Grigory Naumovich Chukhrai was a prominent Soviet film director and screenwriter of Ukrainian origin. He is the father of director Pavel Chukhrai.
He was born in Melitopol in the Zaporizhia Oblast of Ukraine to Naum Rubanov and Claudia Chuchrai. Grigoris parents divorced when he was three years old. He was raised by a stepfather Pavel Litvinenko. A decorated veteran of World War II, Chukhrais wartime experiences profoundly affected him and the majority of his films were connected with events of the war. Drafted in 1939, he served in the 229th separate communications battalion of the 134th Infantry Division. From 1943 on, he served in airborne troops and took part in operation Dnipro Troopers.
Source: Wikipedia