NEW – May 9, 2022
In the summer of 1944, the Red Army troops began to defeat the Nazi occupiers in the western regions of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
From July 13 to August 29, 1944, the Lvov-Sandomierz operation was successfully carried out by the forces of the 1st and 4th Ukrainian Fronts, as a result of which Lvov and Stanislav (now Ivano-Frankovsk) were liberated.
From September 9 to October 28, 1944, the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front liberated Uzhgorod and the entire Transcarpathian Ukraine during the Carpathian-Uzhgorod operation.
ETERNAL MEMORY TO THE HEROES OF THE MOTHERLAND
Numerous military graves of Soviet soldiers-liberators who gave their lives for the Motherland remained in the places of fierce battles. Many majestic statues, monuments and memorials in Ukraine preserve the memory of the heroism of the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army.
The section presents the registration cards of military graves, which are among the largest on the territory of Western Ukraine.
UZHGOROD
Memorial complex “Glory Hill” on Heroes Street
Here, in 73 communal and 147 individual graves, 960 Soviet servicemen are buried, most of whom died during the Great Patriotic War. A monumental arch was erected in this cemetery, inside which a plaque with high relief depicting two Soviet fighters was installed.
There are tombstones and an obelisk nearby. On the marble surfaces of the monuments, the names of heroes were carved in gold.
Before the Eternal Flame on the massive horizontal stele – the inscription: “Eternal glory to the heroes who died in the battles for the freedom and independence of our great Motherland!”. The creators of the memorial complex “Glory Hill” are Captain S. Yusov and V. A. Sikorsky.
LVOV REGION
Military burial in the village of Pomoryany, Zolochevsky district
In the centre of the communal grave, a sculpture was installed on a pedestal – a kneeling Soviet soldier with a machine gun. To the left and to the right of it, plaques with the names of the fallen defenders of the Motherland are deployed in a line. In total, the remains of 446 Soviet servicemen are buried here.
Military burial in the village of Kulikov, Zholkovsky district
Part of the rural cemetery in the settlement is occupied by a communal grave with a massive sculpture of a Soviet soldier-liberator on a concrete pedestal. A total of 222 servicemen are buried here.
IVANO-FRANKOVSK (up to 1962 – STANISLAV)
Communal grave in the city cemetery
There was a monument here, which was a banner made of forged copper, mounted on a reinforced concrete pedestal. Its creators are the sculptor Toporkov and the architect Sokolovskaya. In total, 233 Soviet soldiers were buried in a communal grave.
LIBERATION OF CHERNOVTSI
From the operational summary of 30.03.1944:
The troops of the 1st UKRAINIAN Front, developing the offensive, forcedly crossed the Prut River and stormed the regional city of Ukraine – CHERNOVTSI, an important economic and political centre of Northern Bukovina and a powerful German defence stronghold on the Prut River, covering the approaches to the borders of Hungary and Romania.
From the journal of combat operations of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (for March 28-29, 1944):
The city of Chernovtsi was liberated on March 29, 1944 by units of the 11th Guards Tank Corps.
According to the plan of the command of the corps, having forcedly crossed the Prut River in several places, they surrounded the enemy occupying the city, thereby cutting off all possible ways of their retreat.
In the journal of combat operations of the front it is noted: “The 11th Guards Tank Corps from the 24th Rifle Division, having crossed the Prut River, captured Chernovtsi (…). Large trophies were captured in the area of Chernovtsi.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 11th Guards Tank Corps (for the period from March 28 to April 1, 1944):
According to the operational document, on March 29, 1944, tank units of the corps, together with units of the 24th Infantry Division, liberated Chernovtsi. During the liberation, Soviet troops managed to block the enemy and cut off their retreat to the west with the forces of one tank brigade.
LIBERATION OF LVOV AND STANISLAV
From the operational summary of 27.07.1944:
The troops of the 1st UKRAINIAN Front, developing a successful offensive, on July 27 captured a major railway junction and a strategically important German defence stronghold – a major economic and political centre and the regional city of Ukraine – LVOV, a major railway junction and an important German defence stronghold in the foothills of the Carpathians – the regional centre of Ukraine, the city of STANISLAV, as well as with battles they occupied more than 200 other settlements.
LVOV
From the journal of combat operations of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (for July 26-27, 1944):
“The troops of the front on 27.7 continued the offensive and advanced 20-35 km.
