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14 September 2018, 18:15

Russian cosmonaut reunited with uncle's missing WWII order in Belarus

MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – Belarus' Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov gave the Hero of the Soviet Union, Russian pilot-cosmonaut Aleksandr Viktorenko the Order of Alexander Nevsky that his uncle, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Viktorenko was awarded in 1943, BelTA learned from the Defense Ministry.

The company commander of the 69th Rifle Regiment Ivan Viktorenko was recommended for an Order of the Red Star, but the commander of the 65th Army personally decided to award him a higher decoration - an Order of Alexander Nevsky. "According to the award list, the mortar company under the command of Ivan Viktorenko successfully crossed the Dnieper River near the village of Zhytsy, Loyev District, Gomel Oblast. Thanks to his strong leadership, the entire unit, gear and ammunition were transferred to the right bank quickly and without losses. The company commander organized skillful delivery of fire at the enemy's firing positions, ensuring the successful advance of the infantry. During the counterattack he mercilessly destroyed the Nazis and ensured the success of the battle," the ministry said.

A month after the award ceremony the senior lieutenant died in the fierce fighting as part of the operation meant to liberate Belarus. His order stayed in the ground for 75 years. It was found in the woods near the village of Davydovichi, Kalinkovichi District, Gomel Oblast by Andrei Yemelyanenko, a member of the military history club Poisk. He was collecting information about undocumented military graves in the battlefields of 1943.

The Defense Ministry said that the Order of Alexander Nevsky is an order of merit bestowed upon commanders of divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, companies, and platoons of the Red Army for outstanding skills in organizing and directing combat operations and remarkable achievements in battles for the homeland.

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