President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in solemn events on the occasion of the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. The ceremony took place near the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv.
The head of state congratulated the soldiers on the Day of Defenders, as well as on the Feast of the Patronage of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks.
The President said that generations of Ukrainians fought for their will, and the glory of Ukrainian soldiers brings will and freedom.
"This is the glory of those who free, not enslave. This is the glory of those who bring peace, not destroy it. This is the glory of those who fight for freedom in a way that they become legends during their lifetime," he said.
According to Zelenskyy, today, repelling the Russian invasion, our army can make the dreams that previous generations of Ukrainians fought for come true with their victory.
"We can give Ukraine long-term guarantees of peace and national security. We can guarantee freedom for generations to come for all Ukrainians in all our cities, towns, in all corners of our beautiful, unique state. I believe that we will do it," he said.
The President said that the entire Ukrainian people stood up for the defense of their native state, and millions of people are fighting and working now for the sake of victory. According to him, it is very hard for our heroic soldiers who defend the state in all directions, but the state is doing everything to help our brave defenders.
"We liberated the north of our country from the Russian invaders. We are liberating Kharkiv region, we are liberating the entire east, and we will definitely liberate it. We will return the Ukrainian flag to all our cities and communities in the south of the country. We will return our Crimea. We will restore the territorial integrity of our state, we just have to do it, we have to return all Ukrainians who, unfortunately, are still being held captive in Russia or forcibly deported from our land," Zelenskyy said.
The head of state said that to achieve this goal, Ukrainians must remain united and support all defenders who bring our victory closer.
"Eternal glory to all those who fight and work for Ukraine! Eternal thanks and respect to all those who stood up for the freedom of our motherland!" the President said.
Those present observed a moment of silence in memory of defenders who died for Ukraine.
The head of state presented the orders of the Gold Star to servicemen who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Thus, from the hands of the President, the commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, who organized the effective air defense of Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Dnipro, etc., received the highest state award. Thanks to the decisions of the lieutenant general, it was possible to remove the planes of the tactical and transport aviation brigades from under attack, to successfully use aviation and anti-aircraft missile forces, and the dominance of enemy planes in the air was not allowed. On October 10, 2022, during a massive missile attack by Russia, its units, in cooperation with air defense units of the Ground Forces, destroyed one Su-25 aircraft, 45 missiles of various types, and 22 kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136 type. On October 11, eight such kamikaze drones, 20 cruise missiles and three UAVs were destroyed.
The award was also given to Colonel Oleh Honcharuk, under whose leadership units and military groups in the Zaporizhzhia direction fought fierce battles with enemy forces that were several times superior. Using maneuverable defense, the enemy was inflicted as much as possible losses in equipment and manpower at each turn. Units under the command of Oleh Honcharuk managed to liberate a number of settlements in Zaporizhzhia region.
The Order of the Gold Star was also awarded to Colonel Dmytro Zavadsky, whose battalion in March and April repulsed the enemy in Luhansk region near the settlement of Novotoshkivske, and later strengthened positions in the area. The enemy suffered significant human and material losses.
Colonel Yevhen Kurash, who has been defending Ukraine since 2014, was also honored. From September 5 to September 11 of this year, during offensive operations in the Izium direction, he resolutely and skillfully directed the actions of the brigade and reserve units. Units of Yevhen Kurash's brigade liberated a number of settlements, including the city of Izium.
The Gold Star was also awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Rostyslav Koziy, who, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, commanded units of the battalion at forward positions in Luhansk region. In particular, he led defensive and offensive actions near the settlements of Lopaskine, Zarichne, Lyman, Bohorodichne, fulfilling the assigned tasks and destroying the enemy.
The President also presented the highest state award to Lieutenant Colonel Serhii Poberezhets. He heads the anti-aircraft missile division of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which defends important military and infrastructure facilities of the state. Under his command, in April, the missile equipment of the anti-aircraft missile division, which destroys enemy air targets, was restored. On October 10, 2022, during a massive missile attack on the territory of Ukraine, the unit destroyed four cruise missiles and six UAVs of the Shahed-136 type, while not a single air target broke through the division's strike zone towards the city of Kyiv and the objects that are being defended.
Colonel Ihor Skybiuk, who at the beginning of September led the units of the brigade during search-and-strike operations to destroy the enemy in the direction of Balakliya, Kupiansk and Izium, was also awarded. Thanks to his determination, clear and timely combat orders, the units of the brigade liberated a number of settlements from the occupiers, including the city of Izium.
The order was given to Master Sergeant Borys Kharchuk, who has been participating in repelling the armed aggression of the Russian Federation since February 24 of this year and has combat experience since 2014. During the full-scale invasion, the group under the leadership of the master sergeant repeatedly destroyed the enemy's forces and means, successfully carried out ambushes and covered other groups, which led to the successful completion of the combat mission and the repulsion of enemy attacks. In the middle of June, while repelling an enemy attack, Borys Kharchuk was wounded by shrapnel and lost a third of his left arm.
Colonel Serhiy Kachan, the head of the Department of the Security Service of Ukraine in Mykolaiv region, was also awarded the highest award. He organized the defense of the Directorate and high-quality interaction with the military groups that were in Mykolaiv, and this cooperation made it possible to control the artillery posts, repel enemy attacks and destroy enemy equipment and personnel. With the direct participation of the colonel, 26 operational-combat operations for reconnaissance and destruction of enemy forces and means were carried out.
