Russian Military Grandpa

[Trollis112]

Greetings Forum Members,

I'm reaching out to tap into the collective knowledge of this community regarding two photographs that have captured my attention. The first is an older photograph of my grandfather in uniform, suggestive of his military past. The second is a contemporary image that I suspect may also be him, but I'm not certain.

I have some personal details, including his name, date of birth, and birthplace in Russia. He served in the military and was stationed in my hometown for a time. I'm considering reaching out to Russian archives, yet I'm unsure if that's the best step. Perhaps there's accessible historical data that could assist in my search?

Could the same person be captured in these two different periods? Any guidance on verifying this or advice on how to proceed with archival research in Russia would be deeply appreciated.

Thank you for your time and any help you can provide.