USSR: SERVICEMEN KILLED IN DRA PROFILED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96R01136R002605120006-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: November 5, 1985
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605120006-8
CIBRIICKHO SOVA/TWA/T 08 KRASNYA ZVEZDA AND KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA REPORT PAGE 0020
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TAKE 1 OF 2 -- USSR: SERVICEMEN KILLED IN DRA PROFILED
PM050932
MOSCOW KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA IN RUSSIAN 30 OCT 85 P 4
((0. MOSKOVSKIY DISPATCH: "HE REMAINED TRUE TO THE OATH" --
FIRST PARAGRAPH IS EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION))
((EXCERPTS)) HE WAS TRUE TO HIS SOLDIER'S DUTY TO THE VERY
END. THAT WAS HOW HE HAD BEEN EDUCATED BY THE LENIN KOMSOMOL.
WHEN THIS ARTICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN PREPARED FOR GOING TO PRESS IT
WAS REPORTED THAT FOR PERSONAL COURAGE AND HEROISM IN CARRYING OUT
THE COMBAT TASKS IN GIVING INTERNATIONAL AID TO THE AFGHAN PEOPLE,
PRIVATE 1ST CLASS ALEKSANDR VASILYEVICH KORYAVIN HAS BEEN AWARDED
THE TITLE OF HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION (POSTHUMOUSLY).
LIMITED CONTINGENT OF SOVIET TROOPS IN THE DRA -- IT GETS DARK
QUICKLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
HIDING BEHIND THE CLIFFS, THE SETTING SUN CHASED AWAY THE LAST
CREEPING SHADOWS IN THE RAVINE.
AFTER A SHORT AND FIERCE BATTLE THE SOVIET SERVICEMEN CREPT UP
TO AN ASSEMBLY POINT BEHIND A HUGE BOULDER. HERE THE MEDICAL
INSTRUCTOR WAS ALREADY BANDAGING WOUNDED PRIVATE 1ST CLASS
ALEKSANDR KORYAVIN.
"COMRADE LIEUTENANTI" PLATOON COMMANDER LIEUTENANT IVONIN
SUDDENLY HEARD A SHOUT OF ALARM.
AND IMMEDIATELY THE OFFICER WAS FIRED UPON BY A MACHINEGUN
WIELDED BY A DUSHMAN HIDING IN THE BUSHES. BUT A MOMENT PREVIOUSLY
ALEKSANDR KORYAVIN HAD GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF THE HAIL OF LEAD.
RUSHING FORWARD AND SHIELDING HIS COMMANDER, HE SAVED HIS LIFE...
A MESSAGE ARRIVED AT YEVDOKIYA IVANOVNA KORYAVINA'S HOME IN THE
MOSCOW SUBURB OF ZAGORSK: "YOUR SON, ALEKSANDR VASILYEVICH
KORYAVIN, TRUE TO HIS MILITARY OATH, DIED CARRYING OUT HIS SACRED
DUTY IN THE EXECUTION OF A COMBAT TASK IN GIVING INTERNATIONAL AID
UNCLASSIFIED
Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605120006-8
 Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605120006-8
CIBRIICKHO SOVA/TWA/IR508 KRASNYA ZVEZDA AND KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA REPORT PAGE 0021
TO THE AFGHAN PEOPLE."
A FEW DAYS LATER YET ANOTHER LETTER ARRIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS:
"GREETINGS, DEAR AND RESPECTED YEVDOKIYA IVANOVNAI
"THIS IS LT ANDREY IGOREVICH IVONIN WRITING TO YOU. SASHA
SERVED IN MY PLATOON. HE WAS A CONSCIENTIOUS SOLDIER, A
RESPONSIBLE COMRADE, AND A GOOD PERSON. HE ENJOYED DESERVED
PRESTIGE AMONG HIS COMRADES AND COMMANDERS. HE LOVED YOU, HIS
SOVIET MOTHERLAND, AND LIFE VERY MUCH. WERE IT NOT FOR THOSE
TREACHEROUS SHOTS AND SASHA'S SELF-SACRIFICE HE WOULD CERTAINLY
HAVE BEEN COMING HOME...
