found in the news :)

[aviator]

I've just found this video in the news today:

During the plebiscite in Crimea the citizen of Sevastopol Gennadiy Kourkin came to vote wearing his father's GPW uniform and his awards:

Обстановка на избирательных участках в Крыму напоминает праздничную - Первый по срочным новостям — LIFE | NEWS

[CtahhR]

Here is the picture for reference.

Looks like the tunic could be let out a bit.

It certainly takes alsorts.

[desantnik]

Welcoming the "liberators"?...

[aviator]

Welcoming the "liberators"?...

I don't think, we should discuss the politics here. But I want to say that I spend my holidays in Crimea practically every summer, since my childhood in 1980-s
Believe me: the majority of citizens really want to go back to Russia, because they are Russians. And this man is one of them.

[CtahhR]

I thought I would point out that this tunic does in fact have an overtly Ukrainian award attached to it (the 50th Badge), no Russian awards (50th anniversary medal was awarded by individual states which in this case would be Ukraine again) but plenty of Soviet ones.

It must be remembered that "Soviet Union" does not equate to Russian Federation. The Ukrainian SSR joined the Soviet Union at the same time as the Russian SFSR. The UkSSR's population was the second largest behind the RSFSR.

The only "Russian" and "Ukrainian" armies during the war were those fighting in collaboration with Germans and not as "localised", "national" Soviet forces.

The 414th Rifle Division (That contained the 1367th "Sevastopol" Rifle Regiment) were ethnically Georgian which adds another modern nation to the mix. The Ukrainians, Russian, Georgians and others all fought as Soviets, side by side, defending and liberating the Crimea from 1941 to 1944.

It would be nice to see just what the actions of this recipient's awards were and where.

[aviator]

Yes, you are right. The father of this man was the citizen of Ukraine, that's why he had a Ukrainian badge "50 years of the liberation of Ukraine". But his nationality is Russian, like the majority in Crimea.
And you are also right about the nationalities. More than 7 millions of Ukrainians fought together with Russians against the Nazis. The half of them were killed. And only 25% returned home without wounds.
(taken from here: Украина в Великой Отечественной войне)

[CtahhR]

I think you are mistaking "nationality" with "ethnicity".

If someone has the passport of a nation that then is their nationality. No matter what colour, creed, religion, language or other "group".

Plenty of people out there speak English but that certainly doesn't mean they hold a British passport.

As this person in the tunic is simply standing out in public holding a picture of a Soviet Soldier we can only enforce our own opinions on to it.

He probably just wanted a chance to be on TV. "Hello Mum!" or some equivalent. Seems to have worked!

[aviator]

Sorry for my bad English and thanks
Of course, the ethnicity. This man has Ukrainian passport but he is ethnic Russian. The majority of Crimean citizens are ethnic Russians, as well.
If you watch the video, you can hear his words: "I am returning my father to his historical homeland".