Kaliningrad, April 15, 2026 – The Europe Today: Authorities in Russia’s Kaliningrad region have formally handed over the historic “For Combat Merit” medal of a Tajik World War II soldier to Tajikistan, more than 80 years after it was awarded, in a gesture honoring wartime sacrifice and historical memory.
The medal belonged to Junior Sergeant Alim Ishanov, a native of the Leninabad district of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (now Khujand), who served on the 3rd Belorussian Front during World War II. The decoration was discovered in 2025 by the “Conscience” search team in a field near Znamensk—an area historically linked to intense military operations and the post-war deployment of Soviet artillery units.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, the medal was formally transferred during a working visit to the Kaliningrad region. The Consul General of Tajikistan in St. Petersburg, Sherali Khurshed, received the award following a meeting with Kaliningrad Governor Alexey Besprozvanny. The handover marked a significant step in preserving the legacy of soldiers who fought in the Second World War.
Search team head Ruslan Khisamov noted that the medal was found near the location where the 8th Separate Heavy Mortar Königsberg Brigade—part of the 3rd Belorussian Front—had been stationed after the war. Ishanov served in this distinguished unit, which was equipped with powerful 160-mm mortars and deployed in some of the fiercest battle zones, including Goldap, Melzak, Ragnit, Labiau, Kreuzburg, and Pillkallen.
Award records indicate that Ishanov received the medal on May 21, 1945, for his role in the assault on Königsberg. Serving as a topographical calculator in the 2nd division, he played a critical role in identifying and marking enemy targets under heavy fire. His precision and courage significantly contributed to the destruction of enemy firing positions and supported the advance of Soviet infantry units.
“The meticulous work of topographer Ishanov ensured high accuracy in targeting, even under intense enemy fire, directly contributing to successful combat operations,” the award citation states.
While much of Ishanov’s later life remains unknown, records confirm that he was alive in 1985, when he was honored with the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class.
The long-lost medal was officially handed over to Ishanov’s relatives on April 10 through the Tajik Consulate in St. Petersburg, bringing closure to a decades-old chapter and paying tribute to the enduring legacy of a wartime hero.
