Ukrainians have withstood dozens of attempts to win, Ukraine will stand up and now against Russia - the President during events on the occasion of Defenders 'Day and Defenders' Day

  The event was also attended by heads of security and defense forces of Ukraine, Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko, Presidential Head Andriy Yermak and his deputies, Danish European Minister of Affairs Marie Bierre, European Commissioner for Marta Kos, representatives of diplomatic missions of foreign states and international organizations.

  Volodymyr Zelensky noted that today the Day of Millions of People - those who dedicate their lives to Ukraine, who did not fear or betray, dreams of the end of the war and works for peace to come faster. “The Ukrainians are not the first to defend themselves from Russia, but now - the most long, most effective.

And right now we need to be protected so that our children, all our children, all subsequent generations are guaranteed free from war, from terror, from blows, from any threats, ”the President emphasized.   He reported that the day before he signed decrees on the awarding of more than 1,600 Ukrainians and Ukrainian women from the Armed Forces, NSU, intelligence and communications, SBU, SSSU, combat National Police of Ukraine and SES.

According to Volodymyr Zelensky, almost 124,000 Ukrainians have been awarded for the protection and defense of Ukraine since the beginning of a full -scale Russian invasion. Volodymyr Zelensky has always urged to remember the price of Ukraine's protection. The attendees paid a moment of silence to the memory of all the heroes of different times who fought for the sake of Ukraine, strengthened the Ukrainian state and gave their lives for the sake of it.

The head of state passed the Order of the Golden Star to the native heroes of Ukraine. The highest award is awarded: Lieutenant Semen Kramsky. He participated in battles near Gulyaypol, Lisichansk and Svyatogorsk. Last year, the unit under his command resumed its position on one of the mines near the village of Vodyany. Under constant shelling, Semen Kramsky directed the defense of the mine. The twenty -second September was wounded, but refused to evacuate and continued to command the battle.

Despite the retreat, the enemy focused on positions. As a result of one of the shelling, Semen Kramsky was killed.    Senior sailor Andrey Levchenko. In April 2022, the boat sent to the brothers in the temporarily occupied Alexandrovka ten NLAW complexes and evacuated ten wounded under fire. In 2023 he participated in the battles in Kherson region: he destroyed the enemy's position, sent landing, scouts and removed more than 50 civilians from occupation.

On the seventh August 2023, during the evacuation of the wounded, his boat came under fire and exploded on a mini, performing a maneuver. Andriy Levchenko was killed, but rescued the wounded brothers who were able to reach the shore and get help. The President personally noted the "golden star" of the Hero of Ukraine of four defenders. Among them: Senior Soldier (Stock) Sergei Gonchar. From the first days of a full -scale Russian invasion he defended Ukraine in Zhytomyr, Kharkiv and Luhansk region.

Only in December last year in small battles destroyed more than 40 invaders. Despite injuries and injuries, he reflected numerous enemy attacks. Within four days he defended the stronghold on his own, with injury to the chest and receiving help only from units of fire support, BPAK and mortar batteries. Junior Lieutenant Dmitry Yeletsky. Commander of the company of unmanned aviation complexes. He liberated the territories of Kharkiv, Lugansk and Donetsk regions.

At least 230 invaders were eliminated and more than 230 were wounded, the T-72 tank, BMP, eight howitzers and a mortar battery were destroyed. In 2024–2025, he provided intelligence, correction of fire, cover of assault and defensive actions in Kurshchyna.   Senior Lieutenant Denis Tkalich (NSU, Azov). With the help of drone and grenade launcher he repeatedly suffered enemy equipment and destroyed the invaders.

In May, during the cleaning of the village of Petrovka in Donetsk region, the unit under his command liberated 70 houses. Denis Tkalich personally destroyed 16 enemies. The combat task was completed without loss among personnel. Commander of the Special Forces Battalion "Donbas" Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Shevchuk (NSU, "Charter"). Last year, he commanded an operation to maintain positions and repeatedly organized the reflection of hostile assaults.

From April 2024 to February 2025, Mykola Shevchuk's unit destroyed more than 380 and wounded more than 420 invaders, and six Russian military captured, eliminated more than 550 FPVs, 18 drones of various modifications, nine trucks, three BMPs and one fire system.   Also, Volodymyr Zelenskyy passed on to his native military awards "Cross of Combat Merit". Posthumously awarded: Sergeant Vladislav Rybny.

In February, last year near the village of Krynychny in Donetsk, he held a position together with his department, which helped the Ukrainian units to avoid the environment in Avdiivka and save many lives. As a department commander, he organized a defense and coordinated the fire. During the battle, which lasted several days, he personally destroyed three APCs, four BMPs and 28 invaders. When contact with his position was lost, Vladislav Rybny was considered missing.

His body managed to return home during the exchange. Soldier Sergey Shchogolev. From May 2023 he performed combat missions in the area of ​​the village of Spirne, Donetsk region. He destroyed three BPMs and 38 invaders, contributed to the lesion of the enemy T-72. At the end of the same year, small arms eliminated the enemy FPV-Dron with a ammunition approaching a neighboring armor. Repeatedly under hostile fire assisted the brothers.

On April 1, 2024, he destroyed seven Russian soldiers in battle, but suffered incompatible with the life of wounds due to mortar shelling.   In addition, the Head of State presented the Cross of Combat merit for four soldiers. It received it: Senior Soldier Mykola Ivanenko. He reflected the attempts of the invaders to advance through the Siverskyi Donets - Donbas channel. From January 1 this year, within 87 days he was continuously on fire, of which 16 - independently.

Despite the wounding and poisoning of gases, he continued to cause the enemy to lose losses and reflect the storms. Mykola Ivanenko only succeeded in the evacuation of Nikolai Ivanenko.   Major Roman Kasyanchuk.

In February - March, this year organized the reflection of storms in Donetsk region, where one of the most difficult fights took place in the area of ​​Konstantinpol: one hundred Russian infantrymen with the support of tanks, BMPs and heavy artillery tried to break through positions, but unsuccessfully. In total, more than 10 pieces of equipment and about a hundred invaders were destroyed under his command.   Junior Sergeant Alexei Kondrashov.

He defended Ukraine in Kherson, Donetsk and Kharkiv region. Only on February 25-28, this year, as part of the UAV crew, destroyed the RSSV, BMP, six cars and two motorcycles with infantry, as well as buggy, which moved towards Ukrainian defensive positions.   Lieutenant Colonel Yaroslav Onushkevich. He participated in the anti -terrorist operation in 2014–2015. With the beginning of a full -scale war, he performed combat missions in Zaporozhye, Kherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk region.

Last year, he headed the 2nd self-propelled artillery division, armed with Archer and Bogdan's SAU, who performed more than 4,100 fire tasks for the defeat of the occupants and technicians of the occupiers during the year. The President also noted the defenders and defenders by the orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and III degrees and "for courage" of the II -III degrees.

  In addition, the head of state presented combat flags to the commanders of the 152nd separate Eger Brigade, the 47th Separate Artillery Brigade, the 20th Brigade Carpathian Sich storm.   The 60th Separate Mechanized Ingulets Brigade, 59th Separate Storm Brigade named after Jacob Gandziuk, 1st Galicia-Volyn Radiotechnical Brigade, Separate Artillery Brigade of NSU, 1st and 18th detachments of the Maritime Squad, received the award.

The President also presented the commanders of the honorary names of the honorary tape units: the 17th Brigade of the National Guard was given the name "Poltava", the 1039th anti-aircraft missile regiment-"Name of Nicholas Kapustyansky", the 17th separate battalion of the Radio Electronic Fighting.