As a result of persistent fighting, the cities of Lvov, Yaroslav, Przemysl, as well as 500 settlements (…) were captured. Over 250 guns, 420 mortars, over 500 machine guns, 35 tanks, 60 armoured personnel carriers, up to 20 railway echelons, over 1,000 horses, a large number of ammunition and weapons depots were captured in the battles during the day. 2,500 prisoners were taken.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 60th Army (for July 1944):
It is reported that “the 60th army as part of the troops of the front in July conducted the largest operation – Lvov.” This journal of military operations describes in detail the conditions in which the Red Army had to advance.
“As a result of the winter and spring offensive operations, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (…) reached the shortest most important routes leading to Poland and Germany. The defence of Lvov (the “gateway to Germany”) became a special concern and attention for the German command.
With the transition of our units to defence (7.4.44), the German command hastily began to strengthen the Lvov direction with the involvement of a large number of civilians. The defence was built deeply echeloned in depth, with a large number of cut-off and intermediate lines, which was facilitated by the terrain itself. It has concentrated large forces in the Lvov direction.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 28th Rifle Corps (for July 1944):
The operational document is accompanied by a topographic map with a diagram of the combat operations of the 1st Ukrainian Front to encircle and destroy the enemy’s Brody group. It shows that the city of Lvov was taken by units and subunits of the 60th Army.
Their success was facilitated by the blocking by two armies of the enemy grouping southwest of the city of Brody. As a result of the manoeuvre of the Soviet troops, the enemy formations located in this cauldron, including the 13th SS “Galicia” Infantry Division, could not retreat to Lvov and put up serious resistance on the streets of the city.
The document describes in detail the battles of the 28th Rifle Corps in the period from July 23 to 27 to liberate the city.
From the journal of combat operations of the 10th Guards Tank Corps (for July 23-27, 1944):
The operational document testifies to the fierce nature of the fighting to liberate Lvov from the Nazi invaders.
The storming of the city lasted for several days from July 23 to July 27, 1944: “At 9:00 the city of Lvov was completely cleared of an organised resisting enemy.”
According to the journal of combat operations, in total for the period from July 17 to July 27, 1944, the corps lost 1,645 soldiers and commanders – killed. During the same time, Soviet soldiers, showing training and courage, destroyed 9,839 Hitlerites.
STANISLAV (now IVANO-FRANKOVSK)
From the journal of combat operations of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (for July 27-28, 1944):
The pages of the operational document contain the text of an order to Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev dated July 27, 1944, in which the Supreme Commander-in–Chief Marshal of the Soviet Union, Comrade Stalin, expressed gratitude to “the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front for the capture of the regional centre of Ukraine – the city of Stanislav – a major railway junction and an important stronghold of German defence in the foothills of the Carpathians.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 1st Guards Army (for July 26-27, 1944):
It is noted that, struggling to hold Stanislav, the Nazis often launched counterattacks. However, Soviet units and units successfully repulsed them. On the approaches to the city, the troops of the 1st Guards Army “on the left flank, having broken through the prepared intermediate line on the west bank of the Voron River and forcedly crossed it on the night of 26.7.44, developed an offensive and reached the west bank of the Bystritsa-Nadvornyanskaya River.” There they entered the streets outside the city of Stanislav. “Losses of our troops: killed – 197, wounded – 851. Damage inflicted on the enemy: up to 3,000 soldiers and officers, 5 self-propelled guns, 70 vehicles were destroyed, the fire of five artillery and mortar batteries was suppressed.” On July 27, 1944, “on the left flank, as a result of a decisive concentrated strike by our troops from the northeast, east and south, by 10:00 on 27.7.44. the enemy was knocked out of the city and the Stanislav railway junction.” On the same day, units and subunits of the 1st Guards Army liberated more than 75 settlements and advanced from 8 to 20 kilometres.
From the journal of combat operations of the 30th Rifle Corps (for July 26, 1944):
Units of the corps fought fierce battles on the outskirts of the city of Stanislav: “Especially stubborn battles unfolded at the turn of the Deptovka – Tsenzhuv fortified area.
The enemy, using the advantage of the terrain, launched counterattacks 13 times with a force of 200 to 400 soldiers under the cover of strong mortar and artillery fire, with the support of 7 to 15 tanks.
By organised artillery fire and the skilful and decisive actions of the units (…), all counterattacks were repulsed and by 24:00 on 26.7.44. the units of 30 Rifle Corps, skilfully manoeuvring, dealt the main blow to the capture of Stanislav.”
