Hero of the Russian Federation (Герой Российской Федерации) is the highest title that can be bestowed by the Russian Federation on a citizen of Russia. The President of the Russian Federation is the main authority in conferring the title. The criteria for the title is committing actions or deeds that involve conspicuous bravery while in the service of the state. The title was established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, replacing the Hero of the Soviet Union as the highest title.

The design of the medal is similiar to that of the Hero of the Soviet Union. The ribbon is white, blue, and red, the same colors that are on the flag of Russia. On the reverse, the words "Hero of Russia" (Герой Россий) appear, along with a serial number. The serial number shows the number of times the award is presented (eg. SN 1064 shows that this award (at that time) was bestowed 1064 times). The title can also be presented posthumously.

A ribbon is not issued with the medal, since the medal is always worn in full.

Recipients (Example List)

• Yuri Petrovich Gidzenko - Ukrainian cosmonaut
• Akhmad Kadyrov - assassinated President of Chechnya
• Ramzan Kadyrov - Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya, son of Akhmad Kadyrov [1]
• Alexandr Kaleri - Latvian cosmonaut
• Yuri Ivanovich Malenchenko - Ukrainian cosmonaut
• Yuri Ivanovich Onufrienko - Ukrainian cosmonaut
• Valeri Polyakov - Russian cosmonaut

External links

• Official Government Website
• Medals of the World
• http://www.netdialogue.com/yy/Russia/RF/RF/Hero/Hero.htm
• http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/medals/russia/russia.html