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The recipients of orders, medals and honorary titles included representatives of public and religious organisations, government officials, journalists, teachers and mentors, prominent actors and composers, as well as healthcare, industry and agriculture personnel.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

First, allow me to congratulate all of you and all the people of Russia on Constitution Day. Adopted by popular vote more than 30 years ago, it has largely defined Russia’s destiny, its statehood and offered a foundation for building our national legal framework, while also setting forth the key values and tenets which guide us as a society and a nation.

In its updated version, the Constitution included substantial amendments. They too expressed the will of millions of Russians who set our Fatherland on a clear path towards its development, outlined our shared aspirations and goals, the way we respond to the challenges of our time, and highlighted our readiness to defend our priorities, rights and freedoms, traditions and unique identity. We hold all these tenets as sacred and will always follow them.

Strong, courageous people who have been sincere, honest and diligent in accompanying these events have found themselves on the frontlines of these struggles. This is the way Yevgeny Poddubny has acted when making his reports. He has worked in the so-called hotspots many times, and I mean “hot” literally, since he risked his life and suffered severe, and I would like to emphasise the severity, wounds. Today, he is fulfilling his professional duties with honour and dignity in the special military operation zone. A true frontline correspondent, he receives the Hero of Russia title, which is happening for the first time in present-day Russian journalism.

I would like to thank all the members of the Russian media, including those who are in this room and those who are now on the frontline, in the cities of Donbass and Novorossiya at war, who are with the people in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, and in other regions of our vast and united country. Thank you for your work and for your impartial and unbiased reporting, and for believing in Russia.

Here in this room we have State Duma deputies, leaders of parliamentary parties and major socio-political groups, whose policymaking efforts, well-needed initiatives and projects determine our country’s development for years to come.

The Hero of Labour titles have been conferred on Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Resin, as well as the head of the Rostov Helicopter Plant Pyotr Motrenko. This aircraft building company makes an enormous contribution to ensuring Russia’s technological sovereignty. It manufactures helicopters that are in demand in military and civilian applications, and implements social programmes that are important for its employees. I would like to thank everyone working in Russia’s industry and agriculture, who help build up our research and manufacturing capabilities and ensure Russia’s food security.

I cannot fail to mention composer Alexandra Pakhmutova, who is truly the nation’s favourite. Mrs Pakhmutova, your songs are relatable and dear to millions of people of different generations. They bring us together. I would like to repeat once again: you are the nation’s melody. Alexandra Pakhmutova, too, was awarded the title of Hero of Labour of Russia.

Musician and composer Igor Krutoy, singer Nikolai Baskov and many other remarkable artists continue to carry on the best traditions of Russian pop music today.

Nikolai Tsiskaridze, a widely acclaimed ballet dancer, has also demonstrated impressive managerial and teaching talents. For more than ten years, he has been successfully heading the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

Fostering skilled professionals is an extremely difficult and painstaking job. This is not only about providing them with relevant knowledge and expertise. It is important to educate young people as good citizens, to provide them with moral guidelines, to instil a sense of duty and responsibility for the country in the younger generation. The education system plays a huge role here. I congratulate the representatives of our universities and other higher education providers on their state awards. School teachers also have an exceptional influence on the younger generations. Some of the teachers who are with us in this room today have brought up Heroes of Russia: fighters and volunteers who earned this high title by defending their homeland in the special military operation.

A better future for the country and its citizens’ well-being cannot be imagined without progress in medicine and incessant search for new opportunities, effective and timely treatment of patients. I would like to note prominent physicians, researchers and healthcare organisers – Andrei Kaprin and Konstantin Kotenko – who have devoted many years to this activity. I also congratulate Maryana Lysenko, a representative of the advanced school of Moscow medicine, on her award.

Friends,

Our country lives, works and grows, with your professional and creative achievements promoting this growth and changing life for the better. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you every success and new achievements. I congratulate you on your high state awards.

Thank you for your attention.

(Awarding ceremony.)

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Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Allow me to say a few words as we conclude our ceremony.

One of the recipients, a doctor, remarked that medicine does not yet offer absolute protection against certain ailments – no body armour, as it were. Indeed, perhaps not yet, but we are making strides. As others have noted, many of the feats that once seemed implausible and fantastical are now becoming reality in practice, in daily life.

It is a profound honour for me to bestow these awards upon all of you, especially those who, I believe you will agree, have for decades epitomised our nation and achieved feats that we have all cherished and taken pride in. I am referring, for instance, to the work of Alexandra Pakhmutova, or our exceptional hockey players.

You know, my family was not particularly sporty, except for myself. I engaged in regular practice, but my parents, certainly not. Yet, Boris Mikhailov, a member of the USSR national hockey team, was my mother’s hero. Remarkable, isn’t it? I recall this now, and these are not just hollow words: it is a tremendous honour for me to award such individuals today here in the Moscow Kremlin.

Regarding protection, in terms of armour – our nation indeed possesses such armour. This armour is found in the character, courage, heroism, and unity of the people of the Russian Federation. You, undoubtedly, play a significant role in fortifying all the elements that propel our country forward.

Thank you ever so much. Congratulations to you all!