On Ukraine's Constitution Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards to servicemen and representatives of other professions who protect and strengthen Ukrainian statehood.
"Today we celebrate the Day of the Constitution – one of the elements that make statehood real. And this is also the day of those people who by their loyalty to Ukraine, their faith in Ukraine and their courage ensure that all elements of our constitutional statehood remain strong, effective, and they remain ours – Ukrainian," the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to always remember the price of our country's independence. The audience honored the memory of all those who gave their lives for Ukraine with a minute of silence.
The Head of State handed the Orders of the Golden Star to the families of the fallen Heroes. The title of Hero of Ukraine was awarded posthumously to:
Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Karachun. He personally eliminated more than thirty occupiers. Together with his brothers-in-arms, he saved the lives of two tank crewmen. During the assault of the Russian occupiers, he was wounded in the right forearm, but continued to shoot with his left hand. Thanks to the warrior and his brothers-in-arms, the enemy retreated, but began shelling the positions heavily with artillery. One of the shells hit near the trench where Volodymyr Karachun was, killing the warrior.
Senior Soldier Vitaliy Dobrovolsky. He fought in the Donetsk, Chernihiv and Kharkiv directions. During shelling near Bakhmut, he suffered numerous injuries and shrapnel wounds in his legs, but after treatment, he continued to perform combat missions. Last March, he was killed by an enemy sniper's bullet while providing medical aid to a wounded fighter.
Senior Soldier Vasyl Kosovskyi. He participated in the defense of the Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions. During a battle with the Wagner PMC, he eliminated at least seven enemies, which allowed his unit to break out of the encirclement. Vasyl Kosovskyi was killed by a Russian sniper in the Serebryanskyy Forest.
Five soldiers were awarded the Cross of Military Merit:
Colonel Oleksii Maistrenko. Last September-November, the unit under his command destroyed about 850 occupiers, more than 40 tanks and IFVs, almost 60 artillery systems and mortars, about 50 military vehicles, more than 300 UAVs, 7 electronic signal intelligence and electronic warfare systems, and 6 air defense systems, 15 ammunition depots and more than 50 enemy fortifications.
Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Smalko. He organized the defense and stopped the enemy's advance in Zaporizhzhia in March 2022. In the fall of the same year, he participated in the Kherson counteroffensive. He led a motorized infantry battalion and subordinate forces, organizing the defense of Soledar.
Senior Sergeant Dmytro Volkov. He performed combat missions in the Zaporizhzhia and Avdiivka directions. This February, he personally organized the training of combat groups to perform tasks near the villages of Berdychi and Stepove.
Lieutenant Colonel Anton Zadorozhnyi. Last December, he led a group of National Guardsmen to the site of a downed UAV in the Serebryanskyy Forestry area. Detecting the approach of an enemy group, he opened precision fire with a machine gun, killing eight Russian occupiers while the rest of the fighters destroyed enemy firing positions.
Chief Sergeant Kyrylo Chumachenko. He led an assault group that received a combat mission to retake a lost position near the village of Kurdyumivka. With his sniper rifle, the border guard destroyed an enemy patrol, which allowed them to get closer and start a battle. Under heavy fire, the Russian occupiers abandoned their position and retreated.
The President also awarded the defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I, II and III classes, "For Courage", I and II classes, and the Order of Danylo Halytskyi.
In addition, on the occasion of Constitution Day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards and conferred honorary titles on medical workers, educators, energy specialists, journalists, volunteers, artists, scientists, athletes, builders, and lawyers.
In particular, Oleksandr Martynenko, the founder and longtime Director General of Interfax-Ukraine News Agency, was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit, II class. His son Andrii received the award. Iryna Tsybukh, a combat medic with the Hospitallers and manager of the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, was also posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage", III class. The award was accepted by her parents.
