The Federation Council presented Swords of Victory to Mariupol and Melitopol – Kommersant

The Federation Council hosted a solemn ceremony of presenting Swords of Victory to the cities of military glory, Mariupol and Melitopol. Chairman of the upper house of parliament Valentina Matvienko, who took part in the event, noted that both cities “have been an integral part of Russia for centuries.”

“Mariupol and Melitopol are original Russian cities, which for centuries have been an integral part of our country and had a noticeable influence on the course of many historical events, including during the Great Patriotic War,” said Ms. Matvienko (quoted from website Federation Council).

According to the chairman of the upper house of parliament, currently Mariupol and Melitopol “have again shown their character.” “The residents showed resilience and made a firm choice, connecting the future with their real homeland – with Russia,” she added.

The ceremony was also attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Andrei Turchak and Andrei Yatskin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Yuri Vorobyov, State Secretary-Deputy Minister of Defense Nikolai Pankov, Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin and Governor of the Zaporozhye region Evgeniy Balitsky.

Melitopol and Mariupol were annexed by Russia in September 2022 as part of the Zaporozhye region and the DPR, respectively. Last November, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees conferring the title “City of Military Glory” on Melitopol and Mariupol “for the courage, fortitude and mass heroism shown by the city’s defenders in the struggle for the freedom and independence of the Fatherland.”