Vitaliy Beluyzhenko Colonel, Hero of the Soviet Union Date of Birth: 03.10.1940 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Vitaliy Belyuzhenko

Vitaliy Stepanovich Belyuzhenko, a colonel and Hero of the Soviet Union, was born on October 3, 1940, in the village of Novogrigorovka, Mezhevsky District, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine. He was of Ukrainian nationality.

Belyuzhenko served in the Soviet Army from 1959. From 1959 to 1963, he served in the Northern Fleet. In 1963, he joined the state security agencies. He graduated from the Higher School of the KGB in 1967. From 1967 to 1976, he worked in the KGB Directorate for the Murmansk Oblast, and from 1976 to 1986, he worked in the KGB Directorate for Moscow and the Moscow Oblast.

He participated in combat operations in Afghanistan. In October 1979 to February 1980, he served as part of the special-purpose operational group "Zenit" of the KGB. From July to October 1980, he served as part of the special-purpose operational group "Kaskad" of the KGB. Belyuzhenko was wounded twice and suffered concussions during these operations.

On November 24, 1980, Vitaliy Stepanovich Belyuzhenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the "Golden Star" medal, for his courage and bravery demonstrated in the performance of his military duty.

From 1986 to 1990, Belyuzhenko worked as a senior lecturer at the Special Department of the Higher School of the KGB named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky (now the FSB Academy). Since 1990, he has been in reserve and currently resides in Moscow.

Belyuzhenko currently serves as the Chairman of the Council of the Interregional Public Foundation for Social Security "Law and Order-Shield." He holds the rank of colonel and is an honorary employee of the KGB of the USSR. He has been awarded the Order of Lenin, various medals, and foreign awards.