During a visit to Turkey, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, pursuant to the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, presented the Gold Star Orders to five servicemen - defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal, who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
The President awarded the highest state award to commander of the “Azov” separate special purpose regiment of the National Guard Denys Prokopenko (call sign Redis), his deputy Svyatoslav Palamar, acting commander of the 36th separate brigade of marines Serhiy Volynskyi (call sign - Volyna), senior officer of "Azov" Oleg Khomenko and commander of the 12th brigade of the National Guard Denys Shlega.
The awarding ceremony took place during the meeting of Andriy Yermak and First Lady Olena Zelenska with Azovstal defenders and members of their families in Türkiye.
"The units you led made an invaluable contribution to the future victory of Ukraine. You and your subordinates managed to bind the enormous forces of the enemy. Forces that were lacking for the occupation of larger territories," said Andriy Yermak, presenting the order to Denys Prokopenko.
The Head of the Office of the President emphasized that the defenders of "Azovstal" saved many lives in those territories that the enemy did not reach.
"You won time, and this time was not wasted. And now we are returning our territories and our people. Ukraine will be free and united," he said.
During the meeting, a video call by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was held. The Head of State congratulated the servicemen and thanked them for performing an important combat mission on the defense of Mariupol.
"We are all proud of you. And I am extremely happy that your relatives are with you, I am happy that we have you. You are not just heroes, you are living heroes, and that is very important. I thank each and every one of you. And we will do everything to return your brothers-in-arms who are now in captivity. I am proud that we live in the same country, fight for it together and will definitely win. Glory to Ukraine!" said the Head of State.
"The battle for Mariupol and everything that happened to us, the release from captivity, is a Ukrainian miracle in spite of everything. Everyone perfectly understands what would have happened to us. There are people here who know what Russian torture and Russian captivity is. And this award is the award of our warriors. This is the award of our Ukrainian people. I am very proud to be Ukrainian. This is the coolest nation in the world! And the coolest government and the coolest military," said Svyatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov National Guard regiment.
Olena Zelenska also congratulated the warriors on behalf of all Ukrainian citizens whom they protected and presented valuable gifts.
The President's wife conveyed to the defenders and their families a blessing from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, whom she met the day before in Istanbul.
"The main thing is that Ukraine fights and will fight for all our people. There are still many of them in Russian captivity - men and women, military and civilians. And we need each and every one. Alive," said the First Lady.
The defenders of "Azovstal" asked to hand over to Volodymyr Zelenskyy the flag of Ukraine with the signatures and wishes of five commanders and the motto "There is no glory without a fight."
