On Rescuer's Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the personnel of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, congratulated them on their professional holiday, and awarded state honors.
He emphasized that today is the professional holiday of all those whose job and calling is to save lives.
"Whatever happens, the SES of Ukraine is always there to help, and always promptly. They remain fully committed to their most important mission: saving lives," said the President.
The President inspected samples of automotive and robotic equipment. In particular, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and SES Head Andriy Danyk reported on the use of surface drones and robotic systems for mine disposal.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian rescuers have responded to over 170,000 shelling occasions and extinguished more than 20,000 fires. SES sappers have neutralized over half a million explosive devices.
As a result of Russian aggression, 97 SES personnel have been killed, 395 injured, and 4 are currently held in Russian captivity.
The attendees observed a minute of silence to honor all those Ukraine has lost due to the war.
The President presented the Order of the Golden Star to the family of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel of the Civil Protection Service Artem Kostyria. The Lieutenant Colonel participated in over 70 operations to mitigate the consequences of Russian attacks. After the liberation of the Kharkiv region, he organized the restoration of nearly 100 damaged fire and rescue units. Thanks to his efforts, over 2,400 people were evacuated. Artem Kostyria was killed on July 13 this year while responding to the aftermath of an enemy missile strike when Russian forces launched a second ballistic missile attack.
The President also awarded SES employees the Orders "For Courage", II and III class, and the Order of Danylo Halytskyi.
Additionally, in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presence, the winners of the nationwide "Hero – Rescuer of the Year" campaign were honored. Eight Ukrainians received awards:
Oleh Holubchenko, a maxillofacial surgeon from the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. On July 8 of this year, during a Russian missile strike, he was performing surgery. Medical equipment failed, but he found alternative ways to maintain breathing and carried the child to shelter. Despite his injuries, he assisted rescuers and volunteers in clearing the hospital’s rubble.
Artem Makarov, a cadet at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs. In April of this year, he saved an eight-year-old boy whom his own mother tried to drown.
Andriy Bibik, a police officer in the Novopillia community. In one of the villages, he noticed thick smoke near the houses. An outbuilding was on fire, and the flames were spreading toward homes. Andriy rescued a 13-year-old girl, an infant, and two dogs.
Yuliia Oholikhina, a personnel specialist at the SES in the Zaporizhzhia region. While on vacation, she saw a child drowning in a pool. She pulled the girl out of the water and provided first aid.
Andriy Lubenets, a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman. Severely wounded in the war, last September, near a pond, he heard a 17-year-old boy’s cry for help. Despite his injured leg, Andriy swam to the boy and pushed him 20 meters to safety with one arm. Patrol police officers helped pull the boy out of the water and resuscitate him.
Ihor Kalashnyk, an electrician at a construction hypermarket. In May of this year, after Russian aerial bombs hit the hypermarket, he fully shut down the power to the building and helped evacuate four visitors from a smoke-filled area. He also removed generator barrels with fuel from the premises to prevent another explosion.
Polina Sholokh, a SES signaller. While at a car wash, she heard a woman screaming. Next to her was a boy with no signs of life, who had been pulled out of a drainage pit. Polina immediately began CPR, and after several minutes, the boy was breathing again.
Oleksandr Zhuk, a physical education teacher. Near a lake, he heard cries for help and saw three girls in the water. One had already lost consciousness and was pulling another down. Oleksandr rescued two of the girls from the water, while the third made it to the shore on her own.
