Khlebnikov Yuri Konstantinovich

Born in 1900 in Warsaw, in the family of a military topographer. Graduated from the 2nd Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg. Joined the White movement, participated in military operations. In 1920 he transferred to serve in the Red Fleet. In 1923 he graduated from the Arkhangelsk Naval College and began working as an assistant captain on the icebreaker Stepan Makarov, then as a 2nd navigator on the icebreaker Sedov. In 1929-1930 he participated in the Sedov's voyages to Franz Josef Land as a first mate. In 1932, on the icebreaker Sibiryakov, he participated in the first traverse of the Northern Sea Route, received the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and became the captain of the icebreaker. In 1936-1942 he commanded the icebreaker Litke: for escorting the destroyers Stalin and Voikov from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean he was awarded the Order of Lenin. Later he commanded the icebreakers Mikoyan and Severny Veter, escorted warships, and received the rank of captain of the 3rd rank. In 1943 he was sent as an observer to the USA. By the end of the war he had received two combat orders. After demobilization in 1946, he took command of the icebreaker Admiral Makarov. Arrested on 21 July 1948. Sentenced by the Special Conference of the USSR MGB on 12 March 1949 "for treason and anti-Soviet agitation" to 25 years in a correctional labor camp. Sentenced to Vorkuta. Released and rehabilitated in 1956. Joined the Murmansk Shipping Company. In 1959-1963 he commanded the icebreaker "Ermak", in 1965-1969 - the icebreaker "Semyon Chelyuskin" in the village of Tiksi. He died in 1976, buried in Moscow. In 1981 his name was given to the diesel-electric icebreaker "Kapitan Khlebnikov", registered in Vladivostok.