Revolutionary Todor Velkov

Todor Todorov Velkov was a Bulgarian national revolutionary who took an active part in the struggle to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. He was born in Shumen in 1828. Following harassment and arbitrary treatment by the Moldavian authorities, Velkov emigrated to Russia, where he farmed and started a family.

During the Serbian-Turkish War of 1876 he volunteered and commanded the Fourth Bulgarian Detachment, which fought for the liberation of northwestern Bulgaria. Subsequently, before the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Velkov played an important role as a scout and interpreter for the Russian command, supplying information and descriptions of Ottoman military installations.

After the war ended and Bulgaria was liberated, Velkov returned to Berdiansk, where he lived for the rest of his life. A street in his native Shumen was named Todor Velkov in honour of his bravery and contribution to Bulgarian history. This is one of the ways in which the memory of his significant role in Bulgaria's history is preserved.