Sasha Prokhorenko, You Are The Hero

The name of the Russian Spetsnaz officer who heroically died near Palmyra, by drawing the friendly fire is now known. It is 25-years old young graduate of Air Defense Academy, officer (most likely of junior rank) Aleksandr Prokhorenko. He is from near the city of Orenburg. He leaves behind a pregnant wife. His child must know what his (or her) father did. He will remain in the hearts and memory of all decent people. He is immortal now. 

          

Link in Russian.

   Aleksandr Prokhorenko

Link to Daily Mail

  

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Palmyra Is Taken

By now everyone who lives outside MSM news bubble should know this. Strategic ramifications of this success are immense. It is also a massive, possibly crippling, ideological blow to IS. President Putin already gave order for Russian Army's engineer-sapper units to start clearing Palmyra from mines, while State Hermitage will take active part in restoration of Palmyra's historic sites destroyed by IS savages. 

It seems now that final defeat of IS in Syria is a matter of time. Syrian Army gave good account of itself but it also clear that Russian contribution in form of active air support, military advisers and employment of Russia's massive C4ISR capabilities played one of the key roles in this operation. Meanwhile in Europe, they sing Kumbaya songs, cry, light candles, say pious speeches and promise to double down on "diversity"--you know, the usual staff which traditionally defeats dangerous enemies. But during this important for Christians (Western) day of Easter, I want to wish all of them and to decent people of other confessions a happy Easter. As they say in Russia--Христос Воскресе, Christ Is Risen. And no better gift on this day than taking Palmyra.  

Remember this?

Russian Spetsnaz Doesn't Surrender

One of the Russian Spetsnaz officers heroically died today near Palmyra, where for a week he was directing Russian Air-Space Forces' strikes against terrorists. He was detected and surrounded by IS terrorists. He called in friendly fire on his position--Vyzval Ogon' Na Sebya. 

Spetsnaz Officer Dies (In Russian) 

He entered the pantheon of Russian immortals and he will forever be hailed as a hero, who died fighting evil not only on behalf of Russia or Syria. But there will be no global hash tags, Kumbaya songs and tears of sensitive liberal youths holding hands and promising to double on tolerance. The remains of this officer will be recovered and, in a zink coffin, will be flown back to Russia where his family will be given a golden star of Hero Of Russia and his name forever will be left in the list of personnel of his unit, as if he were alive, because he is. And then the revenge will come.....

I learned about this officer while writing a eulogy for Johan Cryuff, FC Ajax, FC Barcelona and Dutch National Soccer team legendary footballer. I will write about him later.   

UPDATE: now in English. 

Russian military says special forces officer killed near Palmyra: agencies