Hero liberators of Stanislav and heirs of their military glory
Order for the 35th Stanislavsky Rifle Regiment dated September 15, 1944:
During the special military operation, Russian servicemen, performing their military duty, showing courage and dedication, repeat the exploits of their grandfathers who smashed Nazism during the Great Patriotic War.
Vladislav Moloshnyak
Guards Senior Ensign
On February 27, 2022, the battalion-tactical group of the airborne assault regiment with fierce battles broke through in the direction of the bridge over the Dnieper River.
Detachments of Ukrainian nationalists, avoiding an open clash with the Russian military and hiding behind the houses of civilians, organised a fire ambush for a column of Russian
servicemen.
As a result of an anti-tank grenade hit, a combat vehicle of the landing party was hit, in which there was a senior technician of the Airborne Assault Guards Regiment, senior ensign Vladislav Moloshnyak.
Being in a combat vehicle engulfed in flames, despite a concussion, severe burns, and the incessant heavy fire of nationalists, Vladislav Moloshnyak pulled the wounded driver out of the burning vehicle and evacuated him to a
safe place.
Subsequently, without losing his composure, Vladislav continued
the evacuation of wounded comrades.
Thanks to the brave selfless actions of the ensign Moloshnyak, more than 60 soldiers of the regiment were taken away from enemy fire.
Yan Volkov
Senior Sergeant
Upon completion of the transfer of the control point to the new area, the crew under the command of Senior Sergeant Yan Volkov began deploying the radio station and establishing communication inside the control point and with the higher headquarters. At that moment, the point was subjected to massive mortar fire from Ukrainian nationalists.
Realising that the lack of communication would deprive the command of the ability to quickly coordinate the actions of forces in battle, regardless of the mortal danger, Yan Volkov continued to establish communication with the forces of his crew.
As a result of another shelling, Yan was seriously wounded in the arm and stomach. Bleeding profusely, the senior sergeant continued to skillfully direct the actions of the signalmen. Having independently provided himself with first aid, overcoming the pain, Senior Sergeant Volkov found the strength to get in touch with the higher headquarters and give him information about the current situation.
A well-chosen location for the deployment of the radio station, the ability to use the masking properties of the terrain, professional knowledge of the communication equipment used and the coordinated actions of the crew – these are the main indicators that allowed Yan Volkov to ensure stable management of subordinate units in the defence of a strategically important object and repel an enemy attack. He was presented with the award medal “For Bravery”.
Anton Myagchenkov
Junior Sergeant
A column of units of the combined-arms army, marching to the area of tasks, fell into an ambush carefully prepared by Ukrainian nationalists.
Being under heavy enemy fire, the driver-medical orderly of the medical centre, Junior Sergeant Anton Myagchenkov, selflessly, risking his life, began to evacuate the wounded to a safe place and provide them with first aid.
After delivering another wounded man near the ambulance that Anton was in, a mortar shell exploded, as a result of which the junior sergeant received a concussion.
Showing courage and dedication, despite the injuries he received, he continued carrying and loading the wounded into an ambulance, after which, skillfully maneuvering, he took them out from under the shelling of radicals who purposefully bombed the ambulance, and delivered them to a special medical detachment.
Thanks to the skilful actions and high professionalism, courage and determination of Junior Sergeant Anton Myagchenkov, the ambulance reached the infirmary in a timely manner, and the lives of 13 wounded were saved.
Andrey Chernyshev
Private
Private Andrey Andreyevich Chernyshev, a scout-gunner of the special purpose group of the special purpose detachment of the 45th Separate Guards brigade of the special purpose Airborne Troops on February 24, 2022, during a special military operation in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and Ukraine, participated in the seizure of a strategically important object.
The enemy put up fierce resistance with all possible forces. The serviceman showed courage, bravery and dedication, covering his colleagues during reconnaissance operations.
During a clash on February 25, 2022, he received bullet wounds, but did not leave the battle. Despite the
fierce resistance of the enemy, the strategically important airfield from the western part of the capital was
captured and held.
For courage and bravery shown in the performance of military duty, Private Andrey Andreyevich Chernyshev
by decree of the President of the Russian Federation was awarded
the Order of Courage.
Artur Shikhzhamalov
Ensign
The head of the medical centre, Ensign Artur Shikhzhamalov, as part of a column of an airborne assault regiment, was moving to a given area.
During the course of the convoy, it fell into an ambush carefully prepared by Ukrainian nationalists and was subjected to massive fire from anti-tank grenade launchers. The regiment immediately began to repel the attack of a vastly outnumbered enemy.
