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"Victory Parade: Stories and Faces"
MINSK, 24 July (BelTA) - Belarusian veteran Mikhail Bychkovsky participated in three Victory Day parades in Moscow: in 1945, 1985, and 1990.
Drafted into the army in 1940, Mikhail Bychkovsky began his service as a cadet in the 226th Artillery Regiment. When the war broke out, he commanded an anti-tank artillery unit in the 1010th Rifle Regiment until 1943, later becoming a reconnaissance squad leader. He fought on the Northwestern, 3rd Belorussian, and 1st Ukrainian Fronts during the Great Patriotic War.
He was awarded the "For Courage" medal just hours after accomplishing the seemingly impossible: leading 14 soldiers out of encirclement. Over the course of the war, he also received the Order of Glory Third and Second Class, the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Patriotic War First Class. He earned one of his medals for organizing a river crossing near Moscow. The men had to cross in full combat gear, and Mikhail Bychkovsky suggested gripping onto their unit's horse for support. Seven soldiers followed his lead, some clinging to the mane, others to the tail. This improvised lifeline saved both Bychkovsky and his comrades.
Drafted into the army in 1940, Mikhail Bychkovsky began his service as a cadet in the 226th Artillery Regiment. When the war broke out, he commanded an anti-tank artillery unit in the 1010th Rifle Regiment until 1943, later becoming a reconnaissance squad leader. He fought on the Northwestern, 3rd Belorussian, and 1st Ukrainian Fronts during the Great Patriotic War.
He was awarded the "For Courage" medal just hours after accomplishing the seemingly impossible: leading 14 soldiers out of encirclement. Over the course of the war, he also received the Order of Glory Third and Second Class, the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Patriotic War First Class. He earned one of his medals for organizing a river crossing near Moscow. The men had to cross in full combat gear, and Mikhail Bychkovsky suggested gripping onto their unit's horse for support. Seven soldiers followed his lead, some clinging to the mane, others to the tail. This improvised lifeline saved both Bychkovsky and his comrades.
The intelligence officer made significant contributions during the liberation of Poland. During combat operations near the town of Rössel, he identified two enemy artillery pieces and a heavy machine gun position, which were subsequently destroyed by our company. In the Heilberg area, while repelling enemy counterattacks, he took up a defensive position in a house and eliminated seven enemy soldiers with submachine gun fire as they approached. Several days later in the same sector, he assisted artillery units in neutralizing four enemy firing positions and approximately thirty German soldiers and officers, enabling infantry units to successfully repel further counterattacks and consolidate captured positions.
Mikhail Bychkovsky served throughout the entire war, participating in combat operations all the way to Berlin where he witnessed the hoisting of the Victory Banner over the Reichstag. He marched in the historic 1945 Victory Parade as part of the 2nd Battalion of the Composite Regiment representing the 1st Ukrainian Front. Discharged from military service in 1948, Bychkovsky continued serving his community as a firefighter with the Yelsk City Fire Brigade until 1984. The decorated veteran passed away on 21 January 1995.
On 9 May 2025, the Yelsk District Emergency Services unveiled a memorial plaque honoring two veteran firefighters who participated in the Great Patriotic War, including Mikhail Bychkovsky. His name is also inscribed on the memorial walls at the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces.
The project “Victory Parade: Stories and Faces” is published in the 7 Days newspaper and on the website of the Belarusian news agency BelTA twice a month. During the year we will be narrating the stories of the Belarusians who took part in the legendary Victory Parade. These men fought at Rzhev and Odessa, won the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, liberated Belarus, and took Berlin. On 24 June 1945 they marched triumphantly through Red Square in Moscow. They are the faces of our great Victory!
Mikhail Bychkovsky served throughout the entire war, participating in combat operations all the way to Berlin where he witnessed the hoisting of the Victory Banner over the Reichstag. He marched in the historic 1945 Victory Parade as part of the 2nd Battalion of the Composite Regiment representing the 1st Ukrainian Front. Discharged from military service in 1948, Bychkovsky continued serving his community as a firefighter with the Yelsk City Fire Brigade until 1984. The decorated veteran passed away on 21 January 1995.
On 9 May 2025, the Yelsk District Emergency Services unveiled a memorial plaque honoring two veteran firefighters who participated in the Great Patriotic War, including Mikhail Bychkovsky. His name is also inscribed on the memorial walls at the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces.
The project “Victory Parade: Stories and Faces” is published in the 7 Days newspaper and on the website of the Belarusian news agency BelTA twice a month. During the year we will be narrating the stories of the Belarusians who took part in the legendary Victory Parade. These men fought at Rzhev and Odessa, won the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, liberated Belarus, and took Berlin. On 24 June 1945 they marched triumphantly through Red Square in Moscow. They are the faces of our great Victory!
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