On 24 November, NovSU Polytechnic School Conference Hall became a venue of a meeting between Heat Power Engineering students and the World War II veteran Alexander Petrovich Popov, the recipient of the order of Alexander Nevsky, the honorary citizen of Sevastopol, the honorary citizen of Veliky Novgorod. The meeting was organized at the initiative of NovSU Polytechnic School Council for Morale Building and students- members of Novgorod Region division of the Russian Military Historical Society.

The old tankman told students about his battl3e path from Caucasia to Berlin. Alexander Popov recalls his battlefield life:

“It was hard work. Smoke, soot, dust, bomb explosions - you accustom to it very fast. I was wounded twice. For the first time, it was in Caucasia, in Cossack village “Krymskaya”. My leg was broken. For the  second time, I was wounded in chest near Kerch...”

In 1968, Alexander Popov left the post of regiment's commanding officer and since then he lives in Veliky Novgorod. He was awarded the Order of Wartime Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky (there are only three recipient of the order in Veliky Novgorod), two Orders of The Patriotic War of the 1-st Class, the Order of Red Star, Order of Wartime Red Banner and many battle and jubilee medals. On 29 May 2014, he was  given a title “The Honorary Citizen of Veliky Novgorod”

Alexander Petrovich Popov is 92 years old, but despite the age, he leads an active life. He orders new books in Internet and reads a lot. He meets the friends-veterans; participates in social and political life of the city.   On the official delegation, he took part in a grand ceremony in Moscow, where the president of Russian Federation awarded Veliky Novgorod the honorary title “The City of Military Glory”.

At the close of the meeting, future engineers presented a painting by Art and Technology student to the guest.