We were left on our own device to save our lives. And so our group started walking where our feet would take us. Anyway I was lucky. I joined a Ukrainian family of Grigory Fedotovich Cherednichenko. He asked me what my name was. I said my name was Yurii. “Oh Yurko! What’s up?” I was a soldier in a uniform. We had a very warm clothing. It became very warm at that time. Anyway, he allowed me to enter his house where his wife was. I was with their family during the hardest time of my life, when I was unable to walk. After awhile…when I was able to get up I used to help them around the house. Anyway, one day he said “Yurko, our villagers say you’re a Jew. We’re in danger and you’re in danger to stay with us any longer”. I go “Well, I’m going to leave you”. “Where would you go?” “Any place. I don’t want to cause you any trouble”. “OK. You go to village Chaplino. My sister lives there. I’ll write to her. You may stay with them for the time being”.

Grigory’s sister let Yurii stay with her until a Red Army unit came through the town. Yurii rejoined the military and was eventually stationed with the Fourth Ukranian Front near Melitopol.

“Finally on October 15, ’43 I was seriously wounded. After that, I stayed in the battlefield for a very long time. Being wounded I stayed under fire. Anyway, at night I was evacuated: medical train, initial treatment – and I was sent to Russia. I was released from that hospital at the end of March, ’44. I was given the status of a 2nd group invalid”.

Yurii persevered through complications from his wartime injuries. He became a successful lawyer and later a law professor in Saratov.