Orders and Medals of
the Russian Federation

(1992-2002)

 

With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian government was faced with the decision of what to do with regard to the issuing of medals and orders.  For the first few years following the collapse, the Russian government continued to issue Soviet era decorations, but without the words CCCP or the traditional Soviet hammer and sickle emblems.  Some decorations ceased to be issued completely, but were still allowed to be worn.

New decorations were soon issued, most notably for the defense of the Russian White House during the attempted coup against Boris Yeltsin.  New jubilee medals commemorating the victory over Germany during the Patriotic War were also issued.  Medals for excellence in the army and navy soon followed, and by the turn of the century the system was well established.

Here we will discuss the orders and medals of the Russian Federation during the period following the end of the Soviet state and during the Chechen Wars. Documentation, when available, will be pictured along with the medals themselves.  The list below is not complete and omits many orders and medals at the present time.

 

 

New Orders

Older Orders

  • Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (1st - 4th class)

  • Order of Alexander Nevsky

  • Order of Suverov

  • Order of Ushakov

  • Order of Zhukov

  • Order of Kutuzov

  • Order of Nakhimov

  • Order of Courage

  • Order for Military Merit

  • Order of Honor

  • Order of Friendship

 

  • Being Researched

New Medals

Older Medals

  • Being Researched

 

 

Earlier Period Medals

Back to the
Russian Federation
Modern Russian Federation Medals

  

   

 

Medal of Zhukov

Established -

9 May 1994

Composition -

Unknown at present

Number Awarded -

Unknown at present

This medal was awarded to surviving veterans of the Great Patriotic War for bravery, fortitude, and courage in fighting Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of General G. Zhukov.

It is also awarded by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (and other ministries and departments) for military service, for courage and bravery shown in combat in defense of the Fatherland and public interests of the Russian Federation.

Award Booklet for the Zhukov Medal

The award book for the Zhukov medal is shown in the picture to the right.  It was issued on February 19, 1996.

 

      

 

Defense of Democracy Medal

Established -

1992

Composition - Unknown at present
Number Awarded - Unknown at present

This medal was awarded to those who participated in the defense of the Russian White House during the failed coup attempt against President Boris Yeltsin.

 

 

 

Jubilee Medal
50th Anniversary of Victory
in the Great Patriotic War

Established -

1995

Composition -

Brass

Number Awarded - Unknown at present

This medal was awarded to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic war. 

 

 

 

300th Anniversary of the Russian Navy Medal

Established -

10 February 1996

Composition -

Unknown at present

Number Awarded -

Unknown at present

This medal was awarded to navy personnel who had previously received a state award and has a blameless service record/or as part of a Naval Aviation crew for 10 years, for sailors in other parts of the navy with a state award and a blameless service record for 20 years, for naval veterans of the Great Patriotic War, for naval researchers who were awarded state awards and had a blameless record for 15 years or more, and designers, developers, research organizations, educational institutions, and members of any major professions directly involved in the construction and repair of ships, marine academic institutions who were awarded state awards and worked flawlessly for 20 or more years.

300th Anniversary of the Russian Navy Medal
Award Booklet

The award book for the medal is shown in the picture to the right.  Our example is unissued.

 

Earlier Period Medals

Back to the
Russian Federation
Modern Russian Federation Medals