The head of the administration of Chita decided to join the servicemen in the special operation zone as a volunteer fighter

The official, who previously had experience in the airborne troops, wrote about this in his Telegram channel.

“I made the decision to go where we need it most today – to the zone of a special military operation”, - Sapozhnikov, 46, wrote.

The city manager explained that he could not stay away from the "fateful battle", called it his duty to "defend" the country. Saying goodbye to the residents of the city, he thanked them for their joint work and wished the people of Chita "happiness and prosperity".

According to media reports, until 1996 Sapozhnikov served in the Airborne Forces, took part in a military operation in the North Caucasus, and was wounded.

In 1998, Sapozhnikov, as a contract soldier, was transferred to the automobile brigade of Chita. In 1999-2000, he was on a business trip in the North Caucasian region of the city of Mozdok. In 2009, he was dismissed from the Armed Forces for health reasons.

Currently, Alexander Sapozhnikov is the chairman of the non-profit partnership "Cossacks of Transbaikalia - veterans of military operations" and is a member of the Union of Paratroopers. Married, has an adult daughter.

According to Gazeta.ru, earlier a similar step was taken by the ex-mayor of Krasnodar and State Duma deputy from the Krasnodar Territory Evgeny Pervyshov. In addition, Sergei Sokol, a State Duma deputy from United Russia, volunteered for the front.

The Chita.ru edition notes that the city manager has not appeared at his workplace for a week. His absence was due to the fact that he had days off. The fact that he will probably go to the NWO zone was reported by the media on November 18th. But until November 21, there was no official confirmation of this information.