On Local Self-Government Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding state honors to heads and employees of local authorities.
In particular, for his significant personal contribution to state-building, the development of local self-government, and the selfless performance of official duties under martial law, Serhii Solomakha, Mayor of Myrhorod, was awarded the Order of Merit, I class.
Hryhorii Rudiuk, Head of the Nova Borova Settlement (Zhytomyr region), was awarded the Order of Merit, II class. After the start of the full-scale war, he initiated the establishment of a volunteer formation of the territorial community. He is engaged in volunteer work, providing assistance to warriors and internally displaced persons.
The Order of Merit, III class was awarded to:
Hanna Azehova, Chief Specialist of the Kherson City Council (posthumously). During the occupation of Kherson, Russian occupiers attempted to force her to collaborate, but Hanna Azehova did not betray Ukraine. After the liberation of the city, she continued her work at the City Council, supported children, and assisted law enforcement in identifying collaborators. On January 27, 2023, while returning home, she died from injuries sustained as a result of enemy artillery shelling.
Oleksandr Borysov, Head of the Municipal Institution “Lyman Community Safety Center” (Donetsk region). He helps ensure the safety of residents of the Lyman community, personally visits areas affected by shelling and hostilities, and organizes rescue operations and evacuations.
Oleksandr Vasylenko, Head of the Cherkasy District Council. He ensures the functioning of the District Council and the stable operation of subordinate municipal enterprises. Local budget resources are directed toward systematic support for the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Kostiantyn Veiksha, Starosta of the Semenivka City Council (Chernihiv region). He ensures the functioning of several subordinate border villages that are under constant shelling. Residents are provided with all necessary food supplies, medicines, and hygiene products, which the starosta delivers personally. He also organizes evacuations to safer areas.
Andrii Deliatynchuk, Head of the Yasinia Settlement (Zakarpattia region). He actively cooperates with charitable foundations from France, the Czech Republic, and Germany to provide medicines, ambulances, food supplies, and equipment for shelters to support internally displaced persons and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He personally makes trips to combat zones and works with the families of fallen and wounded defenders.
Yaroslav Dobrianskyi, First Deputy Head of the Kyiv Regional Council and, since May 2023, Acting Head of the Kyiv Regional Council. He actively supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the supply of vehicles, equipment, and humanitarian aid. In March 2022, he was involved in civilian evacuations and humanitarian efforts during fighting in the Kyiv region. He works to develop the region’s international partnerships. He has more than 15 years of service in local self-government (having served as a regional council deputy for three terms).
Volodymyr Drobitko, Head of the Mahdalynivka Settlement (Dnipro region). Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war, funding has been allocated at his initiative to meet the needs of 35 units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He initiated the “Participatory Budget” and “School Participatory Budget” projects. He works to improve the quality and accessibility of local medical services.
Tetiana Zaichenko, Village Head of Adzhamka (Kirovohrad region). Since February 2022, she has consistently sought opportunities to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine using local budget resources. She supports the families of servicemembers and fallen defenders, and also facilitates the repair of educational and medical institutions, the restoration of shelters, and the procurement of school buses.
Vasyl Koshtura, Village Head of Velyki Luchky (Zakarpattia region). He provided significant assistance in establishing engineering defensive structures in the Donetsk region, necessary to deter and repel Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.
Oleksandr Kulyk, an employee of the Zlynka Village Council (Kirovohrad region). He assisted in the construction of engineering defensive structures in the Donetsk region, necessary for Ukraine’s defenders to repel Russian aggression.
Volodymyr Maslov, First Deputy Head of the Kostiantynivka City Military Administration (Donetsk region). Despite the danger, he makes trips to Kostiantynivka to document damage to residential buildings. He delivers fuel for generators to Points of Invincibility so that community residents who remain in the city can access water and maintain telephone communication.
Svitlana Orel, Head of the Drabiv Settlement (Zolotonosha district, Cherkasy region). Since 2022, the settlement has allocated significant funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including through state budget subventions. Drabiv has also sent humanitarian missions to affected regions – Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions.
Wladyslaw Ortyl, Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. One of Poland’s regional leaders who has consistently supported Ukraine. He actively develops cross-border cooperation, advocates for Ukraine’s interests at the international level, and strengthens links between cities and communities of both countries. He organized large-scale humanitarian programs for displaced persons from Ukraine, coordinated logistics for assistance, and supported rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian servicemembers.
Alona Okhrimovska, Head of the Borozenske Rural Military Administration (Kherson region). Recovery efforts are ongoing in the community following extensive destruction. Through cooperation with charitable partners, materials and equipment were obtained to restore the water supply. Local budget funds are allocated for social support for war veterans, warriors, and their families.
Nazarii Pavlii, Deputy of the Khust District Council (Zakarpattia region). He organizes the operation of reception and accommodation centers for internally displaced persons, coordinates the delivery of humanitarian aid, holds charitable fairs, and organizes the procurement of assistance for military personnel.
Serhii Polishchuk, Village Head of Horodok (Rivne region). This year, the community allocated a subvention to support the Defense Forces of Ukraine, and transferred 144 drones and 5 vehicles to defenders. At Serhii Polishchuk’s initiative, since the start of the full-scale war, the community has consistently allocated funds for territorial defense and the protection of the civilian population.
Andrii Rebrov, Director of the Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise “Primary Health Care Center” of the Lyman City Council. He personally took part in visits to patients in frontline settlements under shelling. While performing his official duties, he sustained serious injuries.
Anton Tabunshchyk, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Council. He places strong emphasis on cooperation with local authorities and international partners to support the region’s recovery. He is improving the efficiency of medical facilities and developing industrial parks to attract investors.
