The Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" (Russian: Медаль «За оборону Ленинграда») was a World War II campaign medal of the Soviet Union established on December 22, 1942 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR[1] to recognise the valour and hard work of the Soviet civilian and military defenders of Leningrad during the 872-day siege of the city by the German armed forces between September 8, 1941 and January 27, 1944.

[1] The Resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of March 8, 1945 granted the petition of Yaroslavl regional organizations to award the medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" to the most distinguished participants in the construction of defensive structures in the Leningrad area by the civilian population of the Yaroslavl region.

[2] Award of the medal was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of documents attesting to actual participation in the defence of Leningrad issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment or by a relevant provincial or municipal authority.

At the forefront in the lower half of the obverse, the relief images of a helmeted Red Army soldier (nearest), a sailor (middle) and a worker (farthest), all three with rifles at the ready.

Along the upper circumference of the medal, the relief inscription in prominent letters "FOR DEFENCE OF LENINGRAD" (Russian: «ЗА ОБОРОНУ ЛЕНИНГРАДА»).