Putin bestows posthumous Hero of Russia award on officer Gadzhimagomedov

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded posthumously the Hero of Russia title to a Ukraine operation combatant, Senior Lieutenant Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov.

"I have signed a decree assigning the Hero of Russia title to senior lieutenant Nurmagomed Engelsovich Gadzhimagomedow, unfortunately posthumously. In action, he confidently led his fighters, and protected underlings as a true commander. Having sustained a heavy wound, he fought to the last and blew up a grenade killing himself and the militants who encircled him," Putin told the permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

Gadzhimagomedov knew that he was dealing "with neo-Nazis who torment their captives and brutally murder them," Putin said.

"I am a Russian person. As they say, all my kin are Ivans and Marias. But, when I see examples of such heroism as this young man Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov, a native of Dagestan, an ethnic Lak, and our other soldiers, I want to say: I am Lak, I am Dagestani, I am Chechen, Ingush, Russian, Tatar, Jew, Mordvin, Ossetian. Naming all of the over 300 ethnic groups of Russia is simply impossible. I think you understand. I am proud of being part of this world, part of the powerful, strong, multi-ethnic people of Russia," Putin said.