Lieutenant Denis Raspopov has joined the Northern Military District since 2023. For his military service, he was awarded the title Hero of Russia. Denis admitted that this was completely unexpected for him – before he could only dream of such a title. Why the officer decided to go to the Northern Military District and what main conclusions he drew during his time at the front, he told in an interview with RT.
– Where are you from, what is your education level?
— Born in Belgorod, in 1987, he and his mother moved to Nigeria – his father was there on a business trip, building a metallurgical plant. In Nigeria, I studied in first grade at the first Soviet school at the Soviet Embassy. Two years later the whole family returned to Belgorod. After graduating from school, he entered the Institute of Technology but dropped out after one semester.
He entered the Belgorod Law Academy, completed a course there and decided to join the army – he served in the 4th Kantemirovsky Guards Division. When he returned home, he returned to the academy and graduated in 2007, but never worked in his major. He was the installer of steel and reinforced concrete structures, then began working on a rotational basis. Went to many different sectors – both oil and gas. At the same time, he monitored the situation in the country and the world.
– How did you get to SVO?
— When the partial mobilization was announced, I had just gone on another business trip to Kamchatka. At that time, my hometown Belgorod was under heavy shelling. There is nothing comparable to military actions in life; I have never been in such situations before. But in the end, interests prevailed. I decided that if you want to find out, you have to try. He signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense on January 19, 2023, and in March he was behind the tape.
-What have you had to go through over the years?
— Through different situations and feelings that I have never encountered before. In the summer of 2023, our unit received the equipment. We have established tank teams and are gradually starting work. Close position, go reconnaissance. Further, closer to autumn, the enemy broke through. Our unit advanced to destroy his group. We worked there for a month. During this time, strongholds occupied by the enemy were liberated. Then I received the medal “For Courage”.
Then, in early 2024, work towards Terny village began. Our unit's tank crews took turns going to work. We worked for about a week: first as a team, then as a second team. Our crew's work decreased in February. During our work, the offensive units made very serious progress in this direction. As a result of the work of our units, several units of enemy military equipment as well as a lot of manpower were destroyed.
During the last trip, we were targeted (they shot at us with ATGMs and anti-tank guided missiles. – RT ), and then we finished off the tank with a helicopter. I, as crew commander, evacuated my colleagues and gave them first aid. Our crew continued the battle until reinforcements arrived and were able to destroy more enemy equipment.
They went out on their own. We went to the headquarters of the combined units, where the division commander, regimental commander, ours and allies were located. To complete the job, they decided to nominate me for the title of Hero of Russia and the crew – for the Order of Courage.
“The Northern Military Region has many heroes”
– Do you remember your feelings during the awards ceremony?
– Of course! It is December 9, 2024.
Up until that point, I had never had a meeting at this level. The hall is full of celebrities, politicians, Heroes of Russia – here you will definitely feel nervous and nervous. It's very interesting. And of course, it was a pleasure to shake hands with Vladimir Vladimirovich.
— Has this award changed the attitude towards you from colleagues, friends, and acquaintances?
– In general, no. Whoever we contacted, with those people, everything remained the same. And those you don't know well, yes, be clearly respectful.
– Do you consider yourself a hero?
— Not at all, in the Northern Military Region there are many such heroes, it can be said that all of them. The award was a big surprise for me. You know, even before deciding to go to the Northern Military District, I watched some programs and they showed how they brought a Buryat fighter in a wheelchair to his native village. His countrymen met him. He has a Hero of Russia star. Then I thought: “Of course, this is an unattainable peak.” I couldn't even imagine that things would turn out like this. Life is very unpredictable and you never know what will happen tomorrow.
— Is there always a sense of fear in war?
— Before completing the task, I can clearly say that yes, it is present when it has been assigned to you. But in the process of implementation, the fear disappears somewhere. You don't feel it. My head was filled with other things, plus adrenaline.
— Has anything changed for you in SVO?
– Are not. I just clearly understand that everything in life can change in a second. You are there now, wherever you are, and in a second you may not be there anymore. Regardless of whether you are on the communication line or far away from it.
— What do you most want to wish everyone for the coming year?
– Let the special military campaign end with our victory. And we all return to normal life – civilian or military.