The special family background of the brave Russian pilot who committed suicide in Syria
The body of a Russian pilot who committed suicide because he did not want to be captured alive by the enemy after his plane was shot down in Syria has just been returned to Russia.
A video recorded by rebels and posted online shows Russian pilot Roman Filipov shouting "For our boys!" before pulling the pin on a grenade and killing himself in front of enemy gunfire.
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| Flowers are placed in front of the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow to commemorate pilot Roman Filipov. Photo: Sputnik |
The Russian Defense Ministry praised the 33-year-old soldier for fighting the rebels to the last moment. Russian defense officials pledged support for Filipov's widow Olga, two young children and parents.
Roman Filipov was a “courageous lion” who grew up in a military family and followed in his father’s footsteps. Nikolay was a decorated Russian Air Force pilot who flew numerous combat missions in the war in Chechnya. His mother Elena and younger sister Marina also served in the Russian military.
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| Roman Filipov with a lion. Photo: Siberian Times |
Filipov's former teachers recall that the young student wanted to become a pilot from the first day of school. Galina Klepikova - Headmaster of School No. 85 in Voronezh - said of Filipov: "He always got the highest grades". Filipov's former teachers also had good words for him: He was healthy, modest, blue-eyed, blond and neat. He loved sports, studied well. He dreamed of becoming a pilot...
When she heard about Filipov's heroic death, teacher Lyudmila Lazareva was shocked. She recalled: "He was like an adult, always serious, measured. He was among the best students."
Classmate Roman Dudin said Filipov was inspired by his father. "When we were in school, there was a conflict in Chechnya and his father went on a mission. He was a fighter pilot."
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| Photo: Siberian Times |
Filipov's commanders also praised him as a brave pilot. They said he graduated from the Krasnodar Military Aviation Academy, and gradually matured in his career, from a senior pilot to Deputy Squadron Commander.
Major Filipov's funeral will be held in his hometown of Voronezh in February. He will be posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia and will be personally presented by President Vladimir Putin.
