Stavl Zosimov
The call sign is Santa Claus Alyosha

Chapter One

The column is traveling from the Belgorod region to Donbass. Tankers are sitting in the T-80: commander Lieutenant Alexander Levakov (call sign "Laska"), gunner-operator Corporal Alexei Neustroeva (call sign "Lech") and driver senior Lieutenant Rasim Baksikov (call sign "Monolith") and see a boy standing on the side of the road, meeting Russian soldiers on the way to the position and He salutes them.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

Look, the kid is standing on the side of the road and saluting.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Yes, this is a first-grader Alyosha. For several weeks now, he has been welcoming Russian military personnel heading to the area of the special operation.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And where does this information come from?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

They said something at headquarters. Everyone knows him.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

The commander. Let's stop. Shall we give him a tankman's helmet or something? It's spring in the spring, and the weather is wet.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Not a question. We will also conduct campaigning. Could he be a tanker in the future?

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

I think he's going to be a general in the army.

The tank stops on the side of the road, and the tankers get out of it. The column is passing by. The tankers approach the boy. The gunner with the call sign "Lech" holds a package in his hands.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

What's your name, kid?

ALYOSHA

Alyosha.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

(addressing the gunner)

What's your name, Lech?

The gunner, smiling, gently ruffles the top of the boy's head with his palm, and the boy smiles.

The GUNNER'S CALL SIGN is "LECH"

Teska, which means.

Alexei's mother approaches.

ALEXEY'S MOTHER

Hello, guys.

IS COMMANDER LASKA

your CALL SIGN?

ALEXEY'S MOTHER

Yes, my son. I went to first grade. After school, as soon as he sees traffic on the highway, he runs out.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And your baby is doing great. And why without a hat? Spring, after all. It may catch cold.

ALYOSHA

I am a soldier.

ALEXEY'S MOTHER

No matter how I asked, she doesn't dress me. She says she's not a soldier.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

Don't you want to be a tanker, Teska?

ALYOSHA

(happily)

Want.

The gunner takes a tank helmet out of the bag and puts it on Alyosha's head. Alyosha is even more excited. The tanker hands the package with the contents to the mother.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And here there are all kinds of candies. We gave you a gift.

ALEXEY'S MOTHER

Oh, come on, don't. You're going to war, you need it more.

MECHANIC, TAKE THE CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

. We have a lot of such stuff. Thanks to the country. How are you doing at school?

ALYOSHA

Good.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Come on, tankman Alyosha. We don't say goodbye.

ALEXEY'S MOTHER

Guys, you go back to your family as soon as possible.

THE GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

Will be all chocolate.

The tankers run to the tank, get in it and the tank starts moving.

In the tent, the colonel and the chief of Staff are leaning over a monitor with a tabletop with an interactive local map of the local map. The tank commander enters the tent. He stands stiffly at attention. The officers straighten up.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

The commander of the T-80 tank crew is Lieutenant Alexander Levakov (call sign "Laska").

THE COLONEL

Have you arrived, then?! I am Colonel Petrov, Pal Palych. And this is my chief of staff, Ivan Kazimirovich Sidorov.

CHIEF OF STAFF

Very pleasant.

THE COLONEL

I know we're very tired, but we don't have time to rest. Get the order. I order you to block the AFU units in the Pripyat area and seize the bridge over the Dnieper River to advance the Vostok group of forces. Is the task clear?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

That's right, Comrade Colonel. May I go?"

CHIEF OF STAFF

Go ahead. Two hours to get ready for the march and 21:00 local time to march.

The tank commander salutes and leaves the tent according to the regulations.

Soldiers are stationed at the unit on weekends. The driver, Senior Lieutenant Rasim Baksikov (call sign "Monolith"), is talking to his mother on his smartphone.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Hi honey. How are you?

MONOLITH'S WIFE

How are you? We're doing well.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

How are the kids?

MONOLITH'S WIFE

The children are healthy, but they always want you to come back.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

And where are they now?

MONOLITH'S WIFE

Here. They're sitting next to me.

The faces of the son and daughter appear on the screen.

MONOLITH'S DAUGHTER

Hi Dad.

SON OF THE MONOLITH

Hi.

MONOLITH'S DAUGHTER

Dad. When are you coming home?

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Here. I'll earn some money and come. How do you study?

MONOLITH'S DAUGHTER

I'm a drummer this quarter.

SON OF THE MONOLITH

And I'm an excellent student.

MONOLITH'S DAUGHTER

He's lying, don't listen to him. He was ordered to fail last week.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Is for what?

MONOLITH'S DAUGHTER

And he broke the principal's window with a soccer ball.

SON OF THE MONOLITH

Traitress.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

The window can be restored, but health is difficult. You, most importantly, take care of yourself and be sure to obey your mother.

His wife's face appears on the screen.

MONOLITH'S WIFE

(tearfully)

You take care of yourself. I can't sleep every night.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Are you crying?