One of the first shots hit the car in which ensign Shikhzhamalov was. Despite the concussion and the leg injury, he immediately began to take measures to evacuate wounded colleagues from cars and to provide them with first aid.
Being under the incessant enemy fire, ignoring the damage received, Artur Shikhzhamalov assessed the severity of injuries right in the places of massive shelling, after which he provided emergency assistance, evacuated the wounded from the battlefield to a
safe place and camouflaged them.
When the Russian paratroopers repelled the attack, ensign Shikhzhamalov still continued to support the vital functions of the wounded until the arrival of a special medical detachment, after which they were transported to a safe area.
The steadfastness and professionalism of Artur Shikhzhamalov made it possible to minimise the losses of the regiment’s personnel and save the lives of 17 servicemen.
LIBERATION OF UZHGOROD
From the operational summary of 27.10.1944:
The troops of the 4th UKRAINIAN Front, as a result of a rapid offensive on October 27, captured the main city of Transcarpathian Ukraine, UZHGOROD, on the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic – a major communications hub and an important stronghold of the enemy’s defence, and also occupied more than 50 other settlements on the territory of Czechoslovakia.
From the journal of combat operations of the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front (for October 27, 1944):
On October 27, 1944, “the 18th Army, continuing the offensive in the western and south-western directions and advancing from 20 to 25 km, captured the junction of highways and railways – the city of Uzhgorod and over 90 other settlements (…). On October 27, 1944, the capital of our Motherland Moscow saluted the valiant troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front, which captured the main city of Transcarpathian Ukraine – Uzhgorod – on the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic with twenty artillery volleys from 224 guns.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 18th Army (for October 27-28, 1944):
“Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of the Soviet Union Comrade. Stalin, in his order of 27.10.44, expressed gratitude to the army troops who distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of the city of Uzhgorod. In commemoration of the victory, the formations and units that most distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of the city of Uzhgorod are presented for the assignment of the name ‘Uzhgorod’ and for the award of orders.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 5th Guards Tank Brigade (for October 26-28, 1944):
“The brigade’s reconnaissance at 9:00 approached the southern outskirts of the city and started fighting with the enemy (…). By 10:00, the main forces of the brigade approached and engaged in battle with the enemy. Uzhgorod was turned into a powerful stronghold. The enemy concentrated a lot of equipment: artillery, tanks – and stubbornly resisted. The brigade commander made a decision – pushing forward the T-34 Tank Battalion, and the 2nd and 3rd Tank Battalions went around to the right and left. Having troops on tanks, our tank battalions began to push the enemy (…). The enemy, unable to withstand the swift blow of our battalions, began to retreat from the city and by 14:00 the city was completely liberated.”
From the journal of combat operations of the 95th Infantry Division (for October 24-28, 1944):
During the five days of the offensive, units and units of the 95th Infantry Division occupied more than 60 settlements, including the cities of Mukachevo and Uzhgorod.
Hero liberators of Uzhgorod and heirs of their military glory
Order for the 5th Guards Novorossiysk Tank Brigade dated November 5, 1944:
Mikhail Mikhailovich ANDRONENKOV
Guards Lieutenant
“In battles with the German-Hungarian invaders for the capture of the cities of Mukachevo, Uzhgorod, comrade Andronenkov proved himself to be a steadfast, brave, courageous officer. From his tank, comrade Andronenkov personally destroyed 2 cannons, 3 machine guns, 5 vehicles with military supplies, including one passenger car, up to 30 Hitlerites, and took up to 20 soldiers and officers [captive].”
Artyom SALYNOV
Sergeant
During a breakthrough of the enemy’s defence, the tank crew of Sergeant A. Salynov destroyed the calculation of a “nomadic mortar”, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, four trucks with ammunition and more than 10 nationalists. Fire from a tank machine gun caused a chain detonation of mines found on the road, creating a corridor through a minefield.
Pavel Vasilyevich BOCHKAREV
Guards Senior Sergeant
“Comrade Bochkarev proved himself a courageous and brave warrior in the battles with the German invaders. In the battles for Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, the crew, acting boldly and decisively, took part in all attacks (…). During the fighting, comrade Bochkarev’s crew destroyed 3 guns, 7 vehicles, 3 machine guns and up to 50 soldiers and officers. Comrade Bochkarev quickly loaded the cannon and machine gun.”
