Russian MoD says increase in military awards is due to performance during exercises, not war in Ukraine
The Russian Ministry of Defense has refuted Bellingcat’s assumption regarding the link between the mass award of medals to Russian servicemen and its participation in the conflict in the Donbas. As the statement of the Russian Defense Ministry says, the increase in the number of awards in the Russian Army from 2014 to 2016 is caused by the activation of military drills and the Olympic Games in Sochi.
The relative increase in the number of awarded servicemen from 2014 to 2016 is caused by the increase in the frequency of sudden checks of troop combat readiness and other military preparation events in the army and navy.
In addition, a considerable number of servicemen were awarded medals following the results of combat duty during the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus region, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated. Russian servicemen view Bellingcat’s publication as anti-Russian propaganda material prepared by Western counterparts.
On the basis of open sources of information, the group of British independent investigative journalists found that Russia has rapidly increased the number of combat medals awarded to servicemen in 2014 and 2015, as compared with previous years. At least 10,000 medals for courage, battle merit, and medals from Zhukov and Suvorov were awarded during that period.
The investigators note that the number of medals grew after active military actions in Ukraine (August invasion, fighting for Donetsk airport and Debaltseve) and then slightly decreased but did continue. According to investigators, this is clear evidence that Russian servicemen took part in the war in the Donbas.