Ivan Nikitovich Yesin (Russian: Иван Никитович Есин; 25 August 1900 – 1 January 1970) was a Soviet Army major general who held division commands during World War II.

A Russian, Ivan Nikitovich Yesin was born on 25 August 1900 in the village of Chebudasy, Ardatovsky Uyezd, Simbirsk Governorate.

He took part in fighting against the White Cossacks of General Mikhail Fostikov in the Kuban, and the suppression of the Dagestan uprising.

He completed the district's recurring training courses in Rostov-on-Don between 19 October 1923 and 21 July 1924, and became a platoon and company commander in the stanitsa of Morozovskaya after returning to the regiment.

[1][2] Yesin was transferred to the Ukrainian Military District in December of that year to serve as chief of the 6th section of the staff of the 45th Mechanized Corps at Kiev.

By an order of 26 December 1938, Yesin, then a major, was appointed commander of the 1st Motor Rifle and Machine Gun Brigade of the 25th Tank Corps at Berdichev.

[1] The recommendation read:[3] Colonel Comrade Yesin himself took an active part in the conduct of the operation of the 1st Guards Army on the Boguchar axis.

By an order of the army of 25 July 1943, Yesin was relieved of command for “unskillful leadership” and placed at the disposal of the front military council.

From 14 August to 5 September 1944 the division conducted a forced march from the region of Beltsy to the approaches to the Danube river, an expanse of more than 720 kilometers.

For exemplary fulfillment of tasks of the command for the clearing of the territory of Romania from German-Fascist invaders and for decisive assistance in the taking of the city of Bucharest, Comrade Yesin is deserving of the Order of the Red Banner.

The recommendation read:[7] The division, under the command of Comrade Yesin conducted a thousand-kilometer forced march across the territory of Romania and with sustained battles exited the mountains and with a decisive offensive expanded the bridgehead on the Hungarian hills, successfully forced the Mureș river and liberated the towns of Makó, Mezőhegyes, Nădlac, Csanádpalota, and Hódmezővásárhely and dozens of other settlements from the enemy.

These actions gave the opportunity for the remaining units of the army to fulfill the mission during the expansion of the bridgehead on its west bank, liberating from the enemy the towns of Szeged, Poroszló, Egerfarmos, Füzesabony and several other settlements.

For distinguishing himself in the conduct of the operation to force the Tisza, for fine organization of the battle to expand the bridgehead on its right bank, as a result of which the division liberated several cities, Comrade Yesin is deserving of the award of the Order of Suvorov 2nd class.

[1] After the end of the war, Yesin was placed in the officer reserve of the Central Group of Forces Military Council after the 228th was disbanded in July.

The division was transferred to the Stavropol Military District in February and in July reorganized as the 42nd Separate Rifle Brigade, which Yesin continued to command.

In March 1948 Yesin was transferred to serve as chief of the Combined Officer Improvement Courses of the North Caucasus Military District.