MONOLITH'S WIFE

I'm just sad without you.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Well okay. We'll call you again next weekend.

MONOLITH'S WIFE

(tearfully)

Take care of yourself.

I'm a MECHANIC with the CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

at headquarters, not on the front line, fighting hand-to-hand with knives. The shells can't reach me. I'm a company commander, after all.

Alyosha tank is one of the first to break into the bridge over the Dnieper River. He shoots at the Ukrainian Armed Forces security posts. Then he hides in the nearest forest area.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

(on the radio)

The crew of Alyosha's tank was able to capture and hold the area of the western bank of the Dnieper River with one jerk, ensuring the approach of the main forces. During the battle, Alyosha's tank was attacked by a Javelin anti-tank system. The dynamic protection system deflected the hit and thus saved our Alyosha from damage. The crew is ready to continue their service.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH" (Behind the scenes)

Has accepted. Disguise yourself and strengthen yourself at the turn and wait. They should arrive by morning, first the armored group, and then the column itself.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Has accepted.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH" (Behind the scenes)

End of communication.

Chapter two

The tank stops. A crew of three people is sitting in the cockpit in their seats.

THE COMMANDER'S CALL SIGN IS "LASKA."

We arrived at the designated square.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And what's next, Commander? Can we wait until morning?

The commander opens the tablet and looks at the map of the area.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

IS Not present. Surprise, the floor of victory. So, listen to my command. We are moving deep into the enemy's territory and are occupying this advantageous position. And immediately we begin to press them. They're sleepy and probably won't figure it out right away. After that, we move back to the starting position. Is the task clear?

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

That's right, Commander. It's good that we have thermal imagers. And our grandfathers did not have such a thing in the Great Patriotic War.

The T-80 tank is moving deep into enemy territory, and occupies an advantageous position. Immediately begins to attack. The Ukrainians of the Armed Forces of Ukraine begin to retreat in a panic.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Changing the position. They're going to start ironing now.

The T-80 tank backs up and drives off, turns left and drives a few hundred meters. Shelling begins at the place where the tank stood earlier.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

We left on time, Commander.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

That's the way it should be. And now let's iron it out from this position.

The shelling into the void does not stop as the T-80 launches a second successive salvo at the cluster of artillery. The shelling from the Ukrainian Armed Forces stops.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

I think they're gone. They stopped shooting.

The commander turns on the radio.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

The first to the second.

HEADQUARTERS (Behind the scenes)

is the first in touch.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Accept the report. We have advanced deep into the enemy's territory, a brigade of a tank of the Russian Armed Forces has occupied an advantageous position and with a daring attack has broken the enemy's resistance, but I assume that the enemy will now pull up reserves and begin to operate from ambushes, using mobile armored groups.

HEADQUARTERS (Behind the scenes)

You are now at the forefront of heavy battles. What are you doing?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

There is no reason for me to leave the recaptured position. Good location. Everything looks like it's on the heel. So the AFU units are blocked in the area of Pripyat and the bridge over the Dnieper River is captured to advance the Vostok group of forces.

HEADQUARTERS (Behind the scenes)

Now, as soon as it gets light, the column will go, and an armored group will arrive at your front, which will accompany the column. You, the Weasel, will lead it. Is the task clear?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

That's right.

HEADQUARTERS (Behind the scenes)

End of communication.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Rasim, why did you give up the company commander?

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

IS boring. And I wanted to go to hell.

The COMMANDER, CALL SIGN "LASKA,"

would have become a tank commander. And I would have moved over.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Are you kidding? I am not a member of the command staff. Moreover, I'm from the village and I know how to drive a tractor. But you went through Chechnya anyway. I have combat experience. The management even allowed you to wear a beard. Sasha, what about your wounded mechanic?

The COMMANDER, CALL SIGN "LASKA"

, was under artillery fire, and we had to load the warhead. So he was hooked by a mine.

Tankers are sitting in the T-80: commander Lieutenant Alexander Levakov (call sign "Laska"), gunner-operator Corporal Alexei Neustroeva (call sign "Lech") and driver senior Lieutenant Rasim Baksikov (call sign "Monolith")

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And why was Santa Claus called a tank?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

And this was a special case. I called my tank "Santa Claus" and the car got that name for a reason. It was given to us just before the New Year. In appearance, "Grandfather Frost" – T-80 tank. But, this is a special car. She seems to understand everything by herself and has pulled us out of various scrapes more than once. I remember once we were "trapped".

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

What?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

An anti-tank guided missile, ATGM, was fired at the tank. We thought that was it, he wouldn't make it himself, but he just made it. We didn't even figure out how. Have you been called up as a citizen? Did Rasim call you up as a citizen?

