Russia's highest state award, the Hero of Russia, was posthumously given to a battalion commander, who had saved his soldiers from a grenade at the cost of his life.

      The incident took place during training exercises at a Far Eastern military base near the town of Belogorsk. One of the soldiers threw a grenade, but it bounced back into the trench the battalion was located during exercises. Major Sergei Solnechnikov immediately reacted to the situation, pushed a soldier away from a grenade and threw himself over it. 

      After an explosion, the critically injured officer was rushed to the nearest military hospital, where he died of his injuries. The saved soldier had some not dangerous injuries, no one else was killed or injured. The major's colleagues said his move saved dozens of lives.

      "The title of the Hero of the Russian Federation was given to Major Solnechnikov Sergei, posthumously, for heroism courage and bravery shown while fulfilling military duties,” it was said in the presidential official statement. 

      Solnechnikov was buried on Monday in his home city of Volzhsky in the Volga area. He died in the age of 31.

      Local officials plan to name streets in Volzhsky and Blagoveshchensk cities in his honour.  

Sources: top.rbk.ru dni.ru RIA Novosti Image: baltija.eu

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