Soviet Officer Portrait – Captain Petro M. Ryabenko – Red Star Recipient, Communications Battalion Commander

Original Soviet military portrait photograph of decorated Red Army officer Captain Petro Mikhailovich Ryabenko (surname slightly difficult but appears to read Ryabenko / Rybchenko).

The reverse carries official military identification, while archival research links the portrait to a documented wartime award recipient.

Research confirms Ryabenko served as: Captain – Commander, 10th Separate Communications Battalion

Born in 1918, Ukrainian, and serving in the Red Army from 1939, he participated in frontline combat operations during the Great Patriotic War.

Award records show that during intense fighting against German forces in July 1943, Captain Ryabenko successfully commanded communications operations between 10–22 July 1943, ensuring uninterrupted radio and communications links under extremely difficult battlefield conditions.

Despite heavy:

• artillery fire
• mortar fire
• aerial bombardment

he maintained reliable communications essential for command coordination and combat effectiveness.

The citation notes that his unit completed all assigned tasks successfully and suffered no losses.

For exemplary leadership and outstanding performance under combat conditions, he was recommended for a state award. The recommendation was upgraded from the Medal for Combat Merit to the Order of the Red Star.

The portrait shows him in early postwar uniform wearing his wartime decorations, including the Order of the Red Star and campaign medals.

Included:

• Original named Soviet military portrait photograph
• Official identification on reverse
• Digital scan of wartime award sheet
• Full recipient research

A highly desirable researched Soviet portrait grouping belonging to a decorated communications officer and wartime Order of the Red Star recipient.