Congratulations on the high awards!

On the eve of the great national holiday on May 4, 2026, a solemn meeting of the collective of the Academic Order of Merit in Culture and Arts of the Ensemble of Song and Dance of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, led by the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Hero of Labor of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, was held, dedicated to Victory Day and the 10th anniversary of the formation of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation.

Deputy Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Yuri Averin, addressed the audience. Yuri Vasilyevich congratulated everyone on the holidays and presented state and departmental awards and anniversary medals to the artists and employees of the Ensemble who had achieved the greatest success in their work.

By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated March 30, 2026, No. 204, for his contribution to the development of Russian culture and art, and for his many years of fruitful work, the soloist of the Ensemble, Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Sergeevich Kholyavko, was awarded the Medal "For Works in Culture and Art".

The honorary title of "Honored Artist of the Russian Federation" was awarded to the Ensemble's concertmaster, ensign Dmitry Vladimirovich Bogdanov, and to the ballet dancer of the Ensemble's dance group Evgeniya Konstantinovna Smolnikova.

For the initiative, diligence and distinction shown in training and combat activities, as well as in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Federal Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, the commemorative medal "10 Years of the Federal Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation" was awarded to the head-Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Ensemble, People's Artist of Russia Viktor Petrovich Eliseev, -vocalist of the choir group of the Ensemble, People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, chief choirmaster of the Ensemble Gleb Mikhailovich Kardasevich, head of the orchestra of the Ensemble, Honored Artist of Russia, Senior Lieutenant Alexey Valeryevich Mazanov, head of the video sound recording studio of the Ensemble Ivan Sergeevich Gurkovsky and other military personnel and employees of the Ensemble.

The commemorative medal "10 Years of Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation" was awarded to Vladimir Vasilyevich Bogdanov, Deputy Head of the Ensemble for Military and Political Work, Lyudmila Viktorovna Bogomolova, Chief Conductor of the Ensemble, and Vladimir Semyonovich Urman, Conductor of the Ensemble's orchestra group, for rendering assistance in fulfilling the tasks and exercising the powers assigned to the National Guard troops of the Russian Federation to the deputy head (artistic director) of the Ensemble, Honored Artist of Russia Igor Grigoryevich Shustikov and other members of the Ensemble's collective.

For their conscientious military service, a number of Ensemble members were awarded the Distinguished Service Medals of the First, Second, and Third Classes.

The head of the Ensemble, the artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Hero of Labor of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, thanked the leadership of the National Guard of Russia and personally the Director-Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia Viktor Zolotov, for their invaluable support of the Ensemble's activities and the creation of conditions for the development of the Ensemble as a flagship of military-patriotic art. On behalf of the entire team, he expressed his readiness to continue using his art to foster patriotism, loyalty to one's civic duty, and responsibility for the country's future.