Snow Squad recovers remains of 130 World War II combatants in Russia

As usual, the historical search and recovery team made an expedition in 2021.

The trip started on April 22. KFU’s Snow Squad makes expeditions twice a year, in spring and autumn. This time, it covered the sites of the Battle of Lyuban (January 7 to April 30, 1942) and Operation Iskra (January – April 1943), both pertaining to the defensive actions by the Soviet forces during the Siege of Leningrad.

As Head of Snow Squad, Ayrat Fatykhov, noted, this time the team prepared a special reinforced off-road vehicle based on UAZ-450, colloquially known as ‘Loaf of Bread’ for its roundish shape. In the 3,200 km of the harsh terrain, the car malfunctioned only once, which was a surprise. A special agreement was concluded to also use a caterpillar tractor on some parts of the route.

“Our squad worked on three digging sites,” commented Fatykhov. “Three sets of human remains were found. On 10 May, all search squads gathered in Chudskoy Bor village to bury 130 soldiers and commanders of the Red Army. Three persons were identified – Pvt. Aleksey Vakhrameev, b. 1922, Pvt. Vasily Tarasevich, b. 1922, and Cpt. Nikolay Yefimov, b. 1916. Yefimov, in particular, was identified because of a medal found near him.”

Squad members aim to involve as many students as possible into their work, so that young people could witness the heroic feats of their ancestors.

 

Source text: Rufina Gimaletdinova

Photos: Snow Squad

Translation: Yury Nurmeev