Alexey Galkin is an officer of the General Intelligence Directorate, who became known for his participation in the Chechen conflict.
For several years of service in the North Caucasus, the senior lieutenant managed to fight, be held captive and arrange some daring special operations. For his services he was awarded the Golden Star of the Hero of Russia.
Biography
Alexey Galkin was born in the city of Cherkasy in 1970. He graduated from high school there. After graduation, he worked as a mechanic at a local factory. I did not receive additional education.
On the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was drafted into the armed forces for military service. He served with honors, was in good standing with the command. After demobilization, he decided to continue serving in the army of the Russian Federation, so he moved to Novosibirsk and entered the Novosibirsk Higher Military-Political Combined-Arms School named after the 60th anniversary of the Great October Revolution (NVVPOU), which in 1996 he graduated with a gold medal.
Alexey Galkin was distinguished by high professional qualities. He was well versed in military tactics, and was resistant to stressful situations. After graduation, receives the rank of senior lieutenant and continues to serve. Around the same time, he was accepted into the ranks of the General Intelligence Directorate. Since this secret service does not advertise the details of its activities, little is known about this stage in Alexei’s biography.
War in Chechnya
In 1994, the first Chechen war begins. Islamic militants are trying to capture the region and establish their power in it. The fighting takes place against the backdrop of the deepest financial and economic crisis. The actions of generals and senior management are often questioned. Chechen militants have informants inside the intelligence departments, which greatly complicates the work of agents. Valery Galkin has been involved in the conflict since 1996. The GRU had its own people in the territory controlled by the militants: they kept in touch, they provided information about the location of the Dudayev troops and their weapons.
Capture
In October 1999, Galkin Alexei Viktorovich served in Mozdok. This city was located in close proximity to the front line. On October 4, 1999, Galkin received an order from his immediate superiors to go with him to uncontrolled territory: the GRU officers had to pick up the brother of one of the Chechen informants, whom the Dudaev regime allegedly threatened with death.
At night, Galkin, Colonel Ivanov, another GRU officer, and a Chechen informant drove up to the federal checkpoint.
They had documents with them allowing them to pass through any checkpoints, so the border guards let them in. The meeting with the "brother" was scheduled in the immediate vicinity of the checkpoint. The scouts rode in a civilian passenger car and were not dressed properly. After half a kilometer they stopped at the jeep with the headlights turned off, and the Chechen went out to talk with those who were sitting in the car.
A few minutes later, a man with a flashlight approached the Volga GRUSHNIKOV and lit the interior with it. Alexey Galkin saw a machine gun at the light, but it was too late. The car was surrounded by militants, officers were dragged out of it by force. The colonel was immediately taken away, and Alexei and the second lieutenant - Vladimir Pakhomov - began to be beaten and questioned about combat missions in Chechnya. For intimidation, gunmen fired pistols.
In the cellars of Grozny
After the capture of Alexei Galkin, two of his colleagues and a Chechen informant were taken to Grozny. There they were thrown into an unheated basement. Colonel Ivanov was killed after some time. His head was found in a village near the contact line. Galkin was constantly beaten in the basement. He heard the screams of his comrades who were tortured in neighboring rooms. The officer could not determine how much he was being held, nor which month now - there were no windows in the basement. The prisoners were given water once every few days. From food there was only an onion once a week. Alex was chained to one of the basement pipes with wire. In this state, in jeans and a T-shirt, he spent several months.
Interview and Escape
Then the participant in the Chechen conflict will tell that he prayed that the pilots dropped bombs on the house where he was being held. Closer to winter, Galkin began to be interrogated. The militants asked stupid, provocative questions and demanded that they give the "right" answer. Once Galkin was dragged out of the basement. The Chechens brought two Russian conscripts and beheaded both in front of Alexei. Everything that happened was recorded on a camera, and then repeatedly showed the film to a prisoner. After that, Galkin was brought to a "press conference" for foreign journalists.
There he was forced to "confess" to organizing terrorist attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation. In the year 2000, Alexei managed to escape from captivity with his comrade Pakhomov. Two years later they were awarded the Golden Stars. Heroes of the Russian Federation could no longer serve due to health reasons.