Pavel Dubinda Hero of the Soviet Union Date of Birth: 25.07.1914 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Pavel Dubinda

Pavel Khristoforovich Dubinda was born in the village of Prognoi, now known as Heroiske in the Golopristansky district of the Kherson region. He was of Ukrainian descent. After completing school, he worked in a fish collective farm. In 1936, he was drafted into the naval fleet. In June 1941, he became a participant in the Great Patriotic War, serving on the cruiser "Chervona Ukraina" and taking part in the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. During the defense of Sevastopol, the cruiser was damaged by aerial bombs and the crew was ordered to abandon the ship.

From November, Pavel Dubinda fought in the 8th Marine Infantry Brigade. In the last days of the defense, he was injured and captured. He went through several prisoner-of-war camps and made attempts to escape. After a successful escape in March 1944, he rejoined the Red Army. He served in the 293rd Guards Rifle Regiment. On August 8, 1944, in the battle for the village of Skorlupka in Poland, commanding a detachment, Private Pavel Dubinda was the first to break into the enemy trench and destroy 7 German soldiers. He was awarded the Order of Glory 3rd class on September 5, 1945.

On August 20, 1944, in the battle for the railway station Mostuvka in Poland, Junior Sergeant Dubinda, commanding a platoon, attacked the station and drove out the enemy. In this battle, the company commander was injured and Pavel Dubinda replaced him. Despite being wounded himself, he continued to command and ensured the completion of the combat mission. In this battle, he personally destroyed 10 enemy soldiers. He was awarded the Order of Glory 2nd class on October 5, 1944.

From October 22 to 25, 1944, in the battles for the village of Peshiken in East Prussia near the town of Sztallupönen (now the city of Nesterov in the Kaliningrad region), Senior Sergeant Pavel Dubinda, commanding a platoon, was the first to break into the enemy trench, destroying 4 enemy soldiers and capturing an officer. He was awarded the Order of Glory 1st class on March 24, 1945.

On March 15, in the area of Königsberg, Dubinda's platoon captured the village of Bladiau in battle, destroying about a company of enemy soldiers and capturing 2 guns. A few days later, the Germans attempted to retake the position and launched a counterattack with superior forces and artillery support. The platoon repelled several attacks, and when ammunition ran out, Pavel Dubinda seized an enemy machine gun and forced the enemy to retreat at point-blank range. While pursuing the enemy, Dubinda's platoon stormed the courtyard of a manor and captured 40 enemy soldiers and 4 officers. Pavel Dubinda was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on June 29, 1945.

In August 1945, Pavel Dubinda was demobilized. After returning home, he worked as a boatswain on the ship "Slava" in the Antarctic whaling fleet. He passed away in the city of Kherson.

Orders and Medals:

• Order of Lenin
• Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd class
• Order of the Patriotic War 1st class
• Orders of Glory 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes
• Various Medals