Pavel Syutkin, a Soviet World War II commander of self-propelled artillery, died in Sochi on Aug. 10, 2026, at 104, Kuban 24 reported. His combat record in East Prussia underpinned Russia’s 2008 award of the Hero of the Russian Federation title for wartime courage.
In September 1942, Syutkin volunteered for the Red Army and was sent to the 2nd Rostov Artillery School. By 1943, he had reached the front as commander of an SU-152 self-propelled gun.
During the Soviet campaign in East Prussia in spring 1945, Syutkin led an artillery battery in combat. The battery was credited with destroying German tanks, artillery and bunkers.
After the war, Syutkin graduated in 1951 from a Soviet military academy for logistics and support. His last army post was deputy division commander for military logistics and support. He retired as a colonel and moved to Sochi in 1995.
Russia awarded Syutkin the Hero of the Russian Federation title for wartime courage in 2008. President Vladimir Putin presented him with the title’s Gold Star at the Kremlin. Sochi made him an honorary citizen in 2022.
