Description

Mariupol – City of Heroes

This medal celebrates the inhuman valor, great strength, indomitable spirit, struggle, heroism and tragedy of the city of Mariupol and the hero-fighters of the city who valiantly defended the city from russian invaders. The resolute resistance of Mariupol’s defenders frustrated russia’s objective to capture Mariupol quickly, drawing the enemy forces and weapons onto themselves, and slowing the advances of russian troops in other operational areas. The defense of Mariupol and Azovstal, which lasted for 86 days, during 82 days of which the defenders were completely besieged, is one of the most outstanding examples of the valor of Ukrainian soldiers in recent history.

Obverse: above is the legend УКРАЇНА (Ukraine), under which is Ukraine’s small Coat of Arms; there is the following composition that symbolizes the hero city: the facade of Mariupol Drama Theater while under attack (to the left) and stylized buildings of the Azovstal Plant being bombed (to the right); against a matt background there is the following smooth legend: МІСТО/ МАРІУПОЛЬ/ГЕРОЇВ/2022 (CITY/MARIUPOL/HEROES/2022); the letter “I” in the name Mariupol has been replaced with a candle in memory of the dead; the letter “o,” which is in the form of a map of the city, includes the profiles of a child and an adult, symbolizing forced deportation; beneath, against the backdrop of stylized waves, is an anchor, standing for a heraldic element on Mariupol’s coat of arms and representing hope for the city’s liberation and revival; the mint mark of the NBU’s Banknote Minting and Printing Works is beneath, to the right.

Reverse: against a smooth background is a Ukrainian soldier, who is devoted to Ukraine and ready to defend the state to the last; the soldier is surrounded by stylized debris, weapons, crosshairs and the vertical inscription reading АЗОВ (AZOV) (top left) and СТАЛЬ (STEEL) (bottom right).