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Russian champion in CSKA Andrei Solomatin joined the ranks of the Espanyol unit in the summer and went to NWO zone. The other day, the ex-football player of the Russian national team, as part of a business trip to Moscow, visited the Sport editorial office and spoke in detail about his work at the front.
— There is a feeling that there is some kind of gap between your and the current generation of football players. You interacted with fans on absolutely equal terms; some were even members of the Red-Blue Warriors. What has changed?
— When I played for Lokomotiv, we flew by charter. And the guys who supported us on the road sometimes even took us with them. Now I don’t even know what happened. Each time period has its own values, a different upbringing. Most of the guys who play were not born in the Soviet Union. Then other values were instilled. Relations between people were much kinder. And now our task is to return it.
— It is difficult to imagine that, for example, Fyodor Chalov spent time communicating with fans .
— It cannot be said that there are no such football players. The same Alan Dzagoev was on the fan stand, other guys also stood up and charged. I would not be so categorical.
— Recently there was a case when Legia players got into trouble after a match with the Dutch AZ. Two were even arrested. Did you have to not only play for the club, but also fight?
— When you were an active footballer, probably not. But later, when he moved from the field to the podium Ah, yes.
— Wasn’t it from then that we became acquainted with the same Spaniard, the commander of “Hispaniola”?< /strong>
— No, we met Stas already there, when I arrived in the North Military District zone. The first time I visited the location was in October 2022, it was a humanitarian action. Already as a municipal deputy of the Cheryomushki district, I learned that such a structure had been created — “Espaniola”, which included the guys with whom we were in the sector. I immediately started looking for an opportunity to get there. With my wife, her family and friends, guys from the army movement, as well as fellow deputies, we collected the first humanitarian cargo and went to the unit. It's gratifying that colleagues continue to support the team.
“They told me not to come back without greetings from Palych”
— There are probably a lot of stories from that fan period?
— A lot, but that’s all interesting — not of a particularly healthy character.
— Why did you suddenly feel drawn to the sector?
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— In general, many people ask me the question, they say, I played six or seven seasons at Lokomotiv, less at CSKA, but why then CSKA? At that time, Loko did not have such a large number of fans, but when moving to CSKA I felt what fan support was like. We became champions, and then our business partner was a CSKA fan. An important point is what was happening in Lokomotiv in those years. And Palych was removed, and the legend — Batya, Yegorych Mashkov. He was also treated unfairly, although he was at the origins of the club. This also played a role. That is why I am now a “horse” and not a “locomotive”. I became closely acquainted with representatives of the football culture, ended up in the sector, where I met my future wife. There is a piece of “Lokomotiv” in me, but, above all, the “red-blue” colors. Although I really want to meet Yuri Pavlovich Semin. The guys asked: “Soloma, you don’t have to come back without greetings from Palych!”
— In 2005, you lived in Ukraine and played for Obolon. Could you then imagine that very few years would pass and such a situation would arise between our peoples and countries?
— It wasn’t even in my thoughts. I lived in Kyiv, Russian speech was everywhere, there were “Westerners” in the team, but during all that time there were not only no conflict situations, but even pre-conflict ones. Already in 2011, my first wife and daughter came to a tournament in Kyiv, she played tennis, and also calmly. You know, it happens that when a parent supports a child on the podium, there are moments of outburst of hatred. But I haven’t encountered anything like this either. And that’s how everything changed.
— Is this how propaganda was supposed to work?
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— People there became zombies. Everything was presented in reverse. They said that even the broadcasts with our president were broadcast there in fake processing. Other words were inserted. There was a systematic pumping going on. In this regard, of course, the Americans are great. What have they turned Ukraine into while sitting overseas? They are in control of the situation. Now we need to return everything to normal. We are returning those territories that belonged to us. We will win soon.
— Will it be possible to turn this all around? After all, even in the territories that have already been returned, there is a population disloyal to Russia.
— In fact, there is still a lot of work there. And you will have to show it with your attitude and example. So that people's lives improve. Restoration is now underway. Yes, I was in Severodonetsk, the situation there was difficult, there was practically not a single intact house. But I talked to the locals, a lot is being done. When people have jobs and a normal income, then they will begin to understand. And if earlier they drowned for another “lack of a country,” they will rethink and draw conclusions.
About the loss of comrades and the death of Sergei Perkhun
— What prompted not even the first trip there, but already the signing of a military contract?
