Shop

Original Soviet portrait photograph of Andrei Mikhailovich Uvarov (1915–?), a decorated Soviet medical officer who served with the 475th Rifle Regiment, 53rd Rifle Division during the Great Patriotic War.

Uvarov served in the Red Army from 1939 and saw combat from June 1941 onward. During the war he served as a medical feldsher / senior medical officer responsible for frontline medical support, evacuation of wounded personnel, and emergency battlefield treatment under combat conditions.

Archival award research identifies him as a recipient of multiple wartime decorations, including:

• Order of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды)
• Medal for Battle Merit (За Боевые Заслуги)

His award citations describe distinguished service during major combat operations, including the Dnieper battles in 1943 and fighting in the Carpathian Mountains in 1944, where he repeatedly displayed courage while evacuating and treating wounded soldiers under enemy fire.

The portrait shows Uvarov in the postwar period wearing his wartime decorations, including:

• 2x Order of the Red Star
• Campaign and service medals

A very desirable named portrait of a decorated Soviet medical officer with strong documented frontline service and excellent wartime history.

Included:

• Original portrait photograph only

Original Soviet officer portrait photograph depicting Andrei Vasilyevich Kulagin (1907–?), a decorated Soviet aviation officer and veteran of both the Winter War and the Great Patriotic War.

The reverse identifies him as Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Vasilyevich Kulagin, making this a fully named and documented portrait.

Digital archival research links this portrait to Kulagin, who served during the Second World War as Assistant Commander for Air Gunnery Service within the 11th Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (11 ORAP).

Kulagin, a Russian officer and Communist Party member since 1931, served in the Red Army from 1929. He participated in the Winter War (1939–1940) and later fought in the Great Patriotic War from 22 June 1941, serving on the:

• Bryansk Front
• Kalinin Front
• 1st Belorussian Front

Archival records confirm he was awarded the Order of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды) for distinguished wartime service.

The award citation highlights Kulagin’s major contribution to Soviet combat aviation training and operational readiness. Previously serving with the 683rd Assault Aviation Regiment, he helped retrain personnel for combat operations using the Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.

Later, within the 11th Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, Kulagin played a key role in training young flight crews in aerial gunnery, reconnaissance operations, and fighter defense tactics.

Under his instruction:

• 13 new flight crews were trained
• The regiment completed 550 combat reconnaissance sorties in 1944
• Crews survived 50 encounters with enemy fighters
• Combat losses remained exceptionally low, with only one aircraft lost and no personnel losses

The portrait shows Kulagin later in service as a Lieutenant Colonel, wearing an impressive medal bar including two Orders of the Red Star, alongside multiple Soviet wartime and postwar decorations.

A highly attractive researched Soviet aviation-related portrait with strong wartime provenance, named identification, and exceptional combat service history. A very desirable piece for collectors of Soviet Air Force and aviation-related material.

Included:

• Original portrait photograph
• Digital archival research scans

Original Soviet officer portrait photograph depicting Vasily Ivanovich Naumenko (1920–?), a decorated Soviet anti-aircraft artillery officer and veteran of the Great Patriotic War.

The reverse identifies him as Major Vasily Ivanovich Naumenko, with the portrait dated May 1959, making this a fully named and documented photograph.

Digital archival research links this portrait to Naumenko, who served during the Second World War as a platoon commander within the 522nd Small-Caliber Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

Naumenko, of Belorussian nationality, entered the Red Army in 1939 and participated in combat operations from 1941 onward. He was a Communist Party member from 1942 and served throughout the war without recorded wounds.

Archival records confirm he was awarded the Medal “For Battle Merit” and later the Order of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды) for distinguished service and exemplary leadership.

The award citations describe Naumenko as one of the regiment’s most capable officers, praised for discipline, leadership, and exceptional skill in training personnel. During combat operations around the Narva River, he distinguished himself through initiative, strong command ability, and successful execution of important combat tasks.

The portrait shows Naumenko later in service as a Major, wearing his wartime decorations, including the clearly visible Order of the Red Star, alongside several Soviet campaign and long-service medals.

A highly attractive researched Soviet officer portrait with strong wartime provenance, named identification, and documented frontline service. A desirable piece for collectors of Soviet militaria, anti-aircraft units, and researched Eastern Front material.

Included:

• Original portrait photograph
• Digital archival research scans

Original Soviet portrait photograph of decorated Red Army veteran Yakov Timofeevich Ryabenko (Рябенко Яков Тимофеевич), a documented Order of Glory recipient.

The reverse identifies the recipient as: Ryabenko Yakov Timofeevich. Photographed: 15 January 1968

Archival research confirms Ryabenko served as a gunner (layer) in the: 196th Artillery Regiment

Born in 1926, Ryabenko entered the Red Army in May 1943 and fought on the Baltic Front during the Great Patriotic War.

Award records show he was recommended for the Order of Glory III Class for bravery during offensive combat operations in 1944.

During fighting near Soldatskie Uchastki, Ryabenko’s battery moved into firing positions under intense enemy artillery and mortar fire. When the regular gun-layer became a casualty, Ryabenko immediately assumed the role himself and continued combat operations under fire.

