Volodymyr Zelenskyy Congratulated Defenders on Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day

 

On Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainian warriors, presented state awards, handed over battle flags, honorary distinction ribbons, and conferred honorary titles upon brigades and higher military ranks.

The President emphasized that when it comes to Ukraine’s defenders, our people first of all feel respect, gratitude, and admiration.

“Respect. Gratitude. Honor. And goosebumps. When we say "Glory to Ukraine" and respond "Glory to the Heroes." For we know who we are talking about. We know who our heroes are – true, brave, and worthy. Those about whom we speak our best words,” the Head of State noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that for everyone in Ukraine, the words “Ukrainian warrior” are associated with real examples and true heroism – family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors, or acquaintances.

“Someone we write to, asking "How are you?" and feel relieved when the message is read. Someone we strive to help, in any way we can – by completing a fundraiser or simply sending a drawing, as our children do. And someone who, sadly, is no longer with us, yet whose number we cannot bring ourselves to delete from our phone. Because their name cannot be erased from our memory,” he said.

A moment of silence was observed to honor the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

The President presented the Golden Star Orders to the families of deceased Heroes of Ukraine:

Lieutenant Colonel Borys Horoshko. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he organized the squadron's command and, as part of the crew, withdrew aircraft from under attack. He took part in the destruction of tank columns, military equipment and pontoon bridges in Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. On April 5, 2022, as part of the crew, he delivered ammunition and evacuated the wounded from Azovstal. When returning to the territory controlled by Ukraine, his aircraft disappeared from the radar.

Senior Lieutenant Vitalii Nesterenko. In May of last year, he led a reconnaissance group tasked with identifying a crossing to the left bank of the Dnipro River, as well as a demining subgroup. Operating behind enemy lines, the reconnaissance team detonated a prepared system of explosive devices, eliminated sappers, and destroyed an enemy observation post. In October of the same year, a reconnaissance group under Vitalii Nesterenko's command advanced to islands in the Dnipro Delta to set up ambushes but encountered Russian occupiers who had already landed there. During the battle, Vitalii Nesterenko was killed.

 

Soldier Serhii Ivanov. He defended Ukraine in the Avdiivka sector. Despite suffering an acoustic trauma during the Russian assault, he continued to hold his combat position. In battle, he provided aid to a brother-in-arms. For approximately 10 hours, he defended his position while surrounded, personally eliminating ten Russian soldiers and one armored personnel carrier. Serhii Ivanov was killed on October 30 of last year during a shelling of his motorized infantry company’s position.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded the Golden Star to two more Heroes of Ukraine: Sergeant Oleksandr Krokovets and Soldier Andrii Serhiienko.

Oleksandr Krokovets defends Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. The Bradley crew under his command repeatedly thwarted Russian assaults and prevented the enemy from capturing Ukrainian positions. In April of this year, despite intense enemy fire, Oleksandr Krokovets' crew evacuated 15 wounded warriors. He has been wounded three times but has always returned to the frontline.

During one of the assaults on Andriivka in the Donetsk region, Andrii Serhiienko personally eliminated 24 Russian occupiers and wounded four others, as confirmed by aerial reconnaissance. In March of this year, he served as the commander of an assault unit. Under his leadership, the unit repelled at least 16 enemy attacks. During one artillery strike, Andrii Serhiienko ordered his subordinates to relocate but was himself caught in mortar fire, sustaining injuries to both legs, which later required amputation.

The President also awarded the "Cross of Military Merit" to four more warriors:

 

Junior Sergeant Yaroslav Didukh. A marine squad commander, he personally destroyed two enemy infantry fighting vehicles during an offensive near Maryinka in December 2022. Last summer, he distinguished himself in the liberation of Urozhaine and Staromaiorske, and at the end of the year in battles in Krynky in the Kherson region, eliminating at least 30 invaders. He is currently recovering from a shrapnel injury to his knee.

Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Zyma. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he has formed and organized the 193rd separate battalion of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine, which holds positions near the Antonivskyi Bridge and Dachi. The battalion’s units also conduct remote mining of areas near Oleshky in the Kherson region. Last year, Oleksandr Zyma sustained a gunshot shrapnel wound but returned to service after treatment.

Sergeant Pavlo Tymoshchuk. This fall, his unit played a key role in offensive operations by the  air assault battalion of the 95th separate air assault brigade near Pogrebki in the Kursk region. His unit also repelled approximately 20 enemy attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses, destroying around 200 Russian soldiers, enemy armored vehicles, and a T-90 “Proryv” tank.

Major Vladyslav Subota. Since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has successfully organized mechanized battalion operations in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regions. Under his command, the units destroyed at least four tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, a mortar crew, and 150 Russian soldiers, capturing six more.

Additionally, the President awarded defenders with Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky I–III classes, the Orders "For Courage" I–III classes, the Orders of Princess Olga III class, and the medal "For Military Service to Ukraine."

The Head of State presented battle flags to the 21st separate mechanized brigade of the Ground Forces, the 211th separate pontoon bridge brigade of the Support Forces, the 78th separate air assault regiment of the Air Assault Forces and the 37th separate aviation squadron of the Air Force. He also presented distinctions for “Courage and Bravery” to the 107th rocket artillery brigade of the Ground Forces, the 38th separate marine brigade of the Naval Forces, the 102nd separate Territorial Defense brigade and the 38th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Ground Forces.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy conferred honorary titles upon the 203rd training aviation brigade of the Air Force, now named after Vladyslav Rykov, and the 808th separate support brigade of the Support Forces, now named “Dnistrovska.”

The President also conferred the rank of Major General upon Brigadier General Ihor Skybiuk, Commander of the Air Assault Forces, and Brigadier General Oleksandr Trepak, Commander of the Special Operations Forces. He also conferred the rank of Brigadier General upon Colonel Dmytro Bratishko, Commander of the Operational Command "East" of the Ground Forces, and Colonel Mykola Palas, Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.