Rustem Gafarov awards a 97-year-old veteran Vasily Gorshkov with the jubilee medal «80th anniversary of the Great Victory»

In December 1944, he was drafted to the front, served on the Russian-Chinese border, and then worked at a Gunpowder factory

Today, Rustem Gafarov, the head of the Kazan Executive Committee, paid a visit to Vasily Gorshkov, a 97-year-old veteran of the Great Patriotic War. On behalf of the President of Russia, he awarded the veteran with a jubilee medal «80^th anniversary of the Great Victory».

Vasily Gorshkov was born in 1927 in the village of Severchi in Apastovsky district of Tatarstan, into a family of a village council secretary and kindergarten teacher. Vasily was 14 when the war began and his father went to the front. As the eldest son in the family, he became the family breadwinner, working on a collective farm.

In December 1944, he was drafted to serve on the Russian-Chinese border. «I was drafted at the age of 17, I was happy to be drafted, as there was not enough food in the village», – he recalls. He served for almost seven years in the army.

After being demobilized in 1951, Vasily went on to study at a chemical technology college and later at the evening department of Kazan Institute of Chemical Technology. After completing his studies, he joined a gunpowder factory, where he spent 33 years working in one workshop. Vasily worked hard and in 1958, he was sent on a business trip to China, where he shared his experience with foreign colleagues. «I loved my job and would have continued working, but my health was not so good and I had to retire», – the veteran shared.

In his free time, Vasily Gorshkov enjoyed skiing. «My father was always very energetic, I've never met anyone so active: he worked during the week, skied at the weekend, he had plenty of energy for everything, he didn't sit stil», – said Irina Vasilyevna, his daughter.

In 1959, Vasily met his future wife Anna. They have been together for 66 years. «We are always together – all these 66 years» – shares Anna. Their family is large and close-knit, including two daughters, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. «Every holiday, we gather at our parents' apartment and have a delicious meal, laugh, and talk. Father enjoys reminiscing about life in the countryside, his military service and his work», – said his daughter.

When asked about the secret of his longevity, Vasily Gorshkov replied without hesitation – in his family: «They are my main source of energy, when I hear their voices, laughter, it makes me feel so good. There are still two years left until I turn a hundred, and then we will see».

In total, there are 150 veterans of the Great Patriotic War living in the capital of Tatarstan, including 48 who were evacuated to Kazan from the besieged city of Leningrad.

For reference, during the 36^th session of the Kazan City Duma, 59 veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 who live in the capital of Tatarstan were awarded the title of «Honorary Citizen of Kazan».