"A deep personal perception of Russia is in the character of our people"

On Russia Day, Vladimir Putin presented the stars of the Hero of Labor and state prizes in various fields, from science to charity, in the St. George's Hall of the Kremlin. Among the awardees are director Andrei Konchalovsky, former Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova, and Moscow State University Rector Viktor Sadovnichy — more than 20 outstanding Russians in total. The President recalled that for the people of Russia, unity and patriotism have always been the main values that helped build and build the country, and preserve the historical and cultural heritage.

Who was awarded by Vladimir Putin on Russia Day

On June 12, Vladimir Putin traditionally marked the outstanding citizens of our country with state awards and prizes. All of them gathered in the Grand Kremlin Palace, and not only their relatives came to congratulate them, but almost the entire leadership of the country — from Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and federal ministers, to their favorite artists and cultural figures. The recipients have a wide range of achievements, such as achievements in science, technology development, literature, and human rights protection.

— We celebrate this holiday with a warm, sincere attitude towards the Motherland, with pride for the grandiose labor and military achievements of many generations of our ancestors, with respect for key events in national history and, of course, with the understanding that all stages of the more than a thousand—year journey of our state are one, a single whole. A deep personal perception of Russia lies in the character of our people, for whom solidarity and patriotism have always been the main values, helping to overcome all difficulties, defeat enemies and build, build our country, protect our historical and cultural heritage," said Vladimir Putin.

The State Prize of Russia is the highest recognition of services to society and the state. Victor Sadovnichy, Rector of Moscow State University, became its laureate for outstanding achievements in the field of humanitarian work. He has been at the helm of the country's main university for 34 years, and in total, he has been at the university for as many as 70 years, since he entered the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics in 1958. The Award for Outstanding Achievements in the field of humanitarian work is not awarded every year, and previously it was awarded to only 18 laureates.

The President presented the award for achievements in the field of human rights activities to former Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova, who devoted 10 years to human rights protection, and almost her entire life to serving the law and people.

— When I was 16 years old, I was faced with a blatant injustice — when the son of an official was tried to be released from criminal responsibility for a serious crime against a woman. I promised myself that I would become a lawyer and fight for the truth. It came true," Tatiana Moskalkova shared her memories.

Vladimir Putin awarded the State Prize for achievements in charity work to Alexei Zarov, the chief physician of St. Alexy's Hospital, who has provided medical care to more than 50,000 residents of Donbass and Novorossiya since 2022. His entire extended family, which includes five children, came to the Kremlin with him. And almost all of them, as Alexey Zarov told Izvestia, followed in their father's footsteps. One daughter has already become a doctor, and two more children are studying at medical universities.

Three more people received state prizes in the field of literature and art for their long-term educational activities and popularization of national history. Among them are director Andrei Konchalovsky, whose works have become classics of Russian and world cinema, producer of Moskino Ekaterina Zhukova and chief producer of special series projects of the Rossiya TV channel Maria Ushakova, the authors of numerous projects dedicated to significant events in the country's history.

Which discoveries have been awarded

State prizes in the field of science and technology were awarded. Three of them are for achievements in neurosurgery. Vladimir Krylov, Director of the Institute of Functional Neurosurgery at the Russian Center for Neurology and Neuroscience, and Director of the Center for Neurosurgery, received the highest recognition. Dmitry Usachev Burdenko and his deputy Nikolai Konovalov. According to doctors, this state award underlines the importance and prestige of the specialty, it will help attract young, talented youth and, above all, young surgeons to master neurosurgery.

— The specialty is very difficult. In order to become a neurosurgeon, you need to study for another 5-7 years after your residency, work out certain surgical skills in order to achieve what you have put on the table. And when neurosurgery is celebrated, it means that it is in demand," Vladimir Krylov told Izvestia.

Oleg Zhdaneev, Senior Adviser to Promsyrieimport, Igor Kovshov, Chief designer of the Titan-Barricades production center, and Elena Korsa-Vavilova, a specialist at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, also became laureates. Scientists have created an import—substituting method of hydraulic fracturing, the main method of extracting hard-to-recover oil. The equipment is fully developed and manufactured in Russia.

— Thanks to the work of our scientists, significant changes have also taken place in the Russian oil and gas sector. The country's first complex for improving production efficiency based on hydraulic fracturing technology has been created. This is our own, critically important equipment," said Vladimir Putin.

The President awarded the State Prize in Science and Technology to Alexei Vasiliev, one of Russia's leading orientalists.

Who became the "Hero of Labor of Russia"

Many people were awarded the title and state award "Hero of Labor of Russia" on this day. It is awarded for special labor services and significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. And this applies to all professions. Among those who received it in the Kremlin on June 12 is Alexander Batalin, who has been in charge of the Simferopol Fiolent plant for more than 40 years and provides in—demand products for both civilian and state defense orders. Leonid Bobe, who devoted his life to the creation of reliable life support systems for manned spacecraft, was also awarded the title. Anatoly Sviridov, a high-class universal turner who continues the long-standing traditions of manual craftsmanship, and Vladimir Danilov, a mining engineer at Uralkali, also became Heroes of Labor.

— The Stakhanovites had a famous slogan: "You give the country coal." I would like to respond to this call by slightly reinterpreting it in Uralic.: "Let's give the country potash salt." We know what the salt of the Russian land is, and we will not let you down," Vladimir Danilov said at the ceremony.

The medal was also awarded to Alexander Kolesnichenko, General director of the Donskoye agricultural enterprise, Marina Neyolova, People's Artist of the RSFSR, Sovremennik actress, Nikolai Russu, who rose from an ordinary craftsman to the head of one of the country's leading bridge-building enterprises, and legendary gunsmith Pyotr Serdyukov, who created a number of unique models of small arms and special technical equipment. increased the effectiveness of the army and special forces.