On the Day of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which Ukraine will now mark annually on November 8, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the warriors on their professional holiday, bestowed state awards on them, and presented a battle flag and an honorary distinction ribbon “For Courage and Bravery” to unit commanders.
The Head of State expressed his gratitude to the warriors of the Airborne Assault Forces for their service, emphasizing that Ukrainian paratroopers take part in all the most critical battles and operations.
“Right now, it is largely the strength of our Airborne Assault Forces that is holding the Pokrovsk direction, driving our Dobropillia operation, and defending our Donetsk, our Kharkiv, and our southern regions. The heroic Kursk operation was also, in many respects, made possible thanks to the power of our paratroopers,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President highlighted that, alongside other branches of the Security and Defense Forces, the Airborne Assault Forces ensure vital battlefield results, and without their achievements, strong outcomes for all of Ukraine are unimaginable.
“Every unit of Ukrainian Airborne Assault Forces is our pride and our independence. It is thanks to such warriors like you and your brothers and sisters-in-arms, thanks to every brave Ukrainian heart, that Ukraine stands – and will always stand – in the world, independent and capable of defending itself,” the Head of State said.
Those present honored the memory of all warriors who have fallen fighting for Ukraine with a moment of silence.
The President awarded the Orders of the Golden Star to four Heroes of Ukraine. The recipients were:
Commander of the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade of the 8th Corps of the AFU Airborne Assault Forces, Colonel Oleh Zmyslyi. This year, units under Oleh Zmyslyi’s command in battles in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions eliminated over 1,600 occupiers, destroyed nearly 80 enemy guns, three MLRS, 8 tanks, 14 UAVs, 9 command posts, over 25 vehicles, motorized equipment, and armored vehicles, and damaged more than 240 guns, 13 mortars, two MLRS, 11 tanks, armored vehicles, and APCs. Oleh Zmyslyi also leads a team of IT specialists automating various processes within the brigade.
Lieutenant Colonel Kostiantyn Revutskyi. During battles in the Donetsk region, he eliminated almost 50 occupiers, destroyed an enemy APC, and two IFVs. In the Kursk region, his units effectively destroyed the enemy’s 9th Motor Rifle Battalion, as well as 45 occupiers, 5 armored vehicles, and two cars. In the Sumy region, units under Kostiantyn Revutskyi’s command eliminated over 200 invaders, more than 30 enemy vehicles, and nearly 40 UAVs.
Soldier Viacheslav Tkachenko. He carries out combat missions near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, participating in assault and stabilization operations. In May, he took part in destroying an IFV and 18 occupiers during a seven-hour enemy offensive. Later, he personally conducted reconnaissance of enemy firing positions, captured a radio station, and eliminated three infantrymen in close combat. In July, he distinguished himself in numerous defensive actions, including destroying an enemy IFV with a grenade launcher and evacuating three brothers-in-arms under fire.
Junior Sergeant Dmytro Shavaldin. Since October 2022, he has been performing combat missions in the Donetsk region. Since February 2025, he has led an attack UAV unit. He personally conducted reconnaissance, directed strikes, and covered the evacuation of brothers-in-arms near Rozlyv, Oleksiivka, Bahatyr, and Horikhove. He destroyed four IFVs, an APC, three armored carriers with ammunition, a dozen mortar and firing positions, and about 80 occupiers.
The Head of State also presented warriors with the Cross of Military Merit awards. Recipients included:
Major Ruslan Bilobrov. Commander of a battalion of the 79th Separate Air Assault Tavriiska Brigade. The unit under his command carried out dozens of successful combat missions in the Pokrovsk direction. This summer, Ruslan Bilobrov led successful assaults in the area of Troitske, eliminating about 60 occupiers and driving the enemy from occupied positions. In September, in the area of Myrnohrad, he repelled a Russian counterattack with his subordinates, eliminating 22 invaders.
Commander of the 79th Separate Air Assault Tavriiska Brigade, Colonel Eduard Kolodii, was awarded the Cross of Military Merit a second time with the Silver Oak Branch distinction. He became the second Ukrainian warrior to receive the Cross of Military Merit twice. At the end of August–early September, he organized a successful defense against attacks in the Donetsk region. Under his command, and thanks to the coordinated interaction of artillery, UAV, and infantry units, 7 armored vehicles were destroyed, over 100 occupiers eliminated, and more than 50 wounded. Despite suffering heavy losses, the enemy was forced to retreat.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded warriors the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I–III class, and the Orders “For Courage” I–III class.
Additionally, the President presented a battle flag to the Commander of the 421st Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems “Sapsan,” Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Levkivskyi, and a ribbon of the honorary distinction “For Courage and Bravery” to the Commander of the 78th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment, Colonel Roman Yevchun.
