Dmitry Valerievich
Ryabinkin
1971-1995
Dmitry Valerievich Ryabinkin (October 13, 1971, Uzhgorod, Ukrainian SSR, USSR – June 17, 1995, Budyonnovsk, Stavropol Territory (Krai), Russia) was an officer of the Alpha special unit of the Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK, later FSB) of Russia, holding the rank of Lieutenant. He died during a counter-terrorist operation to liberate hostages. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. He was born in the city of Uzhgorod. He received his primary education at Vatutinskaya Secondary School, which he entered in 1978. He proved himself to be a diligent student and a social activist. In 1985, he joined the ranks of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (Komsomol). In 1987, after finishing the eighth grade with excellent grades, he entered Minsk Suvorov Military School. During his studies, he demonstrated a high level of intellectual and physical development. In 1989, he became a bronze medalist at the All-Union Spartakiad of Suvorov Schools and fulfilled the standard for Master of Sports of the USSR in officer’s triathlon. From 1989 to 1993, he studied at Moscow Higher All-Arms Command School named after the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. He graduated from the school with honors (a red diploma). Alongside his military education, he actively engaged in sports, becoming a candidate for Master of Sports in kickboxing. In June 1993, he began his service in the elite special unit Group “A” (the famous Alpha detachment) as part of the Main Guard Directorate (GUO) of the Russian Federation. In a short time, he established himself as a highly qualified, proactive, and reliable officer. He repeatedly won internal shooting competitions within his directorate, becoming the champion in assault rifle shooting. He took part in the operation to liberate hostages seized by militants under the command of Shamil Basayev in the city of Budyonnovsk on June 14-19, 1995. During the assault on the city hospital building on June 17, 1995, while operating as part of an assault group, Lieutenant Ryabinkin accurately identified the position of an enemy who was laying down heavy fire from a heavy machine gun. Taking advantage of a pause while the militant was reloading his weapon, he took up a favorable position and eliminated him with a precise shot. Shortly after that, he was mortally wounded by a sniper’s shot while moving to another firing point. For the personal courage, bravery, and high professionalism displayed in battle, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant Dmitry Valerievich Ryabinkin was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. His memory has been immortalized: in 2005, a memorial plaque was installed on the facade of his native Vatutinskaya Secondary School, and in 2007, the school was officially named after Lieutenant Dmitry Ryabinkin.
Address: Moscow, Dmitry Ryabinkin St., 10
