Established on 20 March 1992, an honorary title of a Hero of the Russian Federation is the highest form of recognition in the Russian Federation. The title is conferred for merits to the state and nation connected with a deed of a heroic valor. All the recipients are awarded a special insignia, the Gold Star Medal.
Captain Viktor Mikhailovich Adamishin (1962–1995) was the Deputy Commander of the OMON 1st squadron of the 2nd operative battalion at Moscow Chief Internal Affairs Directorate. A title of the Hero of the Russian Federation was awarded (posthumously) for courage and heroism shown during a counter-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus region. On 1 April 1995, Capt. Adamishin arrived in the Chechen Republic to carry out special missions aimed at restoring constitutional order and seizing weapons from illegal armed factions. A group of soldiers under Adamishin’s command came under heavy fire and was left without any cover. Helping his comrades, Viktor Adamishin was mortally wounded and fell in battle.
Colonel Alexey Vasilyevich Balandin (1961–2009) was the Head of the Operations and Combat Department of the FSB Special Purpose Center V Division. A title of the Hero of the Russian Federation was awarded (posthumously) for courage and heroism shown while fulfilling military duty. He went on more than 40 official assignments in the North Caucasus region in line of his duty. On 9 April 2009, during a clandestine military operation to search and destroy bandit groups Alexey Balandin found an improvised explosive device, which was set off by the militia. Having sustained multiple fragmentation wounds and enduring extreme pain, he continued directing the actions of his subordinates and led them out of the mined area thus saving their life. Col Alexey Balandin died from the wounds.
Captain Dmitry Alexandrovich Serkov (1981–2007) was the commander of a
Vityaz special purpose unit assault team of Dzerzhinsky Independent Operational Purpose Division of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. A title of the Hero of the Russian Federation was awarded (posthumously) for courage and heroism shown while fulfilling military duty in the North Caucasus region. On 2 August 2007, Dmitry Serkov personally headed a reconnaissance and tracking operation to detect an armed group as part of a special mission. During a skirmish, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds and fell in battle saving the lives of his subordinates.
The postage stamps feature portraits of the Heroes of the Russian Federation and the Gold Star Medal.
Additionally, FSUE PTC “Marka” has manufactured first day covers and special cancellation postmarks for Moscow, St Petersburg and Ryazan.
Design: A. Drobyshev.
Face value: 19 RUB.
Size of stamp: 42×30 mm, size of sheet: 104×110 mm.
Form of issue: sheets with illustrated margins of 5(2×3) stamps and a coupon.
Circulation: 165,000 each stamp (33,000 each sheet).
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