Recce reports accurately…
Vasyl Isakov’s memories might seem like an amazing, captivating novel, but they are based on the harsh, ruthless, blood- and gun-powder-soaked frontline days.
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Isakov Vasyl Egorovych, born 1922 in Demyansk, Leningrad region. Held the following positions during the Great Patriotic war: - reconnaissance squad deputy leader, 79th separate ski battalion, 33rd ski brigade, North-West Front; - reconnaissance squad leader, 1st ski battalion, 22nd ski brigade, North-West Front; - assistant to foot patrol platoon leader, 86th guards infantry regiment, 28th guards infantry division, 3rd Ukrainian Front; State awards: |
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Vasyl Isakov enlisted into the Red Army on July 14, 1941. He fought under the 79th separate ski battalion on the North-West Front. Only 16 soldiers out of battalion’s 600 survived the first 4 months of war.
From May to October, 1942, Isakov underwent reconnaissance training at sergeant school. This is what he remembers about those years: “…the classes lasted day and night and were extremely difficult. We walked 40-50 kilometres a day, fully packed. After such exhausting training, any battle, assault, offensive was perceived almost as a long-awaited relief”.
In December, 1942, Vasyl Isakov was appointed reconnaissance squad leader, 1st ski battalion, 22nd ski brigade, North-West Front. In March, 1943, the young reconnaissance trooper was appointed deputy foot patrol platoon leader, 86th guards infantry regiment, 28th guards infantry division, 3rd Ukrainian Front. That’s where he participated in the liberation of Russian Belgorod and a number of Ukrainian cities.
Nazi command turned Belgorod into a powerful stronghold. The Soviet troops took over the city on August 5, 1943, after a series of hot battles. On this occasion, the first ever artillery salute was organized in Moscow (24 salvos, 120 guns).
After the battles for Belgorod, the Soviet troops approached the city of Kharkiv, desperately defended by the Germans. Isakov’s regiment suffered enormous casualties during the offensive.
Vasyl Isakov says: “We were receiving orders day and night, demanding us to collect data. Reconnaissance units were doing their best to accomplish the tasks assigned by the command”. Isakov’s entire platoon personnel was awarded the Medals For Combat Merits after the liberation of Kharkiv.
The Soviet troops approached the Dnipro by late September, 1943. They crossed the river and secured a beachhead on its right bank. On October 15, the Ukrainian Front troops started the Kryvy Rih offensive.
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“…our regiment assumed a forced defence near the village of Chervona Balka. The unit was extremely weakened by casualties; the command was expecting reinforcements. That’s when the divisional HQ received information concerning the deployment of additional German troops to our sector of the front. My reconnaissance platoon was ordered to conduct a search-and-capture operation. I was mission support group leader in charge of providing the cover for the penetration team. The night was perfect for our mission. It was absolutely dark, and a small rain drizzled. We came very close to the enemy trenches when we saw three German soldiers. The penetration team needed just a split-second. Before the Germans understood what had hit them, two of them were dead and the third one taken prisoner. Other Germans noticed our retreat and opened fire. It was in vain, and we were able to withdraw. When interrogated, the prisoner shared very valuable information which allowed our division to overrun the enemy defences”. |
The Germans were unable to stop the Soviet troops from advancing. Isakov and his brothers-in-arms walked confidently towards the Victory...
“...I can’t even remember every episode from the war days now. We who fought in the Great Patriotic War could only think of one thing then: the way to liberate our land from the invaders as soon as possible,” Vasyl Isakov says.
In May, 1944, Vasyl Isakov went to Ufimsk infgantry academy. That was where he celebrated the Victory. Upon his graduation in 1947, Isakov was reassigned to Germany. Vasyl Isakov used his frontline experience extensively in his officer career.
Vasyl Isakov served in the military for 33 years; he retired in the rank of guards Lieutenant Colonel. He currently lives in the city of Zhytomyr.
Vasyl Isakov lived a difficult, yet great life, but deep inside he still remains that eighteen-year-old boy who once became frontline soldier right after school. He gladly speaks of his loves during and after the war, he jokes and laughs. He only becomes silent for a minute when he casts his thoughts back on the past, remembering the war and his comrades who were not lucky enough to live until our nation’s main holiday – the Victory Day.
Photographs from V. Isakov’s personal archive
