Sergey Palagin

Over his time in service of the Russian Military (1985–2014), Palagin earned the nickname "Brother" (Russian: Братишка), given to him by soldiers who were often rescued by his experienced helicopter crew in critical situations. He flew an Mi-8 model helicopter.

Palagin died from complications of COVID-19 on 6 November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. He was 52 years old.

• Hero of the Russian Federation (by order of the President of Russia of 6 April 2004, Gold Star medal No. 818).
• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (4th class with Swords).
• Three Orders of Courage (1996, 2000 and 2002).
• Order of Military Merit.
• Multiple medals, including:
  • Medal "For Courage" (ru) (2006);
  • Medal "For Battle Merit";
  • Medal of Nesterov;
  • Medal "For Military Valor" (ru) (First (2002) and Second (2001) class);
  • Medal "For Strengthening the Military Commonwealth" (ru);
  • Medal "For Distinction in Military Service" (ru) (1st, 2nd and 3rd class);
  • Medal "For Service in the Air Force" (ru);
  • Medal "100 years of the Air Force".
• Badge "For Service in the Caucasus" from the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.
• Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (ru) (3rd class).
• Order of Saint Anna (3rd class (2018)).
• Medal "For Services to the Stavropol Territory".[2]
• The title: "Honorary Citizen of the city of Krasnodar" (ru) (2016).[3]