BORIS ANDREEVICH TSARIKOV

1926 – 1943

Hero of the Soviet Union

Boris Tsarikov was born on 31 October 1926 in Gomel. He attended school 25. According to the recollections of his classmates, he was a bright and agile personality: he liked reading, often became the initiator of various sports games, was the breeder of the class. In the first days of July, the Tsarikov family was evacuated. Their place of residence became the city of Rtischevo, Saratov region. There, young Boris met Colonel Vasili Ustinovich Bojko, the commander of the special task force that was then being assembled and trained in Rtischevo and its surrounding areas. Having added a year, Boris Tsarikovwas enlisted in the group V.U. Boyko. Left Boris from Rtischevo without the permission of his mother. So he just left a note asking me not to worry and to forgive. And already on February 28, 1942 through the famous «Suraj Gate» detachment in the area of village Usvyat crossed the front line. So began the battle path of Boris Tsarikov.

On October 15, 1943, a scout of the 43rd Komsomolets, Boris Tsarikov, with a group of miners, first crossed the Dnieper River in the Loyev area, placing the Red Flag on the right bank, and for 5 days participated in the fighting on the expansion of the bridgehead; The 17-year-old warrior returned to the left bank several times with military reports to the headquarters.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 30, 1943, the Red Army soldier Boris Andreevich Tsarikov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the exemplary performance of combat tasks of the command and the heroism and courage shown at the same time.
From the award list for the scout of the 43rd Daur Regiment, Boris Andreyevich Tsarikov: In the battles for the crossing of the Dnieper river, comrade Tsarikov showed courage and heroism. On 15 October 1943, together with a group of miners, he was the first to cross the Dnieper River and, under the hurricane fire of the enemy, first to enter the enemy’s trenches with an automatic rifle and hand grenades, destroying the Hitlerians, thus ensuring the crossing of the 1st Rifle Battalion.

On 15 October 1943, under enemy fire, he crossed the Dnieper five times with military reports to the headquarters. At the same time, on the right bank of the Dnieper, he picked up more than 50 men of the Red Army units, organized them into a group and put them into combat order of the battalion. In subsequent battles for the expansion of the bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper, acts heroically, always in the forefront, inspiring the personal example of other fighters to combat feats. Worthy of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union».

A valiant warrior died brave in battle on 13 November 1943. He was buried in a mass grave in the town of Loyev, Gomel region of Belarus. The Hero’s name is given to a school in Gomel, a street in Gomel and Loyev. A memorial plaque is placed on the building of the 25th school where he studied.
He was awarded the Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner.