On the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored warriors with state awards, presented battle flags to brigades, and conferred honorary titles. The event was attended by leaders of Ukraine’s security and defense forces, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak and his deputies, as well as ambassadors.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that today is a great day – the day of those who make tomorrow possible and who are the reason Ukraine exists.
“951 days of the battle for the state. For 951 days, you have been writing history on the battlefield. You sacrifice yourselves in order not to sacrifice Ukraine. Both those who were born a warrior and those who became one. Who changed their lives so that our freedom would remain unchanged. Who had a different profession but refused to live under another flag. Who said to themselves: I have no other choice, for this is my Homeland, this is my Ukraine, and I will defend it,” the President noted.
The Head of State called on everyone to bow in respect to all who have brought and continue to bring the first minute of peace closer to Ukraine.
The attendees observed a minute of silence in memory of all who defended Ukraine at the cost of their lives.
The President presented the Order of the Golden Star to the families of fallen Heroes of Ukraine. The highest state award was given to:
Senior Sergeant Serhiy Kostiuchenko. In 2014-2015, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, and with the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he defended the Chernihiv region. As part of a mortar crew, he destroyed an Iskander ballistic missile division, six trucks, and a Tigr armored vehicle. In June 2022, in the Donetsk region, while correcting mortar fire, he helped eliminate an assault group of occupiers.
Military Justice Captain Andriy Subotin. He participated in the defense of Mariupol. While conducting reconnaissance in the underground tunnels of the Azovstal plant, the group of border guards, including Andriy Subotin, discovered a shelter where 80 civilians had been hiding for over three weeks. Despite artillery shelling, the warriors brought water and food. Andriy Subotin was killed by a sniper on May 7, 2022, at the Azovstal plant.
Junior Sergeant Petro Fedorchuk. He defended Mariupol and evacuated wounded servicemen from the frontline. He also corrected artillery fire, which resulted in the destruction of an enemy column and five more occupiers at the Ilich Iron and Steel Works, where he identified the enemy's position.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Golden Star of the Hero of Ukraine to three more defenders of Ukraine. They are:
Colonel Dmytro Voloshyn, commander of the 82nd separate air assault brigade. In May 2024, units of the brigade halted a Russian advance in the Kharkiv direction. Since August, the brigade has been involved in operations in the Kursk region. Approximate enemy losses include over 1,500 personnel and 335 pieces of weapons and military equipment.
Junior Sergeant Tymofiy Orel. Using FPV drones, he eliminated 434 Russian occupiers, wounded 346 more, and destroyed 134 armored vehicles, including 42 tanks, 10 MT-LBs, 28 APCs, and 44 IFVs.
Lieutenant Bohdan Tsymbal. From September 2023 to September 2024, he eliminated around 100 Russian invaders, a tank, five artillery pieces, and nine military vehicles. He was wounded but two months later he continued to perform combat missions in the Serebryansky forest area.
The President also presented the Cross of Military Merit to the families of the fallen warriors. It was awarded to:
Soldier Mykyta Kaliayev. In 2023, as part of an assault squad near Horlivka, he destroyed an enemy machine gun crew, eliminating six Russian occupiers. This allowed his brothers-in-arms to enter the enemy positions without losses, clear the territory and destroy 15 more invaders.
Sailor Vladyslav Litovchuk. During an assault on the left bank of the Dnipro River, he saved the lives of six wounded brothers-in-arms. In October last year, he was severely wounded, applied tourniquets to himself, and remained at his position for another 23 hours. His actions and those of his brothers-in-arms helped the marine units assault the enemy and secure new positions.
This award was also presented to three more warriors, including:
Senior Sergeant Valentyn Kolesnyk. Along with two brothers-in-arms, he engaged in a battle with superior enemy forces consisting of four units of heavy armored vehicles and infantry. Valentyn Kolesnyk took command, destroying a T-72 tank with a grenade. The warriors eliminated infantry and an IFV, successfully repelling the attack.
Major Oleksandr Riasnyi. He personally eliminated at least 15 occupiers. In July last year, an assault group under his command advanced nearly 2 kilometers deep into enemy territory in the Zaporizhzhia direction, capturing an enemy commander and multiple ammunition depots.
The President presented battle flags to the 43rd separate mechanized brigade, 117th separate mechanized brigade, 47th separate engineer brigade, 16th separate support regiment, and 25th National Guard regiment. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded the For Courage and Valor distinction to the 148th separate artillery brigade, 138th Naddniprianska radio engineering brigade, 126th separate territorial defense brigade, and 6th Volyn border detachment.
Also, the 45th separate artillery brigade received the honorary title "named after General Myron Tarnavskyi," the 82nd separate air assault brigade was conferred the honorary title "Bukovynska," and the 34th National Guard regiment was conferred the honorary title "Khersonskyi."
The President also presented Ukrainian passports to three foreigners who have been defending Ukraine since 2022: warriors from the United States, Georgia, and a military medic from New Zealand.
