President Volodymyr Zelenskyy handed over the Gold Star Orders to family members of the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the Security Service and the National Anticorruption Bureau who were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, and presented state awards and decorations to representatives of the media, the volunteer community and employees of Ukrzaliznytsia JSC.
The ceremony took place in the White Hall of Heroes of Ukraine at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv.
“Today, in the White Hall of Heroes of Ukraine, we have different people. Different, but the lives of them all have become part of the life of our Ukraine. Our warriors, the families of our warriors, and people of different professions who work hard and effectively for the sake of our country and the protection of our people. In particular, war correspondents, whom I would like to particularly honor today, on Journalists' Day,” the Head of State said.
The President noted that the blasting of the Kakhovka HPP dam by Russians was another premeditated and calculated act of terrorism that was part of Russia's genocidal tactics against the Ukrainian state aimed at destroying the whole of Ukraine, its citizens and everything Ukrainian.
"When the enemy wages such aggression, when it uses such genocidal tactics, only the joint power of all our people can stop the enemy. And we will definitely stop Russia. We will expel it from our land and honor the memory of each and every person who gave their lives for Ukraine, the memory of all our heroes of different times who equally dreamed of Ukrainians living freely," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President expressed gratitude to every Ukrainian warrior, their families, and everyone who cares about our defenders, Ukrainian society and the state.
The attendees honored the memory of all those who died for Ukraine with a moment of silence.
The ceremony was also attended by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhny, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Serhiy Shaptala, Head of the State Border Guard Service Serhiy Deyneko, Commander of the National Guard Yuriy Lebid, Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshyn and others.
