Russian President Vladimir Putin during the state award ceremony in the Kremlin. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS
By tradition, a ceremony of this level takes place in the Catherine Hall of the Kremlin. As stated on the president’s website, “the awards marked the activities of outstanding Russians in the field of education, science, medicine and health care, industry, agriculture, shipping, as well as in other areas.”
– Russia is challenged again. Therefore, today we are honoring outstanding citizens who have shown themselves in our difficult but significant time – heroes, pioneers, creators, brave and hardworking people who have made a huge contribution to the country’s development, Putin said in his welcome speech. – We are proud of each one of you, we admire the endurance and courage of the people who, at a difficult time for the Homeland, stepped forward to defend it and fulfill their military duty in the war zone, helping to establish life in our new territories. .
The first were military: Major Boris Dudko and Senior Lieutenant Senior Lieutenant Stepan Belov before the state award ceremony in the Kremlin. Mikhail Klimentyev/Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation/TASS. They received the Hero of Russia stars.
“There are no heroes from birth, they are born in battles,” Belov said, quoting Alexander Tvardovsky. – Receiving the title of Hero of Russia is not only my merit: it is also the merit of my staff, friends and comrades, with whom we carry out assigned combat missions shoulder to shoulder.
Senior Lieutenant Stepan Belov before the state award ceremony in the Kremlin. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation / TASS
Hero of Labor Medal awarded to Chairman of the Board of Directors of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works Viktor Rashnikov before the state award ceremony in the Kremlin. Mikhail Klimentyev/Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation/TASS.
Viktor Rashnikov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation / TASS
The President also handed out the first after the revival of the Mother Heroine Order. They noted: Olga Degtyarenko from YaNAO, Tatiana Saltykova from the Moscow region and Irina Skripko from St. Petersburg. But the wife of Ramzan Kadyrov, who was one of the first to receive the title of “Mother Heroine”, was not at the ceremony.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and mother of many St. Petersburg children Irina Skripko. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Acting heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik were awarded the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, First (Highest) Class. It is interesting that the rules for awarding this particular award say: “The award is carried out, as a rule, from the lowest grade to the highest.” But he also says that an exception can be made for especially distinguished people, which the head of state took advantage of, highlighting his contribution to the leadership of the DPR and LPR.
– Undoubtedly, this is an award for all residents of the Donetsk People’s Republic: a doctor, a teacher, a military man, an employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a utility worker, all those who have kept for These eight years, they remained true to themselves and withstood even such difficult moments, probably, when it was very difficult when hearing various statements or ridicule “yes, they are not waiting for you,” Denis Pushilin said in his short speech. – But they survived these eight years. I am proud, it is an honor for me to lead a region with such resilient people. And now it is not easy, but now we are not alone, we are at home, so we will cope with everything and together with Russia we will win.
President Putin and the acting head of the DNR Denis Pushilin. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS
The heads of two other new Russian regions – the acting governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, and the acting governor of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, were awarded Orders for Merit to the Fatherland, 3rd class.
– This award is for all Cossacks, – noted Balitsky in turn. – Today I would like to address first of all to the mothers of Russia – to those who, with the drumming of their hearts, see off children to defend our people in Donbass, in Zaporozhye, in Kherson. Thanks a lot. Mothers, we will educate our children in the same way that, when necessary, they will breastfeed for yours, for the children of Russia, for all of Russia.
The military commissar, head of the WarGonzo project, Semyon Pegov, was also awarded. He received the Order of Valor. He attended the president’s award ceremony in a field uniform and on crutches; Not long ago, a mine blew up a journalist.
– I feel a little uncomfortable. I am a civilian, they did not even take me to the army. My work is just a drop in the ocean of the great civilian work that ordinary people do at the front. Everyone in Donetsk is no less a hero than those in the room,” Pegov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and correspondent, head of the WarGonzo Semyon Pegov project. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS
In total, Putin handed out 28 awards. Among them are Leonid Poyarkov (Metropolitan Yuvenaly) – the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, 1st degree, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the RT TV channel – the Order of Honor and Igor Matvienko – the title of “People’s Artist” .
After the award ceremony, the president traditionally spoke informally with Kremlin guests over a glass of champagne. It is interesting that for some reason Igor Matvienko did not receive a glass. Denis Pushilin helped, shared his with him.
