N.N. Yelansky’s Contribution to Military Medicine (on the 130th Anniversary of His Birth)

May 3, 2024, marks the 130th birth anniversary of Nikolai N. Yelansky (1894–2024), a well-known Russian transfusiologist and internationally renowned surgeon, professor, and lieutenant general of medical service. Yelansky is known for his contributions in military field surgery, particularly in the treatment of gunshot wounds to soft tissues, the chest, and long bones and traumatic shock. However, his achievements in experimental physiology, transfusiology, and blood donation remain underappreciated. Although Yelansky’s focus was clinical practice, his commitment to Pavlov’s physiological doctrine left a distinct mark on his scientific works. Over his career, Yelansky published 146 scientific articles on clinical surgery issues. Under his supervision, 9 doctoral and over 30 candidate dissertations were defended. By instilling his students’ autonomy, initiativeness, professional dedication, and self-sacrifice, he took joy in their successes. Yelansky’s students included outstanding figures in medicine such as Academician M.I. Kuzin and Professors O.S. Shkrob, E.I. Zakharov, L.V. Uspensky, A.A. Begelman, M.A. Chistova, V.S. Pomelov, V.G. Ryabtsov, N.M. Yanchur, M.M. Dykhno, and A.A. Kazansky. His gift for scientific foresight is reflected in his research, which often directed Russian surgical development. In the viewpoint of his student Kuzin, this was attributable to the exceptional character of Yelansky—his tremendous industriousness, modesty, and profound humanity. The formation of his worldview, including his scientific outlook and the diversity of his professional endeavors, stemmed from his childhood and adolescence and from the sociopolitical structure and economic foundations of the state at the time. Yelansky’s contributions to his homeland were marked by numerous honorary titles, government decorations, and awards. These include Hero of Socialist Labor (1964); three Orders of Lenin (1946, 1954, and 1964); four Orders of the Red Banner (1942, 1944, 1945, and 1951); the Order of Alexander Nevsky (1945); the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (1943); two Orders of the Red Star (1939 and 1940); and “For the Capture of Budapest”, “For the Capture of Vienna”, “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945” and “For the Victory over Japan” medals.