face his end. While serving time, Vinnitsky became acquainted with Grigoriy Kotovskiy. Revolution During the amnesty issued by the Russian Provisional Government in 1917 Yaponchik returned to his hometown (Odesa) where he organized his gang to the extent of nearly taking control of the city. During the evacuation from the city of the last retreating Austrian and German forces on 12 December 1918 Yaponchik made a successful raid on the city jail freeing numerous detainees. During the occupation of Odesa by the Entente forces (French, Greeks, and British) in 1919 he cooperated with the Bolshevik underground (including Kotovskiy). Yaponchik was also well acquainted with Naftaly Frenkel and Lazar Veyssbeyn (Leonid Utyosov) who later became one of the most popular singers in the Soviet Union and vouched for Yaponchik as a humane gangster (avoided killings, sponsored local artists). Once, to prevent his banditry, he was arrested by the counter-intelligence service (chief – General Shilling) of the Denikin's Volunteer Army. After about half an hour, his place of detention was visited by a cavalcade of phaetons and horse driven cabs (prolyotkas) with numerous gangsters holding grenades. Upon request to release Yaponchik the latter exited the building in less than 15 minutes. Yaponchik is known for his aphorisms such as "Don't shoot in the air—don't leave witnesses", "The dead have the shortest tongues", "The dead won't sell out". After Odesa was taken by the Red Army, some evidence suggests him being in charge of an armored train to defeat the Nykyfor Hryhoriv's mutiny. 54th Soviet Regiment In May 1919 he was allowed to form his own military unit for the Soviet forces that fell under the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Soviet Army. The unit was later reformed into the 54th Lenin's Soviet Revolutionary Regiment. Yaponchik's assistant (adjutant) was Meyer Zayder, nicknamed Mayorchik (as diminutive of Major), who later killed Grigoriy Kotovskiy in 1925. The regiment consisted of Odesa's former convicts, anarchist militia, and the newly mobilized students of the Novorossiya University. The Red Army men of Yaponchik did not have a uniform, which was not uncommon in many military formations that were drafted by Bolsheviks. Many of them wore boaters and top hats; however, almost everyone considered to be honorary to wear what is known as telnyashka (a sailor's shirt). The regiment was reassigned to Kotovskiy's Brigade under the command of the 45th division led by a Bessarabian Jew, Iona Yakir. In