Kurakov Hryhorii and Pelaheia, Korniichuk Ivan and Liubov

Hryhorii and Pelaheia Kurakov lived in Simferopol. The woman was engaged in needlework, periodically selling her own woven items and clothes on the market. Her regular customers were the Jewish family of Shtein, who lived nearby. When the German-Soviet war began and the occupying forces approached Crimea, Izrail and Vira with their two children tried to evacuate, but failed: their train was bombed.

As a result, dozens of Jewish families, including the Shtein couple with their young son, became victims of the Nazis. 12-year-old Lidiia managed to avoid being shot. She did not know if her parents survived, and the strangers helped her to return to the city. The girl met aunt Pelaheia at the bazaar and told her about what had happened. She was confused, and did not know where to go. Pelaheia brought her home. The husband, daughter Liubov and son-in-law Ivan were not against helping the child, even though they knew of the mortal danger that awaits the Jews hiding. Lida's appearance was not distinctly Semitic, so the Kurakov famiy began to tell inquisitive people that she was their distant relative. This version worked even when the Germans arrested Hryhorii Kurakov, accusing him of collaborating with the Communists. During the interrogations, the occupiers were meticulously interested in Lidiia. However, the man confidently held on to the legend about his distant relative. Fortunately, everything went well and  Hryhorii  was released in a few days.

After the Nazis were expelled from the Crimea in April 1944, the Kurakov family learned about the fate of the Shtein family and offered Lidiia their guardianship. Before her marriage in 1948, Lidiia Aronchuk (Shtein) lived with Hryhorii and Pelaheia and always referred to them as her second parents.

In 2001, Yad Vashem recognized Hryhorii and Pelaheia Kurakov and Ivan and Liubov Korniichuk as Righteous Among the Nations.

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