We Honor and Remember All Those Who Fought So That Ukraine Could Live – Volodymyr Zelenskyy During the Presentation of the Highest State Awards to Warriors

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Orders of the Golden Star to Heroes of Ukraine and presented the awards to the families of fallen Heroes, as well as bestowed the Cross of Military Merit on Ukrainian warriors.

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"Today is a landmark historical date - the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of Kruty. Our state holds deep respect for all those who stood up to defend Ukraine, for all our heroes of different eras. More than a hundred years ago, at the beginning of the occupation of our Crimea, during the fighting in the east of our country, and in this full-scale war for our independence - for Ukraine's independence," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The memory of all those who gave their lives so that Ukraine could live was honored with a moment of silence.

The President emphasized that it is precisely the tenacity and courage of our people - all those who ensure Ukraine's strength and resilience - that make it possible for Ukraine to live. Today, millions of Ukrainians are united around the goal of securing independence for the state and a free and safe life on their own land.

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"It is crucial not to lose unity. To achieve a real, meaningful result for Ukraine. A life that a free, independent state wants - a free, independent Ukraine. The security that we need. The freedom that is not simply won, not just for a single historic moment, but truly secured - preserved for many years and generations to come," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The Head of State presented the Orders of the Golden Star to the families of fallen Heroes of Ukraine. The highest title was awarded posthumously to:

Police Major Dmytro Ahatyev (National Police of Ukraine). In February last year, in the Donetsk region, he led an assault group tasked with demolishing enemy positions. While mining a building, he sustained a leg injury, and his brother-in-arms suffered a concussion as a result of a Russian FPV drone strike. Despite this, Dmytro Ahatyev completed the mining operation and evacuated his brother-in-arms. The enemy position, ten occupiers, and ammunition were destroyed. However, during the return, Dmytro Ahatyev was killed in an FPV drone attack.

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Junior Lieutenant Pavlo Bessarab. In 2022, he defended Sumy and the region. He took part in combat near Verkhnia Syrovatka and in the liberation of Steblianka. He carried out sabotage operations behind enemy lines and contributed to the destruction of five combat vehicles and 20 occupiers, as well as to the seizure of data on an S-300 air defense system. In January 2024, Pavlo Bessarab was killed in action while covering his brothers-in-arms.

Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Yemets. In the spring of 2022, he commanded a reconnaissance company of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade in the Luhansk region. He personally destroyed an enemy tank but was wounded. After treatment, he returned to service as the commander of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. From 2023, as part of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, he fought in the Donetsk region. Under his command, more than 800 occupiers and about 15 armored vehicles were destroyed. Maksym Yemets was killed near Pokrovsk on February 4, 2025.

Junior Lieutenant Mykola Myronenko (National Guard of Ukraine). From 2023, he took part in combat near Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region. Despite an enemy attack, he provided medical assistance to wounded brothers-in-arms and evacuated them to shelter. During the battle, he was wounded but destroyed an occupier and provided fire cover for the medical team. Mykola Myronenko was killed on June 21, 2024, as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.

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Major Vasyl Polahniuk (National Guard of Ukraine). He carried out combat missions in the Luhansk region and destroyed more than ten occupiers. In May 2024, under heavy artillery fire, he evacuated wounded brothers-in-arms. During another attack, an enemy shell struck the position, causing Vasyl Polahniuk to sustain multiple shrapnel gunshot wounds and burns to his arms and legs. Medics fought for his life, but on May 12, 2024, Vasyl Polahniuk died in hospital.

Soldier Dmytro Shylov. In April 2024, near Krasnohorivka, he thwarted an enemy offensive attempt and destroyed two occupiers. He ensured the consolidation of the combat group and evacuated a wounded soldier. He later helped evacuate another group of brothers-in-arms. Dmytro Shylov was killed on May 23, 2024, when he moved forward to cover the retreat of his brothers-in-arms.

Senior Soldier Vasyl Shkvarok. From May 2023, he took part in combat operations in the Donetsk region, in the areas of Prechystivka, Blahodatne, and Urozhaine. During assault actions, he destroyed ten occupiers, hit an infantry fighting vehicle with a grenade launcher, and cleared an enemy dugout. He repeatedly ensured the evacuation of wounded brothers-in-arms. Vasyl Shkvarok was killed on August 19, 2023, during Russian shelling.

Senior Lieutenant Vladyslav Shchelynskyi. From February 2022, he defended Ukraine near Shyrokyne and later in Mariupol. While encircled at the Azovstal metallurgical plant, he commanded an artillery battery. He destroyed two infantry fighting vehicles, two tanks, an armored personnel carrier, and more than 30 occupiers, and, together with a self-propelled howitzer, conducted a raid beyond the plant's perimeter and eliminated an enemy command post. Vladyslav Shchelynskyi was killed on March 22, 2022, during a Russian airstrike.