"DEAR YEVDOKIYA IVANOVNA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SON. YOU
BROUGHT HIM UP AS A TRUE PATRIOT OF THE MOTHERLAND. FORGIVE ME FOR
NOT BEING ABLE TO SAVE HIM. HAD I BEEN IN HIS PLACE I WOULD HAVE
DONE THE SAME.
"I WILL CERTAINLY BE SENDING YOU SASHA'S SERVICE RECORD AND HIS
PHOTOGRAPHS. WHEN I GET A FURLOUGH I WILL DEFINITELY CALL AND
BRING ALONG SOME OF SASHA'S THINGS.
"I SEND YOU MY FILIAL THANKS.
"GOODBYE. LOVE ANDREY IVONIN" ((PASSAGE OMITTED))
ALEKSANDR WAS A BRAVE, ENTERPRISING, AND SKILLFUL SOLDIER. HE
DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN HIS VERY FIRST BATTLE, IN JUNE 1984.
THEIR SCOUTING PARTY WAS TRACKING A DUSHMAN GANG IN BAGRAMI
PROVINCE ((AS PUBLISHED)) AND WAS AMBUSHED. DESPITE BEING WOUNDED,
SASHA BEAT OFF THE DUSHMAN ATTACK WITH HIS MACHINEGUN FIRE, CARRIED
THE BADLY BLEEDING PRIVATE 1ST CLASS V. GAVRILOV OUT OF THE BATTLE
TO SAFETY, AND GAVE HIM FIRST AID.
RETURNING TO HIS SUBUNIT AFTER HOSPITALIZATION, GAVRILOV WOULD
SAY THAT SASHA HAD SAVED HIS LIFE. AND KORYAVIN WOULD RETURN AFTER
TREATMENT WITH THE ORDER OF THE RED STAR.
SEVERAL DUSHMAN GANGS, HAVING INFILTRATED VARDAK PROVINCE,
STARTED BURNING VILLAGES, KILLING ACTIVISTS, AND ROBBING PEACEFUL
INHABITANTS. SOVIET SERVICEMEN CAME TO THE RESCUE. OPERATING IN
THE COMPANY'S FORWARD PATROL, KORYAVIN DISCOVERED AN APPROACHING
DUSHMAN CONVOY. TAKING UP AN ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION, HE BLEW UP THE
LEAD TRUCK BY FIRING HIS PORTABLE ANTITANK MORTAR, STOPPING THE
CONVOY. FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND, THE PLATOON LED BY LIEUTENANT
IVONIN COMPLETED THE ROUT, TAKING PRISONERS AND SEIZING
FOREIGN-MADE WEAPONS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
(MORE) 30 OCT PP/BENNETT/AM 05/0952Z NOV
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 Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96ROl136ROO2605120006-8
CIBRIICKHO SOVA/TWA/IW508 KRASNYA ZVEZDA AND KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA REPORT PAGE 0022
MSGNO 5 (FBXX) *05/11/85* *05:14*
ZCZC 10:12:17Z (FB)
UNCLASSIFIED
RTTUZYUW RUDOMKA0310 3090952 MTMS-UUUU--RUEBHAA.
-----R 050934Z NOV 85
FM FBIS LONDON UK
TO RUTLAAA/FBIS WASHINGTON DC
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RUEKJCS/DEFINTAGNCY WASH DC
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REF PM050932 MOSCOW KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA RUSSIAN 30 OCT///AND
MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
TAKE 2 OF 2 -- USSR: SERVICEMEN KILLED IN DRA PROFILED
PM050934
((EXCERPTS)) THE SOLDIERS LOVED AND RESPECTED THEIR COMMANDER
AND TRUSTED HIM COMPLETELY. AFTER ALL, IN TIGHT SPOTS HE WAS
ALWAYS IN THE THICK OF IT.
