- Time Period: Second World War
- Year of Institution: 21 June 1961
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Medal for the Defense of Kiev (or Медаль «За оборону Киева», Medal «Za oboronu Kieva» in Russian) was established on 21 June 1961 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of Kiev between 7 July and 26 September 1941, during the 1941 invasion of the USSR by Nazi Germany.
The medal was awarded to all participants in the defense of the Hero-City of Kyiv – Soviet Army soldiers and troops of the former NKVD, as well as all the workers who participated in the defense of Kyiv in the ranks of the militia, in the construction of fortifications, who worked in factories serving the needs of the front, members of the Kyiv underground and partisans who fought against the enemy near Kyiv.
The Medal for the Defense of Kiev Design
The medal was 32mm in diameter, circular, and made of brass, with a raised rim on both sides. It was worn on the left side of the chest and in the presence of other awards of the USSR.
On its obverse, the relief image of the building of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR with a flag waving from its rooftop mast. Against the background of the building, the relief images of a red soldier, a red sailor, a worker, and a woman, all guerrillas facing left with rifles at the ready. Along the upper circumference of the medal, the relief inscription «ЗА ОБОРОНУ КИЕВА» (“FOR THE DEFENSE OF KYIV”) bisected by the waving flag. At the bottom, a relief five-pointed star over a ribbon itself superimposed over laurel branches.
On the reverse near the top, the relief image of the hammer and sickle, below the image, the relief inscription in three rows «ЗА НАШУ СОВЕТСКУЮ РОДИНУ» (“FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND”)
The medal was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24 mm wide olive green silk moiré ribbon with two central stripes, a 2 mm blue stripe, and a 4 mm red stripe.
Other Soviet Defense Medals from WW2
The medals awarded for the defense of various places during World War II belong to a specific group of Soviet campaign medals. These medals were instituted by the Soviet Union to recognize and honor the efforts and sacrifices of those who participated in the defense of key cities and regions against Axis forces.
The Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad
The Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who were part of the defense of Stalingrad in 1942.
The Medal for the Defense of Odessa
The Medal for the Defense of Odessa was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of the port city.
The Medal for the Defense of Leningrad
The Medal for the Defense of Leningrad was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of Leningrad in 1944.
The Medal for the Defense of Sevastopol
The Medal for the Defense of Sevastopol was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of the port city.
