The Russian military servicemen of the Zapad group of troops received monetary certificates and combat awards for the destruction of Leopard 2 tanks in the Kupyansk direction, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
"The servicemen of the Zapad battlegroup thwarted another offensive attempt of the units of the Ukrainian forces in the Kupyansk direction … several state and departmental combat awards are being given out, as well as two monetary certificates for the downed Leopard 2 tanks of German production. Grigory Leps and Yulia Baranovskaya will present the soldiers with certificates of a million rubles ($11,000) each," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The first certificate was awarded to the crew of the Kornet anti-tank missile system, the second - to the commander of the reconnaissance group with call sign Krestny, which destroyed a Western tank in the direction of Kupyansk with the help of the Lancet UAV.
"The crew worked professionally, launched the product, found the target. The target was hit, the turret burned out, there was a detonation of ammunition inside," said the commander of the group.
The servicemen of the Western Military District have regularly received state and departmental awards for courage, bravery and selflessness during the special military operation.
Lieutenant-General Vladimir Lugovoi, Deputy Commander of the Western Military District for Military-Political Affairs, handed over cash certificates and medals to the most deserving servicemen.