Soviet pilot Yevgeny Nikolayenko defended not only his native skies. From March to August 1938, he volunteered to fight in the war in China against the Japanese invaders. He took part in one of the largest air battles on 12 August, 1938, over the Chinese city of Wuhan. For his heroism, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Representatives of the Chinese Henan Association emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory for the development of cooperation.