President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the orders of the Golden Star to the families of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine who were posthumously honored with the title of Hero of Ukraine.
The ceremony took place in the White Hall of the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv.
"Today, we will hear the titles, names, last names and patronymics of 21 citizens of Ukraine, fallen soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine. Soldiers, sergeants, and commanders. Sons, brothers, parents. Comrades with whom it was an honor to serve. Citizens who could make any honorable state proud. All the names that will be mentioned today are not just names; these are the names of real valor. Names of salvation – the salvation of people, positions, the state of Ukraine. These are the names of people with such a strength that allows nations to endure in the world," the President said.
The Head of the State expressed his belief that the orders of the Golden Star, which honor the heroism of the fallen soldiers, mean that they will never be forgotten.
"That their names and stories will be known. That Ukraine will always be grateful to them. And that you, like all other citizens of Ukraine, will always feel that the life of our state, saved by the lives of Ukrainian heroes, is truly dedicated to all our people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The attendees paid their respects with a minute of silence for the fallen heroes.
"Eternal and bright memory to all our heroes from different times who fought for Ukraine, for each and every one, for all Ukrainians! And may gratitude to Ukrainian heroes always prevail in our state! It will always be in our memory," the President said.
For personal bravery and heroism demonstrated in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the order of the Golden Star to the family of Hero of Ukraine, Junior Sergeant Sviatoslav Aleksapolsky, who lost his life due to shrapnel wounds in August 2022 in Mykolaiv region while providing medical assistance to a wounded commander of a combat group under enemy artillery fire.
The order of the Golden Star was also presented to the parents of Major Oleksandr Borys, a pilot. The Mi-8 helicopter under his command was shot down by an enemy missile near Maryinka in Donetsk region in March 2022 while performing a mission to engage enemy targets. Oleksandr Borys had a total flight time of 923 hours, over 17 of which were during the large-scale invasion by the Russian Federation.
Oleksandr Borys' father presented the flag of the 11th Kherson Separate Aviation Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where his son served, to the Head of the State.
The order was also awarded by the President to the family members of the commander of a reconnaissance unit, Captain Stepan Vorobets, who lost his life in June 2014 near the village of Yampil in Donetsk region. When his reconnaissance unit fell into an enemy ambush, the captain personally eliminated three terrorists but suffered a sniper bullet wound and succumbed to massive blood loss.
The highest state award was presented to the family of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Junior Sergeant Yevhen Hloba, the commander of a special reconnaissance group. In June 2023, during the movement of his group in a forested area in Sumy region, he encountered a tripwire and shielded his comrades, protecting them at the cost of his own life.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the order of the Golden Star to the family of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Chief Sergeant Volodymyr Dudchenko. In September 2022, near the village of Yampil in Donetsk region, his group faced overwhelming enemy forces, and the Chief Sergeant provided medical assistance to his comrades while being wounded. At night, while carrying the seriously wounded group leader to the evacuation point, Volodymyr Dudchenko himself encountered a mine and, shielding the injured group leader with his body, succumbed to his injuries.
The highest state award was also presented to the mother of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, soldier Yevhen Zinovyev, a drone operator. From January to May 2023, he destroyed a significant amount of enemy equipment, infantry, firing positions, depots, and ammunition stores. In May 2023, while carrying out a combat mission in the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk region, Yevhen Zinovyev was killed in artillery shelling.
The order of the Golden Star was awarded to the parents of Senior Lieutenant Yuriy Kaniuk. On May 23, 2022, his platoon launched an attack and got entrenched in the enemy's defense, but they came under heavy fire from enemy tanks and artillery, preventing further advancement. Senior Lieutenant Kaniuk handed over command to the platoon leader and stayed with the wounded, holding the position until the last serviceman was evacuated. While covering the evacuation group's retreat, he engaged in a firefight with the enemy and died from gunshot wounds.
The President presented the order of the Golden Star to the family of Junior Sergeant Dmytro Kramar, a Hero of Ukraine who participated in battles against Russian occupiers during the defense of Kharkiv region, Severodonetsk, as well as in the defense of the Ukrainian border in Sumy and Kharkiv regions, and in battles on the outskirts of Kreminna and Bakhmut. While carrying out a combat mission in Bakhmut as part of a special forces group in May 2023, Junior Sergeant Kramar heroically died in battle, suffering a fatal gunshot wound to the neck.
The family members of Colonel Ihor Liashenko received the order of the Golden Star from the President. Colonel Liashenko served as the commander of a mechanized battalion in the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the North Operational Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. From 2004 to 2005, he participated in the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo, and starting in 2014, his battalion effectively carried out assigned tasks in Donetsk region. While moving between command points, Colonel Liashenko fell into a terrorist ambush, and during the battle, he personally eliminated several enemies but died from gunshot wounds.
