I knew Comrade Kotovsky as an exemplary party member, an experienced military organizer, and a skillful commander. I remember him especially well on the Polish front in 1920, when Comrade Budyonny was breaking through to Zhitomir in the rear of the Polish army, and Kotovsky was leading his cavalry brigade in desperately bold raids against the Kiev army of the Poles. He was the terror of the Poles, for he could "chop them up" like no one else, as the Red Army soldiers said at the time. The bravest among our modest commanders and the most modest among the brave -- that is how I remember Comrade Kotovsky. Eternal memory and glory to him.

I. Stalin

Letters of I.V. Stalin to V.M. Molotov. 1925-1936. P. 43.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 2809.