On November 24, 2013, having not lived several months to his 100th birthday, the Hero of Ukraine, the Honorary Citizen of Kyiv and Krakiw, the Honorary Fellow of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Honored Teacher of Ukraine, retired Major-General Yevhen Stepanovych Berezniak died.
Having saved the ancient Polish town of Krakiw from the demolition by the Nazis during the World War II, Yevhen Berezniak became a prototype of the famous Major Vykhor from the novel of Semenov Yu. and the film of the same name.
On the initiative and with the assistance of the DIU, Kyiv City State Administration (KMDA), veterans' organizations and representatives of the public, a memorial plaque in the honor of Yevhen Stepanovych was installed on the house, where he lived, on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary from the birthday of the famous scout.
The representatives of the DIU, KMDA, the former chiefs of the DIU and the representatives of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Defence Attaché of the Embassy of Poland in Ukraine Colonel Tomash Tshchinski, leaders of public veterans-scouts' organizations, servicemen, numerous members of the public, close relatives and friends of Yevhen Berezniak came to commemorate the outstanding son of the Ukrainian people and to participate in the opening ceremony of the memorial plaque.
The right to open the memorial plaque was given to the personnel of the DIU. After that, the representatives of the DIU, the Armed Forces of Ukraine veterans, Defence Attaché of the Embassy of Poland in Ukraine Colonel Tomash Tshchinski and public activists addressed to all the present. Remembering Yevhen Berezniak, everyone noted his extraordinary brightness and sincerity of his personality. At the end of the event, the son of Yevhen Stepanovych – Viktor – thanked the DIU and all the present for preserving and honoring the memory of his father.
The event ended with a minute of silence and solemn pass of the honor guard company.
Noteworthy that today's event is of particular importance for our state. From the very beginning of the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine, within the framework of the so-called hybrid war, the adversary has paid much attention to its information element. One of the directions of the information aggression against Ukraine is measures of the Putin regime aimed at appropriation and monopolization of the World War II victories. The Kremlin manipulators haven't left successful actions of Yevhen Berezniak for saving Krakiw without attention. Being alive, Yevhen Stepanovych always stressed that the victory over Nazism, in general, and the rescue of Krakiw, in particular, became possible thanks to the actions of many people of different nationalities. But, in recent years, the Kremlin has consistently and brazenly imposed the Russian population that there is, supposedly, only one "Major Vykhor" – Alexei Botian. In early February, 2016, the Russian media, congratulating Botyan O. on his 99th anniversary, bristled with praise odes in the honor of "the one and only Vykhor-Botyan". It is a pity that Oleksiy Botyan has become narcissistic and a bargaining pawn in the dirty information game.
The Ukrainians should know that we have people and deeds to be proud of in the past, present and, thanks to their combination, in the future! The measures to honor perished and deceased heroes should become an integral part of the system of military and patriotic education of youth, and should be spread with the help of the public, educators and the media representatives.
We have the truth on our side – that's why, we'll win! Glory to Ukraine!