Soviet Sailors of the Baltic Fleet with Saved Boy Igor: A Story of Survival and Courage

August 7, 2025 - Reading time: 5 minutes

Soviet sailors of the Baltic Fleet rescue two-year-old Igor from starvation during the Siege of Leningrad in 1943, showcasing Soviet resilience and compassion in the face of war.

This striking photograph captures the bravery and humanity of Soviet sailors from the Baltic Fleet during the Siege of Leningrad. Armed with the iconic PPD-40 and PPSh-41 submachine guns, the sailors are seen holding a two-year-old boy named Igor, whom they saved from certain death during the brutal siege.

Igor’s parents, who had perished during the siege, left him orphaned and vulnerable to starvation. As Nazi and Finnish forces laid siege to the city, the residents of Leningrad were subjected to inhumane conditions, with starvation, disease, and constant bombardment taking a heavy toll. It was amidst this backdrop of destruction and suffering that these sailors found and rescued the boy, offering him a chance at survival and a future.

The image was captured in 1943 by photographer Boris Kudoyarov and was published in the "Smena" newspaper, a key publication of the Soviet Union during the war. The sailors' courageous act of saving a child amidst such hardship serves as a reminder of the humanity that can still shine through even in the darkest of times.

This photograph symbolizes the sacrifice, compassion, and resolve of the Soviet people, who fought not only for their own survival but also for the lives of the innocent caught in the horrors of war. The Baltic Fleet sailors in this image represent a broader narrative of resilience and hope that emerged in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: "Smena" newspaper, 1943
📍 Location: Leningrad, USSR
📅 Date of photo: 1943
📷 Photographer: Boris Kudoyarov

Soviet sailors WWII
Baltic Fleet sailors
Siege of Leningrad 1943
PPD-40 submachine gun
PPSh-41 submachine gun
Soviet compassion
Igor rescued WWII
Leningrad survival story
Soviet World War II heroes
Soviet resilience WWII