AZAT KHAMITOV
Senior Lieutenant
The crew of the tank platoon commander Senior Lieutenant A. Khamitov, during the liberation of the settlement, skilfully manoeuvring under continuous enemy fire, destroyed two tanks, six infantry fighting vehicles and more than 70 nationalists.
Mikhail Arkadievich ELISEYEV
Guards Senior Lieutenant
“Comrade Eliseyev, thanks to his personal leadership and management, fully ensured the communication of the headquarters with the units, as a result of which, in the battle for the city of Uzhgorod, the battalion, having a connection with the command, was successful. Being for the tank commander, personally in the attack on the mountains of Uzhgorod, comrade Eliseyev destroyed 2 anti-aircraft guns (88 mm) and captured 4 via calculations.”
Andrey KLYUSHNIKOV
Guards Lieutenant
The commander of the Guard Communications Platoon, Lieutenant A. Klyushnikov, under heavy enemy fire, together with his subordinates, restored damaged cable lines and communication equipment. Having been wounded, the officer continued to lead his signalmen until he lost consciousness. Communication lines were restored.
CRIMES AGAINST MEMORY
The memory of the exploits of Soviet soldiers, among whom there were many Ukrainians, is preserved not only by archival materials, but also by graves, as well as monuments and memorials erected in their honour. Recently, in many cities in Ukraine, often with the support of local authorities, Ukrainian nationalists, trying to erase the heroic national memory, destroy Soviet memorial complexes. Below is only a small part of this modern Ukrainian nationalist barbarism.
CHERNOVTSI – APRIL 2022
By the decision of the local authorities, two Soviet monuments were dismantled in the city: the sculpture “Red Army Soldiers in battle” and a monument to one of the founders of the Communist Party of Bukovina — Semyon Galitsky. “Soviet trash has no place in our beautiful city!” – commented the Chernovtsi City Council about the abuse of memory. The City Council noted that in this way Ukrainians “take out garbage”.
ROVNO – APRIL 2022
Housing and communal services employees in overalls dismantled a monument on the grave of the Red Army Commander Mikhail Bogomolov. A little earlier, vandals destroyed plaques with the names of heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Both processes were pathetically covered in the stories of Ukrainian TV channels. Later in the same city, a monument to the legendary Soviet intelligence officer, Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolay Kuznetsov, so hated by Ukrainian radicals, was demolished.
STRYI, LVOV REGION – FEBRUARY 2014-APRIL/MAY 2022
The barbaric destruction of its own heroic past has been going on in the city for many years. In 2014, local authorities demolished a statue of a Soviet soldier-liberator holding a child in his arms from a pedestal in the central square. Behind this sculpture, continuing the memorial composition, there was a majestic stele. On its front side were stamped the names of the places of the most important battles and operations of the Great Patriotic War, on the back – bas-reliefs on the theme of peaceful labour, dedicated to the liberating heroes. In April 2022, the stele was destroyed by a tractor in a barbaric way. “The stele on the Market Square was the first to fall. To be continued. We will not leave a trace of the communist regime,” the local city council said. At about the same time, another monument to Soviet soldiers, installed on a military burial, was demolished in Stryi. Local utility workers destroyed in an hour a sculpture of a liberator warrior with a machine gun, kneeling on one knee, in the cemetery.
KOLOMYIA, IVANO-FRANKOVSK REGION – SEPTEMBER 2021
The central sculpture of the memorial complex “Crowning of Heroes” was dismantled by the authorities at the military burial. “We are getting rid of Soviet ideology. Today, an abnormal monument was dismantled on the Square of Sorrow (formerly Heroes’ Square – ed.),” the mayor of the city commented on the barbarity. 571 soldiers of the Red Army are buried here in a communal grave – they liberated Kolomyia.
CHERNIGOV – APRIL 2022
In the courtyard of secondary school No. 10, military units of the local territorial defence demolished a monument to Hero of the Soviet Union Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya.
ZAPOROZHYE – MAY 2022
On Shevchenko Boulevard, nationalists dismantled a monument in honour of Soviet pilots, removing from the pedestal the fighter plane, cynically selling it to a Western collector.
KHARKOV – APRIL 2022
In Kharkov, a monument in honour of the famous Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Marshal of Victory, was demolished in a barbaric way. The nazis of one of the “Azov” units took responsibility for this desecration of memory. The bust of the commander was taken to landfill. The orphaned pedestal was desecrated with the inscription “Glory to Ukraine” and the “national” coat of arms – a trident.
Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
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