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Yes. I graduated from college in 2010, and quit at the end of my contract in 2018. At the time of the beginning of my career, I was working in Moscow in a construction company as an engineer of the production and technical department. I had very understanding and good bosses there, all Belarusians – by the way, it's very comfortable to work with them. Everyone who has met with Belarusians probably understands what I mean: they are very

obliging and friendly. When I left work, it was not the summons that came to me, but the attitude towards the military unit – the authorities reacted to this with great understanding. I wouldn't be surprised if I still haven't been fired.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

I'm sorry, brother, what did you get, what document? I was called up on an agenda.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Refers to a military unit. When an officer or serviceman is reinstated after his discharge, he can ask for treatment in a military unit, or when transferring from one unit to another.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

In accordance with this attitude, my military enlistment office sent me here. I've been there for a couple of months, and I've even been financially supported by my former bosses. This is again a question of the integrity of Belarusians. I really like their mentality. And their dad is like that too, a great guy.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And in the fall of 2022, I was mobilized to participate in a special Russian military operation in Ukraine and immediately appointed a tank gunner-operator.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

And before that, what did you do?

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

What was he doing? He graduated from high school in 2004. During his school years, he was involved in sports: mas-wrestling and freestyle wrestling. He served as a conscript in the tank forces of the Russian Armed Forces.

Then he studied at the Namsky secondary vocational technical school as a cutter, but then independently mastered the profession of a welder. For about ten years he worked as a welder in the private enterprise Sakhavezdekhod, which was engaged in the supply and repair of all-terrain vehicles.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

And there's a river here, and we've got half the night off. Maybe we should go fishing?

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

I like to fish. It calms me down. I wonder what kind of fish is here?

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And how to catch it? There are no fishing rods, are there?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

I have a cat hook hook. It's just that we'll throw in the hacks now, and check it out in the morning. But we'll eat fish.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

And the light from the fanlight can attract the attention of the dill. Are the nights dark?!

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

And what are night vision glasses for? We'll put them on and like in the daytime, everything is visible, but we are not.

Tankers of the Alyosha tank crew wearing night vision goggles approach the riverbank and stop.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

What a silence! So, fishermen, where are we going to throw a quid?

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Take your time. I know where the fish are. We need to look for a pool. There's always a big one living there.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

And the tank was left unattended.

Commander Laska retreats into the coastal bushes and falls silent.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Are you afraid of being hijacked? I set it on the alarm.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

What's going to happen is bound to happen.

Commander Laska comes out of the bushes and approaches the tankers.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Well, that's it. We'll check it out in a couple of hours.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

And what are you fishing for?

THE COMMANDER IS THE CALL SIGN "LASKA"

ON the spinner.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

It was necessary to attach some piece of meat.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

I spat three times and said the spell. It works better than any bait. Here's a look.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Eh, I don't want to come back. Maybe we can sit here on the shore and talk.

Tankers sit down on the coastal sand.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

As in the joke about Chapaev, Petka and Furmanov?

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

What's the joke, tell me?!

The COMMANDER, CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Chapai and Petka, leave for the Ural River in the morning during the battle silence, and return in the evening. Furmanov saw this and asked Petka, they say, where are you going with Chapai? Petka answers, on the sly, to the riverbank to chat. Furmanov asks, can I come with you? Well, if Chapai doesn't mind, then go?! In the morning, Chapai, Petka and Furmanov go to the river. They come and sit on the shore. Chapai sighs and says, "Yeah!" Petka also inhales and says, "Yeah!" Furmanov looks at them and says, "Yes, yes."They go home. The next morning, Chapai tells Petka that we will no longer take Furman with us to the Urals. Why? Petka asks. He talks a lot.

The soldiers are smiling.

MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Have you heard about the action "Letter to a soldier"?

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

Yes. They brought it to us from the headquarters.

Would you like to hear the MECHANIC-CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

? I have several emails.

COMMANDER-Read THE CALL SIGN "LASKA"

. We have one too, don't we, Lech?

The Monolith mechanic takes out a part wallet and pulls out as many sheets as possible.

MECHANIC- CALL SIGN "MONOLITH"

Hello dear tanker! I do not know your name. I want to thank you for your service, for protecting us and our Homeland. I wish you and your friends excellent service, good health and strength to return home with victory alive and unharmed," the child wrote, and also drew a plane with a tank.

GUNNER-CALL SIGN "LECH"

But listen to me. Hello, dear tanker! You and I are strangers, and I hope you will be pleased with my letter, with the deepest respect, that it will be delivered to you soon. I want you to avoid adversity, I wish you not to get sick, and I really ask that you be able to protect the country in any weather. I really hope that you will be strong and able to stand up for us. And the world will be sunny and happy, and the Motherland will be calm.

COMMANDER-CALL SIGN "LASKA"

Tears are already coming. I have a letter too. I know that you stand for the defense of the Fatherland, and I'm worried about you. I wish you to defeat the fascists and return home to your family. I believe in our Victory! After all, we are Russia and we never lose. No one can break the power of Russia! I dedicate these lines to you soldiers," the boy wrote.

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