Nikolai Usenko

Nikolai Ilyich Usenko (Russia: Николай Ильич Усенко; 22 December 1924- 21 March 1996) was a Red Army Rjadovoy and Hero of the Soviet Union.

Early life
Usenko was born on 22 December 1924 in Kamenka village in the Irbeysky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai. In 1930, his family was dispossessed and as special settlers relocated to a village in Kezhemsky District. After the compeltion of his education, he worked as a lumberjack on the Angara River.

World War II
In October 1942, he was drafted. Usenko was at the front from January 1943 as a telephonist in the 8th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 3rd Guards Airborne Division. During the Battle of the Dnieper, Usenko helped defend the division's bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper. Usenko repaired 12 breaks on the line during German air raids on 4 October. On 5 October, Usenko attempted to repair the telephone line and encountered a group of German soldiers, of whom he reportedly killed 25. On 6 October, he provided communications between the battalion commander and the companies. His communications were able to save the battalion from encirclement by German troops. On the same day, he was seriously injured by a German shell.

After months of treatment, Usenko was discharged from the Red Army in April 1944.

Later life
He returned to Kezhemsky District and worked in the logging industry there. He retired in 1975 and lived in Krasnoyarsk. In 1985, Usenko was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class, along with all other surviving veterans. He died on 21 March 1996 and is buried in the Badalyskoe Cemetery in Kransnoyarsk.

Streets in Kodinsk and Kamenka are named for him.