President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards to the liquidators of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and those who addressed the consequences of last year’s Russian drone strike on the confinement, as well as to plant personnel who ensured its operation during the occupation in 2022.
The Head of State awarded the Order of Merit, I class, to Oleksandr Novikov, Head of Projects and Programs at the ChNPP Engineering Center, who participated in stabilizing the structures of the Shelter Object to reduce the release of radioactive materials into the environment. The work was carried out under extremely difficult conditions.
The Order of Merit, III class, was awarded to:
Oleksandr Bielobrov, an engineer at ChNPP, who during the Russian occupation of the plant in 2022 led a repair team addressing equipment failures and conducted inspections of the Shelter Object over Unit 4.
Ruslan Hnatchuk, Deputy Head of the Shelter Object and New Safe Confinement Operations Unit at ChNPP. He participated in responding to the consequences of the Russian drone strike on the confinement in February 2025 and organized the safe supply of water for rescuers, as well as the operation of drainage systems in difficult weather conditions.
Serhii Honcharov, Shift Supervisor of the Radioactive Waste Management Department at ChNPP. During the occupation in 2022, he ensured the safe operation of water treatment systems and storage facilities. The department’s team ensured uninterrupted radioactive waste management under challenging conditions.
Anatolii Chumak, Director of the Institute of Clinical Radiology at the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. In the first two weeks after the disaster, he led the medical service in the 30-kilometer zone and later participated in evacuation and treatment of victims.
The Order “For Courage,” II class, was awarded to Vasyl Sydorenko, an electrician at the Thermal Automation and Measurement Department at ChNPP. On April 26, 1986, he participated in stabilizing Unit 4 and developed a power supply scheme for pumps. He also repaired and maintained boilers and gas turbine units for their restart after the forced shutdown caused by the accident.
The Order “For Courage,” III class, was awarded to:
Mykhailo Alekseienko, a retired colonel of the internal service, who in 1986 extinguished fires in the cable tunnels at ChNPP that threatened to spread to Unit 3.
Oleksandr Kolesnik, Head of a unit of the Special-Purpose Emergency Rescue Detachment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Khmelnytskyi region. He took part in eliminating the consequences of the Russian drone strike on the outer shell of the confinement arch, performing emergency and rescue operations under elevated radiation levels and in severe weather conditions.
Oleksandr Komarenko, Commander of a unit of the 11th State Fire and Rescue Detachment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kyiv region. In 2025, at a height of 80 meters, he worked to eliminate the consequences of the Russian drone strike on the confinement arch. His actions prevented the spread of fire to cable shafts leading into the plant. Under heavy smoke and the risk of structural collapse, he ensured the extinguishing of smoldering sites in hard-to-reach areas.
The Order of Princess Olga, III class, was awarded to Nataliia Diachuk, an employee of the State Specialized Enterprise “Chornobyl NPP.” A cafeteria worker, she provided food for Ukrainian personnel held hostage by Russian forces during the occupation in March–April 2022. Thanks to her efforts under conditions of limited supplies and pressure from the occupiers, more than 200 workers were able to continue their work in the Exclusion Zone.
