With gratitude and regret. Another controversy on the ruins of Russian Byzantine studies. A reply to the article by V. P. Stepanenko “A review of Mitrofanov A. Yu. Emperoral Exeii Komninand his strategy. St. Petersburg, 2020. - 280 pp.”

The article is the reply of the author of the monograph Emperor Alexei I Komnenos and His Strategy to the review of V. P. Stepanenko. The article consistently refutes the numerous critical arguments presented in the review. The author examines the scientific problems identified in the work of V. P. Stepanenko and in his conclusions calls into question the competence of the reviewer in the field of internal Byzantine history, military archeology of nomads and the military-political history of the Middle Ages.