On April 14, an EWCS dedicated to the 125th Birth Anniversary of Heroes of the Soviet Union brothers Dmitry and Yakov Lukanins was put into postal circulation in the On the 85th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 series

Dmitry and Yakov Lukanins were twin brothers, veterans of the Great Patriotic War, and Heroes of the Soviet Union.

They were born on April 14 of 1901 in the village of Lyubimovo (presently Lukanino in the Yukhnovsky District of the Kaluga Region.

Dmitry Lukanin (1901–1961) was a Senior Sergeant, a Hero of the Soviet Union. In September of 1942, he was called up for duty and sent to the front. By October of 1943, Guards Junior Sergeant Dmitry Lukanin was the commander of the ML-20 howitzer gun of the 197th Guards Artillery Regiment of the 92nd Guards Rifle Division of the 37th Army of the Stepp Front. He distinguished himself during the liberation of the Dnipropetrovsk Region of the Ukrainian SSR. On October 15 of 1943, Dmitry Lukanin’s crew with his brother Yakov as a gunner, took part in repelling a German counterattack on the outskirts of the village of Kaluzhino in the Verkhnedneprovsky District. They destroyed 6 German tanks and forced the other 7 tanks to retreat.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 24, 1944, for the “exemplary fulfillment of combat missions assigned by the command on the front lines of the struggle against the German invaders, and for the courage and heroism displayed therewith,” Guards Junior Sergeant Dmitry Lukanin was granted the highest title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal. He was also awarded the Order of the Red Star and different medals.

Yakov Lukanin (1901–1951) was a Sergeant, a Hero of the Soviet Union. In September of 1942, he was drafted into service and sent to the front. By October of 1943, Red Army Guard Soldier Yakov Lukanin served as a gunner on an ML-20 howitzer-gun in the 197th Guards Artillery Regiment of the 92nd Guards Rifle Division, of the 37th Army of the Steppe Front. He distinguished himself during the liberation of the Dnipropetrovsk Region of the Ukrainian SSR.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 24, 1944, for the “exemplary fulfillment of combat missions assigned by the command on the front lines of the struggle against the German invaders, and for the courage and heroism displayed therewith,” Guard Red Army Soldier Yakov Lukanin was granted the highest title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal.

During the war, the Lucanin brothers destroyed 37 tanks and armored vehicles, as well as more than 600 enemy soldiers and officers. In honor of the brothers, streets are named in Mosalsk, Yukhnov and Kaluga, their native village is renamed, and a bust monument is installed in Zaporozhye. Their 152 mm gun is in store in the St. Petersburg Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering Corps and Communication Troops.

The commemorative stamp provides an emblem of celebration of the 85th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945; the main image features portraits of Lukanin brothers against the background of a battle scene and the ML-20 howitzer-gun.

In addition to the issue of the envelope with a commemorative stamp, JSC Marka produced special cancels for Moscow, Kaluga, Saint Petersburg, and Volgograd.


Design Artists: M. Podobed and A. Moskovets.
Quantity: 500 thousand envelopes.

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