Zhukov Medal

The Medal of Zhukov is a circular, 32mm in diameter brass medal. On the obverse, the bust of marshal Zhukov, his head half turned to the right, on his uniform, four stars of Hero of the Soviet Union and a Marshal's Star around his neck. Below the bust along the medal's lower circumference, two branches of oak and laurels. Above the bust, along the medal's upper circumference, the relief inscription "GEORGY ZHUKOV" (in Russian "ГЕОРГИЙ ЖУКОВ"). The medal's original reverse, as mandated by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 6, 1995 No 243, bore at its center the large relief years "1896 - 1996" and oak and laurel branches at the bottom following the medal's lower circumference. Some makers produced a variant of the medal with a smaller inscription (1896 - 1996) and added a relief "N" and a line for an award serial number. More than 2.5 million were awarded. Following the 2010 amendment to its statute, the reverse of the Medal of Zhukov now bears the relief inscription "FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE" (in Russian "ЗА ОТЛИЧИЕ В СЛУЖБЕ") in the center, below the inscription, a relief "N" and a line for an award serial number. At the bottom, along the medal's lower circumference, oak and laurel branches. The medal is suspended to a standard Russian pentagonal mount by a ring through the medal's suspension loop. The mount is covered by an overlapping 24mm wide silk moiré ribbon, the left half of the ribbon is red, the right half of the ribbon is in the colours of the Ribbon of Saint George.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No 1099 of September 7, 2010 completely revamped the Russian state awards system including a new statute for the Medal of Zhukov. The Medal of Zhukov is now awarded to soldiers for bravery, selflessness and personal courage in fighting for the protection of the Motherland and the public interests of the Russian Federation, for distinction in military bearing during service, for alertness and active participation in exercises and manoeuvres, for excellent performance in combat training. The Russian Federation Order of Precedence dictates the Medal of Zhukov is to be worn on the left breast with other medals immediately after the Medal of Ushakov.