Putin awarded military correspondent Poddubnyy with the "Golden Star"

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, December 12, at a solemn ceremony in the Kremlin handed the "Gold Star" of the Hero of Russia to VGTRK war correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny.

The title of Hero of Russia was awarded to the journalist "for courage and heroism shown in the performance of official duty." He became the first journalist of post-Soviet Russia to be awarded such a high rank.

In his speech of gratitude, Poddubny called the current time a period of mass heroism and a daily example of mass personal courage.

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Poddubny was wounded on August 7 while covering the situation in the Kursk region and ended up in intensive care. The military correspondent was traveling in a vehicle that came under attack by an AFU drone. He underwent prolonged treatment and was discharged from the hospital in early September. On September 30, Putin awarded the journalist the title of Hero of Russia for courage and heroism shown in the performance of official duty.

Before that, on November 13, Zakharova said that UNESCO ignores the crimes of the Kiev regime against Russian journalists who risk their lives and go to the front lines for the sake of the truth. She noted that such a silence on the part of the organization occurs on national grounds.