President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree enacting the National Security and Defense Council decision to revoke state awards from individuals who betrayed Ukraine.
The first list includes 34 individuals, among them former government officials, members of parliament, heads of the Security Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office, prosecutors, artists, Russian political, religious, and cultural figures. All have been permanently stripped of Ukrainian state awards.
In addition, ten of these individuals are subject to the most severe sanctions – a total of 21 measures. These include not only the revocation of state awards but also the freezing of assets, annulment of licenses and permits, and a complete cessation of trade operations.
Among these ten, sanctions have been imposed for the first time on seven individuals, including:
Oleksandr Yefremov, former first deputy leader of the Party of Regions and head of its parliamentary faction, who had been awarded the Order "For Merit" (I-III classes) and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (V class).
Renat Kuzmin, former first deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine, who held the Orders "For Merit" (II-III classes) and the title "Honored Lawyer of Ukraine."
Eight other individuals on the list had already been sanctioned but are now stripped of state honors, including:
Viktor Medvedchuk, former MP of the II-IV and IX convocations, awarded the Orders "For Merit" (I-III classes), the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (V class), and the title "Honored Lawyer of Ukraine."
Dmytro Tabachnyk, former Minister of Education and Science (2010–2014), awarded the Orders of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (IV-V classes) and the title "Honored Figure of Science and Technology of Ukraine."
Mykola Azarov, former Prime Minister of Ukraine (2010–2014), awarded the Orders "For Merit" (I-III classes), the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (V class), and the title "Honored Economist of Ukraine."
Viktor Pshonka, former Prosecutor General of Ukraine (2010–2014), who held the Order "For Merit" (III class).
Andrii Derkach, former MP of the III-IX convocations, awarded the Order "For Merit" (III class).
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and former KGB agent, awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (I class).
The honorary title "People’s Artist of Ukraine" has been revoked from Russian singers Nikolai Baskov, Philipp Kirkorov, Alexander Malinin, and composer Igor Krutoy. Singers Karolina Kuiek (Ani Lorak) and Taisia Povaliy have been stripped of the title "Honored Artist of Ukraine."
The day before, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported draft law № 11410, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This draft law envisages the revocation of state awards from individuals convicted of grave or especially grave crimes, criminal offenses against Ukraine’s national security, peace, humanity, or international order, and specific crimes against public safety. It also applies to those who propagate or justify the actions of the aggressor state or the occupation of Ukraine.