Hero of Russia - World at War

Most challenging to play: Russia [Allied] against Georgia [Japanese]. Conditions: Normal. Size: Medium.

Background: August 9, 2008. Tskhinvali, Georgia/South Ossetia.

On August 9, a Russian convoy consisting of a reinforced battalion of the 135th Motorized Rifle Regiment, 19th Motorized Rifle Division, was travelling through the south-eastern suburbs of Tskhinvali when it was ambushed by Georgian special forces. Travelling with the convoy was Lieutenant General Anatoly Khrulyov, the commander of the 58th Army. Khrulyov was most likely the primary target of the ambush. Also travelling in the convoy were several Russian journalists who were saved from being killed by the efforts of Major Denis Vetchinov. Armed with a trophy Georgian machine gun, Vetchinov organized a defensive perimeter around the lead BTR. While doing so, he was shot through both legs but continued fight. He was wounded a second time in the head and later died. For his actions, Vetchinov was one of two Russian soldiers (the other being Lt.Col. Konstantin Timerman) in the conflict awarded the title "Hero of the Russian Federation", Russia's highest military honor. General Khrulev was also wounded in the ambush and later evacuated to a military hospital in Vladikavkaz and then on to Moscow. He was to be replaced by General Vasilii Lunev who previously served for six months as the Minister of Defense of the Republic of South Ossetia.