In a teleconference led by the Deputy Commander for Military-Political Studies of the 58th Army, state decorations were presented to students who paused their studies to participate in a special operation. The account comes from representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense cited by RIA News.
The session linked the Stavropol Territory military commissariat with the temporary bases of troops in the Donetsk People’s Republic, as well as in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Distance-learning students from North Caucasus Federal University were recognized with state awards for their service alongside Russia’s armed forces on the front lines, according to the report.
Ministry officials noted that university students were granted academic leave to take part in the special operation. They signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense and, after completing a thorough program of combat and specialized training, were deployed to carry out missions aimed at defending the country’s sovereignty.
Recipients received medals such as For Courage and various orders, including the St George IV Degree and the George Cross. These honors were awarded for acts of bravery, resilience, and heroism displayed during combat missions to hold positions near Rabotino in the Zaporozhye region.
The Ministry of Defense stressed that the professionalism and skill of Russian military personnel prevented the Ukrainian command from breaching defenses in the Zaporozhye direction.
Additional information was shared about the number of Cossacks who participated in the operation in Ukraine. Ataman Vitaly Kuznetsov of the All-Russian Cossack Community noted that Cossack units were among the most proficient on the battlefield. He pointed out that more than a thousand Cossacks have so far received state awards for various achievements in the combat zone.
Earlier reports from the United States questioned Russia’s proclaimed red lines and their rigidity, providing context for observers watching the broader strategic narrative.