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The President also personally awarded the Order of the Golden Star to six Heroes of Ukraine. They are:

Soldier Serhii Kotenko. Since August 2024, he has been taking part in combat in the Pokrovsk sector. From May to August 2025, for 75 consecutive days, he held a position near the settlement of Kotlyne, repelled about 20 enemy assault attempts, and prevented a breakthrough of the defensive line. From June to August 2025 alone, he destroyed more than 20 occupiers.

Colonel Hennadii Kutsyi (National Guard of Ukraine). In May last year, in the Donetsk region, he prevented a breakthrough of the frontline during a Russian offensive. He successfully planned a defense with mine barriers, mortar and sniper positions, and personally led a group of warriors that advanced toward the enemy, eliminating and wounding more than 30 occupiers. In late May, near Chasiv Yar, using aerial reconnaissance, he detected an enemy sabotage group, set up an ambush, destroyed three occupiers, and forced the rest to retreat.

Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Ovsiienko (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine). He commands artillery units of the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine named after Bohdan Khmelnytskyi. Under his leadership, defenders are holding a defensive line of more than 60 kilometers in the Sumy region and have destroyed nearly 1,000 occupiers, 900 fortification structures, 35 ammunition and fuel and lubricants depots, and 15 armored vehicles, tanks, and Tigr armored vehicles.

Junior Sergeant Artem Rezonov. Since October 2024, under constant Russian shelling, he has held positions in the Donetsk region and commanded a Javelin team. Together with his brothers-in-arms, he repelled about 60 assaults and eliminated approximately 40 occupiers. From July 2025, for 65 days, he commanded the defense of positions near Hrodivka, where more than 50 enemy assaults were repelled.

Senior Sergeant Myron Chernovol (National Guard of Ukraine). In 2025, near Hlyboke, during engineering works, he spotted an enemy sabotage group and engaged in combat, destroying five occupiers and forcing the enemy to retreat. Later, while repelling an enemy assault, he led an operational group, successfully took up positions, and initiated the defense. He personally destroyed five enemy soldiers and an infantry fighting vehicle. He coordinated the fire of adjacent units to decisively repel the offensive.

Colonel Maksym Yarosh (National Guard of Ukraine). He took part in combat operations in the Slobozhanskyi and Pokrovsk sectors. Together with a special operations unit, he eliminated more than 200 occupiers, wounded 400, and captured five invaders. His unit destroyed four enemy tanks, more than ten infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, over 90 vehicles, 40 UAVs, 14 ammunition depots, and 13 enemy positions and dugouts.

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The Head of State also presented the Cross of Military Merit to servicemembers. The award was received by:

Soldier Oleksandr Aliksieienko and Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Tishaiev. Last year, for five months, they jointly held an observation post under daily Russian shelling. Oleksandr Aliksieienko was wounded, but due to constant shelling and weather conditions, the servicemembers could not be withdrawn from their positions. This became possible only on October 28, when fog set in. In addition, Oleksandr Aliksieienko distinguished himself by rescuing brothers-in-arms who were affected by gas munitions drops. Oleksandr Tishaiev, in turn, repeatedly assisted in the evacuation of Ukrainian servicemembers and in the defense of positions near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Sergeant Viktor Hrebin (National Guard of Ukraine, Azov). In March last year, he repelled an attempt by occupiers to break through into the rear of the Ukrainian warriors' defenses. With accurate machine-gun fire, he destroyed five occupiers and a Tigr armored vehicle. Later, he fell into an enemy mine trap and sustained severe injuries, but he organized the withdrawal of his brothers-in-arms and, as a result, saved their lives.

Captain Vitalii Kravchuk (National Guard of Ukraine). In August 2025, in the Zaporizhzhia region, while retaking Russian positions, he commanded an assault group that destroyed approximately a squad of occupiers. Later, aerial reconnaissance detected a concentration of enemy forces. Vitalii Kravchuk led a group, advanced toward the enemy, and adjusted artillery fire, resulting in the destruction of four pieces of equipment and 15 occupiers.

Major Dmytro Pyatenko. In August last year, he held back the enemy near Yunakivka in the Sumy region. He skillfully organized the defense and the repelling of enemy assaults, contributing to the elimination of more than ten occupiers. In September, under his command, the enemy offensive toward Shakhove in the Pokrovsk area was halted, five infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed, and the enemy sustained losses in manpower.

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