Russian war correspondent Evgeny Poddubny, who was injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on the western Russian region of Kursk in August, has been awarded the title of the Hero of Russia for demonstrating courage and heroism in the line of duty, a decree inked by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday read.
"To award the title of the Hero of the Russian Federation to Evgeny Evgenievich Poddubny, a war correspondent ... for the courage and heroism demonstrated in the line of duty," the document read.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the award was well-deserved.
"Evgeny Poddubny becomes the first ever journalist awarded the title of the Hero of Russia in the history of our country! [This is] justice realized! Hooray!" she wrote on Telegram.
The war correspondent was seriously injured on August 7 after his car was attacked by a Ukrainian drone in the border area of Russia's Kursk Region, a day after the start of the Ukrainian incursion.