“I’m not on the road with fascism”: Hero of the DPR - about the award, the seven-hour battle for Volnovakha and the Mining Division

“I didn’t go for medals”

The commander of the 2nd company of the battalion named after the 383rd Mining Division, Sergey Lozovsky, is 54 years old.

The call sign Baikal suits him very well: from a tall gray-haired man with a neat mustache, it really exudes calmness and at the same time hidden strength. 

On July 9, the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, awarded Lake Baikal the title of Hero for services to the republic and its people related to the accomplishment of a heroic deed, for courage and courage shown in the battles to defend the country.

Lozovsky's company took an active part in the liberation of Volnovakha, occupied the strategic bridge and held it for seven hours, and as a result, the Ukrainian side was forced to retreat.

RT spoke with Baikal about his attitude to the award, the military path and the requirements for subordinates.

— For what exactly did you receive the Gold Star of the Hero of the DPR?

- I did not expect this award, did not hope, and did not go to fight for medals in 2014.

Thanks to the head of the DPR, thanks to the commanders for deeming me worthy of this high rank.

My company completed the assigned combat missions.

She liberated part of the city, captured a strategic object, namely the bridge along which the enemy planned to break through.

It was a tough fight that lasted seven hours without a break.

We held the defense, did not let the enemy through - and peace came to Volnovakha.

Tell us a little about that fight.

“You have to understand that this is not at all the same as fighting on the defensive or in the trenches.

The fight took place on a bridge where there was nowhere to hide.

I don’t remember exactly, but there were a lot of them, about six battalions, and we held the defense with a company, there were 30 of us.

The opponents ran away, we exhausted them so well.

"Couldn't have done otherwise"

— How did you get into the army of the DNR?

- Until 2014, I worked on the surface of the mine as a tractor driver, then as the head of security.

I had to take up arms so that there would not be such lawlessness as on the “Maidan”.

Not only did they get up in Kyiv, they also began to come to Donetsk and impose their ideas.

My grandfathers fought, I just could not do otherwise.

With fascism I'm not on the road.

Then there were no companies, no platoons.

It’s just that our current commanders, simple hardworking miners, united, a team was formed.

Then they stood with bats, fittings, it’s good if someone had a hunting rifle.

Over time, they switched to a military alignment and decided to call the unit the Mining Division.

It has existed since the beginning of hostilities in the Donbass, for eight years now.

During this time, we were in Marinka, Aleksandrovka, defended Shakhtersk, Kirovskoe, there was Ilovaisk, the Donetsk airport.

What can you tell about your fighters?

- These are good people, fighting, standing in defense of their homeland.

Everything rests on the backbone of people who have been in the company since 2014.

They went through a lot of fights, they teach other people, they give the right commands.

17-year-olds came to us, and a 71-year-old fighter was there.

Now the military registration and enlistment offices do not allow people to pass because of health, age, and in 2014 it didn’t matter how old a person was and even how many hands he had - we had a fighter with one arm, a gunsmith.

Anyone can find a job.

It is not necessary to run, shoot - you can bring cartridges, cook food, kindle a fire.

- And what did the 71-year-old fighter do?

- He is a good welder, he was very necessary for the company.

Somewhere to make electricity, to assemble and disassemble equipment.

Now he is almost 80 years old, he still comes to help.

How are you feeling now, are you tired?

- We need to finish what we started, I don’t want to leave everything as it is, we need to bring it to the end.

I no longer remember civilian life, all the time in the barracks or in positions.

I have a house on the other side, when I left it, the Nazis were not there yet, and then they occupied my settlement.

Therefore, I want to free my land so that I can return home, where I have not been for eight years, to see my granddaughters.

- What will you do after the end of the special military operation?

- Rest.

I still have my age, it will be 55. Eight years of fighting have taken their toll.

It is necessary to heal after injuries - on March 21 in Marinka he received a double through in the stomach and back.

Somehow God saved me.

Basically, I want peace.

Already tired of this bang and bang.

I used to be a hunter, but now I'm thinking of handing over a gun, cartridges.

Leave only a fishing rod and a purse to go for mushrooms.

But rest only after we liberate the Motherland.