Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
5 February 1944
[No. 69]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Vatutin

Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, as a result of a resolute strike by mobile formations and infantry and a skilfully executed outflanking manoeuvre, captured the towns of Lutsk and Rovno — large regional centres of Ukraine — and also the town and important railway junction of Zdolbunov.

In the fighting for the capture of the towns of Lutsk, Rovno, and Zdolbunov, distinction was won by the troops of Lieutenant-General Pukhov, Lieutenant-General Baranov, Lieutenant-General Sokolov, Lieutenant-General Kiryukhin, Lieutenant-General Glukhov, Major-General Mansurov, Major-General Vasilyev, Major-General Khrustalev, Major-General Zubov, Colonel Borshchev, Major-General Pavlov, tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Novikov, Major-General of Tank Troops Korolev, Colonel Pushkarev, artillerymen of Major-General of Artillery Kubeyev, and sappers of Colonel Barash.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are to be submitted for the award of the honorific titles "Lutsk" and "Rovno" and for the award of orders.

Today, 5 February, at 21:00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who captured the towns of Lutsk, Rovno, and Zdolbunov with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Lutsk, Rovno, and Zdolbunov.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

5 February 1944 [No. 69]