Medals of soldiers-internationalists: in modern Russia and in the Soviet Union

The distinction "International Warrior" was awarded to servicemen of the USSR Armed Forces for assistance to the peoples of fraternal republics and states. The tradition of awarding this medal is also supported by the modern Russian Federation.

Medal to the soldier-internationalist of the USSR

This badge was established 12/28/1988. It was intended as a soldier of the USSR Armed Forces, awarded the Diploma "For the performance of international duty", which was awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the State.

Medals of internationalist warriors were minted in brass at the Leningrad Mint. Their release began in March 1989. A total of 505,083 awards were made.

Participation in military conflicts

The medal "Internationalist Warrior" was awarded to participants in military operations in:

• Korea (on the side of the North Koreans) - 1950-1953;
• Algeria - 1962-1964;
• Egypt - a number of armed conflicts in the period 1962-1975;
• Yemen Arab Republic - two conflicts between 1962-1969;
• Vietnam - 1961-1974;
• Syria - armed aid during the time period 1967-1973;
• Angola - 1975-1992;
• Mozambique - 1967-1988;
• Ethiopia - 1977-1990;
• Afghanistan - 1978-1989;
• Cambodia - 1970;
• Bangladesh - 1972-1973;
• Laos - a series of conflicts between 1960-1970;
• Lebanon and Syria - 1982

Description of appearance

Medals of the internationalist warriors were minted according to the drawing of A. B. Zhuk. The reward was attached to a block wrapped in scarlet moire ribbon.

She was in the form of a red five-pointed star on a white edging, located on the background of a laurel wreath. In the center is a symbolic blue globe, and against its background - a strong handshake. A two-dimensional image of the planet envelops a gold ribbon with the inscription "To the warrior-internationalist." In its lower half was a shield with the text "USSR".

Awards to Russian soldiers-internationalists

The following medals of internationalist warriors also exist:

1. "In memory of the soldiers of local conflicts" (RF). Bilateral sign: on one side are a man and a woman against the background of the globe, on the second - schematic mountains and the emblem of the airborne forces. Local conflicts mean Dagestan (1999) and Ossetian-Ingush (1992).
   
2. Award of the Russian Federation "For participation in the peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh." The medal was given to peacekeepers who settled the conflict in the late eighties. On one side of it are the words "Law. Excerpt. Honor", on the other - a schematic map of the area, an anti-aircraft gun and a tank.
3. Award "For participation in hostilities in Tajikistan." On the front side there are mountains, a helicopter, an armored personnel carrier, 7 stars located in an arc. On the back - the inscription "Tajikistan" and the date of the conflict.

Awards to participants in the military operation in the DRA

The following memorial signs were minted for the Soviet participants in the war in Afghanistan:

1. "Veteran-Internationalist Airborne." Award for paratroopers - participants in the military operation in the DRA. On one side is the emblem of the Airborne Forces against the backdrop of a red five-pointed star, on the other - the phrase "Nobody but us!".
2. Medal titled "Veteran of the Afghanistan War". Red five-pointed star, in the center of which is a schematic map of the DRA, framed by a ribbon with the inscription "Veteran of the Afghan war." Under it are the years of hostilities.
3. Order named "Afghan Glory." It was primarily intended for those serving as part of the ACSV in Afghanistan. This is a silver five-pointed star, in the center of which are the flags of the USSR and the DRA, the inscription "Afghan glory." On the back - "To the participant in the war in Afghanistan."
4. Award "15 years of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan." On the front side of the memorial sign is a border post, an armored personnel carrier with the military, a bridge over the Amu Darya, on the back - the date of withdrawal of troops.
5. "For courage and courage." On the front side are mountains and two military helicopters, on the back there is a cartridge and a tulip, which is a symbol of the war in the Republic of Afghanistan.
6. Award for veterans "15 years of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the DRA." It was handed over to the participants in the hostilities in Afghanistan, who invested a lot of energy in the development of the movement of veterans of this war. The image on it is similar to that described in paragraph 4.
7. "Decade of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan" - was awarded to Belarusian citizens participating in the war. Depicts an officer and a private on the background of mountains, flying helicopters and the dates of the military conflict.
8. Medal of Honor". She was presented with a special courage in a military operation. The tank, military aircraft, mountain range, an inscription in the Pashto adverb “For courage” are depicted.
9. Order of the State of Afghanistan "Star" of three degrees. The award was given for inimitable courage, carrying out operations as a result of which the enemy was defeated, activities to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the country's armed forces. A star of the 3rd degree has a silver surface, the 1st is golden, and the 2nd is combined. At its center is the coat of arms of the Republic of Afghanistan.
10. Medal "Warrior-Internationalist from the grateful Afghan people." In the foreground are the flags of the USSR and the DRA, mountains, the sun, a laurel branch. On the back there is the mentioned inscription in Russian and in Pashto. The veterans themselves called the award "Thank you for leaving."

Medals of the internationalist warriors are presented in considerable variety. The vast majority of them are intended for veterans of the Afghan war.