09.05.2020.
The highest military decorations to the members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Minister Vulin: What you showed and did was more than ordered
Today, on Victory Day over Fascism in the Second World War, the Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin, in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, presented decorations to the members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation engaged in providing assistance in suppressing Covid-19 epidemic on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
In recognition of their exceptional contribution and successful cooperation, twelve members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation received military commemorative medals, the highest military decorations awarded by the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.
Military commemorative medals for outstanding contribution to the defence system of the Republic of Serbia were awarded to Major General Mikhail Alexandrovich Chernyshov, Colonel Mikhail Alexandrovich Bokarev, Colonel Rustam Musavirovich Aminev, Major Valery Talgatovich Hakimov, Staff Sergeant Alexey Leonidovich Subotin, and Sergeant Sergey Vasilyevich Yastrebkov.
Military commemorative medals for contribution to the defence system of the Republic of Serbia were awarded to Major Olga Nikolaevna Melnikova, Staff Sergeant Elena Vasilyevna Skripkina, Sergeant Sergey Alexandrovich Abramov, Lance Corporal Vladimir Sergeyevich Ribakov and Private Sergey Igoryevich Rufin.
The Russian team engaged in preventing the spread of Covid-19 epidemic and its suppression was awarded the Golden Plaque of the Ministry of Defence, and 74 members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation received appreciation letters from the Ministry of Defence.
Addressing the members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, pointed out that they have deserved our gratitude and sincere respect.
- You came when we were going through a difficult period, at a time when it is difficult for your country and your people. When you landed at our airport, we knew how our ancestors felt in 1944, when the Soviet Red Army troops came to liberate Belgrade. We knew then, as we know now, that we were not alone, that your help was brotherly, certain, close and fast, and we knew that we would win - said Minister Vulin adding that free nations can never be defeated.
The Minister of Defence points out that 75 years ago, when mankind finally defeated Nazism with the united force of free nations, it was believed that the indisputable truths of the Second World War would never be forgotten or questioned.
- Today we are witnessing that 75 years later they are trying to take away the places in history from the nations and states who won them- said Minister Vulin and added that we are witnessing the destruction of memories, demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers, as well as shameful attempts to equate occupiers and liberators and that there is only one truth and that it must be spoken.
He added that Serbs have never been on the wrong side of the world, and when it came to choosing between good and evil, Serbs unmistakably chose good, without asking how much that choice would cost. And that is why we proudly remember our ancestors who chose the victorious side of the world.
- Serbia will never forget the heroic Red Army and the joint effort to liberate Belgrade and Serbia, the courage, perseverance and dedication that characterized the Soviet soldier, as well as the Yugoslav partisan. Whenever our presidents and supreme commanders, Vučić and Putin meet, they can proudly remember our ancestors and continue to build brotherhood and harmony between the two nations.
Minister Vulin congratulated the awarded members on their persistence, industriousness and patience, thanking them for being there when it was most difficult for us.
- You are soldiers who carried out the orders of your supreme commander, just as members of the Serbian Armed Forces are soldiers who carried out the orders of their supreme commander, but what you showed and what the Serbian Armed Forces showed is above and beyond what was ordered - said the Minister of Defence and confirmed that, in their desire to help, they risked their lives and health.
- Decades from now, we will mark one of the anniversaries of the great victory in the Great War on this plateau, and we will also remember this day, how we fought together against the enemy that threatened to exterminate mankind. Serbia is not a large and populous country, but it is free and led by free people and that is why we choose our friends ourselves - the Minister of Defence emphasized, congratulating the members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Serbian Armed Forces on Victory Day.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Belgrade, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, said that the 75th anniversary of Victory Day is a magnificent date in every sense and that the topics of victory, preservation of values, suppression and attempts to rewrite history are among the key ones in the dialogue between the Presidents of Russia and Serbia.
Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko views the decorations awarded to the members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on this holiday as a symbol that reaffirms deep traditional cooperation and friendly, brotherly assistance, especially when it comes to a difficult situation.
- This is a great honour. The awards show and prove that in brotherly Serbia we have fulfilled our mission to help fight both fascism in the past, and current threats in this territory and that we have fulfilled this mission to the highest possible standards - said Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko and thanked Minister Vulin for the award which also speaks of the high appreciation of the Serbian president, the Serbian government and the Serbian people for the mission and assistance provided by Russia and its military.
Thanking on behalf of the awarded members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Major General Mikhail Chernyshov pointed out that both the Soviet and Serbian people paid for their freedom with the lives of their people.
- On this day, we remember all our close ones who experienced that war, who forged victory and who fought in ranks and trenches. With their efforts, fight and work, they won the victory and our life today. Glory to the heroes! It is necessary to preserve their names for future generations, so that everyone knows to whom they owe their lives, the lives of the generations to come, the lives of their heirs - said General Chernyshov and, congratulating on the holiday, said that it is symbolic that on this very day the Republic of Serbia and the Minister of Defence have "acknowledged the efforts and work of our joint units."
The award ceremony was attended by the members of the Board of the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces.
