Nikita Karatsupa; Celebrated Soviet Union Border Guard

Nikita Karatsupa, 85, who with his German shepherd dogs became the Soviet Union’s most celebrated border guard. Karatsupa served from 1932 to 1961 on Soviet borders with China, Poland, Turkey and other countries. Soviet authorities hailed him and and his dogs for stopping many people from illegally crossing the border. He took part in 120 border skirmishes, killed 129 people and caught 338 intruders, Soviet newspapers wrote. Karatsupa was awarded the nation’s highest decorations--the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin, two orders of the Red Banner and other military orders. After retiring, Karatsupa worked in Moscow’s Border Guards Museum. In Moscow on Saturday of pneumonia.