At first glance they appear to be World War II widows, however in the Soviet era back then women were integrated into the fighting units and played a significant role in combat, I'm not sure if that applied to the ladies of the Ukraine. These ladies may very well have earned those medals in combat. Regardless, congrats on the DD and Best wishes from Canada.
I was wondering if the ladies in the pictures were wearing the medals because they were soldiers long ago or if they were wearing the medals of their husbands who were no longer alive.
actually, I don't know anything about widows wearing their husbands medals. I'm pretty sure that this is their own honours. Not only _soldiers_ could earn it..
Some ladies here in Canada do it to honor their husbands who fought in the big wars. In Russia however women played a significant combat role and did their country proud. As with our soldiers, I do not forget them on our day of remembrance.