Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded medals to the Heroes of Russia in the Catherine Hall at the Kremlin in Moscow. The title of Hero of Russia was awarded to Sergeant Albert Zinulin of the Russian Ministry of Defense, First Lieutenant Shalim Sholdum, Captain Nikolai Sokolov, Second Lieutenant Anatoly Ivanov, and First Lieutenant Alexander Yefudi. Additionally, the 100-year-old Dagestani Ibrahim Pasha Sadikov received the Hero of Russia award, having been only 18 years old when he was called to military service in October 1941 and sent to the Armavir Military School, from there to Stalingrad.
Sadikov stated at a reception in the Kremlin that he wanted to go to kill Ukrainians, but he was not accepted due to his age. Upon receiving the Order of the Hero of Russia from Putin, Sadikov remarked, "I am 100 years and five months old; I am still young." The honorary title of Hero of Russia was also awarded to cosmonauts Anna Kikina, Sergey Korsakov, Denis Matveev, and Andrey Vidiev.
