In March 1942, Panikahka volunteered for combat service and was assigned as a private to the 883rd Rifle Regiment of the
193rd Rifle Division. On 28 September, during the
Battle of Stalingrad, two regiments of the division, including the 883rd, crossed the
Volga River and took up positions to the west of the
Red October factory. They were attacked by German troops from the
24th Panzer Division and
71st Infantry Division. On 2 October, Panikakha was helping to repel the German attacks when the German troops sent in tanks. He had already thrown his grenades and had two
Molotov cocktails left. Panikakha raised the bottle in order to throw it when a bullet smashed it, setting him on fire. He then took the remaining bottle, jumped out of the trench and onto the engine deck of the nearest German tank and hit it with the cocktail. The German tank was then set on fire, Panikakha was recommended for a
Hero of the Soviet Union award by his regimental commander in November, but was not awarded the title until 5 May 1990, along with the
Order of Lenin. On 9 December 1942, he was awarded the
Order of the Patriotic War 1st class for his actions. == Legacy ==