
Awarded to veterans of the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan for the period of 1979–1989; to members of the Armed Forces of the USSR, persons attached to them, as well as to citizens of the states - members of the Commonwealth of Independent States who have made a great contribution to the establishment of the names and burial sites of the dead and the fate of missing persons, who actively participated in the social and medical rehabilitation of soldiers-internationalists and their families, who perpetuated the memory of the fallen. May also be awarded to citizens of countries from outside the Commonwealth of Independent States in exceptional circumstances.


Awarded to military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, of other military forces, military formations and bodies, as well as to other citizens of the Russian Federation and foreign citizens: for their dedicated, determined and skillful actions in the performance of tasks of flood control in the Khabarovsk Territory, the Amur region and the Jewish Autonomous Region in 2013; for the successful management of the actions of subordinates in carrying out the tasks of flood control in the Khabarovsk Territory, the Amur region and the Jewish Autonomous Region in 2013.

Awarded to military personnel performing military service in headquarters units, higher formations and units of the Land Forces, veterans of military service in the Land Forces, and to members of the civilian staff of Land Forces, with conscientious service of 5 years or more; for courage and bravery displayed during the performance of military duties; or for the execution of special tasks regardless of the period of military service in Land Forces; as well as to other citizens of the Russian Federation for assisting the Land Forces in the execution of their assigned tasks.

Awarded to military aviation personnel of the Navy of the Russian Federation for conscientious service of 5 years or more. In some cases, may be awarded to veterans of Russian naval aviation, retired from military service, who have previously served in naval aviation or who have been dismissed from it.

Awarded to military personnel of Road Construction Troops, as well as to veterans of Road Construction Troops, retired from military service or to the reserve, for impeccable and long service, who made a great contribution in the tasks entrusted to Road Construction Troops.
Gold star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union
Type: Highest degree of distinction
Awarded for: Heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society
Presented by: Soviet Union
Eligibility: Soviet and foreign citizens
Status: No longer awarded
Established: 16 April 1934
First awarded: 20 April 1934
Last awarded: 24 December 1991
Total: 12,777
The title Hero of the Soviet Union (romanized: Geroy Sovietskogo Soyuza) was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.
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