Kindergarten teacher who stopped knife attacker receives Russian rescue medal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded the Medal for Saving the Perishing to kindergarten teacher Liya Galeyeva, who protected children during a knife attack in Buguruslan.

The award appears in decree No. 736, published on October 15. Galeyeva works at Kindergarten No. 1 in Buguruslan, in Orenburg region.

The attack took place on February 5, 2026. A man armed with a knife broke through a door and entered the kindergarten. Staff activated the alarm, and Galeyeva restrained him before emergency responders arrived, according to reports of the incident.

She suffered cuts and received medical treatment. The children were unharmed.

Police and investigators said the man was intoxicated. He was subsequently remanded in custody, and investigators opened cases concerning attempted murder and negligence.