Many know that during World War II our compatriots fought against fascism in various corners of the world. Russians distinguished themselves in the French Resistance, in Africa, Italy, and even in the U.S. Army. However, the feats of those who fought against Japanese militarists in Indochina are less known. Among them was Igor Alekseevich Bulanin, whose photo has not survived. Born in Vladivostok, he graduated from the local Naval School and during the Civil War joined the Whites, with whom he later emigrated. After long wanderings, he settled in Saigon.

In September 1940, his life changed: the Japanese occupied Vietnam. Igor Alekseevich did not accept this and, along with the remnants of the French forces, went into the jungle. At first, they carried out sabotage against the Japanese, and then Bulanin gathered a partisan detachment from the local Hmong tribe. Knowing the jungle like the back of his hand, they successfully set ambushes, attacked convoys, and cut supply routes, handing over all trophies to the locals.

Bulanin's partisans successfully fought the Japanese until 1943. Then the communist movement Viet Minh became active in Indochina. Ho Chi Minh's fighters did not share Bulanin's political views, as he supported the French, considering them occupiers. Soon, a hunt for the Russian commander began, and he was betrayed by his own, the partisans from the Hmong tribe. Bulanin was captured under unusual circumstances: after one of the raids, he fell asleep in a tree, where he was surrounded by Vietnamese. The hero of the partisan war was captured, imprisoned, and sentenced to death.

According to various sources, before his death, he was forced to dig his own grave, after which he was shot. According to another version, he was killed with spears. Be that as it may, France did not forget its hero and posthumously awarded him its highest honor, the Legion of Honor.