[1] 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 the Soviet Transarctic issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment or by the Murmansk Regional or Urban Councils of People's Deputies.

Serving military personnel received the medal from their unit commander, retirees from military service received the medal from a regional, municipal or district military commissioner in the recipient's community, members of the civilian population, participants in the defence of the Soviet Transarctic received their medal from the Murmansk Oblast or city Councils of People's Deputies.

For the defenders who died in battle or prior to the establishment of the medal, it was awarded posthumously to the family.

On its obverse, the bust of a soldier in a sheepskin coat and fur cap carrying a PPSh sub machine gun.

Along the entire circumference of the obverse, a 3mm band bearing the relief inscription "FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE SOVIET TRANSARCTIC" (Russian: «ЗА ОБОРОНУ СОВЕТСКОГО ЗАПОЛЯРЬЯ»), at the bottom, a five pointed star bearing the hammer and sickle superimposed on a length of ribbon.