8 April 2010,Staff of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representation in Israel together with the Consul General of Russia in Haifa IV Popov and representatives of veterans' associations of Israel have visited the one living Hero of the Soviet Union in Israel, Yacov Tsalevich Forzun.

YA.TS. Forzun was born in 1924 in Zhitomir region. In December 1942 he joined the Red Army. His first battle encounter occurred in the summer of 1943 at the Bryansk Front. He fought as machine gunner in the 199th Guards Rifle Regiment, 67th Guards Rifle Division on the 1st Baltic Front. He was wounded four times.

After crossing the Western Dvina,the unit in which Jacob Forzun fought, defended a beachhead.

For courage and heroism in the fierce battle, ordinary Forzun was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the "Golden Star".

Since 1991, Jacob Forzun lives in Israel, in Or Akiva.
Consul General of Russia in Haifa handed the hero the medal "65 Years of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." And wished him good health. The head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Israel, AA Kryukov congratulated YA.TS. Forzuna with Happy Victory Day and on behalf of the leadership of the Rossotrudnichestvo, presented a new book about the Great Patriotic War and a bouquet of flowers.

The visit was covered by a group of Russian television broadcasters, headed by S. Pashkov.

Press Office of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representation in Israel