ɪn ɐ tˈɛlᵻɡɹˌæm tə kˈɑːnənˌɑːvz fˈæmɪli, ɹˈʌʃən pɹˈɛzɪdənt dəmˈiːtɹi mˈɛdvɪdˌɛv stˈeɪɾᵻd: "vˈeɪsili kˈɑːnənˌɑːv sˈɛlfləsli fˈɔːt ðə nˈɑːtsi ɪnvˈeɪdɚz θɹuːˈaʊt ðə jˈɪɹz ʌvðə ɡɹˈeɪt pˌeɪtɹɪˈɑːɾɪk wˈɔːɹ.
In a telegram to Kononov's family, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated: "Vasily Kononov selflessly fought the Nazi invaders throughout the years of the Great Patriotic War.