Corporal Andrey Grigoryev has been awarded the title ‘Hero of Russia’ for his actions in combat

President Vladimir Putin has awarded the title ‘Hero of Russia’ to a soldier who defeated a Ukrainian servicemember in a brutal knife fight that went viral online. 

Andrey Grigoryev was decorated for “bravery and heroism” in combat, according to the presidential decree published on Saturday.

A corporal with the 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade, Grigoryev overpowered a Ukrainian soldier during a battle near the village of Trudovoye in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic.

Although the incident took place in the autumn of 2024, the dramatic bodycam footage of the hand-to-hand combat was only recently posted to social media.

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Although the opponent was physically stronger and wounded Grigoryev, the Russian soldier kept on fighting.

“It was clear to me that I was not going to surrender, that I would take at least one person to the grave [before dying myself]. This motivation helped me a lot to concentrate,” Grigoryev told RT earlier this month. 

Grigoryev was born in Russia’s Siberian Sakha Republic and worked as a driver and a mechanic before enlisting in the army in April 2024. He is married with five children. 

Sakha Governor Aysen Nikolayev met with Grigoryev on Saturday and gave him a new knife as a gift. “After that fight, Andrey had spent several days behind enemy lines. They neutralized several enemy soldiers, armored vehicles, and blew up an ammunition depot,” Nikolayev said.