Andrey Valko
Ukraine- Biography of Andrey Valko
- Political Activism
- Leadership in Zabaykalsky Krai
- Return to Krasnodon and Tragic End
Biography of Andrey Valko
Early Life and CareerAndrey Andreevich Valko was born in 1886 in the Zhilovskoye mine in the Voroshilovgrad region, into a family of miners. After completing three grades in a rural school, he continued his education in Slavyanserbsk. From the age of sixteen, he worked as a selector of ore. He then joined the imperial army and served as a private in Nikolaev for three years. After his military service, Valko worked as a ten-man in Alchevsk on Mine No. 16 and as a stopper on Mine No. 2 Belyansky Kopi.
Political Activism
In March 1917, Valko joined the ranks of the Bolshevik Party and was later conscripted into the Red Army in December 1918. Due to his exceptional leadership skills, he was appointed as the chairman of the mine union of coal miners in Belyansk. In 1922, he started working at the Sorokinsky mining management in Krasnodon, where he was highly regarded for his contributions to increasing mining productivity.
Leadership in Zabaykalsky Krai
In 1931, Valko was mobilized by the party to work in the gold fields, where he became the head of the Leno-Vitim mining complex and later the head of the mining management. Despite the challenging conditions and poor performance upon his arrival, Valko managed to turn the situation around through his leadership and strategic planning. He gained the trust and support of his colleagues and successfully implemented a unified plan of action.
Return to Krasnodon and Tragic End
After spending three years in Zabaykalsky Krai, Valko returned to Krasnodon, where he supervised mines No. 2-4 and 22. He was known for his serious and disciplined demeanor but also for his ability to offer assistance and encouragement to those in need. He had a special bond with the Komsomol members and treated them as equals, sharing his knowledge and experience.
During the early weeks of the occupation of Krasnodon, Valko, along with 31 other miners, was arrested by the Nazis for refusing to work for them. They were cruelly executed and buried alive in the city park on the night of September 29, 1942. Valko resisted until the end and spoke defiant words, vowing that their sacrifice would be avenged. He was buried in a mass grave alongside the other miners, and posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
Andrey Andreevich Valko's memory lives on as a symbol of bravery and resistance against fascist oppression. The park in Krasnodon was renamed in honor of the underground organization "Molodaya Gvardiya" (Young Guard), in which Valko was an active participant.
