Putin awarded the deceased chief editor of the People's Daily with the Order of Courage

Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded Yulia Kuznetsova, editor-in-chief of the "Narodnaya Gazeta" newspaper, who died in Kursk Region, with the Order of Courage posthumously. The presidential decree was published on December 8 on the official Internet portal of legal information.

It is noted that the journalist was awarded "for courage and selflessness shown in the performance of professional duty."

In addition to Kuznetsova posthumous award was awarded to Sergei Shapar, who took civilians of the Kursk region to a safe place. According to local media, Shapar drove 25 families out in his car and 75 more followed him in a caravan.

The death of Kuznetsova became known on November 17. The tragedy occurred in Bolshesoldatsky district of Kursk region. The Investigative Committee (IC) of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case of terrorist attack after the attack of a Ukrainian drone on the car of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region. It was specified that two people were also injured. The car was carrying out the archival files of the editorial office. A farewell to the editor-in-chief was held in the Church of St. John the Theologian in Kursk.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Kuznetsova's murder by Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) fighters was further evidence of the criminal nature of the regime of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (whose term of office expired on May 20). She added that Western handlers are covering up for the Nazi clique in Kiev, which is committing brutal massacres against Russian journalists.

The AFU attacked Russian positions in the border areas of Kursk Region on August 6. The situation in the region was recognized as a state of emergency of a federal nature. The operation to destroy the militants continues. In total, the AFU lost more than 38,000 militants during the fighting in the Kursk direction.