Sponsors and participants of the project in 2012-2017.

     These veteran trips became possible thanks to the financial support of the Russian companies - PJSC (public join-stock company) Aeroflot, PJSC Sovkomflot, PJSC Arbat Capital and British - BSI Global Group, Cultural Solidarity Media, New Century, Securities Research Associates Ltd.

     The purpose of the trip: a group of seven war veterans, still strong in spirit and able bodied (aged 88-96), are going to visit their comrades-in-arms overseas to take part in the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, the 80th anniversary of HMS Belfast, to meet British war veterans - participants of the Arctic convoys, as well as to support of our compatriots from Russia and the CIS.

Trip program (May 6-11, 2018)

May 6 - Departure from Sheremetyevo airport, Terminal D, flight SU 2578. Farewell 07:25-07:50. Arrival in London. Transfer to York.

May 7 – Scheduled events at the cadet building of Ampleforth College, a lesson of courage. Meeting with British war veterans.

May 7 - Events in Leeds; a gala concert in the Russian community. Meeting with British war veterans.

May 8 - Transfer to London. Welcome ceremony at HMS Belfast. Meeting with British war veterans.

May 9 - 11.00: wreath laying ceremony at the Soviet War Memorial in Harmsworth Park. 14.30: participation in the “Immortal Regiment” procession from Trafalgar Square to the Parliament building (1 km). 18.00: concert at the representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo.

May 10 - Transfer to Portsmouth, meeting with British war veterans. A tour of The D-Day Story museum and of the HMS Victory battleship museum (1765).

May 11 - Visit to The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and All Saints. Departure from London at 13:25: flight SU 2579. Arrival at Sheremetyevo airport, terminal D at 19:05.

Members of the delegation:

1. Nikolay Lukyanovich DUPAK, born in 1921, was on the front line from 27.07.1941 till 23.09.1943. In October-December 1941 he studied at the Novocherkassk Army Cavalry School, graduated as lieutenant on 2.01942. Since 16.03.1942 he was in the 7th Cavalry Corps (the Bryansk Front), which became the 6th Guards Cavalry Corps on 19.01.1943. N.L. DUPAK was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the capture of an important railway hub - Valuiki, Belgorod region - on January 19, 1943. Squadron commander: Guards Lieutenant. He was wounded three times (twice seriously) and one time he was shell-shocked. Participated in the battles of Moscow and Stalingrad. Disabled veteran of group II. Starred in 72 movies and in more than 70 theatre production, directed 8 theatre plays. Manager of Taganka Theater 1963-1990. Honored Artist of the RSFSR and Ukraine.
2. Valentin Aleksandrovich SOLDATOV, born in 1929, a graduate of the Solovetsky Naval School of the Northern Fleet. Midshipman, torpedo boat boatswain, on naval duty from 08.1943 until 1953. Participated in defense of the Arctic and Northern Sea convoys. He served on the torpedo boats of the Northern Fleet.
3. Alexander Vasilievich LOCHAGIN, born in 1928, a graduate of the Solovetsky Naval School of the Northern Fleet. Boatswains mate, machinist, in the Navy from 08.1944 until 1951, participated in defense of the Arctic. He served on the artillery monitor Sun Yat Sen, the Amur Flotilla; and then as a diving instructor in the training detachment of the Pacific Fleet.
4. Nikolay Konstantinovich IMCHUK, born in 1930. In the initial period of the war he was a messenger of the guerrilla regiment named after Kutuzov, on the front line from 02.1944 until 1945. Guards Private, 328th artillery battalion of Katyusha rocket launchers, of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts. Son of the Regiment. He went to war at 11 years and finished at 1 Participated in the liberation of Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and Austria.
5. Anatoly Pavlovich ZHIVOV, born in 1925, in the Red Army from 9.01.1943. On the front line since 02.1944, sergeant, infantryman, 259th “Artemovskaya” Rifle Division, of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Participated in assault river crossing of Southern Bug and Dniester. Took part in the liberation of Ukraine and Bulgaria.
6. Boris Samoilovich GOLOVCHINER, born in 1925. In the Red Army from 01.1943. He studied at the machine-gun military school, on the front line since 07.1943. Guards Private, paratrooper, the 353rd Guards Rifle Regiment, the 114^th Guards Rifle Division, the 9th Army (formed from airborne brigades), the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Participant in the liberation of Hungary and Austria.
7. Vasily Panteleevich, MRUG, born in 1926, in the Red Army from 9.11.1943. Armored division paratrooper, the 15th Tank Brigade, the 1st Guards Armored Don Corps, the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Fronts. Participant in the liberation of Byelorussia, Poland and East Prussia

Head of the delegation - Alexander Ivanovich Goncharov

Sponsors and participants of the project in 2018 were: PJSC Aeroflot, Sovcomflot, British Petroleum Russia and private individuals

Organisers of the project of people's diplomacy:

The Chairman of the “Moscow Regional Organisation of Veterans of the Great Patriotic War - wards of the Army and the Navy” IMCHUK Nikolai Konstantinovich, battle-front veteran, Son of the Regiment

Telephone: + 7-495-7534667, mobile: + 7-929-6673899

From the Russian side: organiser of the project "The Last Soldier of the Second World" - lieutenant colonel GONCHAROV Alexander Ivanovich, veteran of military service, participant in overseas military expeditions.

Mobile: +7 916-060-1891, WhatsApp, telephone in Britain (for the duration of the trip) +44 (0) 7704718485

E-mail: sgonchar@rambler.ru Skype: sashagonch1

From the British side: organiser of the project "The Last Soldier of the Second World" Tim Lewin, Vice-President of the Veterans Association of HMS "Belfast"

tel. + 44 (0) 07802259836, E-mail: tim.lewin@btinternet.com