Matvey Isaakovich Blanter was a Soviet composer, and one of the most prominent composers of popular songs and film music in the Soviet Union. Among many other works, he wrote the famous "Katyusha" (1938), performed to this day internationally. He was active as a composer until 1975, producing more than two thousand songs.

Pochep is a town and the administrative center of Pochepsky District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located 84 kilometers (52 mi) southwest of Bryansk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 14,991 (2021 Census); 17,161 (2010 Russian census); 17,064 (2002 Census); 16,868 (1989 Soviet census).