Russia to fete former Odisha CM & and 'valiant pilot' Biju Patnaik for role in USSR’s triumph over Nazi Germany during World War-II

BHUBANESWAR: The Russian Embassy in New Delhi has decided to honour former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik on Victory Day, celebrated on May 9 every year to commemorate the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany during World War II. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.
Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has extended an invitation to Biju's son and BJD president, Naveen Patnaik, to attend the event, to be held in New Delhi on Friday. External affairs minister S Jaishankar will be the chief guest.
"In this solemn moment of pride, grief, and unwavering remembrance, we honour those who stood together against Nazism in the anti-Hitler coalition and commemorate the heroic deeds of the people of the former Soviet Union and its allies who bore the brunt of the most brutal conflict in human history. Among the heroes to whom we pay tribute is your late father," wrote Alipov in a letter to Naveen.
The letter described Biju as a ‘towering personality and a valiant pilot' who participated in the Stalingrad Operation, supplying weapons to the besieged Red Army. In recognition of his contribution, Russia had awarded him the Jubilee Medal in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of Victory Day, for his bravery and courage. Biju died two years later.
According to an article published in Odisha Review, Biju had flown dozens of sorties over the Himalayas to China, carried British families from Burma to London, as well as directed military help to Russia against Nazi Germany, earning pride and glory for himself and receiving gallantry awards during the Golden Jubilee of the USSR.