Vasyl Toderenchuk, Village Head of Velykyi Kuchuriv (Bukovyna). Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the community has consistently allocated funds to support defense needs and internally displaced persons. The community operates family-type children’s homes that provide care for children who are internally displaced.
Vasyl Shestak, driver of the local fire brigade of Kostobobriv village, Semenivka City Council (Chernihiv region). He responds to fires that break out in border settlements of the Semenivka community as a result of constant enemy shelling, saving the lives of residents of border villages, as well as their homes and property.
Valerii Shurda, Starosta of the Yurivskyi Starosta District of the Makariv Settlement Council (Kyiv region). He facilitated the establishment of a temporary shelter for people fleeing occupied territories and organized evacuations. He is actively engaged in volunteer work, assisting warriors, organizing fundraising efforts, and taking part in the production of camouflage nets.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov was awarded the Order "For Courage," II class. He consistently and personally visits the sites of Russian strikes. Despite attacks on the city’s energy infrastructure, preparations for this winter’s heating season have been ensured. Ihor Terekhov has upheld Kharkiv’s resilience through the unity of its residents, effective coordination between local authorities, the Regional Military Administration, and the government, as well as through international support, which is vital for post-war recovery.
The President awarded the Order “For Courage,” III class to:
Oleksandr Kotov, driver of the fire and rescue unit of the Novhorod-Siverskyi City Council (Chernihiv region). After the shelling of the village of Hremyach, he took part in extinguishing fires, rescuing people, evacuating residents and belongings, and restoring damaged property and infrastructure.
Dmytro Opryshko, Deputy Mayor of the Vorozhba City Council (Sumy region). Since February 2022, he has headed a local volunteer formation. Over the past year, the unit under his command has played an active role in countering enemy drones. He has been involved in establishing observation posts, forming mobile fire groups, and providing assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Svitlana Zachepylo, Village Head of the Bilenke Village Council (Zaporizhzhia region), was awarded the Order of Princess Olga, II class. She facilitated the establishment of a fire brigade in the community. Through cooperation between Svitlana Zachepylo and the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, an underground school with a radiation-protection shelter was constructed in the village.
The Order of Princess Olga, III class was awarded to:
Olha Hubar, Village Head of Yampil (Sumy region). In 2022, she organized a voluntary paramilitary formation that was later integrated into the Shostka Territorial Defense Forces and continues to defend Ukraine. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she has consistently organized support for units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, as well as for the families of fallen defenders and veterans.
Olena Zhuk, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council. From the first days of the full-scale war, she organized coordinated efforts among deputies, volunteers, civil society organizations, municipal services, businesses, and security agencies to strengthen the region’s defense capabilities. She established active cooperation with more than 90 charitable foundations and with colleagues from other regions. She also actively facilitated evacuations from combat zones.
Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions. She places strong emphasis on supporting Ukraine and works to ensure that the Committee’s political statements include condemnation of Russia’s invasion and the abduction of mayors, as well as support for Ukraine’s European integration steps and reconstruction initiatives.
Vasyl Huliaiev, Mayor of Chornomorsk (Odesa region), was awarded the Order of Danylo Halytskyi. He ensures the functioning of the city and the rapid restoration of damaged residential and infrastructure facilities following Russian shelling. Chornomorsk also provides active support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Medal “For Labor and Valor” was awarded to:
Oleksandr Verhun, Deputy Mayor of Kropyvnytskyi. He organized efforts to construct protective facilities for electrical substations in the region and to restore damaged energy infrastructure. He also contributed to the construction of defensive lines in frontline and border areas. He cooperates with volunteer and charitable organizations on restoring equipment for the front.
Oleh Ziarko, Director of the Municipal Enterprise “Pivdenno-Zakhidna” of the city of Khmelnytskyi. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression, he has actively assisted Ukraine’s warriors. He has repeatedly taken part in responding to the aftermath of missile and drone strikes in the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions, as well as in Chernihiv. He also led construction teams that built fortifications in the Donetsk region.
The Head of State also conferred honorary titles:
“Honored Teacher of Ukraine” – to Halyna Koval, a physics teacher at Lviv Gymnasium “Prestige.” She is an educator with many years of experience and a high level of professional excellence, who has achieved significant results in the education and upbringing of young people.
“Honored Economist of Ukraine” – to Viktoriia Susanina, First Deputy Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk. She introduced modern mechanisms for budget planning and efficient use of public funds, strengthening the financial capacity of the city community. She develops strategic programs for socio-economic development and the stability of financial policy.
“Honored Arts Worker of Ukraine” – to Tetiana Hnativ, Director of the Department of Culture of the Lutsk City Council. She is the author and director of numerous cultural and artistic projects, including the conceptually innovative “Night at Lutsk Castle.” She is also the initiator and developer of creative spaces and charitable artistic projects that strengthen national unity and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Honored Cultural Worker of Ukraine” – to Svitlana Kozelko, Head of the Department of Culture and Arts of the Ternopil City Council. She organizes charity concerts and initiatives in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In particular, using the funds raised, she purchased 7 drones, 11 FPV drones, 8 power stations, and 8 solar panels for defenders. She also contributed to the creation of patriotic alleys and landmarks in the city.
“Honored Service Sector Worker of Ukraine” – to Andrii Solodukha, Chief Engineer of the Management Company for the Maintenance of the Housing Stock of Kyiv’s Darnytskyi District. After February 24, 2022, he remained at his post and ensured the continued operation of the enterprise, which services 545 residential buildings and employs nearly one thousand workers. Andrii Solodukha takes part in responding to the aftermath of Russian missile strikes and regularly delivers essential aid to frontline cities.