ANDREY IVONIN WAS NOT A NEWCOMER TO AFGHANISTAN -- HE HAD DONE
HIS MILITARY SERVICE THERE AND BACK IN SUMMER 1980 HAD BEEN AWARDED
THE "FOR VALOR" MEDAL FOR HIS COURAGE AND HEROISM. FROM THERE HE
WENT ON TO STUDY AT THE RYAZAN HIGHER AIRBORNE COMMAND SCHOOL. ON
GRADUATING FROM THIS SCHOOL HE APPLIED TO BE SENT TO SERVE IN THE
LIMITED CONTINGENT OF SOVIET TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. INITIALLY THE
SENIOR CHIEF REFUSED THE REQUEST: YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN ONCE, HE
SAID, THAT'S ENOUGH. THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT PERSISTED...
AND SO SASHA KORYAVIN'S LAST DAY AND LAST BATTLE ARRIVED...
THE PLATOON UNDER THE COMMAND OF LT IVONIN HAD BEEN TASKED WITH
SECURING AN ADVANTAGEOUS SALIENT IN KONARHA PROVINCE. ACCORDING TO
AVAILABLE INFORMATION A LARGE DUSHMAN GANG WAS HEADED THERE. THE
PLATOON COMMANDER PLACED PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KORYAVIN AND PRIVATE
KHALILOV ON PATROL. THEIR TASK WAS TO PREVENT A SURPRISE ENEMY
ATTACK FROM THE REAR.
THE MEMBERS OF THE PATROL NOTICED A LARGE GROUP OF DUSHMANS
CREEPING UP THE MOUNTAINSIDE. WHAT TO DO? SASHA, THE SENIOR
MEMBER OF THE PATROL, SENT HIS PARTNER TO REPORT THE SITUATION TO
THE PLATOON COMMANDER WHILE HE HIMSELF, TAKING UP AN ADVANTAGEOUS
FIRING POSITION, PREPARED FOR BATTLE. HE WAS COVERED BY A SHEER
CLIFF ON THE RIGHT AND A PRECIPICE ON THE LEFT.
THE DUSHMANS, BELIEVING THEMSELVES TO BE SAFE, HUDDLED TOGETHER
ON THE MOUNTAIN TRACK. A LITTLE FURTHER AND THEY WOULD REACH THE
UNCLASSIFIED
Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96ROl136R002605120006-8
 Approved For Release 2010/11/08: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605120006-8
CIBRIICKHO SOVA/TWA/R508 KRASNYA ZVEZDA AND KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA REPORT PAGE 0023
REAR OF THE COMPANY. BUT KORYAVIN FORESTALLED THEM. HIS
MACHINEGUN STRUCK UNERRINGLY. THE DUSHMANS WERE FORCED BACK.
HAVING OBTAINED REINFORCEMENTS, THE BANDITS AGAIN LAUNCHED AN
ATTACK. SASHA WAS HIT IN THE ARM BY A BULLET. BLEEDING PROFUSELY,
HE KEPT ON FIGHTING. HIS COMRADES WHO ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTERWARD
HELPED TO BEAT OFF THE DUSHMAN ATTACK.
AND THEN, DURING A SHORT LULL, ALEKSANDR KORYAVIN TOOK HIS LAST
STEP -- A STEP INTO IMMORTALITY. HE DIED HEROICALLY, CARRYING OUT
HIS MILITARY AND INTERNATIONAL DUTY TO THE LAST -- DEFENDING HIS
COMMANDER IN BATTLE.
THE ENEMY PAID DEARLY FOR THE SOVIET SOLDIER'S DEATH. THAT
NIGHT THE SUBUNIT'S SERVICEMEN BEAT OFF ANOTHER SIX FIERCE ENEMY
ATTACKS, KILLING DOZENS OF DUSHMANS.
ANDREY IVONIN KEPT HIS WORD: HE WENT TO ZAGORSK. HE SAW
YEVDOKIYA IVANOVNA AND SAID: "HELLO, MOM" AND SHE KISSED HIM AND
STARTED CRYING. THE MOTHER FOUND IT HARD TO TALK TO HIM -- AFTER
ALL, IT WAS THIS LAD WHOSE LIFE HER SON HAD SAVED. AND SHE JUST
SAID: "COME BACK SOON, MY BOYI
AND NOW SHE WAITS IMPATIENTLY FOR LETTERS FROM HIM AND SASHA'S
FRIENDS.
(ENDALL) 30 OCT PP/BENNETT/RD 05/0956Z NOV
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