On the occasion of the Day of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the servicemen and the families of fallen Heroes of Ukraine to present state awards.
The ceremony was also attended by a delegation from the United Kingdom, led by Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff.
The Head of State noted that the Air Assault Forces fight in the most challenging directions and carry out the most difficult tasks.
"There is no truly hot section of our front line that has not felt the strength of our Air Assault Forces. I especially want to thank our paratroopers for the Kursk operation, for proving that Ukraine, under any circumstances, can steer this war in a way that makes Russia understand what they have done with this war and that they will be held accountable for it," said the President.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged everyone to always remember the Ukrainians who gave their lives in battle for Ukraine and its independence. The attendees honored the fallen warriors with a moment of silence.
The Head of State presented the "Golden Star" order to the families of three fallen Heroes of Ukraine. Posthumously awarded the highest title were:
Lieutenant Vitaliy Dudai. His platoon repeatedly repelled enemy attacks near Maryinka, inflicting significant losses on the enemy, destroying three tanks, several IFVs, and vehicles with infantry. Vitaliy Dudai was killed on May 21 last year in a mortar attack during a rotation of troops at combat positions.
Senior sapper Danylo Zvonariov. He cleared paths through enemy minefields, mined the front line of defense, participated in assaults, and evacuated wounded and fallen brothers-in-arms under fire. On July 23 last year, while mining the frontline near Maryinka, Danylo Zvonariov's group came under artillery fire. He shielded two brothers-in-arms with his body but was killed as a result of multiple shrapnel wounds.
Sergeant Artem Sobchenko. During the battles in Soledar, as a combat medic, he saved numerous lives and participated in defensive operations in Bakhmut, leading his unit. During another Russian assault, his fighter was wounded and could not get to a shelter. Artem Sobchenko got to his brother-in-arms under small arms fire, provided aid and evacuated him. However, while moving to a firing position, he was fatally wounded as a result of artillery fire.
Two more Heroes of Ukraine were personally presented with the Golden Star Order:
Colonel Yevhen Lasiychuk. Commander of the 25th separate airborne brigade, which fights in the Pokrovsk direction. In March, his unit thwarted a large-scale Russian offensive involving 36 tanks and 12 IFVs. During the defense of this area, the brigade destroyed nearly 1,000 invaders, wounded over 1,500, and destroyed 43 tanks, 81 IFVs, 4 APCs, 1 MLRS, and 17 drones.
Major Ruslan Paneziorov. In January last year near Klishchiivka, while evacuating three wounded brothers-in-arms he came under enemy fire, but despite this, he and his group remained on the battlefield and killed 15 invaders. This winter, under direct artillery and tank fire, he ensured passage for assault groups and laid minefields, resulting in the destruction of 35 invaders and 5 IFVs.
Additionally, the President presented the "Cross of Military Merit" to two defenders:
Colonel Andriy Tkachuk. Commander of the 71st separate jaeger brigade, which conducted defensive and offensive actions on the Zaporizhzhia front last autumn, advancing up to 1 km into enemy lines. This May, his brigade, along with other units, destroyed 8 self-propelled howitzers, 14 tanks, 11 IFVs, and 36 vehicles near Vovchansk.
Colonel Oleksiy Yavkun. Commander of the 81st separate airmobile brigade. From March to April this year near Bilohorivka, his units destroyed 8 T-80 tanks, 6 IFVs, an ammunition depot, and up to 50 Russian invaders, forcing the enemy to retreat. In early May, during a single battle, the brigade destroyed 3 T-80 tanks, 2 IFVs, 1 APC, and up to 20 invaders.
The President also awarded defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (II and III class), the Orders "For Courage" (II and III class), and the Orders of Princess Olga (II class).
The Head of State presented the 199th Training Center of the Air Assault Forces with the distinction "For Courage and Bravery." Additionally, he granted honorary titles to two brigades: the 77th separate air assault brigade, named "Naddniprianska," and the 148th separate artillery brigade, named "Zhytomyrska."
