Zelenskyy decorates soldiers and families of heroes and grants scholarships to children of fallen journalists

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decorated soldiers and the families of fallen heroes with state awards on the occasion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Day.

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine; presidential decree

Details: Zelenskyy presented the Gold Star order, Ukraine's highest state distinction, to the relatives of the fallen Heroes of Ukraine.

The awards went to:

Junior Sergeant (Corporal) Oleksandr Kovalenko, who defended Ukraine from the very first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine near Moschun and Irpin in Kyiv Oblast, fought in Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and took part in the liberation of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island. He led an assault group crossing the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast in July 2023 and was killed in action on 24 August 2023.

Lieutenant Anatolii Lypchei. In January last year, on the Pokrovsk front, his tank engaged in battle against two Russian tanks and two infantry fighting vehicles. He destroyed one Russian infantry fighting vehicle and skilfully manoeuvred under fire, but his tank was later hit. The lieutenant ordered his crew to evacuate, but he remained behind to cover the withdrawal of his brothers-in-arms. Lypchei destroyed another infantry fighting vehicle and a tank before being tragically killed when a Russian shell struck his vehicle.

Captain Vladyslav Seniuk. In 2022, he defended Kyiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast. He carried out counter-sabotage and reconnaissance missions in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts. In August-September 2024, he took part in the Kursk operation, providing cover for advancing groups. Last year, his tactical group wiped out around 240 Russian soldiers. He was killed on 25 September 2025 in Donetsk Oblast while carrying out a combat mission.

Senior Lieutenant (First Lieutenant) Oleh Cherkasenko. He led a combined reconnaissance unit that conducted combat missions near Bakhmut. In May 2023, he killed the commander of a Russian reconnaissance company and seized his radio station, providing Ukrainian defenders with several days of intelligence on Russian plans, assaults and troop movements. He was killed in action on 11 May 2023.

Senior Lieutenant Andrii Bublyk received the Golden Star from Zelenskyy in person. He led a reconnaissance group whose intelligence repeatedly enabled Ukrainian forces to thwart Russian attacks. In August 2025, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the unit killed six Russian soldiers and captured documents, phones and communications equipment. In another operation, they killed 18 Russians and collected information that allowed neighbouring units to wipe out almost 40 more.

In addition, Zelenskyy decorated the soldiers with the Cross of Military Merit and also honoured defenders and civilians with the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, First Class; the Order For Courage, First and Third class; the Order of Yaroslav the Wise, Fifth Class; the Order For Merit, Third Class; and the Medal For Saving Life.

Zelenskyy also signed a decree granting presidential scholarships to the children of journalists killed in the line of duty.

The scholarships were awarded to:

• Maksym Veremii, 17, son of journalist Viacheslav Veremii, killed while performing his professional duties.
• Yustyna Hurniak, 14, daughter of journalist Viktor Hurniak, killed while performing his professional duties.
• Kira Labutkina, 16, daughter of journalist Dmytro Labutkin, killed while performing his professional duties.
• Olena Chernikova, 12, daughter of journalist Oleksandr Chernikov, killed while performing his professional duties.

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