His actions contributed directly to:

• Destruction of 1 enemy firing position
• Suppression of enemy resistance
• Support of Soviet offensive operations

For courage, initiative, and steadfastness in battle, he was awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class, one of the most respected Soviet enlisted bravery awards.

The portrait shows Ryabenko later in life wearing his wartime decorations and campaign medals.

Included:

• Original named Soviet portrait photograph
• Handwritten identification on reverse
• Digital scan of wartime award documentation
• Full research on recipient and service history

A desirable researched Soviet portrait grouping belonging to a decorated artillery veteran and Order of Glory recipient.

Original Soviet portrait photograph of Ivan Vasilyevich Melnik (Иван Васильевич Мельник), officially identified on the reverse with military stamp and signature dated 11 March 1963.

A highly attractive researched Soviet officer portrait showing Melnik wearing an impressive array of wartime and postwar decorations, including multiple orders and medals.

Research confirms Melnik served in the Red Army from 1940 onward and rose to the rank of Guards Captain, serving as Assistant Chief of the Political Department of the 35th Guards Tank Brigade.

This researched group includes multiple wartime award recommendation sheets documenting his distinguished frontline service.

Known awards include:

• Order of the Red Star
• Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class
• Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad
• Additional campaign and long-service medals

An early award recommendation from December 1942—during the period of the Battle of Stalingrad—describes Melnik displaying courage and exceptional leadership under heavy artillery fire and aerial bombardment.

Comrade Melnik, serving in the 550th Rifle Regiment (126th Rifle Division) since 30 November, has shown himself to be a disciplined and brave commander. On 19 December 1942, in the area of height 116.2, despite strong enemy artillery fire and bombardment by hostile aircraft, Comrade Melnik and his company did not retreat from their assigned position and firmly held their sector. Thanks to his skillful leadership, the assigned combat mission given to the unit was fully accomplished. He is devoted to the cause of Lenin-Stalin and the Socialist Motherland.

Later citations from 1944–1945 document his service with Guards armored formations, where he distinguished himself as a political officer during offensive combat operations, repeatedly operating near frontline positions under dangerous battlefield conditions.

His award documents praise his leadership, devotion to duty, and significant contribution to maintaining morale and discipline during combat.

Included:

• Original named Soviet portrait photo
• Officially stamped identification on reverse
• Multiple wartime award citations (digital scans)
• Full research on recipient and service history

A highly desirable researched Soviet officer grouping with strong historical appeal, ideal for collectors of Soviet militaria, armored warfare, and Red Army award groups.

Original Soviet portrait photograph of Engineer-Major Vladimir Pavlovich Pisimorev (Владимир Павлович Писиморев).

The reverse is officially stamped and signed by the personnel department of Military Unit 25580, certifying the identity of the photographed individual in 1969, making this a fully named and documented Soviet portrait.

Research confirms Pisimorev served in the Red Army during the Second World War as a radio operator in a mortar battery of the 725th Rifle Regiment, 27th Rifle Division.

He was awarded the highly respected Medal for Courage (Медаль “За Отвагу”) in July 1944.

According to his wartime award citation, during combat operations near Grumlinki on 26 July 1944, Pisimorev displayed exceptional courage under heavy enemy fire by repairing 12 breaks in communication lines, ensuring uninterrupted communications between divisional headquarters and his battery.

During this action he was seriously wounded in the head and leg.

For his bravery and devotion to duty he was awarded the Medal for Courage, one of the Soviet Union’s most respected decorations for personal battlefield heroism.

The portrait also shows him later in service wearing multiple decorations and campaign medals, reflecting a long military career after WWII, ultimately reaching the rank of Engineer-Major.

A highly attractive researched Soviet grouping, ideal for collectors of Red Army portraits, Soviet awards, and named WWII militaria.

Original wartime / early postwar Soviet portrait photograph depicting Lieutenant Timofei Yakovlevich Tverdokhleb (Тимофей Яковлевич Твердохлеб) in uniform.

A very attractive named portrait showing Tverdokhleb wearing his wartime decorations, including the Order of the Red Star and two campaign medals, identified as:

• Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus
• Medal for Victory over Germany
• Order of the Red Star

The reverse is fully handwritten and identifies him as:

Lieutenant Timofei Yakovlevich Tverdokhleb
Chief of Supply / Economic Service
871st Rifle Regiment
387th Rifle Division

Research confirms Tverdokhleb served from April 1942 onward and participated in combat operations from the Caucasus campaign through to Germany.

He was awarded the Order of the Red Star in July 1945 for distinguished service as a logistics officer. His award citation describes how he repeatedly ensured uninterrupted supply deliveries under heavy combat conditions, often bringing food and essential supplies to frontline troops under enemy fire and in severe terrain.

A notable action mentioned in his award recommendation took place on 26 January 1943, near Samurskaya, where he personally organized and led a supply column through snow, mountainous roads, and enemy shelling to deliver provisions to frontline battalions. His actions ensured the unit remained combat effective.

Excellent display and research item for collectors of Soviet WWII militaria, Red Army portraits, and award-related groupings.