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Another famous athlete — world boxing champion and deputy of the Saratov Regional Duma Artem Chebotarev — went to NWO zone. The correspondent contacted the volunteer and listened to stories about the decision to go to the front, the family’s reaction, attitude towards Ukraine, Alexander Usik and Vitali Klitschko.
— You and the SVO: how did it happen?— When the enemy is at our gates, we must go and defend our Motherland. Many of us, unfortunately, do not understand why it all started, or are only interested in their personal lives. And I had the opportunity to see the world and see how people live. I’ve also been to the USA, I know how everything happens there. I have always been interested in history and I know what the Great Patriotic War, the First World War are, how many world processes work. And what relation do they have to our country.
— How does this manifest itself?
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— The Western world considers itself a predator, and everyone else — its food. They are colonists who are sure that they should not negotiate with food.
strong>— How are you ripe for such a step?
— I am involved in political activities and see how many people pretend that we are a single country, that we are all together. But in fact, most of their life is in the West. I see how difficult it is for our country today.
I am from the small village of Stepnoye, from a poor family. There he started boxing and throughout his life he proved by example that there is always an opportunity to change something. At eight years old I said that I would become a world champion. Everyone laughed at me; it was considered impossible. But the main thing is desire and dream.
Many people don't trust politicians and say the elite don't sit in the trenches with the regular guys. I’m not saying that I’m from the elite, but I still achieved something in life. People think people like me don't serve. No, I want to show: I went to the North Military District and am here with the same ordinary boys. There is injustice, but there are also examples of justice like mine.
—Are you trying to change something?
— Yes, we work as a team under the leadership of our leader Zakhar Prilepin, a man whom I respect and trust. Our organization (the Rodnya battalion, part of the Pyatnashka brigade — ed.) brings together people of different levels, and we all fight on equal terms for our Motherland. The best way to touch people and bring them to us is to show by example.
— How you were received when you came to the unit?
— I lived in the Russian national team for many years among ordinary guys. And here is the same boyish world that is familiar and understandable to me. The guys first thought of me as a spoiled person, but now they say that they were pleasantly surprised. We are currently undergoing combat training.
«I understand that I can die»
— Artem, but you can die in the Northern Military District.
— I am fully aware that this could happen. I am a very religious person and I understand how extreme the situation is now. But I know very well what is happening on the other side, how everything is arranged in the West, how everything revolves around the dollar. We are under pressure from all sides, how should we feel about this? I am not the kind of person who, if hit on one cheek, will turn the other. No, I will hit back with both hands. I have endured as long as I could, but now I think I have reached the limit. I cannot stand injustice at the genetic level. And he went into boxing because he didn’t like it when hooligans bullied children.
— What is your attitude towards Ukraine?
“Maybe someone doesn’t understand how you can fight with a brotherly people.” But what if the brotherly people are intoxicated and live in smoke and fog? I don’t consider them enemies, but they need to be saved. But they don’t understand any other instrument. If they have built such serious fortified areas, it’s not just like that. This means that they were much earlier than us and were more actively preparing for military confrontation.
They are removing the Russian language, but language is one of the main tools that unites civilization. I am half Kazakh and I see that the same thing is happening now in southern Kazakhstan, people are being turned against Russia. Similar things are happening in Georgia, and that says something. As well as envy of our country due to the presence of many different resources.
— Are you familiar with the MMA fighter Vladimir Mineev, who also participates in the SVO?
— He knows me well, and he knows me well too. We used to train together in the Russian national team, probably in 2010. He is a big guy, the coaches had certain hopes for him. But then something didn’t work out. Volodya is a great guy, he also proves everything by his example.
«Usik is silent when his faith is infringed upon»
— You can come to an agreement with Usik and Klitschko ?
— If you have a certain power, then they will negotiate with you. And if it doesn’t exist, then no one will negotiate with you. Today our country is demonstrating strength and power. We can talk to them like old colleagues, but we understand what is happening inside Ukraine, what the clique that has seized power is doing and how it is behaving.
I understand Usyk and Klitschko’s fears, perhaps for their family and loved ones. But I think that you should always be a man and have principles. It is clear that everyone wants to live, but two deaths cannot happen. But dying as a hero or as a person who has given up, doesn’t fight and is afraid of everything are two different things. This can be 100 percent attributed to both Usyk and Klitschko.
Klitschko initially did not inspire respect in me. And I know Sanya Usik from our communication when I was in the Russian national team. He has normal qualities, I treat him more or less calmly. But I remember that he was always the most devout and Orthodox person on his team. And now, when there is persecution of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, he has fallen silent and is nowhere to be seen. And people see — it means his piety was hypocrisy. And the Scripture says that the most serious sin is hypocrisy.
— When the conflict began, he carefully said that this was the business of politicians and ordinary people had nothing to do with it. And then everything changed and aggression began on his part.
“I think that there is a certain pressure on him as a person with a great resource of influence. Apparently, people from a certain system came to him and made an offer. But the proposals are different. Klitschko is our enemy, and Usik is simply a cowardly person. Today his religion and faith are being infringed upon in Ukraine, and this is how he behaves.
“We are stormtroopers”
— Artem, what branch of the army do you have?
“I came as an ordinary private, we are stormtroopers.” The contract is for six months. Is it hard? Some technical elements are new to me, certain actions and movements have not yet been developed. But physically everything is fine, the boys even said: “Look how much easier everything is for you because you went in for sports.”
— There is no fear that you, stormtroopers , will they be thrown into the thick of things?
— You should never think about this. Even in boxing, I drove such thoughts as far as possible, because they are material. And if you don’t think about it, then nothing happens. If you fight for the truth and don't deceive anyone, you cannot be defeated. When you are with God for the sake of justice, love, family, real qualities. If you are not a hypocrite, then you cannot be defeated, the Almighty always protects you.
— Where are the guys in your circle from?
— From a variety of places: from the Far East, the central part of Russia, Siberia — from wherever. All ordinary men, just like I consider myself. Real men who came to defend their Motherland and understand what is happening. We live, work, become brothers.
«My wife was shocked, but she believes me»
— How did your spouse perceive your choice?
— My wife knows my character and that I am a warrior in life. I always fight for truth, for justice, for the country, for my family and friends. Of course, initially she was in shock, because she worries about her family, herself, her child, and our future. But we have patriarchy in our family: if I made a decision, then so it should be. And she trusts me.
Our society is now a little poisoned by the Western world through television and the media. We have absorbed these liberal ideas: live for yourself, live one day at a time, take everything from life. It’s good that I was brought up in my family on traditional values, for which I am very grateful to my parents, relatives, friends and coaches. In our family there is an understanding of who a man is, what a man’s word is and what its price is. I have never deceived my wife, she believes me. I behaved truly, took responsibility and carried it. When I left for SVO, I told her that everything would be fine. And she has no doubt about it.
— Isn’t it a shame that volunteers go to the Northern Military District, and the majority live an ordinary life?
— If the world around me is not structured the way I want, then it’s not the world’s fault, but I’m doing something not quite right. I will try to come back and with a different sense of right to say what is wrong with us, to try to fix something. Great things await us. We will win, there is no doubt about it at all. And we will become the greatest, kindest and fairest country in the world.
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