Pyotr Petrovich Vershigora (first name also Petr) (Russian: Пётр Петро́вич Верши́гора) or Petro Petrovych Vershyhora (Ukrainian: Петро Петрович Вершигора) (16 May [O.S.

As a young orphan he worked at various jobs, including shepherd, miller, and librarian, as well as amateur actor and musician in his native village.

In 1927, after completing his conscript military service, he enrolled in the Odessa Fine Arts Academy and upon graduation worked as an actor and stage manager.

On 23 June 1942 he was air dropped on a reconnaissance mission in the German-occupied Oryol region with orders to join the underground resistance movement there.

Under his leadership, the 1st Ukrainian Partisan Division raided German-occupied western Belarus and eastern Poland, harassing the German rear.