Ivan Ilyich Sidorenko

Ivan Ilyich Sidorenko (; 19 October 1907 – 6 September 1984) was a Red Army sergeant during World War II and a Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the title in recognition of his actions during the Battle of the Dnieper, in which he distinguished himself through small-unit leadership.

Biography A Ukrainian, Ivan Ilyich Sidorenko was born on 19 October 1907 in the city of Kupiansk, now in Kharkiv Oblast, the son of a laborer. Completing primary school, he worked at a brickworks in the mechanical workshop. Conscripted into the Red Army in October 1941, Sidorenko fought in combat from November of that year. He was involved in fighting on the Southern, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Southwestern and Steppe (from 20 October 1943 the 2nd Ukrainian) fronts. During this period he fought in the defensive battles of 1941, the Battle of the Caucasus, and the liberation of Left-Bank Ukraine. By August 1943 he rose to the rank of junior sergeant, serving as a squad leader in a mortar company of the 248th Rifle Regiment of the 31st Rifle Division, part of the 46th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front. Sidorenko first distinguished himself on 26 August during the breakthrough of German defenses in the area of the village of Diskovka, Kharkiv Oblast, emplacing a mortar under fire. Credited with the destruction of two firing positions at point-blank range and killing eleven soldiers, he was awarded the Medal for Courage on 9 October in recognition of this action.

Sidorenko distinguished himself again in the Battle of the Dnieper and the fighting to expand the bridgeheads on the left bank of the river, this time leading a squad in a rifle company of the regiment. On the night of 27 September he and his squad assault-crossed the river near the village of Soshinovka (now Verkhnodniprovsk Raion) in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and rapidly took the first German trenches. In this action Sidorenko was credited with personally killing "more than ten soldiers of the enemy." In subsequent fighting on 1 October Sidorenko took over from the wounded platoon commander and confidently led his men in repulsing German counterattacks. On 25 October he led the platoon in a charge that captured the outskirts of the village of Krinichki and German positions, securing the further advance of the battalion. Seriously wounded on the next day, Sidorenko was evacuated from the front. In recognition of his actions, Sidorenko's regimental commander recommended him for the title Hero of the Soviet Union, the highest award of the country. He was awarded the title and the Order of Lenin on 22 February 1944 for his "exemplary execution of combat missions" and "demonstrated courage and heroism." After recovering, he was discharged from the hospital on 20 November with the rank of sergeant as unfit for further service due to his wounds.

Returning to Kupiansk, Sidorenko worked at a factory. He died on 6 September 1984.