Alexander Bolotnikov

Airborne Division Officer - Lieutenant Colonel

Unit: 98th Guards Airborne Division, Western Military District

Cargo ID: #490

Full Name: Alexander Vladimirovich Bolotnikov

Russian Name: Болотников Александр Владимирович

Date of Birth: March 31, 1977 (age: 45 years)

Place of Birth: Zmeevka, Oryol region, Russia

Place of Death: Dudchany, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine (Died in a tank, body never recovered)

Education: Kolomna Higher Artillery Command School (Graduated 1999)

Awards: "Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th degree", Others under investigation

Social Media: VK.com

Russian account of his death:

Since February 2022, he has taken an active part in all directions of the Special Military Operation, reinforcing any units located on the line of contact with the enemy in areas with the most difficult state of affairs of units of parachute regiments, such as the Kyiv direction during the crossing of the Irpin River and the capture of the line on the outskirts of the village of Moshchun, as well as in the Izyum direction and during the mopping up and consolidation of the settlement of Popasna on the bridgehead.

Taking part in active defensive operations in the Mykolaiv-Kryvyi Rih direction in October 2022, as the most trained and experienced officer, in order to solve suddenly arising combat tasks in the most difficult sections of the division's defense line, he was appointed senior tank reserve of the formation.

In the course of fierce defensive battles with an enemy superior in manpower and equipment, in the defense zone of the 331st Parachute Regiment in the area of the village of Dudchany - the settlement of Sukhanove, Kherson region, starting from October 14 to 18, 2022, managing the tank company entrusted to him, instantly orienting himself in a complex rapidly changing combat situation, organized the maneuverable movement of tanks, with the infliction of systematic fire damage to the enemy with a change of firing positions, having misled the enemy, which led to the disruption of the enemy's advance and slowing down the pace of attack on our positions, constantly analyzing the enemy's actions, determined the direction of the breakthrough, moved to more favorable firing positions, conducting aimed fire, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, the crew of Lieutenant Colonel A.V. Bolotnikov during the 5-day battle, was able to repel more than 20 enemy attacks, in the course of the rapid dynamics of the enemy's offensive actions, organized the loading of ammunition in the immediate vicinity of defensive positions using natural folds of the terrain with an open trajectory of fire in the enemy's offensive zone, which made it possible to simultaneously load ammunition and conduct aimed fire, which made it possible to deter the enemy from active attacks with a jump, during intense battles, thanks to the dedication and boundless courage of Lieutenant Colonel Bolotnikov A.V., it was possible to destroy 3 tanks, 9 combat vehicles and up to 50 people of the enemy's manpower, forcing the enemy to pull back to the starting lines by the afternoon of October 18, 2022 to regroup and approach the enemy's reserves.

At around 6 a.m. on October 19, 2022, the enemy pulled up its reserves, regrouped the attacking units, reinforcing them with a tank company and the 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade. At 8 a.m., the enemy began massive artillery preparation along a wide front of the defensive positions of the 331st Guards Parachute Regiment, and from 9 a.m. went on the attack, during fierce battles at the junction of the defensive positions of the 34th and 80th Airborne Brigades, with the threat of breaking through the defense line by the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel Bolotnikov A.V. was given a combat task to advance to the specified line to strengthen the division's defense line.

Instantly orienting himself in the current dynamic situation, having determined the most probable direction of the enemy's breakthrough, he moved to the specified line. The enemy, superior in equipment and manpower, reinforced by tank units, undertook to break through the defense line in the area of the village of Sukhanovo, despite the significant superiority of the enemy in equipment and manpower, 3 tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles and up to 60 manpower, Lieutenant Colonel Bolotnikov A.V. showing dedication, courage and bravery, seeing the threat of breaking through the defense line, maneuvered with the crew to the flank of the advancing enemy, maneuvering and using the folds of the terrain, taking the enemy by surprise, during a fierce battle that lasted for 6 hours, the crew of Lieutenant Colonel Bolotnikov A.V. managed to repel 3 enemy attacks, forcing them to pull back to the starting lines, destroying 3 tanks, 5 enemy infantry fighting vehicles and up to 40 enemy manpower, so during the breakthrough of the tank at the junction of the defensive positions of the 34th and 80th airborne brigades, leading the tank crew, Lieutenant Colonel Bolotnikov A.V. achieved the destruction of significant forces But having received a mortal wound, he died on the spot, having suffered significant losses in weapons and manpower, the enemy pulled back to the starting lines. Thanks to the competent leadership and resolute courageous actions of the crew of Lieutenant Colonel A.V. Bolotnikov and his heroic perseverance and tenacity to hold the defensive lines of his division, it was possible not only to stop the breakthrough of the defense area, but also to change the intentions of the enemy, who suffered significant losses in equipment and manpower, abandoning offensive actions in this direction.

In the course of the combat mission, he actually died, but the body was not found.

By a court decision, he was declared dead on 19.10.2022. He is survived by his wife and three children.