Nikolai Yakovlevich Ilyin (Russian: Николай Яковлевич Ильин; 25 June 1922 — 4 August 1943) was one of the top Soviet snipers of World War II.

[2] [3] He entered the Red Army in 1941 soon after the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and started off as a machine gunner before mastering his sniper skills.

He fought in the intense battle of Stalingrad, and became a deputy political commissar in the 50th Guards Rifle Regiment.

[8] On 4 August 1943, Ilyin was killed by a machine gun burst near the City of Yastrebovo, outside Belgorod.

[12] He was buried in Nikolskoye in present day Belgorodsky District, Belgorod Oblast.