The order of the Golden Star was also presented to the family of soldier Maksym Liakh, an air defense gunner who defended Bakhmut in Donetsk region in April 2023. During the repulsion of enemy assault operations in May, he suffered a direct sniper shot to the heart and passed away on the spot.
The highest state award was given to the family of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Lieutenant Mykola Makarevych, the commander of an infantry platoon, who was performing a combat mission in the vicinity of Bakhmut in Donetsk region. In March 2023, he sustained multiple shrapnel injuries from a mine explosion but attempted to provide medical assistance to his comrades and tragically lost his life in an evacuation vehicle. The tactical advantage gained under the command of Mykola Makarevych played a crucial role in repelling the enemy's assault.
The President awarded the order to the mother of Hero of Ukraine, soldier Vasyl Matiychuk, a reconnaissance operator who died in April 2023 during an aerial reconnaissance mission near Malynivka in Zaporizhzhia region due to enemy artillery shelling. The soldier's record includes the destruction of an enemy depot, the detection of a sniper pair, and over 300 drops on enemy bunkers and trenches.
The family of Junior Sergeant Serhiy Mischenko also received the order of the Golden Star. He personally destroyed a significant amount of enemy armored vehicles with personnel during battles with the Russian aggressor. For his merits in combat, the sergeant was awarded the Order "For Courage" of I, II and II classes, as well as the award of the President of Ukraine "Cross of Military Merit." During a battle and under enemy tank fire, on December 1, 2022, on the territory of Luhansk region, Serhiy Mischenko suffered a fatal injury.
The order of the Golden Star was presented to the family of Hero of Ukraine, Major Vadym Odud, the commander of the 15th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion. The skilled actions of the battalion under his leadership allowed for a breakthrough of the enemy's defenses, penetrating 30 kilometers into their territory and forcing the occupiers to abandon the city of Kherson. After the Russian occupiers fled from Kherson region, Major Odud efficiently organized the occupation of positions left by the enemy. In November 2022, his vehicle in Kherson region hit an explosive device, and he succumbed to the injuries he sustained.
The order of the Golden Star was also awarded to the wife and sons of Senior Sergeant Volodymyr Prymachenko, who died in combat in June 2022 in Donetsk region. Thanks to the brave and heroic actions of Volodymyr Prymachenko, the maintenance of occupied positions was ensured, and the breakthrough of the overwhelming enemy forces in the designated defensive area was prevented.
The President presented the order to the family of Sergeant Mykhailo Reutsky. During a battle in Bakhmut in February 2023, Mykhailo Reutsky, at the cost of his own life, diverted the enemy's attention and fire, covering the escape of his comrades from a potential encirclement. Due to intense enemy artillery shelling, Sergeant Reutsky was wounded in a way incompatible with life.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also presented the order of the Golden Star to the wife and daughter of Hero of Ukraine, Sergeant Volodymyr Sova-Lisovets, who died in June 2022 while carrying out a mission in the area of Pryvillia in Luhansk region. In the battle against overwhelming enemy forces, Volodymyr Sova-Lisovets sustained multiple gunshot wounds. In the last seconds of his life, he destroyed the enemy's firing position, allowing the special forces group to retreat to safety.
The order of the Golden Star of the Hero of Ukraine was awarded to the family of Captain Oleh Tarakhkal and Soldier Bizhan Sharopov. While carrying out a mission near Shyikivka in Kharkiv region, they successfully detonated a bridge, preventing the enemy from advancing further. They also adjusted the fire of Ukrainian artillery, which destroyed the enemy column and halted their offensive actions. In April 2022, near Borova, the enemy shelled the unit of Oleh Tarakhkal and Bizhan Sharopov with mortars, surrounding them. Despite vehicle damage, the servicemen engaged in combat, during which Oleh Tarakhkal and Bizhan Sharopov went missing. In October 2022, a search team from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine discovered a fraternal grave in Kopanky, Kharkiv region, containing the bodies of the heroically fallen Oleh Tarakhkal and Bizhan Sharopov.
The President presented the order of the Golden Star to the family of Captain Ihor Nebos, a specialist of the first category at the Security Service of Ukraine. In January 2023, during the battles near Bakhmut and Opytne in Donetsk region, Captain Ihor Nebos personally eliminated an enemy who was firing on positions with a handheld anti-tank grenade launcher. The battle lasted for nine hours, and all employees of the Security Service of Ukraine sustained injuries. Captain Ihor Nebos lost his life while carrying out his combat mission.
The order of the Golden Star was also awarded to the family of Senior Operational Officer of the Security Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia region, Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Ukrayinets, who tragically lost his life in November 2022 while identifying the enemy's positions in the vicinity of the settlement of Bilohiria in Zaporizhzhia. He effectively adjusted artillery fire, suppressing enemy firing points and inflicting casualties on enemy personnel. During heavy aerial and artillery bombardment and multiple direct hits on the Ukrainian position, Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Ukrayinets sustained injuries that were incompatible with life.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk, and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Shaptala also attended the award ceremony.
