Yesterday March 25, 2015 we reported that President Vladimir Putin had issued three decrees granting the title "Guard" to three army units, the 11th and 83rd Separate Assault Brigades of the Airborne Troops and the 38th Separate Communications Regiment.

The text of the award spoke of "massive heroism, bravery, persistence and courage displayed by the personnel in combat actions in defense of the Fatherland and state interests under conditions of armed conflict."

There was no indication of where the combat had taken place -- or when. As we noted, there did not appear to be a connection between these troops and known units in Ukraine verified by journalists.

Dmitry Peskov replied to journalists' questions that "there could not be and cannot be" any connection between the decrees and Ukraine, News.ru reported yesterday evening.

"We know that Russian armed forces, regular units, did not have and do not have any involvement in these events," Interfax quoted Peskov as saying.

But there was no indication where the combat did take place. Possibly the awards related to combat in the two Chechen wars of the 1990s.

-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick