Viktor Klyashev
Viktor Klyashev | |
|---|---|
 Klyashev in 2010 | |
| Nickname(s) | 'A Gyilkos' |
| Born | 17 December 1980 Kona, Syara |
| Allegiance |  Syara |
| Service/ | Syaran National Army |
| Years of service | 2006-2012 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | Iota Team, 5th Battalion, Special Troops Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Zemplen War |
| Awards | see below |
Viktor Klyashev is a Syaran former soldier. Klyashev served a sniper in the Syaran National Army during the Zemplen War, during which he was credited with 96 kills, the highest among Syaran snipers during the war and second highest on either side after Ruvelkan sharpshooter Miksa Szabina, whom he is often compared to. Klyashev enlisted in the Syaran Army in 2006 and served throughout the duration of the Zemplen War, fighting primarily on the southern and central fronts. He was wounded twice and awarded several times for his service, including being awarded the honorary title Hero of the Syaran People, Syara's highest honor.
Early Life
Klyashev, an ethnic Makedonian, was born on 17 December 1980 in Kona. His father, Alexandskar, fought with the Wardens during the Refusal War. An avid hunter, Klyashev was familiarized with shooting at a young age and took part in several shooting competitions as a teenager. In interviews Klyashev stated that he found shooting relaxing, but did not really become fascinated with firearms as a boy, stating he thought of them only as "tools".
Military Service
Klyashev enlisted in the Syaran National Army in 2006 on the advice of his brother. Originally assigned as a mortar crew member, Klyashev volunteered for sniper training in 2007 and graduared in May. He was assigned to Iota Team, 5th Battalion, Special Troops Brigade, where he would spent the rest of his time in uniform with. Following the outbreak of the Zemplen War Klyashev was attached to the 17th Mechanized Infantry Division. During the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive Klyashev shot and killed Brigadier General Jakab Márton, the highest ranking officer he would eliminate during his career. During the Siege of Aszód Klyashev suffered shrapnel wounds and was pulled from the front for a month to recover; he resumed his duties in late March 2009.
Kylashev was re-assigned to Army Group Beta and participated in the Battle of Sagerejo. On his 38th kill he achieved what he considered his most impactful kill; on 7 April 2009 Kylashev shot and killed the driver of a LHJ1 Protected Crawler, which caused a convoy stop that was later targetted by Syaran artillery, destroying an entire Ruvelkan mechanized battalion. During the summer of 2009 the Ruvelkan theater command recognized the threat posed by Kylashev and identified him as a high priority target, resulting in two Imperial Fusilier teams being assigned to eliminate him. On 16 June he shot and killed Henrietta Keleman, one of the Fusiliers assigned to eliminate him, earning his 42nd mark.
In August 2009 Kylashev was redeployed to southern Ruvelka where he waged a campaign targetting Ruvelkan officers in the Matra Mountains. Between August and November Kylashev recorded 15 kills, including two colonels, four battalion commanders, and nine company commanders. During this time he became widely known among the Ruvelkan forces opposite him as A Gyilkos, or " the Killer". Kylashev was wounded on 5 November by counter-sniper fire when he was shot in his left shoulder. He was evacuated from the front and recovered in a field hospital, returning to combat in January 2010. Following this he was rotated back to the central front where he spent the remainder of the war in the foothills of the Karilla Mountains, usually engaging Ruvelkan Fusiliers and sharpshooters in the rugged terrain.
During the Syaran retreat in June 2010 Kylashev covered retreating Syaran forces, making his last kill on 17 June to bring his total to 96. Following the end of the war, Kylashev was assigned to train new snipers for the Syaran Army. He remained in the service until 2012 when he was honorably discharged. At his retirement ceremony he was awarded the medal and title of Hero of the Syaran People in recognition of his service during the war.
Personal Life
Kylashev married in 2011 and has three daughters. He continues to reside in his hometown of Kona where he operates a sporting goods store. Kylashev has generally stayed out of the public spotlight. He was largely unknown to the Syaran public until his retirement ceremony, and following the publication of his official statistics which confirmed him as the most prolific sniper of the Syaran Commonality Armed Forces during the Zemplen War. Since then he has appeared in a number of documentaries and television shows about the conflict and snipers in general, including meeting his Ruvelkan counterpart Miksa Szabina for a web series in 2015. Kylashev has not been active in the political scene, but made comments in 2018 indiciating support for Executive Radovan Kostović's reconciliation with Ruvelka. In an interview in 2016, he stated;
I never felt any real ill will towards [the Ruvelkans]. Of course sometimes I was angry, I lost friends and comrades that were killed by the Ruvelkans, but it was never really personal. It was war, I was a soldier and they were the enemy. I never saw them as anything more than that, and I didn't really take any pride in killing them. It was just a job. I don't regret my service, and I'm proud I did my duty, but I never felt joy in ending some poor boy or girl's life just cause they were on the other side.
Honors and Awards
- Band of Service (x2)
- Mark of Valor
- Ruvelkan Conflict Veteran
- Blessed Soldier of the All Mother
- Hero of the Syaran People