Russia – Soviet: Anti-Ukrainian nationalist fighting Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Private Vasily Andreevich Oleinik, a telephonist with the 718th Rifle Regiment, 139th Rifle Division who was wounded during the fighting against the Banderas near the city of Chersk in Western Ukraine on 20th February 1945.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 306653
Condition: contacting to reverse, Very Fine
Vasily Andreevich Oleinik was born in the village of Vasilevika, Vcherainshansky District, Zhitomir oblast was born in 1925. A Ukrainian national he joined the Red Army on 28th February 1944 most likely being picked up the Red Army’s advance across Ukraine in early 1944 and pressed into service as many men of fighting age were.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class was Oleinik’s sole numbered decoration and was awarded to him by decree of the 139th Rifle Division on 1st March 1945. At the time he was employed as a Private and Rifleman in the 718th Red Banner Rifle Regiment, the recommendation reads:
‘On 20.02.1945, in battle outside the city of Chersk, Comrade Oleinik, being wounded, did not leave the battlefield until the mission assigned to him was completed. Comrade Oleinik deserves the government award of the Order of Glory 3rd Class.’
He would go on to take part in the capture of Konigsberg in April 1945 and would receive the medal for the capture of the city, as well as a Medal for Victory over Germany.
Chersk is a city in western Ukraine and at the time of the award fighting in the area involved the Red Army trying to route out insurgent Ukrainian nationalists, also known as Banderas who opposed Soviet control of the area.
In January 1947 he was working as a telephonist in the 41st Mechanised Regiment, 15th Mechanised Division whilst living in the village of Vasilevka, Vcheraishansky District, Zhitomir District.
