Ziya Musayevich Buniyatov was born in the town of Astara (Azerbaijan). In May 1941, he finished the S. Ordzhonikidze Baku Infantry School. The young Lieutenant Ziya Buniyatov was sent to command a platoon in the town of Bendery (Moldova).

Ziya Buniyatov took his first fight one hour after the beginning of the war on 22 June, 1941. His military unit was close to the national border, so Ziya Buniyatov suffered the worst of the failures and defeats of the first months of the war.

It was here that Buniyatov’s heroic character and military talent first manifested themselves. During one of the heavy fighting, he not only withdrew his platoon from the encirclement, but also did his duty as a soldier: Buniyatov rescued his regiment’s banner, the loss of which might have lead to the disbandment of the regiment.

Ziya Buniyatov was sent as a platoon commander to the Southern Front. In the summer and autumn of 1942, he participated in the heroic defense of the Caucasus. Ziya Buniyatov was severely injured two times and each time he returned to his military unit. Buniyatov was awarded the Order of the Red Star for his skilful command and personal courage. Very soon he was appointed commander of the mortar company, the 82nd Mortar Battalion, the 9th Guards Rifle Brigade. In October 1942, Ziya Buniyatov was granted the military rank of "guard senior lieutenant".

In early 1943, Senior Lieutenant Buniyatov commanded a rifle company of the 1st Guards Rifle Battalion, the 9th Guards Rifle Brigade. On February 12, 1943, Ziya Buniyatov was decorated with the For Courage medal.

In August 1944, Zia Buniyatov was appointed commander of a separate training rifle company of the 416th Azerbaijani Rifle Division. Later on, he took command of the rifle battalion of the 1374th Regiment of the Rifle Division. During fighting he was wounded and evacuated. By the early 1945, after his recovery, Buniyatov was offered command of the penalty company of the 5th Strike Army, which was done on the strength of his extensive combat experience and personal qualities. The company excelled in its breakthrough of the enemy defense south of Warsaw. His company was one of the first in the army to cross the Pilica River and held it until reinforcements arrived.

Guards Captain Ziya Musa ogly Buniyatov was decorated with the Order of Lenin and was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 27 February 1945. In April 1945, the penalty company again distinguished itself during the Berlin offensive, for which Guards Captain received another award – the Order of the Red Banner.

Besides, Hero of the Soviet Union Guards Captain Ziya Musa oglu Buniyatov was also decorated with the medals For the Defence of the Caucasus, For the Victory over Germany, and For the Capture of Berlin.

“And another recollection – Reichstag, the fighting for which claimed thousands of young lives of true heroes. I think there are no words that can convey our emotions and feelings which we heard the word “Victory!”. The Earth had never heard or seen such fireworks of all firearms and weapons. It was a burst of joy, of happiness, it was a rejoicing of all who lived to see the day. It was all in the deafening HURRAY!! We shot into the smoky sky of Berlin. Our flag was flying over the Reichstag. Yeah, I came out of that bloodbath alive. The Victory Day was and will remain the Day of Great Celebration and the Day of Great Sorrow for the rest of my life, the most significant day in my life.”

I met Victory Day in Berlin. Ziya Buniyatov remembered: