Our Heroes: stories of Zainsk residents who participated in the SVO, which we covered in 2025.

      The year 2025 became for Zainsk a year of remembrance, courage, and human resilience. Throughout the year we told the stories of fellow townspeople — participants of the special military operation, veterans, volunteers, and their families.

      These stories are not a dry chronicle of events but living lives of people for whom the words “duty,” “Motherland,” and “family” have a special meaning.

      Feats without fanfare

      Among the heroes of our publications is Vasily Sakhuriev, a veteran of the special military operation, awarded the Zhukov Medal. He rose from rifleman to squad commander, endured wounds, and for the first time in many years celebrated the New Year at home in Zainsk. His story is an example of calm, restrained courage without pomposity or ostentatious heroics. Equally powerful was the story of Nikolai Nikonov, who saved a comrade under fire and lost his own brother in the war. After suffering a severe wound and becoming disabled, he preserved what mattered most — human dignity and loyalty to the brotherhood-in-arms.

      The price of a peaceful sky

      Many of 2025’s heroes paid a high price for a peaceful life. Ilsur Shaidullin lost his legs after severe frostbite but did not break — he returned to an active life, received sports prostheses, and became an example of strength of spirit. The story of Yegor Makarov, who lost an eye after being wounded, struck especially deeply thanks to the words of his grandmother, who called her grandson and his comrades “our peaceful sky.”

      Heroes and the new generation

      A special place in the publications was occupied by meetings between participants of the special military operation and Zainsk’s youth and schoolchildren. Timur Zagitov, Ruslan with the call sign “BES,” veterans who received officer ranks and continued serving in the military enlistment office, did not just talk about the war — they spoke about choice, responsibility, and love for the Motherland. These dialogues became true lessons in courage and civic maturity.

      We also wrote about happy events in the families of participants of the special military operation — weddings and the birth of children. For example, the story of a serviceman with the call sign Chizh and his wife Dinara, which they told our editorial office. He learned about the birth of his daughter while in the hospital.

      Stories that must not be forgotten

      In 2025, the Zainsk-Inform website published 97 pieces about the heroes of the special military operation. Behind each publication is a person’s fate, the pain of loss, the joy of returning home, and faith in the future. We recall these stories not for the sake of statistics. We recall them to remember: heroes live nearby, walk the same streets, studied in our schools, and defend the country for the peaceful life of their loved ones. Photo by the author Aigul Yarullina

      More news about the event:

      Our Heroes: stories of Zainsk residents who participated in the special military operation that we told about in 2025

      2025 was a year of remembrance, courage, and human resilience. 10:12 01.01.2026 Zainsk News - Zainsk

      Our Heroes: stories of Zainsk residents who participated in the special military operation that we told about in 2025

      2025 was a year of remembrance, courage, and human resilience. 10:04 01.01.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Payments to Nizhny Novgorod participants of the special military operation and their families extended for a year

      Payments to Nizhny Novgorod participants of the special military operation and their families have been extended for a year. As became known from the decree of the governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Gleb Nikitin, regional support measures for families of participants of the special military operation have been extended for a year. 13:27 30.12.2025 NTA-Privolzhye - Nizhny Novgorod

      Campaign “For the participants of the special military operation and their families”

      MAU “MIBS” invites participants of the special military operation and members of their families to take part for free in events that will take place in the city libraries of Tomsk in January. 15:46 30.12.2025 MIBS of Tomsk - Tomsk