Donetsk, Dec 19 — DAN. Donetsk People’s Republic Acting Head Denis Pushilin and Lugansk People’s Republic Acting Head Leonid Pasechnik will be decorated with the Orders  “For Merit to the Fatherland, ” top grade, at a ceremony in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall on December 20, the Kremlin website reported. 

 Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the ceremony.

The Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” has also been awarded to honorary research supervisor of the Russian federal nuclear center in Sarov Radiy Ilkayev and Metropolitan Yuvenaly Poyarkov. The ceremony participants include Senior Lieutenant Stepan Belov and Mayor Konstantin Shirokov who have been awarded the title of Hero of Russia and five women who have been awarded the mother heroine title.

The Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” is awarded for outstanding contributions to the state associated with the development of Russian statehood, advances in research, culture and arts, outstanding sport achievements, strengthening  peace, friendship and cooperation between nations, or for significant contributions to the defense of the Fatherland.*jk