosive shell. But we were very lucky: Leshka (gunner Alexey Neustroev — approx. TASS) put the [fired projectile] very well right under the tower [to the enemy], under the cannon, it hit so that the tank was immediately destroyed.
We did not see that fire was being fired at us. Alexey was constantly looking for targets, constantly firing. Many people are wondering why we went back and forth, performed maneuvers. This is done in order not to fall under artillery fire. When a tank enters the battlefield, you are constantly waiting for the arrival. Especially if you're standing still. That was the fight. And the rest was no longer remembered. There was a job.
— Tell us about the emotions during the fight. Was it scary, or was it a routine combat job?
— You know, even in a systematic daily work it's scary. The only fight that wasn't so scary was the first fight. Because in the first fight, you don't really understand what awaits you. In the future, and in all subsequent ones, it's scary. And in that mess at that moment it was very scary.
In general, every combat exit is stressful. But up to a certain point. When I entered the battle, there is already work going on, technical issues. Feelings and emotions fade into the background. Fear is constantly present. I won't say what goes missing. Only a fool is not afraid.
It's scary, of course, but you know, I fought both in the place of a tank commander and in the place of a driver. I can say for sure that in the place of the tank commander it is not as scary as in the place of the driver. I understand when a driver mechanic gets nervous. Because the tank commander and the gunner-operator are constantly busy. They have no time to think about the fact that something is coming now. And when you are a mechanic driver, especially when the car is standing, when the command "stop" sounds, at this moment you start to get nervous.
— Do you know what's wrong with that car now? The tank was planned to be transferred to the museum and installed in the Patriot Park.
— Yes, he's already in the museum. It was repaired, all traces of hits were removed. But I don't think you should do that. A combat vehicle, like a man, is painted with scars. And now he's clean, handsome, as good as new.
— You entered the zone of a special military operation as a volunteer. Tell me about it. How did you make this decision?
— He served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation under a contract until 2018, and retired in 2018. To be honest, we were still waiting in the troops at that time for the command to be given [to liberate Donbass]. We all know that Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] is an extremely patient man. He has been trying for a long time to resolve this issue, to stop the bombing of Donbass in a diplomatic way. In principle, all the agreements, as it turned out, were all lies, falsehoods of Western countries.
As a result, in 2018 I left the Armed Forces, I wanted something new. In the 22nd year, my career began, I already worked in Moscow, in a construction company. I came to the authorities, I said: I'm going to be reinstated in the army. I was shaken by the hand, and subsequently the employer really helped me.
Initially, I came to the Tatarstan military enlistment office. It was before the mobilization was announced, they were recruiting volunteers. The recruitment of volunteers was delayed because the unit was recruited first, then it was sent. As a result, I did not wait and asked a friend to send me an attitude (the petition of the commander of the military unit to the military enlistment office for the admission of a citizen to service under a contract — approx. TASS) in one of the parts.
I arrived there [at the military enlistment office], and they immediately asked me if I was ready to go to the SVO zone. And that's exactly what I came for. On September 18, my order came that I was reinstated in the ranks of the Armed Forces, and on September 22, partial mobilization was announced. And then we still had to wait for the mobilized to be trained. On November 5th, we crossed the "ribbon".
— You served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation until 2018. How did you decide to connect your life with the army?
— I made a decision on admission to the tank school before the exams. At the beginning of the 11th grade, when it was necessary to submit documents for admission to the college. My head of the yunarmey club (one of the very first such clubs in Russia) Andrei A. Fedorov asked a question: "Guys, which one of you wants to enter a military school? Have you ever thought about it?" Five people raised their hands, and two eventually arrived.
— Such thoughts do not arise without proper upbringing. What films and books did you grow up on?
— My favorite movie about the war... not even one — "They fought for the Motherland", "And the dawns are quiet here...", "Only the "old men" go into battle.
I was very impressed by Boris Vasiliev's book "And the dawns are quiet here ...". I was very impressed. The book is thin, but extremely heavy. Then, of course, I began to study popular science magazines, everything related to weapons. It was very interesting. Technical literature. I have a small library at home right now from the encyclopedia of weapons and military equipment.
