On the occasion of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces, the head of state awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, presented combat flags, honorary names and tapes

“Now here, in the Mariinsky Palace, our heroes, our soldiers, commanders and representatives of combat brigades and units who have just arrived from the front and return to the front again. Where it's really hot. Where they fight for our freedom, for our independence, for our children.

And I want to tell everyone present exactly that today in my heart, I am sure, every Ukrainian: I thank you! I thank all the soldiers, all the sailors, all the sergeants, the elders, all the officers, all the heroes, the generals and necessarily - all your dads and all moms, our dear Ukrainian soldiers, ”said the Head of State, addressing the audience.

The President noted that thousands of Ukrainians gave their lives to come to the day when no occupier would remain on Ukrainian land and when all our people will be free again. The attendees paid a moment of silence to the memory of everyone and everyone who died on the battlefield for our country and whose lives became part of the heroic history of Ukraine's courage. The head of state wished all those present a victory, which they deserve the whole Ukrainian people.

"All our parents, our children deserve, our state and history deserve to finally win," the President emphasized. Volodymyr Zelensky presented the Order of the Golden Star to the Hero of Ukraine Mayor Yevgeny Solovyov, the crew commander of the Giftsl Mi-8, who has been directly involved in the protection of Ukraine from the invasion of the Russian Federation since February 24.

At the end of March, he carried out combat flight and landing the troops and cargo in the blocked city of Mariupol and the evacuation of wounded defenders. On the way back, the helicopter Yevgeny Solovyov came under enemy shelling, was affected with MSRC and lost one engine. Maneuvering at extremely low height and bending terrain, the Mi-8 crew made a dangerous flight over the enemy's territory to the airfield landing at one working engine.

Yevgeny Solovyov also participated in a special operation under the guidance of GRU of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for the return of Ukraine Fr. Serpentine. The highest state award with the award of the "Golden Star" from the hands of the head of state was received by senior lieutenant Dmitry Chavalakh.

When on the night of February 24, 2022, Russian troops carried out an offensive in the direction of Kherson, the unit under the command of the lieutenant reflects 5 km near the city of Antonovsky bridge, destroying enemy equipment together with personnel. Despite the artillery shelling, he personally tried to prevent the enemy's breakthrough and decided to fix himself near the bridge to cover up our units. There was a seriously wounded shot of a enemy sniper.

The title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Order was received by Captain Vladimir Black. His parachut-depository mouth at the end of February 2022, arriving in the area of ​​tasks in Volnovas in Donetsk region, immediately came into battle with the enemy. With their skillful actions, the military personnel destroyed the equipment and personnel of the enemy and captured five enemy soldiers. In the battle, Vladimir Black demonstrated an example of courage and high professionalism.

In addition, the President of Ukraine presented the Order of the Golden Star to the native lieutenant colonel Vyacheslav Yerko, who was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously. On the first day of a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant Colonel provided withdrawal from a hostile blow to the aviation squadron, which rescued seven combat aircraft from the destruction of seven combat aircraft.

On the same day, five of them entered an air battle against 12 aircraft and eight helicopters in Russia, which were heading to strike in Kiev. In the battle, Vyacheslav Erko jumped the Su-25 and two enemy Mi-24 helicopters. During the next attempt by the enemy to attack the capital from the air, the lieutenant colonel destroyed another Russian Su-35. However, Vyacheslav Erka's aircraft also struck the rocket.

He managed to catapult, but Russian pilots, breaking all the rules of armed struggle, shot him in the air. The Head of State also passed the Order of the wife and mother of the deceased Hero of Ukraine Senior Lieutenant Denis Maksyshko, who has repeatedly successfully completed combat missions since February 24.

On March 14, a unit under the direction of Denis Maksyshko caused a powerful fire damage to the positions of the invaders in the area of ​​the Prybuzhkoye region in the area of ​​the Prybuzhkoye Oblast in the conditions of constant enemy shelling of artillery and aviation under the direction of Denis Maksishko, causing the settlement to be released from the occupiers.

But when moving to the area of ​​spare firing positions, the senior lieutenant came under massive article and heroically died, protecting the personnel of the unit. The President presented the Golden Star to the family of Hero of Ukraine Major Stepan Tarabalka, who died on March 13 in the Air Battle during a reflection of a massive aviation strike. The Major made independent search and entered a long rocket battle with enemy fighters.

