Magadan honors veterans with Heroes of Our Time sports debut
Our website, April 28 – Magadan has hosted the first-ever regional sports competition "Heroes of Our Time," bringing together veterans of the special military operation, combat participants from Afghanistan and the North Caucasus, as well as their family members.
The initiative for the event came from the veterans of the special military operation themselves, who reached out to relevant agencies for support in organizing the competition. Regional Governor Sergey Nosov emphasized that assisting participants in the special operation and their families remains an unconditional priority for the region.
The competition was made possible through the efforts of Alexey Nesterov, a representative of the Combat Brotherhood organization, who proposed the event to the head of the regional Combat Brotherhood branch, Eduard Yuryevich Kozlov, as well as to Magadan's Department of Physical Culture and Sports. Governor Sergey Konstantinovich Nosov endorsed the initiative, stressing the importance of comprehensive support for veterans.
At the regional level, a decision was made to provide full backing for the event, organized in partnership with the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation. "Watching veterans and their families take part in these competitions, I sincerely hope that such events will become a regular tradition in the Magadan region," said Pavel Beregovoy, Deputy Chairman of the Magadan Regional Government. "Similar competitions are already being held across the Far Eastern Federal District and the entire country, so it is in our interest to build a strong regional team for successful performances at district and national levels."
The event was organized by the Magadan Regional Department of Physical Culture and Sports, the Kolyma Sports Complex (Sports Palace), the Presidential Regional Sports Center, the regional branch of the Combat Brotherhood public organization, the Magadan branch of the Defenders of the Fatherland State Fund for Special Military Operation Participants, and the Kolyma veterans' organization of the special operation.
The idea for the competition had been developing over an extended period. A personal commitment to sports—even after medical discharge from military service—became the foundation for this project. The concept was supported by Vyacheslav Basatin, a veteran of the Afghan War, who volunteered to take charge of organizing the event.
The competition program included both general physical and applied disciplines. On the eve of the main events, participants competed in pistol shooting and knife throwing. On the day of the event, they completed drills in assembling and disassembling the Kalashnikov rifle, as well as competed in weightlifting. A cultural program was organized for spectators and guests, featuring family relays and elements of traditional curling.
This event aims to maintain physical fitness and promote a healthy lifestyle among veterans who, after returning from combat duty, continue to engage actively in sports—including alongside their family members. Since this is the first time the competition has been held, organizers are still refining the format. "I am confident that in the future, the event will grow in scale, with more participants joining. What matters most is that veterans have the opportunity to meet and compete in disciplines accessible to everyone," said Eduard Kozlov, leader of the United Russia faction in the Magadan Regional Duma and coordinator of the party's Historical Memory project.
First-time competitions always draw special attention, as they are not just athletic contests but also a demonstration of strength of spirit and the drive for new achievements. "We are doing everything we can to ensure that veterans who fulfilled their duties on the front lines feel comfortable in civilian life. Today's events confirm that our defenders are in excellent physical shape. The presence of families and children gives us confidence that their transition to civilian life will be successful. Today, the defenders of the Motherland have proven that victory will be ours," noted Natalia Taruts, head of the Magadan branch of the state fund Defenders of the Motherland, which supports participants in the special military operation.
The competition results determined winners in several categories, both in individual and team events.
Individual standings: – Knife throwing: 1st place – Alexey Nesterov – Pistol shooting: 1st place – Andrey Aksanov
Team standings: – Knife throwing: 1st place – Arsenal team – Pistol shooting: 1st place – Desant team – Kalashnikov assembly/disassembly: 1st place – Storm team – Traditional bench press: 1st place – Arsenal team
The Arsenal team emerged as the overall winner across all events.
First-place finishers and prize winners were awarded medals, trophies, and commemorative gifts.