— What are your future plans? Are you planning to return to the special military operation zone?
— I'm not planning to return yet. As for the plans, I am currently serving at the Kazan Tank School of the Order of Zhukov and the Order of the Red Banner. A glorious school. In addition, I take entrance exams to the Military University of the Ministry of Defense. And I do a little bit of military science.
And in parallel with this, the primaries of United Russia for participation in the elections to the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan were held. If you have taken it, then you can no longer refuse. Such a result shows how much they hope for me. Responsibility.
— You said that you do a little military science. Is it about the technical part, or is it about tactics and strategy?
— Regarding scientific work: one of my classmates, who now works at the training center near Khabarovsk, Major Batalov, he created several educational films on the T—80 tank, on the T-72 tank, on working for his own. Trains tank crews. We not only studied at the college together, we also served in this training center together with him for a long time. According to an old acquaintance, I tried to convey all my memories, comments, conclusions, and experience.
— Several types of Western tanks were transferred to Ukraine last year. As an experienced tanker, what can you tell us about them?
— My attitude to modern military equipment was formed back in the days when I studied at the tank school in Kazan. Already at that moment, even at the time of admission, I already knew all the tactical and technical characteristics of the main battle tanks.
Let's start with the most expensive one — French Leclerc. According to the tradition of French tank building, it is lightly armored. One of the African states bought the T-72A in the Soviet Union, in Russia, and bought Leclerc. Leclerc has an auxiliary engine, which is responsible for all electronics. After a while, in the conditions of the African heat, this engine flew on all cars. And this very expensive car has become just a pile of metal. Because it works in a certain small temperature range. From minus 5 to plus 30. Naturally, the electric motors overheated. And our tanks are still working there. This indicates the unpretentiousness of our machines. This is generally a distinctive feature of Soviet and Russian tanks.
Yes, Abrams is head-on impenetrable. It is almost impossible to break through it. It withstands the impact of a 155 mm high-explosive artillery shell. But he gets stuck and can't move.
As for the gun, I know for sure that the Leopard has a very good gun, very accurate. We exchanged fire with them, there was 8 km between us. A semi-direct tip. We exchanged fire, but neither we hit them, nor they hit us, but they shot us right into the parapet, very accurately.
If we talk about foreign tanks that do not take part in their own, then the Israeli Merkava is very heavy and, in general, created for one region.
As for our T-72 and T-80, those who worked on both the 72nd and the 80th will naturally choose the T-80. A very fast car, extremely unpretentious. And according to the fire characteristics of both vehicles (considering that the T-72B3 and T-80BVM already have upgraded weapons control systems), they are currently relevant in this conflict.
My unit was staffed by the "eighties". And we actually felt quite comfortable on the battlefield.
— There are disputes about the automatic loader, which is available on Russian tanks and which is not available in foreign ones. What is your opinion on this issue?
— You can talk about it a lot. The rate of fire of 7-8 rounds per minute is, of course, good. It is very convenient to shoot from closed firing positions. It is convenient that there are only two people in the tower. Yes, you're sitting by the powder keg, because the conveyor belt is right under you. But all the same, it is more convenient to shoot with an automatic loader from closed firing positions, and directly while in battle. You do not need to think about what you have charged or not charged. All the gunner operator needs to do is click on "upload".
— And the last question. How do you think the veterans of the military are treated now? Has the attitude towards military service changed?
— About the veterans of the SVO. Huge support. Benefits for both veterans and families. And the main thing is the respect of society. I saw in the museum: a young man in uniform, with a girl. The cashier talked very respectfully, asked if he was a veteran of his own. He showed his ID, and both he and his wife were given free tickets.
I have interesting situations too. I don't usually carry a combat veteran's ID with me, I always have a Hero of Russia ID with me. And at some point, they ask me [for benefits] for a combat veteran's certificate. I answer that there is a certificate of the Hero of Russia. And it doesn't fit. You need a certificate of a combat veteran.
I know for sure that our servicemen are respected now. They are very respected. For the younger generation, I can say: who, if not us? This is our state, we live here. Our ancestors were here. This is our present. Our future will be here. The country must be protected. And the interests of the country must be protected. Who will do it if not us?