— When I arrived there for the first time, “Espaniola” was part of the “Vostok” battalion. They were based in Donetsk and were in the Ugledar direction. I was there for five or six days. The moment I arrived, it hit the water tower; all these days there was no water. And when I left, I caught myself thinking that life there was completely different. But I want to come back soon. And how happy the guys were, regardless of their club affiliation, for the mini-tournament that they held! Then in Moscow they began to prepare a new cargo. The same “Nevsky Front” — they try to collect everything they need every month. In my opinion, they will already have the 12th convoy, a 20-ton truck is being assembled. They help not only Espanola, but also orphanages. In May I came again, talked with the Spaniard and decided: “Why not?” Now this is the Espanyol brigade, they have achieved heights in a year.
—What exactly are your responsibilities?
— Supply, support. I also carry out tasks on the front line.
— Does Espanyola still consist only of football fans?— No, not only. There are also non-football players. There are guys who passed Wagner. Ordinary people also come who know “Hispaniola” and the laws by which the brigade lives.
— What distinguishes you from other units?
“One of our guys recently tragically died. And the guys took him away under fire. And I happened to hear: “He’s the 200th, why risk your lives like that?” But here many have known each other for a long time, and newcomers join in, becoming one. We value everyone. It is the team that decides everything. Both in war and in peaceful life. Victories, results — everything comes from the team, from how everything is built. It's like CSKA after the arrival of Evgeniy Lennorovich Giner. When everything in the club works like clockwork — from the cook to the president. It's the same at Espanyol. Plus — the strictest prohibition law. I don’t even think about allowing anything extra. Also, there should be no internal conflicts in the team. The commander said: “If you feel that someone is not suitable for us, then there should be no bullshit.” As the proverb goes: a black sheep spoils the whole flock. It’s not for nothing that our slogan is one for all and all for one.
— It so happened that you had to lose comrades and being a football player, I mean Sergei Perkhun, and now, in the SVO zone. Which is heavier?
— Probably still now. The last loss, Stitch from the locomotive movement. He was happy about every meeting we had, sincerely. This is the hardest loss. If we compare with Seryozha Perkhun, there was a game episode, then hospital, coma, then he was gone. It was very hard, but now it’s harder.
“Situations in the Northern Military District zone can be absolutely terrible”
— War changes people. Do you feel a deformation in yourself?
— Of course. I came here for a couple of days on a business trip to Moscow. I look at people, how they behave, and sometimes it even becomes disgusting. The worldview and attitude towards people have changed.
—What is the hardest thing to get used to there?
— I do not even know. Sleeping under fire. Sometimes you just pass out from fatigue. Sleeping on the floor, on the ground — you don’t think twice about it, these are the circumstances! Once my wife asked me what kind of bed linen there was. I say: “Natasha, it’s good if at least there is a bed. What kind of bed linen?” He fell in what he came in, and then, when they gave him water, he washed himself with cold water. There was a moment when we returned to Mariupol and went to the bathhouse, fans of CSKA, Spartak and Zenit. I knew there would be hot water there. And I was the happiest person in the world!
—A lot of people can’t stand it? I mean not only everyday hardships, but also the realities of military operations.
— There were such cases, of course. But this is life, this is a person. A comrade died, he was torn to pieces, we need to collect the remains and bring them back. Some will be able to, and some will not. If all people were the same, then the world would not exist, that’s the philosophy.
— Have you ever encountered betrayal?
— There are different types of betrayal. There were all sorts of moments. The guys left. Not on the enemy's side, but simply couldn't cope. But you can leave in different ways.
— I am approaching the situation with the pilot who hijacked an Mi-8 to Ukraine in August and betrayed the country, his comrades from crew.
— This is no longer a person. It's hard to call him human. But, believe me, there are all sorts of situations. Absolutely terrible.
—You are still a Russian football star. Are there any concessions in this regard?
—In fact, tasks are completed along with everyone else. But the little, tiny respect is there!
— Remember that moment when you first became scared?
“I remember not even every minute, but every second.” It turned out that the commander and the guys and I were driving through positions in the Artemovsk direction. You drive in, look at the sky, if you notice “birds”, then you need to quickly hide. We drove into the green area on quads, but to get to the position we had to move through open areas. I joked later that I never accelerated on the football field as much as I ran between landings. You hear the whistle of a mine, you fall, there’s an explosion, you run on. We got to the dugout, and there they started firing at us with cluster munitions. You have to choose anyway. But they returned in short bursts. We drove out onto the road, I said: “Stas, the “bird”! Fortunately, it went to the side. And when there is a whole swarm of them? The FPV drone is also a fierce thing.
br>»There is more respect for the enemy than for those who escaped from Russia»
— Are the Ukrainian troops well provided for? From the outside, we cannot always judge objectively.
—Very good. They can hammer without pause. Straight from the morning — and let's go. No projectile hunger is noticed. Plus the bunkers and fortifications were prepared in such a way that it will not be easy.
