On the occasion of Constitution Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the highest state awards to distinguished Ukrainian men and women.
“Today, we are marking Constitution Day of Ukraine – the Constitution of our state, our nation. The first word of its first article is ‘Ukraine.’ And this reflects our ultimate goal, our mission. Ukraine is – and will be – on earth. Ukrainians are – and will be – on earth. This is both our goal and our shared duty,” the Head of State emphasized.
A solemn ceremony took place in Kyiv, on St. Sophia Square. In attendance were First Lady Olena Zelenska, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, who arrived in Ukraine today on a visit, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, members of the government, leadership of the President’s Office, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, as well as Ukrainian men and women who work for the sake of our country across various fields.
“Our warriors, our volunteers, medics, teachers, artists, our athletes, and millions of Ukrainian citizens – all of them are people whose spirit and resilience match the challenges of our time. People whom the war has deprived of sleep and rest, whose lives it has changed, whose rights it has restricted – and yet they do more than what is required by constitutional duty. More. They act not out of obligation to the law, but out of the call of the heart,” the President emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that our people, through their example, their deeds, and their heroism, fill the pages of the Constitution with life.
The Head of State presented the Orders of the Golden Star to the families of fallen Heroes of Ukraine. The highest state title was conferred posthumously on:
Soldier Ostap Makarov. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he defended Kyiv as a volunteer. Later, he took part in the defense of the Zaporizhzhia region, where on June 9, 2023, a group of snipers came under enemy fire. Ostap Makarov, together with his brothers-in-arms, went to their aid. He crossed half a kilometer of mined field and evacuated a wounded warrior. But on the way back, he triggered a mine and lost his arm. Despite this, Ostap Makarov continued to return fire. However, he and his brothers-in-arms were killed by enemy mortar fire.
Colonel Viktor Polyvianyi. At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he prevented the landing of an enemy naval assault force in Odesa and the Odesa region. Under his command, more than 700 aerial targets were destroyed. Viktor Polyvianyi also built an air defense missile system that contributed to the liberation of Zmiinyi Island. On January 14 of last year, a unit under his command became the first in the history of the Ukrainian Air Force to destroy an A-50 and an Il-22. Viktor Polyvianyi was killed on September 1 of last year as a result of an Iskander missile strike on his unit’s position.
Senior Lieutenant Mykola Skydan. He took part in combat operations in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Sumy regions. He evacuated wounded brothers-in-arms and then returned to the front lines to repel enemy assaults. During one of the battles, his reconnaissance group faced the threat of encirclement and destruction. Mykola Skydan ordered his subordinates to withdraw and personally covered their retreat. As a result of a close explosion from an enemy FPV drone, Mykola Skydan sustained fatal injuries.
Journalist, volunteer, and paramedic Iryna Tsybukh. Since 2015, she had been saving wounded warriors. Before the full-scale invasion, she worked on educational projects for children in the east of Ukraine. In the first days of the full-scale war, she joined the Hospitallers volunteer battalion, evacuated and saved the lives of many of our warriors. In addition, Iryna Tsybukh worked on media projects, was the initiator of the daily moment of silence at 9 a.m. to honor the fallen, was actively engaged in remembrance policy, and was a civic activist. She was killed on May 29 of last year during a rotation in the Kharkiv direction.
Two Heroes of Ukraine also personally received the highest state award:
Junior Lieutenant Petro Herasymovych. From 2014 to 2019, he carried out missions in the ATO and JFO areas. In March 2022, he mined and destroyed enemy logistics routes in the Kyiv region. Last year, in the Donetsk region, he engaged in combat under fire from an enemy flamethrower, and sustained multiple injuries from a Shahed drone strike. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Over the course of his service, Petro Herasymovych has eliminated 49 occupiers, six infantry fighting vehicles, three tanks, one Orlan UAV, two Ural trucks, a KamAZ loaded with ammunition, and a 120-mm mortar.
Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Ivantsov. On March 25, 2022, he volunteered to take part in a highly complex operation conducted by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. As part of an air assault group, he reached the Azovstal plant by helicopter. He repelled enemy attacks on the left bank of Mariupol and eliminated 20 occupiers. He broke out of encirclement on his own, covering over 100 kilometers through occupied territory in the Donetsk region. He is currently engaged in destroying enemy weapons and equipment in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also presented the Presidential award – the Cross of Military Merit. The award was received by:
Senior Soldier Oleh Kovalchuk. He has been defending Ukraine for nine years. Since the beginning of this year, he has carried out numerous successful combat missions using kamikaze strike UAVs in the Donetsk region. In particular, he has destroyed an infantry fighting vehicle, two motorcycles with enemy personnel, and an armored combat vehicle. He has eliminated nine occupiers, eight vehicles transporting infantry, a military buggy with personnel, an enemy artillery piece, and two MT-LBs.
Colonel Mykhailo Kurakh. Commander of the 80th Separate Air Assault Halytska Brigade. From March to June of last year, his unit halted the enemy’s advance in Terny, Donetsk region. Since August, the brigade has been holding its area of responsibility in the Kursk region. In the course of combat operations, warriors under his command have eliminated approximately 550 Russian servicemen and destroyed around 100 units of enemy equipment.
In addition, the Head of State honored defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1st and 3rd Class), the Orders “For Courage” (1st to 3rd Class), the Orders of Princess Olga (3rd Class), and the Orders of Danylo Halytskyi.
The President also presented awards to clergy, athletes, educators, volunteers, artists, and journalists, and conferred honorary titles. Among the recipients was Volodymyr Zakhliupanyi, principal of Lyceum №1 in Hostomel, who has worked with children for 30 years. He was conferred the title of Honored Educator of Ukraine. His son was killed by Russian forces during the occupation, yet he did not break – and continues to dedicate his life to hundreds of other children.
The Head of State presented the Order of Freedom to the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.
“In the first month of the war, we were in constant contact – every day, every night, 24/7. When the Polish people were helping so many of our Ukrainians, when you and I were working together, when we opened the first hub in Rzeszów – I remember it very well – from there, such vital weapons were delivered – such a lifeline, such essential aid for our army, for our entire people. So that we could endure. So that we would not fall. So that we could live. And stand here today,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President also presented battle flags to the commanders of the following units: the 300th Training Tank Regiment of the Prince Yaroslav the Wise 169th Training Center, the 5th Separate Signal Regiment, and the 534th Separate Engineer-Sapper Battalion of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Zakarpattia Brigade.
The Presidential Award “For Courage and Bravery” was presented to the 47th Separate Engineer Brigade of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as to the 17th Poltava "Raid" Brigade, the 34th Kherson Regiment, and the 50th Regiment named after Colonel Semen Vysochan of the National Guard of Ukraine.
In addition, the Head of State presented honorific name ribbons to unit commanders. The 118th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was granted the name “named after Otaman Liutyi-Liutenko,” the 1st Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine was granted the name “Kodatskyi,” and the 35th Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine was granted the name “Sumskyi.”
