KEY POINTS

  • The Russian military awarded nine Orders of Courage to wounded soldiers "who distinguished themselves" during the invasion of Ukraine
  • Another six Orders of Courage and two Medals For Courage were given to the servicemen who participated in the invasion
  • Between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian soldiers have died in the Ukraine war, according to NATO officials

The Russian military awarded medals to soldiers who got wounded during the invasion of Ukraine, according to Russia's Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Nine Orders of Courage were handed out to the servicemen "who distinguished themselves" in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the MoD said in a statement.

Deputy Minister of Defense Alexander Fomin visited the wounded soldiers at the 3rd Central Military Clinical Hospital A.A. Vishnevsky located in the Russian city of Krasnogorsk, added the MoD.

Fomin pinned the medals on the servicemen and shook their hands afterward, footage of the event showed.

All of the soldiers were in wheelchairs, with some of the men having only one leg.

"You all carried out the orders assigned to you, you all gave one hundred percent. Like real men, like real soldiers, you continued the glorious military traditions of our grandfathers and fathers," Fomin was quoted as saying by The Sun.

Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-bek Yevkurov also awarded two Medals For Courage and six Orders of Courage to the soldiers at the Main Military Clinical Hospital in Moscow.

"The Order of Courage is awarded to citizens who have shown dedication and courage in the protection of public order, in the fight against crime, in rescuing people during natural disasters, fires, catastrophes and other emergencies, as well as for courageous and decisive actions committed in the performance of military, civic or official duty in life-threatening conditions," the Russian government's page for the award stated.

On the other hand, the Medal For Courage, also known as the Medal For Valor, is given to soldiers "for personal courage and bravery."

Around 1,351 Russian soldiers died, while another 3,825 got wounded in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to Sergei Rudskoi, head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate.

Officials from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization previously estimated that Russian fatalities in the conflict numbered between 7,000 and 15,000.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said in its most recent Russian casualty report that Russia has already lost around 17,000 personnel.

The losses also included 586 tanks, 1,694 armored fighting vehicles and 123 aircraft, among other pieces of military equipment.

A view shows an armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road leading to the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 28, 2022.
A view shows an armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road leading to the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 28, 2022. Reuters / ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO
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