Lachin Vagharshakovich Stepanyan, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, veteran soldier, and poet, has died in Armenia at the age of 101. The announcement was made on August 14 by Elena Shuvaeva-Petrosyan, press secretary of the Association of Veterans of Armenia.
Stepanyan, born on August 29, 1925, in Yeghvard, voluntarily joined the front lines at the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War without waiting for conscription. He went to fight following his father’s example.
During his service, Stepanyan served from the Caucasus to Prague and was a member of the crew aboard the Black Sea Fleet cruiser Voroshilov. For his valor and contributions, he received 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 writing poetry in 1943 while on active duty. His works reflected his wartime experiences, deep love for his homeland, and reflections on victory.
A collection of his poems titled “My Time, my Victory: Poems of a Veteran” was published in 2025, featuring Armenian-language works and their Russian translations, including pieces written during the war.
