MOSCOW. June 27 (Interfax) - Those who have distinguished themselves in combat will constitute the core of the Russian Armed Forces' command in the near and longer future, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"I have said before and I want to say this again. Those who distinguish themselves in combat should constitute the core of the Russian Armed Forces' command in the near and longer future," Putin said at a meeting with the military at the Kremlin on Tuesday.
"Of course, this includes the air force," he said.
Everyone who helped contain the mutiny will be decorated with state awards, Putin said.
"Indeed, I have given instructions to the defense minister. The government will recognize the contributions made by everyone involved in this kind of military work, I mean they will be decorated with state awards," he said.