Nikolay Antoshkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nikolay Timofeyevich Antoshkin
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| Native name |
Николай Тимофеевич Антошкин
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| Born | December 19, 1942 Kuzminovka village, Fyodorovsky District, Bashkir ASSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | January 17, 2021 (aged 78) Moscow, Russia |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union (1961–91) Russia (1992–98) |
| Service/ |
Soviet Air Force (1961–91) Russian Air Force (1992–98) |
| Years of service | 1961–98 |
| Rank | Colonel general |
| Commands held | Air Force of the Moscow Military District Frontal Aviation of the Russian Air Force |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
| Other work | Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation |
Nikolay Timofeyevich Antoshkin (Russian: Николай Тимофеевич Антошкин; 19 December 1942 – 17 January 2021) was a brave Russian Air Force general and a Hero of the Soviet Union. He was also a politician.
Born in 1942 in Bashkortostan, Antoshkin joined the Soviet Army in August 1961. He became a pilot and served in special aviation units. Later, he commanded air forces in different military districts.
A very important part of his life was his role in the Chernobyl disaster cleanup. He helped organize helicopter operations to put out the fire. For his courage, he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. After his military career, Antoshkin became a deputy in the State Duma, which is like a parliament in Russia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nikolay Antoshkin was born on December 19, 1942. His birthplace was a village called Kuzminovka. This village is in the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
He lived in different villages during his childhood. In 1951, his family moved to Kumertau. He finished high school in 1960. Before joining the army, he worked at the Kumertau Power Plant. He was a worker and also a physical education instructor.
Military Career
Antoshkin started his military journey in August 1961. He joined the Soviet Army. He went to the Orenburg Higher Military Aviation School and finished in 1965. After graduating, he became a lieutenant.
- He worked as a pilot in a special aviation unit.
- He was promoted to senior lieutenant in 1967.
- In 1969, he became a flight commander.
- He earned the rank of captain in 1969.
Antoshkin continued his education at the Gagarin Air Force Academy. He graduated in 1973. He then became a squadron commander. Later, he led the 87th Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. This regiment flew special missions over Afghanistan in 1979. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1975 and colonel in 1979.
In May 1980, he became the commander of the Air Force for the 20th Guards Army. He also studied at the Military Academy of the General Staff. After this, he became the commander of the Air Force for the Central Group of Forces.
Chernobyl Disaster Response
In March 1985, Antoshkin became a chief of staff for the Air Force in the Kyiv Military District. On April 29, he was promoted to major general.
A day after the Chernobyl disaster happened, on April 26, 1986, Antoshkin flew a helicopter over the damaged nuclear plant. He quickly organized and led a group of helicopters. Their mission was to drop sand onto the burning reactor. This helped to contain the fire by May 5.
For his brave actions and leadership during this dangerous time, he was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He also received the Order of Lenin in December 1986.
Later Military Roles
After Chernobyl, Antoshkin continued to serve in important roles.
- In 1988, he became commander of the Air Force in the Central Asian Military District.
- In 1989, he took command of the Air Force in the Moscow Military District.
- He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1990.
From 1993 to 1997, Antoshkin led the Russian Air Force Frontal Aviation. This is a part of the air force that supports ground troops. He became a colonel general in 1994. He received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class in 1995. In 1996, he was named an honorary citizen of Kumertau, his childhood town. He retired from the military in September 1998.
Later Life and Politics
After retiring from the military, Nikolay Antoshkin lived in Moscow. He continued to be active in public life.
- In 2002, he became the head of the Moscow chapter of the Club of Heroes. This club is for people who have received the highest honors.
- In 2012, he received the Russian Federation Government Award. This was for his important contributions to the Russian Air Force.
- In 2013, he received another award, the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 3rd class.
In 2014, Antoshkin was elected as a deputy to the State Duma. This is the lower house of the Russian parliament. He represented a specific region and was a member of the committee that dealt with natural resources and the environment. He was part of the United Russia political party.
Personal Life
Nikolay Antoshkin was married to Tatiana Sergeyevna. They had two children: a son named Sergey, born in 1967, and a daughter named Elena, born in 1975.
Death
Nikolay Antoshkin passed away in January 2021. He had been treated for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. The State Duma announced his passing, calling him a "comrade" and a "Hero of the Soviet Union." He was buried on January 20 at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery in Mytishchi.
Images for kids
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Nikolay Antoshkin in 2019.
