Nomination "Our Brothers": Former stray "Tortik" becomes the mascot and psychologist of a military workshop building army buggies and "smart" carts for the SMO.
"Gorynych" had wanted a dog for a long time. In search of a four-legged friend, he scoured all the online platforms and asked his fellow servicemen. There were options, but he just couldn't find "his" pup. Still, he didn't give up. On a summer day in 2025, Egor headed to a city in the DPR to pick up spare parts for buggies—lightweight vehicles with powerful engines and tank-like off-road capability. On one of the city streets, the fighter spotted an exhausted, weakened pit bull. The dog was barely walking, flinching at every sudden noise. His emaciated state made it clear that he had been roaming the streets and starving for quite some time.
When "Gorynych" approached and gently touched the dog, the four-legged creature flinched in fear as if expecting a blow, the All-Russia People's Front of Irkutsk shared. "I realized he was starving and terrified. He shuddered at the slightest touch. It was clear that this purebred dog had been abandoned or lost a long time ago. I instantly wanted to take him with me," said the serviceman, whose heart unerringly told him: "This is it—your dog!"
A shawarma helped get the stray dog into the car. "I went to a shawarma shop and asked them to make one without any spices or sauce," Egor noted. The starving dog jumped into the vehicle after the food. From that very moment, he recognized the soldier as his human and friend. That is how, a little over a year ago, the touching story began of a loyal friendship between the four-legged wanderer and his merciful savior—an SMO participant and volunteer from Irkutsk with the call sign "Gorynych.”
Egor came up with a name for the young rescue, who was only about a year or a year and a half old, when he saw his shiny, chocolate-colored coat. "Right away, names like 'Tortik' (Little Cake), 'Pirozhok' (Little Pie), or 'Tort' (Cake) for short popped into my head," "Gorynych" shared.
At the unit, the grateful rescue settled in quickly, transforming from a fearful stray into a brave, cheerful dog. Now, he is the mascot of the workshop where equipment for the regiment is assembled. His unique role is that of an emotional outlet, brightening the harsh daily life of war and boosting morale. For the fighters, the friendly pit bull acts like an all-understanding psychologist, with whom they can not only talk openly but also share a heartfelt silence.
Thanks to his sharp hearing and unique instincts, "Tortik" has repeatedly warned of enemy drones well in advance, saving his "fellow servicemen" from danger. Such a "living radar" is better than any device. As drones approached, the pit bull would alertly prick up his ears, listening to sounds audible only to him, jump up, and start barking.
The former stray never leaves his savior's side, day or night. He follows his owner everywhere, both in the SMO zone and in the rear. When going on leave to Irkutsk, "Gorynych" takes him along. At Lake Baikal, the chocolate-coated pup gets a proper vacation: soaking up the gentle sun on the beach and splashing carelessly in the water, even though he used to be afraid of swimming.
"Gorynych" volunteered for the SMO back in 2022. At the height of the fighting in the Serebryansky forestry near Kreminna in 2023, he narrowly escaped death. Serving as a combat vehicle commander, he and his BMP (infantry fighting vehicle) crew hit an anti-tank mine. The powerful explosion blew the vehicle to pieces. Shrapnel passed just centimeters away from Egor. "The mine went off right behind my back, but all the fragments missed me. Was it luck? Or did someone from above protect me?" "Gorynych" recalls. His comrades also miraculously survived along with their commander. They made their way back to friendly lines across an open field under enemy shelling and drone attacks. They crawled for over a kilometer. Everyone made it out. Now, they all celebrate two birthdays.
Afterward, "Gorynych" began assembling buggies for the regiment's needs. He had started doing this even before the SMO. According to Egor, the idea of creating such vehicles came to him about 10 years ago, though he implemented it later. He handed over the very first machine he built to the SMO participants.
Together with "Gorynych," his biological younger brother Anton, call sign "Tucha" (Cloud), has been serving on the front lines since the summer of 2025. The vehicles they assemble are lightweight and reliable, built on the basis of UAZs. The most important part is the engine. The All-Russia People's Front of the Irkutsk Oblast and other benefactors help them with spare parts.
Within a week, the fighters transform a rusty UAZ into a fully functional operational vehicle. It features minimal weight, tank-like off-road capability, and a payload capacity of up to 1.4 tons. Buggies are needed everywhere—both in reconnaissance and in assaults. They are used to haul ammunition and provisions across rough terrain, as well as to evacuate soldiers. In addition to buggies, the military workshop assembles "smart" carts, upgrading factory equipment with an automatic lifting cargo bed.
The four-legged favorite is also involved in the process. According to Egor, his pet loves working in the shop, helping out however he can—whether by nudging a vehicle or making the guys laugh by wagging his tail. And so they serve together, like one family: "Gorynych," "Tucha," and "Tortik.
"Photo from Egor "Gorynych's" personal archive