Russia's defense ministry on Monday opened bidding on a contract to deliver over 10,000 medals to soldiers involved in Moscow's operation in Syria, suggesting the scope of its involvement there, AFP reports.
The ministry posted a contract on the government procurement website for 10,300 medals and accompanying certificates for a total of 2.2 million rubles ($32,000).
The award -named "To the participant of the military operation in Syria" - was created by the defense ministry on November 30 and Russian media have reported that some pilots who returned to Russia from Syria this month have already been decorated.