Today, We Honor an Important Day – The Day of Those Who Do Not Stand Aside – President During the Awarding of Ukrainian Volunteers
On the occasion of Ukrainian Military Volunteer Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with warriors, the families of fallen defenders, and civilians, and presented state awards.
The Head of State expressed gratitude to everyone for defending Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
“Ukrainians have repeatedly proven that they know how to fight for themselves and how to defend their home. Only those blinded by propaganda, like the Russians, could believe they might somehow take Ukraine and subjugate all of us. Anyone who truly knows Ukrainians also knows that we will never give up our country, and we will be able to defend our dignity,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The President emphasized that thousands of Ukrainian volunteers, at various times in our history and today, through their choice and faith in Ukraine, have helped millions of others. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on everyone to remember how much this means for Ukraine and what kind of people we are, tragically, losing in this war. Those present observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen warriors.
The Head of State presented the Orders of the Golden Star to the families of fallen Heroes of Ukraine. The highest state honor was awarded to:
Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Kovalenko. From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, he defended Ukraine in the Moshchun and Irpin areas, participated in battles in the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, and helped liberate Zmiinyi Island. In July 2023, in the Kherson region, he led an assault group that crossed the Dnipro and secured a temporarily occupied area. He was fatally wounded on August 24, 2023.
Lieutenant Anatolii Lypchei. In January last year, in the Pokrovsk axis, his tank engaged two enemy tanks and two IFVs. He destroyed one Russian infantry fighting vehicle and skillfully maneuvered to avoid fire, but was later hit. The Lieutenant ordered his crew to evacuate while he stayed behind to cover their retreat. Anatolii Lypchei destroyed another Russian IFV and a tank but was tragically killed by a shell from an enemy tank.
Captain Vladyslav Seniuk. In 2022, he defended the Kyiv and Sumy regions, carried out counter-sabotage and reconnaissance missions in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions. In August–September 2024, he participated in the Kursk operation, providing cover for advancing groups. Last year, his tactical unit eliminated about 240 occupiers. He was killed on September 25, 2025, in the Donetsk region during a combat mission.
Senior Lieutenant Oleh Cherkasenko. He led a combined reconnaissance unit carrying out combat missions near Bakhmut. In May 2023, he destroyed the commander of an enemy reconnaissance company and captured his radio. For several days, Ukrainian defenders received intelligence on enemy plans, assaults, and movements. Oleh Cherkasenko was killed in action on May 11, 2023.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally presented the Order of the Golden Star to Senior Lieutenant Andrii Bublyk. Head of a reconnaissance group that repeatedly gathered information on the enemy, enabling Ukrainian forces to repel the occupiers’ assaults. In August 2025, in the Zaporizhzhia region, thanks to this, Ukrainian warriors eliminated six Russian invaders and seized enemy documents, phones, and communication equipment. In another engagement, they neutralized 18 occupiers and obtained intelligence that allowed neighboring units to eliminate nearly 40 more enemy combatants.
The Head of State also presented the Cross of Military Merit awards to warriors. The recipients include:
Lieutenant Colonel Yehor Nozdriakov. Deputy Commander of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Bukovynska Brigade. In August last year, he planned and led an operation to hold back Russian forces near Dobropillia. The brigade counterattacked several villages, eliminating around 40 occupiers. From August to October last year, units under his command eliminated about 1,300 enemy combatants, wounded nearly 700, and destroyed over 130 pieces of enemy weaponry and military equipment.
Sergeant Volodymyr Rudenko. He participated in about 25 combat operations. During one enemy assault, he reached a camouflaged armored personnel carrier, destroyed its machine-gun unit, and neutralized about a squad of enemy infantry. He was wounded when a mine hit his APC while he was covering his brothers-in-arms with fire, but he did not abandon the vehicle and continued fighting. He eliminated five more enemy combatants and helped encircle and capture 14 Russian occupiers.
Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Skrypnyk. Commander of an air assault battalion. He participated in numerous combat operations to destroy enemy infantry and equipment, hold key positions, and liberate settlements in the Donetsk region. From October 2025 to January 2026, he organized seven offensive and six defensive operations near Myrnohrad, during which Ukrainian warriors eliminated almost 60 and wounded 20 occupiers, and set an enemy tank and three APCs on fire.
In addition, the President awarded defenders and civilians with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I class, “For Courage”, I and III class, of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, V class, of Merit, III class, and Medals “For Saved Life.”