A Yakutian non-commissioned officer shared his emotions after being awarded the title of Hero of Russia

Andrey Grigoryev, a lieutenant from Yakutia who defeated a Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) fighter in hand-to-hand combat, said on Saturday, January 11, that he was in shock after being awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

"I am in shock... I did not expect such a quick decision," he said in an interview with RT.

It is specified that Grigoriev learned about receiving the award from his brother, who called him and asked him to watch TV. The family of the fighter was very happy about this news.

"Our fighters have their own home behind them, literally."

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The press service of the All-Russian People's Fund (ONF) reported on January 4 that Grigoryev, a Yakut fighter from Yakutia, had defeated an AFU fighter in hand-to-hand combat. The fight took place after a Ukrainian drone attack. Tuta, along with a coworker, was supposed to set up a Russian flag in Trudovoye in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). The Ukrainian militant tried to induce the fighter to surrender as a prisoner, but Grigoryev got into a fight with him and used a knife. The Russian Armed Forces soldier managed to overpower the enemy, who after the fight asked to let him "leave quietly."

On January 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Grigoryev the title of Hero of Russia. On the same day, the head of Yakutia Aysen Nikolaev met with the fighter and presented him with a knife.