“This is not Pussy Riot, but airborne reconnaissance!”

On November 5, Military Intelligence Day, Colonel Khabarov’s colleagues hoisted a flag with his portrait to a height of 2,033 m and recorded an appeal to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on the holy Mount Athos in Greece.

The special operation in support of Leonid Khabarov was carried out by only two paratroopers: guard captain Sergei Kukharenko and private Andrei Evstigneev. In 1978 - 79 they served in Fergana, in the 100th separate reconnaissance company, commanded by Leonid Khabarov.

This trip had two purposes. Using legal methods to protest against the lawless detention of comrades, as well as pray for the health and release of their commander, Colonel Khabarov. The idea was born suddenly, and almost no one knew about the impending expedition of the scouts (now both are disabled of the 3rd and 2nd groups) to make the ascent.

“I took a visa to Greece and a trip to Athos in advance in order to be on the Holy Mountain on the day of military reconnaissance on November 5. Andrei had problems at work, and he was not sure that he would be able to go. However, everyone who was related to pilgrimage to Athos, they assured: “Don’t worry about anything and don’t make any guesses, if there is the favor of the Mother of God, everything will work out.” And 2 days before departure, Andrei was given a visa, but they warned him that there were no plane tickets, and everything would be decided. at the airport. Before closing the door of the plane, Andrei burst into the cabin, and we flew together,” says Sergei Kukharenko.

Early in the morning of November 3, the paratroopers, along with other pilgrims on the ferry, went to the Holy Land, not knowing what and how would happen next. They knew only one thing - the assault on the summit should take place on November 5, the day of military reconnaissance. When we went ashore, we found ourselves in a Greek monastery, where a Russian-speaking Georgian monk informed everyone: “Our monastery does not give blessings to the Mountain!” They had to take part in three services, and then Andrei Evstigneev gave the idea to take off civilian clothes and put on camouflage with orders. And so they did. In the middle of the first service, a monk of about forty approached Sergei Kukharenko and, bending down, whispered in Russian: “Which school did you graduate from, Comrade Captain?” It turned out that he was a paratrooper officer, a participant in combat operations, he retired 4 years ago, became a church member, and is now a novice. The paratrooper monk warned: “Don’t go to the Mountain yourself, only with a blessing, otherwise you won’t get there, worldly and physical laws don’t apply here, but only as the Mother of God directs.” The same monk explained to the Greek elder that they were going to pray for the Russian army. And the elder blessed.

The ascent to the monastery of Panagia (altitude 1500 m) was not easy. Andrei’s heart sank, but he had to go, and always together, as the elder had instructed. Moreover, Sergei Kukharenko alone would not have been able to record an appeal to Putin. We reached the monastery, where Western Ukrainians and two Ural Cossack women were resting. They fed the paratroopers-pilgrims and gave them tea. And after a short rest, Captain Kukharenko gave the command to storm the summit. And the paratroopers rushed, resounding the Greek expanses with Vysotsky’s song “This is not a plain for you - here the climate is different...” At this time, NATO fighters were diving over the top, practicing combat approaches, at transonic speeds, but their roar only gave in to enthusiasm. Pressure 590 mm Hg. column, temp. +12 degrees The height has been taken! An unprecedented panorama opened up before our eyes, the clouds below, and the entire Athos peninsula in full view. An Orthodox cross is fixed on a huge marble boulder.

Standing on the top of Mount Athos, veteran paratrooper Kukharenko delivered his address to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, congratulated him on the day of military intelligence and reported that 05.11.2012. at 15.00 the summit was taken by forces of 100 ORR. It was time to go down.

The return descent was partially supported by a monk who happened to meet along the way - a former special forces officer who served in Afghanistan. Once again, at the monastery of Panagia, the paratroopers drank holy water and rang the bell. The job was done! In strict accordance with the plan, despite the circumstances that seemed to impede the plan.

Looking from the ferry at the receding peak, taken in a ring of clouds, the captain and private were a little envious of “those whose peaks are still ahead.”

And on November 7, already on the plane, the paratroopers-pilgrims leafed through the newspapers and saw the news - on the 6th, the Minister of Defense, whom their commander Leonid Khabarov openly criticized, was removed from his post.

Having learned about the amazing journey of her husband’s colleagues, the wife of Colonel Antonina Khabarova said that Leonid Vasilyevich really wanted to visit Mount Athos, they were going to go to Greece in the summer of 2011, but the arrest of her husband prevented them. And in one of the letters sent from the pre-trial detention center, Colonel Khabarov said that shortly before the artist’s death, they planned to meet at Vysotsky’s house. But they didn’t have time... Khabarov’s former colleagues did not know any of this when going to Mount Athos. Since November 1, Colonel Khabarov, accused of “preparing an armed rebellion,” has been in the regional hospital IK-2. The trial has been suspended presumably until November 14.

Karine Kirogosyan

Ekaterina Chalova