Mentor asks Putin to award Hero of Russia title to special forces commander
In short
A mentor of Vladimir Mikhailovsky has asked President Vladimir Putin to confer the title Hero of Russia on his ward, RIA Novosti and TASS reported. TASS said Mikhailovsky was a company commander of special forces in the 31st Airborne Brigade. The documents do not say how Putin responded to the request.
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A mentor of Vladimir Mikhailovsky has asked President Vladimir Putin to confer the title Hero of Russia on his ward, according to reports by RIA Novosti and TASS published about half an hour apart on the same evening. RIA Novosti described the request as coming from the teacher of a participant in the special military operation, while TASS said Mikhailovsky's mentor asked for the Hero of the Russian Federation title for the fighter under his tutelage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
TASS reported that Vladimir Mikhailovsky was a company commander of special forces in the 31st Airborne Brigade. The documents do not state who exactly would receive the title, when or where the request was made, or how the Kremlin responded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The appeal is a public request to the president for a state honour for a participant in the special military operation, and both outlets carrying it are classed as official. The documents give no indication of how the Kremlin responded or whether the title was actually granted.
Key facts
- A mentor of Vladimir Mikhailovsky asked President Vladimir Putin to confer the title Hero of Russia on the fighter, RIA Novosti and TASS reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- RIA Novosti described the person at the centre of the request as a participant in the special military operation. [ 1 ]
- TASS reported that Vladimir Mikhailovsky was a company commander of special forces in the 31st Airborne Brigade. [ 3 ]
- The reports were published within about half an hour of each other on the same evening. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A mentor of a serviceman asked President Vladimir Putin to confer the title Hero of Russia on his ward. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The person concerned is named as Vladimir Mikhailovsky. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vladimir Mikhailovsky was a company commander of special forces in the 31st Airborne Brigade, according to TASS. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the title is being sought for Vladimir Mikhailovsky himself or for another fighter described as the mentor's ward. The documents refer to “Mikhailovsky's mentor” asking on behalf of his ward, while TASS's summary describes Mikhailovsky's service record, but no document states explicitly who would receive the title.
- Whether Mikhailovsky is alive, and why he is referred to in the past tense. TASS wrote that he “was” a company commander of special forces, but no document says anything about his current status.
- What response, if any, the request received from Putin. No document reports a reply or a decision on the title.
- The name of the mentor or teacher, and when and where the request was made. None of the documents identify the person making the request or the circumstances of the appeal.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes a report that the teacher of a participant in the special military operation asked Putin to confer the Hero of Russia title on the fighter. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes a report naming Mikhailovsky's mentor as the person who made the request. [ 2 ]
- TASS publishes a report that Mikhailovsky's mentor asked Putin to confer the Hero of the Russian Federation title on his ward, noting Mikhailovsky's service in the 31st Airborne Brigade. [ 3 ]