Hero of Russia Andrey Turkin

One of the heroes of Beslan was Andrei Turkin, when he closed his grenade with his body, which in the explosion could take many lives. It happened in the autumn of 2004 during the capture of militants by the building of the school.

Years of study

In October 1975, a boy was born in Orsk. He had to grow up without a father, but he was very inquisitive and hardworking. I helped my mother by learning to do men's work. But he also paid due attention to studying at school. I managed to attend classes in the choir and the section of hand-to-hand combat. After graduating from the 8th grade, he entered the Vocational School № 63 to get a profession and start working. So he wanted to help the mother who raised him alone. In addition, he studied at the school of bodyguards. After graduating from college, he received the specialty "driver-locksmith" and was drafted into the army. He served in the Trans-Baikal border district at the outpost of the Priargunsky border detachment.

The dream came true

Also Andrei Turkin, whose photo can be seen in this article, served under contract in Tajikistan, where he took part in military operations. After the army I entered the Krasnodar Institute of Marketing and ITS for the correspondence department, but nevertheless continued to dream about military service. Therefore, after abandoning his studies, he joined the FSB of Russia. He was accepted into the management of Vympel. After training the Special Forces, he began to take part in various operations, including the release of hostages at Dubrovka. Visited on a business trip in Chechnya.

His first commander, Sergei Shavrin, warmly spoke of Andrei, who also bears the title of Hero of Russia. He noted such qualities of Turkin as sociability, economy and reliability. Sociable and generous Andrew always gathered around him many friends who sincerely loved him. He was interested in other people's problems, he always tried to help. Turkin was ready to risk his life for the sake of others, he once took on his hand a comrade who had exploded in the minefield.

Over the years of work he received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the 2nd degree. Also, Andrei Turkin, whose biography is described in this article, was introduced to the Order of Courage, but did not have time to receive it during his lifetime. After his death, the mother, wife and two sons remained. The youngest was born just 5 months after his father finished his earthly journey, and was named after him.

The tragical day

Terrorists held hostages for several days, including children. That they are not going to release them, it became clear on September 3, when the militants opened furious fire on those people who tried to escape through the destroyed walls of the sports hall, where they were held. Then it was decided to begin the assault. Several of our servicemen were sent to cover the evacuation of the hostages. Among them was Andrei Turkin. However, frantic people, among whom were wounded, fenced him off with a partner from a general group of commandos. The lieutenant and his comrade were already injured, but continued to participate in the assault. Moving under a hail of gunfire, they headed for the dining room, where the terrorists held the remaining hostages. Having destroyed one action movie, Andrei Turkin noticed that another threw a grenade right into the crowd of people. He not only covered her with his body, but also managed to deter the terrorist, having perished with him. Thanks to these actions, many lives, including children, were saved.

After the death

Of course, such a feat did not go unnoticed. By his Decree of 06.09.2004 the President awarded Andrei Turkin the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. He was also posthumously awarded with the Suvorov medal and the Order of Courage. Buried Andrei Turkin, as well as other dead special forces from the "Vympel", at the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery in Moscow.

The memory of the hero is honored on his native land in Orsk. In the Square of Heroes on the Walk of Fame, his bust was installed. Also, the class of the cadet school No. 53 in Orsk bears his name, as does the secondary school No. 1 in the village of Dinskaya, Krasnodar Region, and a memorial plaque is set up in front of the entrance to the building of this educational institution . The same board is also on the building of the Academy of Marketing in Krasnodar, where he studied Turkin.

Everlasting memory

In the border Priargun detachment still stands his bunk. He is still a member of the detachment, and his surname is pronounced upon intercession. Andrei also has his own stand in the museum of Beslan's heroes in the Moscow City Education Center. It is interesting that in this center are not pictures of the heroes who died in Beslan, but their portraits painted by a volunteer artist. Schoolchildren and young people visit this place during the "Lessons of Courage" to honor the memory of the courageous soldiers who gave their lives for the sake of saving others. Among them is Andrei Turkin. Many have tears in their eyes when they stand in front of his stand.

The biography described in this article makes us think a lot. Turkin Andrey Alekseevich will never be forgotten, as well as his courageous act.