The Medal of Ushakov was awarded to sailors and soldiers, petty officers and sergeants, ensigns and warrant officers of the Soviet Navy, Naval Infantry and naval units of KGB Border Troops for courage and bravery displayed both in wartime and in peacetime during the defence of the Soviet Union in naval theatres, while protecting the maritime borders of the USSR, during military duties with a risk to life.

The sole exception was the October 1961 award of the Medal of Ushakov to Captain Second Rank Nikolai Shumkov for commanding the submarine B-130 that test launched the first Soviet nuclear torpedo.

An estimated 14,000 to 16,000 medals of Ushakov were awarded from its creation in 1944 to the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union.

By Presidential Decree № 442 of 2 March 1994,[2] the Soviet Medal of Ushakov was retained in the same basic design by the Russian Federation after the dissolution of the USSR.

2833 was awarded by the Russian ambassador HE Dr Alexander Yakovenko to AB (Gunner) William Ernest Jones for his service in HMS DIADEM