Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued decrees bestowing the status “City of Military Glory” on two Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities – Melitopol and Mariupol.
It is a status similar to the Soviet-era “Hero City”, which honoured certain cities’ roles in the USSR’s fight against Nazi Germany in World War Two. The status gave them certain privileges under communism, such as consumer goods in short supply elsewhere.
Putin’s decrees say the new status honours “the courage, steadfastness and mass heroism displayed by the defenders of the cities in the fight for the freedom and independence of the fatherland”.
It makes no mention of the current war in Ukraine, which Russia still calls a “special military operation”.
Russian state news agency Ria says 45 Russian cities have the status of City of Military Glory.
In September, Putin declared four occupied regions of Ukraine, including the cities of Melitopol and Mariupol, to be part of Russia. The claim was widely condemned. Russian shelling devastated Mariupol, killing thousands, before the city was captured.
Putin has also given two smaller Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities – Luhansk and Horlivka – the status “City of Labour Valour”. It honours their hard industrial work during World War Two. He lists seven Russian cities alongside them.
Source: BBC.com