The authorities of Kaliningrad handed over the “For Combat Merit” medal to Tajikistan, which was found by the “Conscience” search team in 2025.
The award belonged to Junior Sergeant Alim Ishanov — a native of the Leninabad district of the Tajik SSR (now Khujand), a participant in battles as part of the 3rd Belorussian Front. 81 years ago, the 22-year-old junior sergeant took part in combat operations as part of one of the front’s units, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.
According to the department, the combat award was handed over during a working visit to the Kaliningrad region, during which the Consul General of the Republic of Tajikistan in St. Petersburg Sherali Khurshed held a meeting with the region’s governor Alexey Besprozvanny.
photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan
Where the medal was found ?
The head of the “Conscience” search team, Ruslan Khisamov, told “New Kaliningrad” that the medal was discovered in a field near Znamensk — close to the location where, after the end of hostilities, the 8th Separate Heavy Mortar Königsberg Brigade of the Order of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky of the RGC of the 3rd Belorussian Front was quartered, in which Ishanov served.
The medal was awarded to Ishanov on May 21, 1945, for participating in the assault on Königsberg. According to the searchers, the award was likely lost after the war.
It is also noted that “the brigade in which the junior sergeant served was highly regarded, equipped with 160-millimeter mortars used in the most fortified front sections. The unit was deployed to areas of the fiercest battles — near Goldap, Melzak, Ragnit, Labiau, Kreuzburg, and Pillkallen.”
According to the award documents, Ishanov served as a topographical calculator in the 2nd division and repeatedly went out to mark targets detected by scouts during the preparation for the breakthrough of the enemy’s defenses near Königsberg.
“The meticulous work of topographer Ishanov contributed to the destruction of enemy firing points, as the target marking was accurate. The topographical binding was carried out under heavy enemy fire. Despite the danger to his life, Ishanov ensured high accuracy, which contributed to the defeat of enemy targets and the advancement of our infantry,” the award sheet states.
The further fate of the front-line soldier could not be determined. It is known that in 1985 he was alive and was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class.
The award was handed over to relatives on April 10 through the Consul General of the Republic of Tajikistan in St. Petersburg.
