Nikolai Grigoryevich Braginets was born on December 11 (24), 1910, in the village of Velikaya Ves, now in the Repkin district of Chernihiv region (Ukraine), into a peasant family. He completed rural school and worked in his native village. In 1929, he was sent to Donbas through a Komsomol assignment, where he worked in a mine as a timberman, fitter, and cutting machine operator.
Early Life and Military Service
Braginets joined the Red Army in 1931 and graduated from the Leningrad Military-Theoretical School of Pilots in 1933. He was a participant in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940, serving as a link commander in the 63rd High-Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment.
During the conflict, Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Braginets carried out bombing raids on enemy fortifications, manpower, and equipment, thereby supporting the actions of rifle units. His performance and bravery on the front were exemplary.
Hero of the Soviet Union
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 19, 1940, “for exemplary fulfillment of combat missions of the command on the front of the struggle against Finnish White Guards and for courage and heroism shown,” Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Grigoryevich Braginets was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal (No. 471).
With the onset of the Great Patriotic War (World War II), Braginets was deployed to the front, serving as chief of staff of the regiment. In 1943, he completed accelerated courses at the Air Force Academy, further advancing his military education.
Later Career and Legacy
After the war, he served as a senior officer in the combat training department of the Military Academy of Logistics and Transport. From 1956, Lieutenant Colonel N.G. Braginets was in the reserve. Between 1960 and 1967, he headed a group at the Central Communications Hub of the Strategic Missile Forces.
Nikolai Braginets lived in Moscow and passed away on December 6, 1985, being buried at Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow. He was honored with the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd degree, the Order of the Red Star, and various other medals.