Mikhail Razvozhaev congratulated the participants in the defense of Sevastopol on Victory Day

Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev congratulated veterans Alexandra Portnaya and Valentina Sergushkina on the upcoming Victory Day. These are the last two surviving participants of the Great Patriotic War, awarded the medal “For the Defense of Sevastopol”.

Mikhail Razvozhaev presented Alexandra Portnoy and Valentina Sergushkina with a commemorative medal “80 years of the liberation of Sevastopol from the Nazi invaders.” The competition to develop a design for the medal was held at the beginning of this year, and 86 people took part. On the eve of the holiday, medals are awarded to Sevastopol veterans. The head of the city also presented the participants in the city’s defense with commemorative medals “80 years of the liberation of Crimea from the Nazi invaders” from the head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov.

The memory of the Great Patriotic War, of our heroes, is what binds all Sevastopol residents, all Russians. These people accomplished a feat — they met the war very young, went through it, lived and worked in a besieged city, built fortifications, worked in a hospital, restored Sevastopol, which was destroyed to the ground. And now the opportunity to talk with people like Alexandra Ivanovna Portnaya and Valentina Timofeevna Sergushkina is a great happiness. Every year there are fewer and fewer veterans left. There are now only two veterans living in Sevastopol who were awarded the medal “For the Defense of Sevastopol” — and these women whom I was able to meet today are an example of true courage, heroism, and perseverance. This is our pride,” the press service of the Government of Sevastopol quotes Mikhail Razvozhaev.

Alexandra Ivanovna Portnoy is 101 years old. She was born and raised in the Kursk region. She came to Sevastopol as a very young girl and got a job in construction. And six days later the Great Patriotic War began. Then all forces were thrown into defending the city. Alexandra Ivanovna dug trenches, built bunkers, bunkers. Later she went into evacuation to the Caucasus. She moved from the Caucasus to the Krasnodar region to build ammunition warehouses at a cement plant. Later she managed to return to Sevastopol. She got a job in a woodworking shop located in the area of ​​Revyakina Street, where materials were prepared for the restoration of the city. Alexandra Portnaya participated in the restoration of the city, in particular, Bolshaya Morskaya, Lenin, and Gogol streets. She also had the opportunity to work on the restoration of the Main Department Store of Sevastopol on Mayakovsky Street. Currently, Alexandra Ivanovna lives with her son and daughter-in-law. She has two grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On May 6, all schools in the country will host a lesson “Talking about important things,” dedicated to Victory Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Sevastopol from the Nazi invaders. Alexandra Portnaya will become its main character — interviews with her will be shown to millions of schoolchildren throughout Russia.

Valentina Timofeevna Sergushkina is 98 years old. She was born in the Ulyanovsk region and moved to Sevastopol. When she was 15 years old, the Great Patriotic War began. From the first days of the war, following a call for help from civilian youth, she began helping in a military hospital. After the hospital was transferred to the Inkerman adits, she continued to provide assistance to medical personnel and the wounded. In 1942, during the bombing of a hospital, she was wounded and lost her leg. Then there was an evacuation, and in 1946 Valentina Timofeevna returned to Sevastopol and worked for a long time in the military units of the Black Sea Fleet, in the construction department of the fleet.

On May 9, Sevastopol will celebrate Victory Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city from the Nazi invaders. Commemorative events will take place throughout the year.

source: press service of the Government of Sevastopol