FROM RUSSIAN SOCIAL MEDIA:
(Not my words)
Tank biathlon record-holder Ivan Oseyev died in the SVO zone: eternal memory to the hero
Buryatia is bidding farewell to Guard Sergeant Major Ivan Oseyev, a legend of tank biathlon, the man who was the first in the world to accelerate a tank to 84 kilometers per hour. His name was celebrated throughout the country, but for Ivan, sport always came second. Service to the Motherland came first.
He was born in Kyakhta, went to school at age five, helped his comrades, and after completing his compulsory service in the tank corps, he realized that armor was his element. In 2014, he signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense and remained with the army until his last day. He became the world champion in tank biathlon in 2019, setting a record at the Alabino training ground.
From the first day of the SVO, he was on the front lines. Wounded three times, he returned to duty three times, refusing rehabilitation. In May 2025, when his crew came under attack, Ivan was the only survivor, crawling for two days to reach his friends. His awards include the Order of Courage, the Suvorov Medal, the Zhukov Medal, the Medal for Distinguished Service in Combat, the Medal for Bravery, and others. A total of 11 awards were awarded over four and a half years of fighting.
His fellow soldiers remembered him not only as a professional, but also as a kind, bright person who knew how to support and lift morale. He was only 34. In a month and a half, he would have turned 35.
Eternal memory to the Hero! We remember, we are proud, and we mourn.
Like to honor the memory of Ivan Oseyev and support his family!
