Medal "Defender of the Fatherland"

• On October 8, 1999, Presidential Decree L. D. Kuchma No. 1299/99 established the insignia of the President of Ukraine - the medal "Defender of the Fatherland . " The same Decree approved the Regulation on the insignia and description of the medal.
• March 16, 2000 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On State Awards of Ukraine", which established the state award of Ukraine - the medal "Defender of the Fatherland" . The law provided that its effect extends to legal relations related to the rewarding of persons awarded the insignia of the President of Ukraine . The President was recommended to bring his decisions in line with the adopted Law.
• On January 30, 2015, by Decree of the President of Ukraine P. A. Poroshenko , a new regulation on the medal and its appearance were approved. The same decree abolished the presidential decree of October 8, 1999 No. 1299/99 ^[1]

By decree of the President of Ukraine L. D. Kuchma No. 1329/99 of October 14, 1999 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazi invaders, for the courage and dedication shown in the fight against fascism during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, it was decided to award the insignia of the President of Ukraine - the medal "Defender of the Fatherland":

• war veterans and persons covered by the Law of Ukraine “On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection” living in Ukraine;
• citizens of other countries who took part in the liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders.

According to the Regulation, the medal “Defender of the Fatherland” is awarded to:

• war veterans
• persons covered by the Law of Ukraine "On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection", living in Ukraine
• citizens of other states who took part in the liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders
• other citizens of Ukraine for personal courage and bravery shown in protecting state interests, strengthening the defense capability and security of Ukraine

A duplicate of a medal instead of a lost one is not issued. A duplicate may be issued as an exception, provided that the recipient could not prevent the loss of the medal. Awarding the medal “Defender of the Fatherland” can be carried out posthumously.

Along with the medal “Defender of the Fatherland”, the recipient is awarded a certificate of a standard form.

• Certificate to the Defender of the Fatherland medal
• Certificate to Zakhisnik Vіtchizni.jpg

  Appearance

• Medal to Zahisniku Vіtchizni.jpg

  Interior view

Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 41/2015 approved a new regulation on the medal ^[1] .

Medal awarded to:

• war veterans, persons covered by the Law of Ukraine “On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection”,
• persons who took part in the liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders,
• other citizens of Ukraine for personal courage and bravery shown in protecting state interests, strengthening the defense capability and security of Ukraine.

The medal may be awarded to citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons. Awarding is carried out by decree of the President of Ukraine.

Awarding may be carried out posthumously.

The medal is made of brass , has the shape of a circle with a diameter of 32 mm. On the front side of the coin is a shield , a sword and a half-wreath of laurel and oak leaves. On the shield are the contours of the state border of Ukraine and the inscription "Ukraine". In the upper part of the coin in a circle there is an inscription “To the Zahisniku Vіtchizni” All images are embossed. The medal is framed by a side. On the reverse side of the coin is an image of laurel branches.

The medal is connected with an eye and a ring to a pentagonal block covered with a blue silk moire ribbon 24 mm wide. In the middle of the tape are five stripes, three black and two orange. The extreme black stripes are framed by narrow orange stripes. Along the edges of the tape is framed by narrow yellow stripes.

Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 41/2015 approved a new description of the medal ^[1] .

The medal is made of brass and has the shape of a circle framed by a bead circle with a diameter of 32 mm. On the front side of the coin in the center is a shield superimposed on a sword . On the shield are the contours of the state border of Ukraine and the inscription "Ukraine".

In the upper left part of the medal - in a circle the inscription “To the Zakhisniku of Life”, in the lower right part - the image of the laurel and oak branches.

On the reverse side of the coin in the center is an image of a laurel branch.

All images and inscriptions are embossed.

Using a ring with an eye, the medal is connected to a rectangular block (height - 42 mm, width - 28 mm), covered with silk , 28 mm wide, moire blue , with two longitudinal stripes of yellow (2 mm each) at a distance of 2 mm from the edges and further - with two strips of gray color (5 mm each). At the bottom of the block is a thin metal brace with a rounded protrusion and a hole in the middle. On the back of the pad is a fastener for attaching a medal to clothes.

The plank of the medal is a rectangular metal plate covered with a ribbon, as on the medal block. Strap size: height - 12 mm, width - 28 mm.

The Medal “Defender of the Fatherland” is worn on the left side of the chest after the medal “For Impeccable Service”, I, II, III degrees.

On the website of the President of Ukraine, different versions of the Ukrainian name are used: the medal “Zakhisniku Vitchizni” into Russian : the medal “Defender of the Fatherland” and the medal “Defender of the Fatherland” .

Awards of Ukraine

• The Law of Ukraine “On the Powers of Ukraine” (Ukrainian)
• Decree of the President of Ukraine “On Establishment of the Signs of the President of Ukraine - Medal“ To Zakhisniku Vitcizni “” (Ukrainian)
• Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 1329/99, July 14, 1999 on Rock "On the rewarding of the signs of the President of Ukraine by veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 rock" (Ukrainian)
• State Dignity of Ukraine - Medal “To Zakhisniku Vitchizni” (inaccessible link) (Ukrainian)
• Medal “To the Zahisniku of Vіchchizni” (Ukrainian)