10 Facts About Viktor Ilyin

Viktor Ivanovich Ilyin is a former Soviet Army officer who attempted to assassinate the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, on 22 January 1969 in Moscow.

Viktor Ilyin was less than two years old when he was taken away from his alcoholic parents and grew up in a foster family.

Viktor Ilyin entered a topographical technical school and desired to become a geologist.

Viktor Ilyin said that was when he decided to kill Brezhnev so that everyone would know of his ideas, where he planned to speak about his plan in court.

Viktor Ilyin spent almost a year preparing to assassinate him and joined the army after graduation to gain access to weapons.

Viktor Ilyin was distressed by the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and had questioned local ideology officials about the Prague Spring.

When Ilyin was on duty, he stole two Makarov guns and four magazines from his army unit's safe and went to Moscow.

Viktor Ilyin went to the Kremlin, and looked for a good firing position, choosing a place very close to the entrance gate.

Beregovoy was wounded, and Vasiliy Zatsipilin, who was part of the motorcycle escort, was hit, but was able to aim his motorcycle at Viktor Ilyin, bringing him down.

Viktor Ilyin was facing the death penalty, but after an investigation, he was considered insane and was placed in a psikhushka for 20 years.