File talk:Vasily Ignatenko.jpg

Note on the deocrations worn by Ignatenko in this photo

For those curious about what medals and badges Ignatenko has on his uniform, I have a partial list.

On the left side

The Komsomol badge: This was the only badge that military personnel were authorized to wear on the left side of their uniform. It shows membership in the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (Komsomol), which was open to Soviet youth ages 14 to 28. It was worn on the left for symbolic reasons, going over the heart.

On the right side

	Excellent Firefighter Badge: This badge was awarded to military firefighters for excellence in their duty. First issued during WW2, it remained a high honor issued to military firefighters until the fall of the Soviet Union.
	Qualification badge: The badge bearing the number three on it is a qualification badge. Soldiers who were in technical or otherwise 'skilled' branches of the military could take examinations to earn these badges, giving them an increase in pay for each level earned. Three was the lowest, and 'M' (for 'Master') was the highest.
	The badge directly above the qualification badge appears to be a badge "For Distinction in Service" in the Internal Troops, first or second class. It is impossible to be sure however, on account of the washed our nature of the photograph. But seeing as Ignatenko was a member of the Internal Troops, it is possible and likely that this is so.

On account of the fact that many of the badges have been washed out by the photo's lighting, I cannot tell what they are. But I presume that they may well be awards for participation in fire-applied sports, which Ignatenko was known for being actively involved in. They don't seem to resemble any common military decorations.

CuriousQuail (talk) 19:38, 25 November 2020 (UTC)