Order of Zhukov

Order of Zhukov
Order of Zhukov (Obverse)
Awarded by  Russian Federation
Type	Single grade order
Eligibility	Senior military officers
Awarded for	Outstanding military leadership
Status	Active
Statistics
Established	May 9, 1994
First awarded	April 25, 1995
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Ushakov
Next (lower)	Order of Kutuzov
Ribbon of the Order of Zhukov

The Order of Zhukov (Russian: Орден Жукова) is a military decoration of the Russian Federation. The order is named in honour of Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov (1896 - 1974).

The Order of Zhukov was established by Presidential Decree 930 of May 9, 1994. Its statute was amended by Presidential Decree 243 of March 6, 1995.

The original award was a 50 millimetres (2.0 in) wide gilt cross pattée, the four arms were enamelled in red with a gilt border with alternating raised and recessed rims giving the appearance of shields. At the center, a 24 millimetres (0.94 in) diameter blue enamelled medallion bearing the gold plated silver relief bust of Georgy Zhukov, below him, interlaced laurel and oak branches. Above the bust of Zhukov, the gilded inscription "ГЕОРГИЙ ЖУКОВ" (GEORGY ZHUKOV). Between the cross arms, embossed gilt rays protruding from the center outward forming a 45 millimetres (1.8 in) wide square with rounded corners. The reverse of the Order had a threaded stud with a nut to secure it to clothing. The Order of Zhukov was worn on the right side of the chest with other similar orders.

The entire Russian Federation award system was revamped by Presidential Decree 1099 of September 7, 2010. This major rework included a redesign of the Order and amendments to its statute.

The Order of Zhukov is awarded to commanders of military units and their deputies from among the senior officers: for skilful organization of troops (forces) and operations in strategic areas (theatres), or military operations during which, despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, the objectives of the operation were met; for skilful manoeuvres on land and in the air to surround the enemy, enabling the defeat of superior forces; for initiative and determination in choosing a site and time of a main attack which led to the defeat of the enemy on land and/or in the air while maintaining the combat readiness and capability to further prosecute; for carrying out a defensive breakout from an enemy encirclement for a future offensive, for the organization, the prosecution, the choice of environment and the defeat of the enemy; for tenacity in repelling enemy attacks from the air, land and sea, for keeping enemy troops pinned down in designated areas of responsibility to create conditions favourable for seizing the initiative and depriving the enemy's ability to continue offensive operations; for skilful organization and management of units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation stationed outside of the Russian Federation, for repelling an armed attack on them, as well as the protection of citizens of the Russian Federation from attack outside of the Russian Federation.