A participant in the attack on the Pskov paratroopers in 2000 was sentenced to 16 years of strict regime. This was reported by the official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia Svetlana Petrenko.

“Collected by the Central Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus Federal District, in cooperation with the UFSB of Russia in the Stavropol Territory, the evidence was deemed sufficient by the court to sentence Shamil Kazbulatov, a resident of the Stavropol Territory,” she said.

Petrenko explained that Kazbulatov was found guilty of a crime under Art. 317 of the Criminal Code ("encroachment on the lives of military personnel"). He will serve his sentence in a strict regime colony.

Thus, it was established that on 29 February 2000, as part of an armed gang of Shamil Basayev and Khattab, he attacked soldiers of the 6th company of the 104th regiment of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division. The attack was carried out in the area of ​​the village of Ulus-Kert in the Chechen Republic - the militants attacked from three sides.

“At the same time, Kazbulatov, taking a position, from a Kalashnikov assault rifle of a 5.45 mm caliber made aimed shots at servicemen. In the attack, which lasted until the morning of March 1, 2000, 84 servicemen were killed, and four were injured of varying degrees of severity, ”Petrenko said.

Kazbulatov’s arrest became known in December 2018. And in November, the other two participants of this attack were detained.

“For their involvement in this crime, Najmudin Dudiyev, born in 1975, and Ibrahim Donashev, born in 1977, who were brought to the preliminary investigation body, were arrested,” the statement reads.

In early 2018, two more militants who attacked paratroopers in 2000 were sentenced to 15.5 and 16 years in a strict regime colony.

A total of 13 militants were convicted, among them a citizen of Ukraine, a member of the UNA-UNSO * Alexander Malofeev.

  • FSB officers detain a citizen of the Russian Federation Shamil Kazbulatov
  • © FSB RF / RIA News

Fight at height 776

Recall, on February 28, 2000, the 6th company (90 paratroopers) was ordered to take the height of 776. After that, 12 scouts were sent to the mountain of Ista-Kord, however, they engaged in combat with a group of militants and were forced to return.

On February 29, about 2.5 thousand militants attacked the 6th company. As a result, the battle survived six soldiers. Fighters of the 1st company of the 1st battalion tried to come to the aid of the 6th company, however they were ambushed during the crossing of the river and were forced to retreat. They were able to reach the positions of the 6th company only on March 3.

One of the survivors was Sergeant Alexander Suponinsky. During the battle, he was wounded in the knee and contusion, but remained in the ranks. On the morning of March 6, following orders, he broke into the disposition of the Russian army.

In addition to him, Sergeant Andrei Porshnev also survived. Private Yevgeny Vladykin was wounded - the militants considered him dead and thrown onto the battlefield, but later he regained consciousness and was able to get to his own. Private Vadim Tymoshenko was also wounded, and the militants tried to find him on a bloody trail, but he was able to hide from them under the rubble of trees.

Ordinary Alexei Komarov and Roman Khristolyubov survived, as they received orders to take out Vorobiev from the battlefield, who was injured by an artery in his leg. Vorobyov himself did not survive.

Later, in the morning of March 1, the height was occupied by the militants. The art corrector of the 6th company, Viktor Romanov, caused a fire on himself. However, members of the gangs were able to break through and retreated.

22 paratroopers of the 6th company were awarded the title Hero of Russia - to all, except Suponinsky, posthumously. 68 soldiers and officers were awarded the Order of Courage. 63 of them are posthumous. In place of the death of paratroopers on March 2, 2017, the Poklonny cross was installed.

On March 1, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin, visiting Pskov, paid tribute to the dead paratroopers and compared their feat with the heroism of the soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War.

“The heroes of the 6th company made a real feat. They fought enemies as fearlessly as their grandfathers did in the fight against Nazism. And at the cost of their lives proved the holy continuity of generations, - he said. “We bow our heads before the paratroopers' heroes, we are proud of their loyalty to Russia. I bow to the parents who raised such worthy sons. ”

* “The Ukrainian National Assembly - Ukrainian National Self-Defense” (UNA - UNSO) is a Ukrainian organization recognized as extremist and banned in Russia (decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated 11/17/2014).