Chief of Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Oleh Holiney received the order from the hands of the President of Ukraine. This year, on February 25, during the offensive of Russian troops on Severodonetsk in Luhansk region, a howitzer artillery battery under the leadership of the lieutenant colonel destroyed enemy equipment and personnel in the Triokhizbenka area. Oleh Holiney, together with his subordinates, held back the enemy's advance for three hours, giving the opportunity to other units of the Armed Forces to withdraw and secure themselves in reserve positions in Severodonetsk. During the full-scale war, his artillery battery repeatedly destroyed enemy equipment and soldiers, including the destruction of a hidden hangar of enemy equipment and the destruction of a Russian command post, supply post and ammunition depot.
Sniper of the National Guard of Ukraine, Senior Sergeant Dmytro Finashyn was awarded Order of the Gold Star. At the end of May, in the area of Yakovlivka settlement in Donetsk region, during a fierce battle, the senior sergeant managed to identify and destroy two enemy snipers, which enabled his comrades to safely change positions to adjust the artillery. During the mortar shelling, he received a comminuted fracture of the upper third of his left shoulder. Dmytro Finashyn was able to stop the bleeding on his own and remained in the firing position to cover the withdrawal of his comrades. He lost consciousness from his wounds, and when he regained consciousness, he saw that he was alone. Despite the great loss of blood and pain, the senior sergeant was able to reach the Armed Forces unit on his own almost two days later, where he was given medical assistance. Dmytro Finashyn lost his left hand due to the serious injury.
In addition, the Head of State presented the Cross of Combat Merit military award.
In particular, the President awarded Colonel of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Maksym Balahura, who since the beginning of the Russian invasion during February-March 2022 repeatedly performed combat tasks of repelling enemy forces, organizing the evacuation of the wounded, covering units of the State Border Guard Service and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the summer, he participated in the liberation of a large part of Kharkiv region. At the end of August, he led a consolidated unit and performed combat tasks in Zaporizhzhia region.
The commander of the radar platoon, Senior Lieutenant Tetiana Voloshyna, who in June skillfully corrected the work of the artillery, was also awarded. Thanks to her actions the enemy's artillery posts were destroyed and damaged, from which Lysychansk, Severodonetsk and other settlements of Luhansk region were shelled. Tetiana Voloshyna repeatedly came under artillery fire. Thanks to her, the lives of the personnel of the post and the equipment of radar intelligence were saved.
The President's award was also presented to the paramedic of the medical post of the motorized infantry battalion, Sergeant Aliona Velychko, who, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, performed combat tasks in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. She provided first aid to 225 servicemen, thanks to which it was possible to save many lives of comrades in arms.
The sanitary instructor of the evacuation department of the medical company of a separate mechanized brigade, Junior Sergeant Natalia Vozynska, was also awarded. Since the beginning of April, she has been evacuating medium and severe patients, providing high-quality emergency, first medical and pre-medical aid.
The Cross of Combat Merit was awarded to Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Haponov, who led a counteroffensive near the settlements of Bilohorivka and Hryhorivka in Luhansk region. Thanks to his brave and decisive actions, the forces of the combined military reserve managed to stabilize the situation and recapture the lost frontiers.
The award was given to Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Oniatytsky, who during the defense of populated areas in Donetsk region, with his group, destroyed the sabotage and reconnaissance group of the enemy and made it impossible for the enemy to pass through the bridge in Avdiyivka. Volodymyr Oniatytsky successfully uses aerial reconnaissance, which makes it possible to spot the enemy in advance and neutralize equipment from the air.
The president also honored the commander of the aviation squadron of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel Yevhen Soloviov. He performed 78 combat sorties with the aim of destroying the enemy's manpower and equipment, control points, and logistics centers. Thanks to the courageous actions of Yevhen Soloviov, a significant amount of enemy manpower and equipment was destroyed as part of the SU-24M aircraft crew.
Lieutenant Yevhen Yurchak also received a military award. The airborne assault company under his command repelled the enemy's offensive in Kharkiv region and entrenched on the liberated lines. Thanks to the decisive actions of Yevhen Yurchak and subordinate personnel, the manpower and combat equipment of the enemy were destroyed.
The head of state also presented the For Courage and Bravery honorary awards to the 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade of the Airborne of the assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 503rd separate battalion of marines of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 8th regiment of operational assignment named after Ivan Bohun of the National Guard, the 4th brigade of operational assignment named after the Hero of Ukraine Sergeant Serhiy Mykhalchuk of the National Guard, the 3rd brigade of operational assignment named after Colonel Petro Bolbochan of the National Guard, the 15th Slavic Regiment of the National Guard, the 1st Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service and the 23rd Marine Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service.
In addition, Zelenskyy assigned honorary titles to the military units. The 138th radio engineering brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was awarded the honorary name Naddniprianska, the 156th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was awarded the honorary name "named after Maksym Kryvonis and the 11th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was awarded the honorary name Shepetivsky.
The President presented battle flags and flags with honorary titles to military units. The flags were given to the commanders of the 4th Separate Tank Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 46th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 118th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces, the 120th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces, 129th separate territorial defense brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces.
Battle flags with a ribbon and an honorary title were awarded to the commanders of the 3rd Separate Tank Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which was awarded the honorary designation Iron, and the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which was named "after Corporal General Marko Bezruchko.
Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov also took part in the ceremony honoring the defenders. At the end of the ceremony, the soldiers of the Honor Guard took a solemn march.
