WW2 veterans receive Russian medals

WW2 veterans receive Russian medals

BELGRADE -- 16 Second World War veterans from Belgrade, former members of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NOV), have received Russian medals.

The medals, given by the Russian president, were presented to the veterans in a ceremony in the Russian embassy in Belgrade late on Thursday.

The occasion was the upcoming Russian Armed Forces Day - Defender of the Fatherland Day, February 23 - and the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War victory.

The recipients include Milan Atelevic, Milisav Djuric, Zivojin Dobricic, Dragica Ilincic, Stanislav Kolarevic, Dragoljub Lazic, Milisav Lukic, Dragica Milosavljevic, Milos Milikic, Jovo Miskovic, Branko Nikolic, Velimir Ostojic, Jovan Radovanovic, Milan Runjic, Zarko Tesic, and Jordan Filipovic.

The Russian embassy staff told reporters that those former members of Partisan units who live in Belgrade were decorated on Thursday, while others from elsewhere in Serbia, if located by Victory Day, May 9, will be recognized in the same way.

Those veterans who have Soviet or Russian state awards and jubilee awards for their participation in the Second World War qualify for the honor.

The veterans received their medals from Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin, who said the Defender of the Fatherland Day holiday was "a symbol of respect toward soldiers, and of the unwavering Russian Army," and added that the courage of Russian and Serbian soldiers was put to the test many times during our difficult and glorious history.

"We treat with great respect the defenders of the fatherland. The love of the Serb people toward the army was felt on October 16 last year, during the exceptional military parade to honor the...