summer offensive, once again with considerable skill. The remnants of the 226th (later the 95th Guards Rifle Division) went back to be reformed on August 14, and Usenko was sidelined until he was given command of the 343rd Rifle Division on December 23. Usenko led this division through the later stages of Operation Koltso, the reduction of the encircled German 6th Army at Stalingrad, as part of 66th Army. During the course of the operation the much-depleted division was officially credited with capturing 6,647 enemy officers and men, and seizing 67 artillery pieces, 297 machine guns, 30 tanks, 521 other vehicles, and 5,253 rifles. Following the German defeat, Usenko regained his rank of major general on May 2, 1943, and on May 4 his division became the 97th Guards Rifle Division. General Usenko continued in command of the 97th Guards for just a few days; on May 12 he died near Voronezh after being blown up by a mine while his vehicle was crossing a road. References External links Maj. Gen. M.A. Usenko at Generals.dk 1898 births 1943 deaths Soviet major generals Soviet military personnel killed in World War II Frunze Military Academy alumni Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni Landmine victims