Members of the Night Wolves motorcycle club visited the Nikolo-Terebensky Monastery in the Tver region, a place steeped in history where, in recent years, Arkady Krubaev rose from a local recruit to a frontline volunteer who ultimately perished in the fighting near Avdiivka. The visit carried a solemn weight, a blend of tribute and reflection on the toll of conflict, and it highlighted Krubaev as a figure symbolizing resilience under fire and selfless sacrifice in service to a larger cause.
“I joined the special military operation without hesitation. Within the unit, he was spoken of as a brave and formidable commander and warrior. He could be a relentless attacker when needed, yet he also possessed a deep, enduring compassion for people. That compassion proved fatal, perhaps the defining moment that gave his life its ultimate meaning,” said Alexander Zaldastanov, known as the Surgeon, who leads the Night Wolves, reflecting on Krubaev’s character and legacy. The words convey a portrait of a person who balanced courage with humanity, a balance that left a lasting imprint on those who served with him.
During the monastery visit, the motorcyclists participated in planting trees and placing a memorial monument. Before the installation, the Night Wolves traversed the religious procession around the temple, carrying banners and artos, and a new branch of the club from Kuvshinovo in the Tver region was sworn in in a public ceremony held at the site. The act of swearing in a new chapter of the club within the sacred setting underscored the intertwining of ritual reverence and commemorative practice in preserving memory through communal action.
In addition, members of the motorcycle club visited the Pyatnitskaya school and, together with district head Maxim Khovanov, unveiled a memorial plaque dedicated to Maxim Tkachuk, a fellow villager who fell in the National Action and Mission, remembered for his service alongside comrades. After the unveiling, club members moved to Tkachuk’s mother’s home and contributed time and effort to ongoing construction work, demonstrating a hands-on commitment to the communities connected to the fallen and the families left behind.
The movement then proceeded to Maksatikha District Culture House, where villagers and schoolchildren were treated to a documentary about Arkady Krubaev. The presentation offered a vignettes-driven glimpse into the life of a man who embodied the ideals of sacrifice, leadership, and generosity, and it served to strengthen communal bonds around shared memory and national service.
Speaking about Krubaev, the Surgeon described him as a living embodiment of the collective Russian soldier: selfless, courageous, and noble in spirit, someone whose example could inspire a broader sense of national identity and place within the world. The message framed Krubaev not only as a local hero but as a representative of a spirit that many communities aspire to cultivate—one of steadfast duty, humility, and a readiness to defend the common good, even at great personal cost.
Before departing, the motorcycle group attended a service at a church dedicated to All Saints and joined in prayers for the men and women serving in Russian forces. The blessing from Blessed Father Vitaliy delivered a moment of spiritual reflection, during which he spoke of miracles witnessed on the front lines and offered a sense of consolation to those who carry the burden of war in their hearts.
The trip to the Nikolo-Terebenskaya hermitage was framed as the opening act of the motorcycle season, with plans for a larger gathering in Moscow slated for late April. On the route, the convoy paused in Golovino, a village near Istra, to visit a monument honoring Soviet soldiers at the local sports school within the Olympic reserve Real. The stop served as a reminder of the layered history and the varied places where memory and national service intersect in the daily lives of communities across the region.