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Vladimir ZagoruykoIntelligence officer, member of the underground organization 'Young Guard'.
Date of Birth: 26.02.1925
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Vladimir Zagoruyko
Vladimir Zagoruyko was born on February 26, 1925, in the village of Talovoy in the Krasnodon district, in a working-class family. His father, Mikhail Ivanovich, fought in a partisan detachment during the Civil War. In 1932, Vladimir started school at the settlement of Shaft No. 7-10. After his family moved to the village of Vodyanoye, he continued his education at School No. 1 named after A. M. Gorky. He excelled in his studies and received commendations as he progressed through the grades. In his free time, he enjoyed reading and was passionate about music, participating in a school string ensemble. In 1940, he joined the ranks of the Leninist Komsomol.
When the war began, Zagoruyko entered the tenth grade. In early April 1942, based on a recommendation from the Krasnodon District Komsomol Committee, he became a cadet at the Voroshilovgrad School for the Training of Partisans and Underground Fighters.
Training and Activities
Throughout his training as a radio operator, Zagoruyko demonstrated exceptional dedication and active listening skills. He excelled in learning Morse code and radio communication techniques. He actively participated in public work and was a member of the Komsomol organization committee. He gained significant authority among his fellow students. His instructors noted that he could be used as a radio operator in a partisan unit, alongside a comrade who possessed radio equipment knowledge.
After completing his training, Zagoruyko joined a reconnaissance group and was airdropped behind enemy lines in May 1942. He engaged in sabotage operations, conducted reconnaissance, and provided the command with information about enemy dispositions on occupied territory. While evading pursuers, he managed to make his way to Krasnodon, his hometown, in August 1942. There, he reunited with his friends, the Levashov brothers, Vasiliy and Sergey, who were already members of an underground organization preparing for serious clashes with the Nazis. They recommended Zagoruyko to the "Young Guard" headquarters.
Arrest and Heroic End
Zagoruyko's work in the string ensemble at the A. M. Gorky Club allowed him to move freely in Krasnodon. As instructed by the headquarters, he conducted explanatory work among the local population, participated in weapons collection, and took part in combat operations. Leaflets with updates from Sovinformburo often appeared in the village of Vodyanoye, and Zagoruyko distributed them with his comrades, including Lyubov Shevtsova, Georgiy Arutyunyants, Yuri Vitsenovsky, and Dmitry Ogurtsov.
However, on January 28, 1943, Vladimir Zagoruyko was captured by the Nazis. Witnesses recall the brutal arrest, with the local police chief Solikovsky leading the operation. Zagoruyko was marched through the snow-covered streets with his hands tied, dressed only in his undergarments. The village policemen prodded him with rifle butts. He was subjected to savage torture, his limbs twisted, his hair pulled out, and he was beaten relentlessly. His entire body was covered in bruises. Despite the torture, he displayed unwavering courage until his last moments. As he was pushed into a pit, he shouted, "Long live the Motherland! Long live Stalin!"
After his arrest, several attempts were made to arrest his mother, but she managed to evade capture and went into hiding. Vladimir Zagoruyko was buried in a communal grave of heroes in the central square of Krasnodon.
For his bravery, Vladimir Mikhailovich Zagoruyko was posthumously awarded the "Partisan of the Patriotic War" Medal, 1st Class.
