This man was destined to live only thirty-three years. He was known to the general public as the combat commander of the Donetsk People's Republic "Motorola". Since May 2014, he has been filming video reports covering the military operations of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the units of the People's Militia of Donetsk under the leadership of Igor Strelkov. He was the commander of the special anti-tank brigade "Sparta".
Loved and was loved…
Childhood
On the reliable biography of this man, better known to the public by his combat call sign "Motorola", not much is known.
Arsen (Arseny) Sergeevich Pavlov was born on February 2, 1983 in the distant city of Ukhta, Komi Republic. On the father's side in the veins of the young Arsen, namely this name was given to the boy at birth, the blood of the Komi and Adyghe flowed, the mother was Russian. His father, a native Komi, like most representatives of this nation, was glorious and borna hunter who knows no fear and is indifferent to death and any difficulties and hardships that stand in his way. It was from him that our hero adopted hunting ingenuity, the ability to hunt down prey for hours and a unique flair that was repeatedly useful to him in his further path as a warrior.
From his mother, the boy inherited extraordinary natural charisma, enthusiasm and absolute self-confidence, which attracted almost all the people he had to deal with both in civilian life and in war.
Arseny Pavlov was not even fifteen years old when a tragic accident claimed the lives of his parents. The further upbringing of the boy was taken over by his grandmother. However, this did not last long, because immediately after graduating from secondary school No. 13 in the city of Ukhta, her grandson went to serve in the Russian army.
Serving in the army
The upbringing and skills received from his father were not in vain, soon after being drafted into the army, the young man was known as a skillful and fearless soldier. The further biography of Arseny Pavlov somehow became the path of a warrior by itself. The army became his home and a kind of continuation of the hunt, which began in childhood.
After some time, he became a signalman of the 77th Guards Separate Moscow-Chernigov Brigade, where he received his famous nickname "Motorola". At the end of military service, Arsen continued his military activities, taking part in two anti-terrorist operations in Chechnya for another year and rising to the rank of deputy platoon commander.
Civil professions
In civilian life, an experienced soldier Arseniy Pavlov was a jack of all trades. By his own admission, he had to work as a marble cutter, extruder and even a rescuer, after completing a special training course at the Krasnodar Training Center of the Federal Fire Service in 2009.
Despite the possession of such highly qualified speci alties, by the beginning of the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2014, Arseniy worked as a simple laborer at a car wash in Rostov-on-Don, where he settled after serving in the army.
War in Ukraine
Arsen Sergeyevich Pavlov was one of the first volunteers to come to Donbass after the outbreak of the civil war in Ukraine. He subsequently spoke about his arrival in Ukraine in one of his few interviews:
How did it turn out? Got on the train and arrived. Didn't get into it. The Russians are here, so I've arrived. I have already said: as soon as the Molotov cocktails flew on the Maidan at the police officers, it became clear to me - that's it, this is a war. After the Nazis announced that ten Russians would be killed for each of their own, I didn’t see the point in waiting for the threat to become a reality …
At first, he, like most around, armed with only some sticks and rebar, took part in the construction of roadblocks. After some time, he was already entrusted with the leadership of a special anti-tank unit, which became part ofDonetsk People's Militia of Igor Strelkov.
In 2014, after publishing his own video reports about the battles of the Donetsk militia near Slavyansk, and later about the battles for the Donetsk airport and operations near Ilovaisk and Deb altseve, Arseniy Pavlov became known to the public. His amateur reporting began to be broadcast on news programs.
Thanks to his combat experience, fearlessness, concern for the fighters entrusted to him, as well as natural charisma and video reports, very soon Arseniy (Motorola) became almost a living legend, was wounded several times.
For his military merits and contribution to the liberation of Donbass, Arsen was awarded the St. George Cross of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Order "For Military Valor" of the first degree. Later he was awarded the title of Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic.
Private life
Arseny Pavlov, whose biography is discussed in the article, was married twice.
His first wife was Victoria Kondrashova, whom he met back in Rostov-on-Don, after returning from the army. From marriage with Victoria in 2007, his son Daniel was born.
However, in May 2014, already while participating in hostilities in the Donbass, Arseniy had a chance to rescue a 21-year-old girl from the landslides of one of the villages near Slavyansk. She turned out to be Elena Kolenkina, Motorola's last love.
Here is how Arseniy Pavlov himself describes the events of those days:
Walked through the cellars of Semyonovka aftershelling, suddenly I see a beautiful girl. She was with her mother, I asked:
- Do you need a son-in-law?
– Needed!
– Then I'm taking Lena to my place.
I took her phone, she was wounded by shrapnel in the hand, drove to the doctors. And after 2 months they decided to get married…
Arseniy and Elena became the first officially registered husband and wife in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The magnificent celebration on July 11, 2014 was attended by all the first persons of the republic, as well as representatives of many foreign and domestic media. A St. George ribbon was woven into the braids of the bride Elena, and a holster with a pistol was hidden under the wedding dress. The first newlyweds in the People's Republic were issued a marriage certificate numbered 0001.
On April 21, 2015 Arseniy Pavlov and Elena Kolenkina had a daughter, Miroslava, and on October 2, 2016, a son, Makar, was born.
Death
Just two weeks after the birth of Makar, on October 16, 2016, Arseniy Sergeevich Pavlov was taking the elevator of a residential building on Chelyuskintsev Street in Donetsk to his apartment, where his wife and children were waiting for him. At that moment, an explosive device hidden in the elevator went off.
Arseniy "Motorola" and the bodyguard accompanying him died on the spot.
Thousands of people came to the funeral of Arseny Sergeevich. The awards of the deceased, which were carried by his relatives and friends on mourning pillows, shone in the sun. The most important oneThe star of the Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic was carried by his eldest nine-year-old son Daniel. Large tears rolled down his cheeks…
