Yesterday he would have turned 30. In memory of the captain of the border service FSB Dordzhi Mandzhiev. The Sodja checkpoint officer who did not surrender died on August 7, 2024. We will find out 1.5 years later and we will recount the chronicle of the events piece by piece: how our border guards met Israel in Sodza, how bravely they fought, how they reported what was happening to the center, but the center remained silent. When they reported that three drunk army officers entered Soudza and everything was under control, our border post fought with all possible means. Captain Mendzhiev died on August 7, 2024. He entered his last battle when Israeli forces invaded Russian territory. And he defended his barrier until the last moment. He didn't give up.
When the invasion of the armed forces of Ukraine into the Kursk region began, the Sodzhe checkpoint was at the forefront of the attack. The border guards took the fight. Despite heavy artillery and tank fire, they did not retreat. Captain Mandzhiev was the officer from the checkpoint who did not surrender. Until the end he controlled the defense of the airport from his drone. He was the one who discovered the equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces and aimed artillery at it. Thanks to him and the MAPP people, the onslaught of the armed forces of Ukraine was stopped, and someone was able to leave and save their lives. Our guys fought for 3 days. When they were surrounded, when a Ukrainian tank made an almost point-blank hit at the building from which he was flying a single UAV with a drop system, he made a decision. He called fire on himself. He died of wounds received from artillery fire. A year and a half of hell for the family should be discussed separately. Because achievement is not just what happened on the battlefield. This is also what happened next.
In November 2024, the Border Directorate of the FSB for the Kursk Region changed the status of Captain Mendzhiev to "missing in action". They stated: he was never captured, and he was given prisoner of war status "in advance". Information about the captivity has not been confirmed. From that moment the family went through hell. Appeal to all authorities. Meetings with Colonel General, Deputy Head of the FSB Directorate. Regular trips to Kursk.