Hero City is a Soviet honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during World War II. It was awarded to twelve cities of the Soviet Union. Four of the twelve
cities are Ukrainian Cities of Heroes. These following Ukrainian cities: Kyiv,
Odessa, Sevastopol and Kerch.
According to the statute, the hero city is issued the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star medal, and the certificate
of the heroic deed (gramota) from the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviet of the
USSR. Also, the corresponding obelisk is installed in the city.
The usage of the term "hero city" is dated to articles in Pravda as early as in 1942. The first official usage of
the title is dated by May 1, 1945, when Joseph Stalin issued his Supreme Commander Order #20 commanding to fire salutes in "hero cities Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol, and Odessa."
On June 22, 1961 (20th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic
War) the term "Hero City" was applied to Kyiv in the ukases that awarded Kyiv the
Order of Lenin and introduced the Medal "For the Defence of Kiev".
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