Zelensky presents state awards to Ukrainian military in Verkhovna Rada

Having delivered the annual message to the Verkhovna Rada, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presented state awards to the Ukrainian defenders, who had been invited to Parliament.

The relevant statement was made by the Office of the President of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The orders and medals were awarded to more than 30 Ukrainian defenders from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.

In particular, the Order of the Gold Star was awarded to Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Vesnin, who completed high-risk air defense combat missions in February-April 2022. Vesnin’s squad destroyed 13 enemy aerial vehicles. In April-September 2022, Vesnin carried out combat control over anti-aircraft missile services and MANPADS fire groups, involved in the protection of Ukraine’s infrastructure objects.

The Head of State also presented the Order of the Gold Star to Major Vadym Voroshylov, who had carried out 75 combat flights since the early days of the full-scale invasion. On October 12, 2022, the pilot shot down five Shahed-136 suicide drones.  When destroying the drone over the Vinnytsia region, a missile exploded near Voroshylov’s aircraft, causing it to lose control. The city of Vinnytsia was ahead of him. Voroshylov continued operating the aircraft, took it to a safe area, and ejected.

Additionally, the Order of the Gold Star was received by Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii Osypenko. In February 2022, together with his subordinates, Osypenko contributed to the destruction of Russian military convoys in the Kharkiv direction.

The President of Ukraine also handed over the Order of the Gold Star to the wife and children of Lieutenant Colonel Andrii Litun, who had been awarded the title of the Hero of Ukraine posthumously. In February 2022, Litun took part in battles against Russian invaders for the city of Melitopol and the city of Tokmak. At the cost of his own life, Litun covered the retreat of his subordinates, which helped to prevent even higher losses.

A reminder that, on December 28, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his annual message to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Photo: president.gov.ua

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