On Independence Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in the celebrations in St. Sophia Square in Kyiv. The President presented military units with state awards, insignia, and battle flags with ribbons with honorary names.
“Today we are all celebrating the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine's independence. 32 years of uninterrupted independence, which will endure. Which we will not allow to be torn apart. And which Ukrainians will not lose grip on,” the Head of State emphasized in his speech.
According to him, throughout the long history of Ukrainian statehood, generations of Ukrainians have fought for their land and freedom, gained freedom and prevailed.
“We remember what the Ukrainian people went through. We see the threats. We are fighting the enemy. And we know what we are capable of. We are capable of winning! And we will prevail! Ukrainian children in Ukrainian squares and streets will celebrate Ukrainian independence in the same way. Our grandchildren will celebrate. And their grandchildren. Together with the friends of our state. With Ukraine's allies and partners. The ones Ukraine will choose for itself. Always freely,” the Head of State noted.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from foreign countries, including President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić and member of the Presidency of this state Denis Bečirović.
“The world hears and supports Ukraine. The world's majority stands with Ukraine and helps. But no matter what happens in the world, Ukraine must be able to defend itself. Always,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“We will give Ukraine the strength it needs to always prevail,” he added.
For personal courage and heroism in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people, the Head of State presented the Gold Star Order to Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, Commander of the Center Air Command of the Air Force of Ukraine, who was conferred the highest title of Hero of Ukraine. Thanks to his skillful command, more than 1160 air targets, over 100 ground targets and one sea target were destroyed within the area of responsibility.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also presented the Order to Hero of Ukraine Ivan Kyshenko, a soldier of the State Border Guard Service, who took up a firing position on July 22, 2023, and engaged in an unequal battle with the enemy, who had a numerical advantage. The soldier not only ensured the defense of the entrusted line, but also evacuated the dead and wounded brothers-in-arms from the battlefield and provided them with emergency medical care. The border guard was wounded and nevertheless defended the position for six hours, using up all the available combat and reserve ammunition. The next day, exhausted by the battle, the soldier returned to the area of concentration of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Junior Sergeant Vasyl Burmech received the Gold Star of the Hero of Ukraine from the President.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also handed over the Gold Star Order to the wife of Senior Lieutenant Vitaliy Bondaruk, who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. He personally destroyed the enemy group and gave his life saving the subordinate personnel.
The Head of State presented the Order to the mother of Hero of Ukraine Major Vitaliy Blazhko who took part in hostilities in the Mariupol sector from the first day of the Russian invasion. The Major was killed during a battle with the enemy on the territory of Azovstal.
The title of Hero of Ukraine was also posthumously awarded to Major Serhiy Lysenko, who, from the beginning of Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine, took a direct part in the defense of Kyiv. He then performed combat and special missions in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions. He died in November 2022, drawing fire on himself to save the lives of his brothers-in-arms. The President handed the Gold Star Order to the defender's mother.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the highest military award of the President of Ukraine - the Cross of Combat Merit. It was presented to senior combat medic, Junior Sergeant Liubov Konovalenko, who voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in April 2022, and was stationed at the first line support and command and observation posts, where she provided qualified first aid to wounded warriors. Her actions saved the lives of many defenders of Ukraine.
The Cross of Combat Merit was also awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Kudria, who in September 2022 took a direct part in the liberation of settlements in Kharkiv region. Later, he took part in the battles for the cities of Yampil and Bakhmut in Donetsk region. He destroyed dozens of enemies.
In addition, the President awarded servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi of the II and III degrees, "For Courage" of the I-III degrees, Danylo Halytskyi, Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the III and V degrees, "For Merit" of the II and III degrees, the Order of Princess Olga of the III degree, and the Medals "For Labor and Victory".
In order to recognize the high professionalism, combat merit, courage and bravery of the personnel of military units, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Presidential Insignia "For Courage and Bravery" to the 208th anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Air Force of Ukraine, the 71st separate hunting brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 124th separate territorial defense brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 8th border detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the 9th border detachment named after Sich Riflemen of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the 2nd Shostka regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, and the 15th operational brigade named after Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant Bohdan Zavada of the National Guard.
The Head of State also presented combat flags to the 67th separate mechanized brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 77th separate airmobile brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 385th separate brigade of maritime unmanned special purpose complexes of the Navу of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Combat flags with ribbons with honorary names were also presented to the 107th rocket artillery brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (honorary name "Kremenchuk") and the 104th separate automobile brigade of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (honorary name "Ostafiy Dashkovych").
