The commander of the crew of the Buk complex spoke about the service in the Northern Military District zone: “I won’t let you down”

Victoria was born in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), where glaciers do not melt all year round, houses stand on stilts, and along the banks of rivers you can see the skeletons of ancient animals with your own eyes.

“The parents joke that they went to the North for the girl,” says Vika. — I have a brother who is nine years older than me. I lived in Yakutia with my family for eight years. And I went to second grade at a school in the Kaluga region. We moved to the town of Yukhnov, where my father’s parents lived.

As a schoolgirl, Victoria knew that in the future she would wear shoulder straps.

— I thought about law enforcement agencies and the military path. As a result, after finishing 11th grade, I decided to enter the Military Air Defense Academy named after Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasilevsky in Smolensk. There they just announced the second enrollment of girls in the history of the academy.

— Were there military men in your family?

– That’s the point, it wasn’t. My father is a driver; at one time he served in the air defense forces on the border with Latvia. It was my decision to enter a military university. It was necessary to have positive Unified State Examination results, taking into account the approved minimum standards in the main subjects – mathematics and the Russian language. Additionally, I took an exam in physics and physical training.

It was also necessary to pass a medical commission, at which, according to our interlocutor, many were cut off.

— Particular attention was paid to visual acuity.

As Victoria says, only 35 girls were recruited, but there were many applicants, the selection was tough.

Victoria, having overcome all the trials, became a cadet.

— It wasn’t easy at first. We were accommodated in five cubicles of seven people in each. I had to live according to a strict schedule, doing everything on command. Some of the girls came from cadet classes. And I lived with my parents all the time, never even went to children’s and youth camps. And then they said that we would all have our hair cut. I rushed to call my family. And, apparently, I’m not the only one… The next day the head of the academy gathered us and explained that we just had to have a neat appearance. Long hair should be worn in braids or buns…

My interlocutor shares that it became very interesting to study when she began special subjects.

— We learned so many new things every day! These included engineering disciplines and RCBZ – radiation, chemical and biological protection. The teachers didn’t let us down. We had field trips. And I had to knead the mud, and heat the stoves, and take a cold shower. I remember how we crossed a supposedly contaminated area of ​​the area. It was winter, the frost was crackling, we pulled the gas mask over our faces, and the tires were frozen and cold… In our fifth year, we went on an internship to the Kapustin Yar training ground. Everything seemed very complicated back then. And then we remembered this time with great gratitude. We went through good training at the academy.

At the academy, as Vika says, they prepared for many things, but the most important thing was the ability to make decisions independently.

Victoria graduated from the Military Academy of Military Air Defense in 2013 with a “red” diploma. In my second year I met my future husband. Their faculties were different, but they studied at the same level.

After graduating from the university, graduates who put on lieutenant shoulder straps were sent to formations, military units and military air defense units in various regions of Russia.

“Over the course of five years, the girls and I became such friends that when we graduated, we shed tears on each other’s chests. All the white shirts were wet and the mascara was running. We were together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cadet friendship is the strongest. We no longer imagine ourselves in civilian life; we have our own world, our own values. We can now write to each other or call at any time.

Victoria and her husband were sent to serve in the anti-aircraft missile brigade in Smolensk.

— We came to the units as heads of anti-aircraft missile crews. I have three people subordinate to me. Within the framework of a special operation, these are contract soldiers; outside of it, they are conscript soldiers.

— How did your subordinates perceive that their commander was a woman?

– First of all, I am an officer, and then a woman. The commander who introduced me said so. I don’t let my subordinates down. Our discipline is ironclad. It happens that when they do something wrong, they come and bring candy. I tell them: “I need from you a responsible attitude towards military service, but you can eat the candy yourself.”

Victoria admits that when she gave birth to her daughter in 2016, she began to look at conscript soldiers not only as a commander, but also as a mother.

Victoria found herself in the SVO zone for the first time when her daughter entered first grade.

— When you cross the border, you find yourself in another world. You see the destruction and burnt out cars. But what catches the eye the most are the Russian flags that many local residents hang above their houses. When we drove there in a KamAZ, children, women and old people waved at us.

Many local residents were surprised and then smiled when they noticed Victoria in camouflage among the fighters. It is unlikely that any of them could have imagined that this was a fragile, young woman – the head of the air defense missile system crew.

Anti-aircraft missile systems are on combat duty around the clock in the Northern Military District zone, providing reliable air cover. But the air defense system is one of the most desirable targets of Ukrainian militants. There is a real hunt for him.

– Yes, the risk is big. We are the goal. But I believe in fate. And I drive away negative thoughts.

Victoria Styazhkina’s air defense missile system crew accounted for, including the downed Ukrainian drone, which carried out reconnaissance and fire adjustments.

— Found a drone on radar. Then we received confirmation that we had shot him down. Our complex is all-weather, it has proven itself very effectively in combat conditions.

Victoria is the only woman in her unit. We find out that she does not have any separate room at her position.

— We all live together in a dugout. I don’t see any difficulties in this. The fighters got used to me, and I got used to them. For them, I am “their guy.” We have normal conditions at the position. The special shelter is equipped with a kitchen and a bathhouse. Everything is disguised. Water is imported.

As Victoria says, positions are changed for safety reasons.

— What personal weapon do you have?

— A machine gun that you always have with you.

— What do you feel when you return home from the NVO zone?

— The silence seems unnatural, it is literally deafening. When you come home, you begin to appreciate that water comes from the tap; you don’t have to run anywhere with a bucket. Heat the water. What is a bath…

— March 8 is coming soon. Did any of these days in the past stand out to you in particular?

“It was at the point of permanent deployment even before the special operation.” The girls and I came in civilian clothes, with our hair done. They didn’t even want to let us into the checkpoint, not understanding who we were. They just didn’t recognize it. Then everything was very solemn, we were gathered, presented with gifts and flowers. But at first the commander was also at a loss, since he did not immediately recognize everyone. Everyone was so used to seeing us in military uniform, with our hair tucked under our hats.