Private Russian Armed Forces member Andrei Kravtsov, renowned for single-handedly destroying a Ukrainian Leopard tank, was awarded one million rubles. The Department of Defense reported this on June 20. The Foundation of Entrepreneurs “Care of Siberia” presented the certificate for the award to Kravtsov. Alexander Karelin, a member of the Federation Council of the Novosibirsk region and a three-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, presented the award in a hospital ward.
Kravtsov, currently undergoing treatment at the Vishnevsky Central Military Clinical Hospital in Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, lost his right arm due to injuries sustained in battle. The presentation took place amidst his recovery, and Karelin explained the origin of the award. He stated that the fund was created by Siberian businessmen, contributing from their profits, as an additional support to what the state provides. These funds serve as supplements to state allocations from the budget.
“I hope this supplement helps you. Nice trophy, too. These are wonderful bonuses for those who cause high damage to the enemy, in addition to what the state does. It’s a plus. In no way in return. We have agreements. We, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, do this according to agreed ideas. Come on, hold on, persevere,” said Karelin encouragingly to Kravtsov.
Kravtsov, in response, shared details of the battle in which he disabled the Leopard tank. “The output (from the tank) was unique, and its drone was constantly correcting. I took a grenade launcher, as I am an assistant grenade launcher, and started to flank. I fired, the smoke went away. I already found out in the hospital that it was a German leopard,” explained the soldier.
When asked about his plans after discharge from the hospital, Kravtsov expressed a desire to retrain since returning to the factory was no longer his fate. The Defense Ministry released a video where Kravtsov discussed his post-recovery aspirations, and Karelin mentioned to reporters that the soldier aims to put on a prosthesis and return to the front lines.
On Russia Day, June 12, Andrei Kravtsov received the Order of Courage from President Vladimir Putin while in the hospital. Media coverage initially provided descriptions of the battles in which decorated servicemen distinguished themselves without specifying the place and time. The following day, military correspondents, in a meeting with the head of state, revealed that soldiers had not received promised payments for damaged tanks and planes. Putin, surprised by this information, demanded an explanation from the Ministry of Defense on June 13.
Subsequently, on June 15, singers Nikolai Baskov and Grigory Leps pledged to donate one million rubles each for every Leopard tank destroyed by the Russian army. On June 16, the Ministry of Defense reported on Telegram that over 10,000 Russian servicemen had received payments ranging from 50,000 to 300,000 rubles per person for destroyed and captured enemy equipment since the start of the military operation.
