Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky

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Modern Ukrainian Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd class

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky (Russian: Орден Богдана Хмельницкого, Ukrainian: Орден Богдана Хмельницького) is a Soviet and later Ukrainian award, named after cossack hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky, first established on October 10, 1943 (during World War II) by the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR and re-established by Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma to commemorate the 50th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 3, 1995.

The medal was created to award Red Army personnel for exceptional duty in combat operations that led to the liberation of the Soviet territory. Nikita Khrushchev (then a Red Army general) as well as Soviet Ukrainian filmmaker Alexander Dovzhenko and poet Mykola Bazhan initiated the idea to create this award. The Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky was broken down into three different classes: 1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class. General Alexey Danilov became the first recipient of the 1st class Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky.

The 1st class medal is awarded to front or army commanders for successful direction of combat operations that led to the liberation of a region or town inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Altogether, 323 people were awarded Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st class. Among people who received this order were future Marshals of the Soviet Union including Sergei Biriuzov, Kirill Moskalenko, Matvei Zakharov and Petr Koshevoi.

The 2nd class medal is awarded to corps, divisions, brigade or battalion commanders for a breach of defensive enemy line or a raid in the enemy rear. 2400 people were awarded Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, 2nd class.

The 3rd class medal is awarded to officers, partisan commanders, sergeants, corporals and privates of the Red Army and partisan units for outstanding bravery and resourcefulness leading to a battle victory. 5700 people were awarded Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd class. Most of them were Red Army soldiers who fought on the Ukrainian Front as well as Ukrainian partisans.

After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union the Order was re-established only in Ukraine.