The serviceman himself spoke about this in a video message published on the Telegram channel of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to Pivovarov, his company was surrounded in a forest belt, where Ukrainian troops entered in tanks and armored personnel carriers.
“When the ammunition was already running out, there was no longer anything to shoot back with, I decided to call fire on myself,” the military man said.
Pivovarov added that at some point he ordered his subordinates to retreat and take more advantageous positions, but they did not listen to him the first time, so the military man had to repeat his order.
Oleg Pivovarov was awarded the Gold Star of the Hero of Russia.
Previously, fighters of the tank division of the West group of forces were awarded in the Northern Military District zone.
Engineers from the Center group also received awards for clearing mines in the Northern Military District zone.