bryansky said he was born in 1882 in sevastopol, into a jewish family. after graduating from grekov odessa art school which he entered in 1908, bryansky performed on stage under the pseudonym of sasha krasny. in 1914 he was drafted into russian army and fought in world war i. according to his own account, he was wounded and awarded with a st. george's cross, 4th degree.