OREANDA-NEWS  Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded by his decree the title of "City of Military Glory" to Mariupol in the Donetsk People's Republic and Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region. In addition, the Head of state awarded the title of "City of Labor Valor" to nine cities: Astrakhan, Vologda, Gorlovka (DNR), Zlatoust, Kaspiysk, Lugansk (LNR), Norilsk, Orsk and Yakutsk.

The title "City of Military Glory" is awarded "for the courage, fortitude and mass heroism shown by the defenders of the city in the struggle for freedom and independence of the Fatherland." The title "City of Labor Valor" is awarded "for a significant contribution to achieving Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945."

"Awarding Melitopol the title of "City of Military Glory" is, in fact, the restoration of historical justice," Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the Zaporozhye regional administration, commented on the decree of the head of state in Telegram. He said that Melitopol is a "gateway" to the Crimea, which will provide a land corridor to the peninsula.