President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the warriors taking part in the Kursk operation, presented them with state awards and granted Ukrainian citizenship to two foreign fighters defending Ukraine.
The Kursk operation began exactly six months ago and, according to the President, has already made history. It prevented a Russian offensive on Sumy and Kharkiv and brought the war back to Russian territory. Additionally, Ukrainian defenders have demonstrated just how much of what Russia claims is merely bluff and lies.
“The aggressor and criminal can and must be struck at their home. The occupier can and must be fought back on their territory. This is not just fair; it is also effective – for protecting lives in our country and across Europe. The Kursk operation vividly illustrates the meaning of “peace through strength’ principle,” the President emphasized.
The President expressed gratitude to the soldiers and commanders ensuring the success of the operation in Russia’s Kursk region, including the 80th Halytska Separate Air Assault Brigade, the 82nd Bukovynska Separate Air Assault Brigade, the 95th Poliska Separate Air Assault Brigade, the 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 61st Stepova Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi, the 17th Kryvyi Rih Separate Tank Brigade named after Kostiantyn Pestushko, the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 129th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the Special Operations Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Head of State noted that the Kursk operation resulted in the largest-ever replenishment of Ukraine’s exchange fund in a single combat mission and pulled strong Russian units back to the territory of the Russian Federation. Otherwise, according to the President, these 60,000 occupiers would have been deployed against Ukrainian forces in the most difficult frontline areas.
A moment of silence was observed in honor of all fallen Ukrainian defenders.
President Zelenskyy awarded the Golden Star Orders of the Hero of Ukraine to Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Bokhonchyk (Security Service of Ukraine) and Captain Pavlo Yazlovetskyi.
Oleksandr Bokhonchyk participated in the development of an airplane-type drone that has already proven its effectiveness in destroying Russian UAVs and contributed to the development of a new area of counter-drone operations. On the night of August 6, Oleksandr Bokhonchyk's group eliminated all six enemy UAVs in the area of responsibility. As a result, the units of the Defense Forces entered the territory of the Russian Federation virtually undetected. In total, 169 drones were destroyed in the Kursk sector under the leadership of Oleksandr Bokhonchyk. In addition, he trained seven groups that are now independently participating in combat operations and eliminating Russian drones.
Pavlo Yazlovetskyi is the commander of an air assault company of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade. Last year in August, he conducted raids in the Kursk region, during which his unit was ambushed three times, but managed to take the designated line. Pavlo Yazlovetskyi organized a circular defense and ambushed the Russian occupiers. The 102 soldiers under his command walked tens of kilometers through the enemy-controlled territories for two days and managed to get out of the encirclement. The unit destroyed about three platoons, four units of armored vehicles and about ten units of vehicles.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded four defenders with the Cross of Military Merit:
Major Ivan Bakrev. As the commander of the artillery division of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade, during the offensive and search-and-strike operations last August in the Kursk region, he prevented shelling by Russian aircraft and artillery, saved the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and inflicted losses on the enemy. During this operation, 17 Russian occupiers were killed, his unit also damaged MT-LB, vehicles, a tank and a mortar system.
Colonel Viktor Biloziorov (Security Service of Ukraine). As a member of the Security Service of Ukraine's joint task force in the Kursk region, he conducted a series of operations to destroy enemy fortifications, strongholds and the occupiers' columns. As a result of combat operations, 84 fortifications, 36 firing positions, six ammunition depots, a fuel storage site, 73 vehicles, six armored vehicles, five tanks, a radar station and an artillery system were destroyed.
Captain Artem Kulachevych. As a commander of a UAV company of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade, he provides reconnaissance, firepower and support to units during the offensive. In total, he managed to destroy five armored vehicles, three armored personnel carriers, 22 vehicles, five mortar systems and five cannons.
Senior Sergeant Oleh Sobutskyi. In the Kursk region, he organized an ambush and prevented the advance of reconnaissance and assault groups. The unit under his command killed 15 invaders, and then broke through to the artillery positions, captured a cannon with a towing vehicle and took five Russian soldiers prisoner. Under enemy fire, Oleh Sobutskyi organized the evacuation of seven damaged vehicles of his unit.
Sergeant Oleksandr Tarkovskyi. In the Kursk region, he led the actions of advanced assault and fire support groups, conducted aerial reconnaissance with the help of UAV operators. The units destroyed several infantry squads, armored vehicles and cars, captured about 10 invaders and received important information on the location of enemy forces and equipment.
The President also awarded Ukrainian defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and the Orders "For Courage".
The President also presented passports of Ukrainian citizens to foreigners who are fighting for the independence of our country alongside Ukrainians – warriors from Belarus and Russia.
