Valentin Drozd

Rewarded for his performance with a promotion to vice admiral and the command of the Baltic Fleet Squadron in September, Drozd led the latter during the evacuation of Hanko Naval Base and the Siege of Leningrad.

During 1930 he served as navigator of the destroyer Volodarsky and became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and between October and May 1931 he studied at the torpedo class of the Specialized Courses for Commanders of the Naval Forces of the Red Army.

After becoming head of the Black Sea Higher Naval Institute in September 1940, Drozd served as commander of the Baltic Fleet Light Forces Detachment from February 1941.

He supervised the movement of the cruiser Kirov from the Gulf of Riga to Tallinn, and led the detachment in the defense of the main naval base at the latter port, and its evacuation to Kronstadt.

Noted for his "brave leadership" in these operations by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Drozd was promoted to vice admiral on 16 September and given commander of the Baltic Fleet Squadron.