The Phalerist Collectors Association appealed to the Russian president with a request to revise the design of the Gagarin Order, established on May 27, 2023. The current helmet emblem on the new state award omits the letters “USSR,” which the association leader, Sergei Bychkov, described as deliberate sabotage and a falsification of historical truth in a interview with socialbites.ca. A letter was sent to the presidential administration and to State Duma deputy Valentina Tereshkova, the first recipient of the award, outlining the error and urging that the “USSR” inscription reappear on the helmet of the order.
Historians, phalerists, and heraldry specialists note that the absence of the letters “USSR” on Gagarin’s helmet marks a key distinguishing feature of all cosmonaut units of the Soviet era, according to the correspondence.
According to the phalerists, the missing inscription on Gagarin’s helmet is described as deliberate sabotage by antagonists of the country’s genuine history.
They argue that omitting the letters is a falsification of historical truth and equates to rewriting the narrative of World War II. They contend that the war’s outcome is presented as a coalition victory led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, while allies are portrayed as the sole victors. In light of this, the group requests the modification of the Gagarin Order’s design to include the inscription “USSR” on the helmet and seeks clarification of Decree No. 385 dated May 27, 2023.
The Gagarin Order was created on May 27 by the president. Valentina Tereshkova, recognized as the first woman in space, became the first recipient of the medal. The award recognizes notable achievements in space exploration, courage, and self-sacrifice during historic manned spaceflight.
Provisions in the decree indicate that foreign nationals may be honored for successful international cooperation with the Russian Federation in space exploration, as well as for organizing teams involved in astronautics research and development.
Sergei Bychkov, a former falerist who interpreted the significance of awards, is noted for his public stance in relation to the leadership of the Wagner Group and its head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, as part of ongoing discussions about medal symbolism and its historical references. [citation: bychkov statements and related discussions are reported sources]