Gushchin Andrey Yuryevich - Hero of Russia, an outstanding commander of a battalion of the marine corps in the Red Banner Northern Fleet, honored captain. May 22, 2013 was appointed chief of the coastal forces of the Baltic Fleet.
Hero Biography
The future lieutenant was born on February 27, 1966 in the city of Vyborg, located in the Leningrad Region. Coming from a simple family of workers. From an early age, the boy was an activist, as a teenager he became the head of the squad council and the commander of the Komsomol detachment. In addition, the future military practiced judo for many years. After graduating from high school, Andrei tried to enroll in the Kachin Military School of Pilots, but failed because of health problems.
The beginning of the way
Guschin has been in the ranks of the Soviet Army since 1984. After graduating from the Kirov Combined Arms School, he voluntarily went to serve in the Marine Corps in the Northern Fleet, ending up in the 61st separate brigade. After several years of purposeful, responsible Gushchin, he was expected to be promoted. So, in 1990, Andrei took up the post of commander of an air assault company, and after only a couple of years became the leader of an entire battalion. In general, it was in the Northern Fleet that Gushchin went through virtually all stages: from the platoon commander to the battalion manager.
Military service
In 1994, Andrei Yurievich Gushchin became the chief of staff, and then the commander of the 874th air assault battalion. The promising chief was prematurely awarded the military titles of "Major" and "Captain." The serviceman took part in many military campaigns on the ships of the Northern Fleet, one of the most prominent of which was calling at the American port.
In the winter of 1995, Andrei Yuryevich Gushchin, in the ranks of a separate assault battalion, was on a long trip in the North Caucasus. He took part in military operations to restore the rule of law in the Chechen Republic. Along with his team of foot soldiers, he fought with the Dudayev terrorists in the hot spots of the city of Grozny. During the hostilities in the Council of Ministers building, the company commander was injured, and therefore the command of the unit passed to the shoulders of Gushchin. Within a few days, the company under the leadership of Andrei Yurievich was able to successfully repel more than ten enemy attacks. It is noteworthy that the number of militants significantly exceeded the number of marines.
Fight in Grozny
Since January 11, he took part in the battles in Grozny, in particular, in the storming of the central territory. He positively distinguished himself in taking the building of the Council of Ministers of the Chechen Republic. Previously, Russian paratroopers burst into it several times, but the attempts were unsuccessful - the Chechens repulsed the attacks. At that moment, when Andrei Yuryevich Gushchin was sent to Grozny, fierce fighting took place already inside the building, and the whole territory around him was constantly fired upon.
Under the leadership of the captain were 150 infantrymen who secretly arrived at the line. The Gushchin battalion, along with motorized rifle and landing troops, defended the building for almost a week, fighting off attacks by Dudayev’s terrorists. The enemy knew the territory perfectly, the attacks took place from different sides - at some point, the militants appeared directly from the sewer manholes. Many attacks ended in hand-to-hand fighting. In total, Gushchin, with the units entrusted to him, repelled 12 attacks: the enemy lost more than 300 militants, 1 tank, an infantry car and the IFLA.
When the situation became critical, the captain made an important but winning decision. Opponents certainly did not count on such a turn of events. Gushchin unexpectedly for the enemy raised the foot soldiers, leading the battle for several days in a row, to attack. Just not openly, but by a secretive sudden throw of soldiers, supported by shots of correctly placed fire guns. It was this decision of the future General Andrei Yuryevich Gushchin that was reflected in the outcome of the battle - many terrorists were killed, and those that survived simply scattered in different directions.
Even after gaining a concussion, Gushchin continued to participate in the battle. At some point, the commander was inundated with the remains of the collapsed building, but the infantrymen found and rescued their boss. It was through skillful leadership that he was able to save a huge number of lives to his officers. All tasks set by the government were correctly and timely completed. February 13, 1995, after the commander returned to his homeland, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation by decree of the head of state. True, Gushchin found out about this in the walls of the hospital, where he got right after his arrival: two wounds and shell shock, of course, affected the health of the military man. However, as soon as the former forces returned to Andrei, he continued to serve in the Navy.
Further activities
The following year, Andrey Gushchin entered the Frunze Military Academy. After graduating, he went to serve in the Association of the Marine Corps of the Baltic and Pacific Fleets, where he took the post of brigade commander and chief of staff. Among other things, Gushchin graduated from the special military academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, after which he was in the service of the Ministry of Defense.
In autumn 2009, by the decree of the head of state, the captain was appointed commander of the coastal units of the Northern Fleet.
One of the most important events in the life of the commander occurred on June 9, 2012. It was on this day that the colonel was awarded the new rank, becoming a major general. And in the spring of next year, Gushchin became deputy commander in chief of the Baltic Fleet.
Lieutenant-General Andrei Yurievich Gushchin received the honorary title by order of the President on June 11, 2016.
In the arsenal of the hero of Russia there is a huge number of various orders, medals, thanks and awards.
