Soviet Russian Medal Order of the Red Star, AFGHANISTAN, Posthumous, BTR ambush
Soviet Russian USSR medal Order of the Red Star with serial number in the 3.7 million range awarded in 1984 to Junior Sergeant Yury Agafonov (Ukrainian, from Odessa, and buried there), a. With the 581st Independent Engineering Battalion, killed April 23, 1984 at age 21.
Agafonov's entry in the Memorial Book for Soviet soldiers killed in Afghanistan reads as follows. He took part in 11 combat operations and 4 convoy escorts.
On 23.04.1984, acting as part of a convoy escort detachment, he covered the evacuation of wounded comrades from the battlefield with fire from his assault rifle. He was wounded, but overcoming the pain, carried from a BTR the vehicle's severely wounded machine gunner. In the process, he suffered a second, mortal wound. For courage and bravery, he was awarded the Medal For Bravery [in 1983] and (posthumously) the Order of the Red Star. The above Memorial Book entry very likely reflects the content of the official citation for Agafonov's Red star.
The original document can be obtained for additional cost. Agafonov's convoy was traveling in the Baghlan Province on a 50-mile route from Pol-e-Khomri to Doshi. This ambush was the most lethal incident in the battalion's history : 10 soldiers were KIA, including 2 lieutenants and 3 sergeants. Six soldiers including one Lt. Of the 149th Motorized Rifle Regiment, 201st Motorized Infantry Division were also killed in the battle. A more detailed description description of the ambush, particularly of the fate of Agafonov's BTR. On 23 April 1984, a group of BTRs...Led a convoy toward Doshi. In the area of the village of Sangsulak (outside of Pol-e-Khomri) an ambush awaited them. The first RPG hit directly in the explosives storage of the lead BTR. Only the nose of the BTR and its shattered engines remained. The second BTR started to retreat, but a bullet broke its wiring and it stopped.
The third BTR was out of action with a punctured radiator. They fired on the group from two sides: from the cliff wall and from the green zone from 30-50 meters. From the green zone, they raked the wheels and in between. At the site of the battle 28 dead bandits were discovered. All the rest of [our] group were wounded. The column avoided the trap at the cost of the lives of the sappers. Especially with such complete context about the engagement.As seen in the images! The serial number of the award is authentic and matches the serial number shown in the archival documents. If you require confirmation in advance, please send me a message, and I will gladly provide images. Reasonable, rational collectors who are genuinely interested in the history represented by an award will make the effort to reach out and will quickly find that everything is in order.
Winner will be provided with archival research (4 pages - Award Record Card) in electronic format, unredacted, in color, plus excerpts of the memorial book, also in electronic format. Other pictures from the web also included. Professional English translation of the Record Card is available if requested before receipt of item. I will answer all coherent, respectful inquiries to the best of my ability. Please see my other listings.Lots of excellent Soviet medals! Many additional high quality pieces available that are not yet listed.