On Ukrainian Volunteer Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the servicemen and presented state awards, including the Golden Star Orders of the Hero of Ukraine.
“Today, we thank each and every one of those who stood up for the Ukrainian state and society. We thank those who chose Ukraine when everything depended on it. Those who did not stand aside and were not afraid to fight,” the Head of State said, addressing the attendees.
According to him, your own national state and national culture are never just an inheritance. It is always a courageous manifestation of the will of the people who dedicate themselves to preserving Ukrainian.
"Russia did not break Ukrainians, because people went to defend what is theirs and did not surrender Ukraine to the enemy. And until now, millions are united by a common feeling that Ukraine is all its people, all those who are really fighting for it. It is this feeling that brings victories. A feeling of togetherness. A feeling of duty. A feeling of Ukraine. Our unity, our will to fight against the Russian occupation. To fight boldly and win rightfully," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President expressed gratitude to every Ukrainian soldier and every commander who is fighting for Ukraine, and to everyone who is working for the common Ukrainian victory.
The attendees observed a minute of silence in memory of all Ukrainian heroes of different times who gave their lives for Ukraine to live.
The Head of State presented the Golden Star Order to the Hero of Ukraine, Junior Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vitaliy Sukach, who had voluntarily joined the Armed Forces in 2014. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the company commander has been performing combat missions in Donetsk region, in particular, successfully holding back the enemy and inflicting heavy losses in manpower and equipment on the occupiers.
The President also handed over the Golden Star Order to the family of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Junior Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vasyl Polishchuk, who had been defending Ukraine since 2014 and had been performing combat missions in the east of the country. In August 2022, during an enemy offensive in Kharkiv region, he led his subordinate personnel out of the line of fire but sustained a fatal wound.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Golden Star Order to the family of the serviceman of the National Guard of Ukraine, Chief Sergeant Vadym Zhukov, who was posthumously conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine. He has been defending the country since 2014, and since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, he has been performing combat missions in Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, repeatedly distinguishing himself with accurate shots from a grenade launcher.
The highest state award was also presented to the family of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Junior Lieutenant Pavlo Trukhan, who voluntarily joined the ranks of the defenders of the Homeland in February 2022. The commander of a machine gun platoon performed tasks in the east of the country. In April 2023, during an enemy assault on their positions and mortar fire, the warrior evacuated his brothers-in-arms and sustained a fatal wound.
Also, the Head of State awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, II class, to Senior Lieutenant of the National Guard Oleksandr Sliusar. Senior Lieutenant Vladyslav Roik and Major Dmytro Tarasenko from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as Captain of the National Guard Oleksandr Maliarenko were awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class.
The President also presented the Orders "For Courage", III class, and the Orders of Danylo Halytskyi to the servicemen.