— We often hear statements that many go to the Northern Military District zone for money. They say this is a good way to make money for residents of the Russian outback. Are there really a lot of people like that there?
—I still have a football school here. Taking this opportunity, I would like to say a big thank you to the leadership of the University. Bauman for providing a football arena for the students of my school this winter. But with my departure, the number of children decreased. Accordingly, income also fell. Speaking of which, they leave to earn money.
Sometimes in Espanyol the following conversations come up: “Why did you come here?” And 99% is not a monetary option. As for the villagers, maybe. In Detachments Z, someone had a choice: sit for ten years or go to war. And there are those who choose a prison sentence. This, again, comes down to the difference between people. Someone is leaving the country, and someone is leaving there. As Vykhodnoy recently said (the call sign of the Espanyola fighter — ed.), and I agree with him, there is even more respect for the Ukrainians who are fighting than for ours, who left. And not only did they dump them, but they also throw mud at the country and those with whom they previously ate from the same pan.
I can't imagine if one of them returns to the country and I meet him. I won't pass by. Today was the height of idiocy. Subscribed to the channel in the “cart”, and there is one person named… In general, a bald monster. And with such a smart look he says, why shouldn’t Galkin become the President of the Russian Federation? In my worst nightmare, this couldn’t happen. Each time the nonsense he talks about becomes brighter. Those who left, guys, left and better not come back. You have nothing to do here.
— You leave for Kazakhstan, put the flag of Ukraine on your avatar.
— Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about ! It would be nice if you left and sat there quietly. But these people should simply be executed without trial.
—Deprive them of citizenship?
— Definitely in favor. I would really bring back the death penalty and shoot them here. I've been asked many times, and yes, I am for the death penalty. Moreover, people like this actor, like him, played in “The Ninth Company”?
— Smolyaninov?
— Yes, Smolyaninov. Such — without trial or investigation.
— Like during the Great Patriotic War?
— Yes, for treason. Do not spare.
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«I want to go to Odessa»
— What will be regarded as a victory for you based on the results of the SVO?
— My wife’s parents lived in Odessa for a long time. Natasha's mom and dad haven't been there for a very long time. I myself have never been to Odessa. And the first sign will be when we go to Odessa with them, and they show me all the sights. Next — Kyiv, Warsaw. In Warsaw, go for a walk, even have a sip somewhere! With your head held high. But let's start with Odessa. This and another answer to what I'm doing there. I want to go to Odessa.
— It seems that Russians and Ukrainians have different approaches to combat operations and different levels of humanity.
— Different people. You watch videos that appear on the Internet of a three-year-old girl dancing on the bones of a Russian soldier. How children are taught from an early age to hate Russians and so on. I can’t even imagine something like this here. The following situation: what will happen if a car with Russian license plates appears in Kyiv? I don't think it will last long. Here you can also find cars with Ukrainian license plates. I looked and moved on.
Returning to the proverbs: “Where a Russian has gone, a Jew has nothing to do.” After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine's economy was in the lead. Everything was there: powerful industry, production, access to the sea, and agriculture. Russia assumed all the debts of the Union. Develop and develop! Get cheap gas and sell it further to Europe. And when we entered Mariupol, you won’t believe what we saw: at the entrance to the city there were ordinary slabs, there was no asphalt there. Couldn't the oligarchs who ruled there at least build roads? This is also the difference: we now drove from Mariupol to Shakhtersk along an ideal route.
— Returning to the football topic, were you not surprised why the Crimean clubs have not could be integrated into Russian football?
— Many openly said that they were afraid of losing something. But when we were completely disqualified everywhere and sent away for a long time, why did everyone still hesitate to accept them? They write that we still pay fees to FIFA and UEFA. What's the point?
— By the way, how is the Shakhtar stadium in Donetsk doing?
— I was there, I was walking nearby, there are photos. As I understand it, there was an arrival from the other side, but it’s standing there, waiting for better times.
— Isn’t it time to revive the club in Russian realities?
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“I don’t know if now is the time for this.” There are children's football schools there, there are championships between the republics. Sports life goes on. But talking about some global projects… Undoubtedly, over time it will be necessary to revive it. This is a big story, the club was a football flagship.
— People in those parts, due to constant danger, are probably very different from the same Muscovites who still live in hothouse conditions?—I wouldn’t say that they are very different. Ordinary people. The same as you and me. Plus, now the situation that is happening in St. Petersburg, I mean Pitbull and threats against his family. If we all go there, then who will remain here in the rear? Against the backdrop of such situations, people here too must unite. And explain to the “guests” that they came here, to our house, and must live according to our laws. And don’t arrange something like this, threaten your family, leak information and feel your impunity. Let's see how the situation develops, but such creatures must be punished.