Sevastopol resident Nikolai Serov: “Defending the Motherland is the duty of every sane person”

Cossack of the Sevastopol Plastun hundreds Nikolai Serov has been participating in a special military operation since March 2023 as part of the Skif volunteer battalion (BARS-35) of the Terek Cossack brigade. Back in 2014, Nikolai took part in the defense of Sevastopol at checkpoints and now he could not stay away.

Defending the Motherland is the duty of every sane person. I think everyone who can hold a weapon in their hands is obliged to take part, because it’s hard for the guys. You need to be there, with your own people, to defend your city, your country, your family, your homeland. We, our Plastun hundred, have been engaged in military training for a long time, we practiced everything in Sevastopol and when we realized that we were ready, we decided to come in — the opportunity arose to get into the “Skif” battalion, it was just being created. During the special operation, we held Bakhmut, when it was liberated, we held the defense on the right flank. Relatives were worried, but supported: you can’t go anywhere without support, this is the most important thing when you are there– the press service of the Government of Sevastopol quotes the Cossack.

Nikolai was awarded the medal “Participant of a Special Military Operation” and the medal “Eternal Chief of the Terek Cossack Army, General A.P. Ermolov.”

My great-grandfather was a Cossack, I was always interested in their life. Then I met the ataman, took the oath, and decided to live a Cossack life for myself. At our base in Sevastopol, we work with children, teach them how to use a saber, hand-to-hand combat skills, and horse riding. We have our own chapel of the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, children from Sunday schools often come with the rector, Father Alexander, we conduct classes for them in nature, talk about our life. This is not a hobby, this is not a job — this is life. “Thank God that we are Cossacks” is a common Cossack motto, – Nikolay shares.

Those who are now in Sevastopol are also not standing aside: they are weaving camouflage networks for the Cossacks and everyone who needs them.

When we were “behind the ribbon,” we needed camouflage nets, and those of the hundreds who remained in Sevastopol, sisters, mothers, volunteers came and weaved nets for us, and also in the 810th Separate Guards Marine Brigade, where ours also serves Cossack, we communicate, support each other. We are not greedy, we give out networks to those who need thememphasizes Nikolai Serov.