The ceremony in the center of the Russian-speaking community in Israel gathered 668 veterans, their relatives and friends. Marshal of the Aviation, former commander-in-chief of the USSR Air Force and Admiral of the Navy, former commander-in-chief of the USSR Navy Vladimir Chernavin handed medals to the veterans. The audience applauded them.
"Those who fought in the Great Patriotic War and sit in this hall today are legendary people who saved mankind from a mortal threat," Marshal Yefimov said.
"The victory which was won 60 years ago is the victory of all nations and countries who joined the struggle against Nazism," said Admiral Chernavin. "However, the Soviet Union and its people and soldiers of the Red Army played the decisive role in this victory. Some of them received awards of the Motherland today," he stressed.
The Russian embassy organized about 70 such ceremonies in many Israeli towns over the last two months. Diplomats handed medals to 21,000 WWII veterans living in Israel.