With his decisive actions, the hero did not allow the enemy to enter the area of ​​Zhytomyr, which made it possible to prevent the task of aviation strike from the enemy. In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the President of Ukraine "Cross of Merit". Among the awarded this highest military award is the commander of the 39th anti-aircraft missile regiment Colonel Konstantin Zaichenko.

Since the beginning of full-scale fighting, the regiment under his leadership has destroyed four enemy SO-30 aircraft, three helicopters, two winged missiles and more than 230 UAVs. In general, its formation was neutralized by 241 means of an air attack by the enemy.

The colonel also managed to collect and restore the work of the units of the IU, which together with the firearms provided a reliable cover from the air attacks of the units of the Land Forces in the areas of Happiness, Severodonetsk, Kreminna, Rubizhne, Popasna, Izium, Siversk.

The honors were received from the hands of the President Dmitry Kazikov, who repeatedly demonstrated an example of a courageous and fearless marine infantryman both in battles with hostile forces and during the elimination of the consequences of shelling, providing assistance to civilians. He also evacuated the serviceman from under dense fire on the battlefield.

It was awarded the "cross of combat merit" and the commander of the intelligence company Captain Bogdan Kopchatov, who was among the first to meet the enemy on the Crimean isthmus. After heavy fighting for n. Mr. Chaplinka Captain subordinated a platoon of marines who lost the commander in the battle, and with them left the area for regrouping, managed the withdrawal of forces and means from the environment.

In the reconnaissance detachment, Bogdan Kopchatov continued to conduct intelligence in the Zaporozhye region, where in March he was seriously injured as a result of artillery shelling. The Presidential Honor also received the junior lieutenant Sergey Kryzhanovsky, who repeatedly performed combat missions to cover the positions of intelligence agencies and repel the enemy's storming in eastern Ukraine, in particular near Bakhmut in Donetsk region.

The head of state also noted the senior sergeant Andrei Mukhin, whose tank crew gave a decent repel to the main forces of the Russian army, during February - March he took an active part in the defense of the city of Kharkiv. After that, in the tank battalion with honor and dignity he released the Kharkiv region from the invaders, destroying the large amount of military equipment and the enemy's live power.

The navigator of the Aviation Squad of Captain Artem Hanka, who, from the first days of full-scale aggression of Russia against Ukraine, performs combat missions on Su-24M and Su-24MR aircraft from the first days. In total, he made 78 combat missions to defeat the enemy personnel and equipment, management points, logistics centers.

He performed special tasks for the destruction of platoon strongholds of the enemy, the accumulation of military equipment at railway stations, arms and ammunition warehouses, air intelligence. On September 29, 2022, after successful completion of the task in the Su-24M crew, the enemy's air defense missiles and forced to catapult. The Cross of Combat Merit was also received by the chief of staff - the first deputy commander of the brigade artillery group, Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Cotiy.

He is actively involved in the liberation of the Ukrainian territories of Kharkiv region and has established effective interaction with other units of the Armed Forces. During the offensive operation of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, thanks to the skillful actions of Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Cotia, the equipment of the enemy, in particular the battery of the SAU 2C3, platoon of RSSU "Hurricane", PCB of the enemy battalion, etc.

The President also awarded the defenders of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and degree and orders "for courage" of the 3rd degree.

In order to commemorate high professionalism, combat merit, courage and courage of personnel of military units, the Head of State presented combat flags to the 15th separate brigade of artillery intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces; 45th separate artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces; 140th Separate Intelligence Battalion of the Marine Corps of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces.

The President also presented combat flags with a tape with the honorary name of the 60th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces with the assignment of the honorary name "Inguletska"; 61th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces with the assignment of the honorary name "Stepova"; The 68th Separate Eger Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces with the name of the honorary name "Oleksa Dovbush".

In addition, Volodymyr Zelensky presented the President of Ukraine's distinction "For Courage and Courage" of a number of brigades and battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In the Land Forces: the 27th Reactive Artillery Brigade named after the cat chieftain Peter Kalnyshevsky; 43rd separate artillery brigade named after Hetman Taras Tryasil; 44th separate artillery brigade named after Hetman Danylo the Apostle; 15th separate mountain-assault battalion of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade.

In landing troops: 46th separate airmobile brigade; 79th separate landing brigade; 81st separate airmobile brigade; 13th separate landing battalion named after Hero of Ukraine Colonel Taras Senyuk, 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade; 90th separate airmobile battalion named after Hero of Ukraine Senior Lieutenant Ivan Zubkov 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade; 132th separate reconnaissance battalion.