Celebrating Rescuer’s Day in Kyiv
Kyiv hosted a special ceremony marking Rescuer’s Day, attended by Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Vyhivskyi and President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the event, members of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) were recognized with official state awards. Additionally, honors were presented to the winners of the annual nationwide campaign "Rescuer of the Year."
Recognizing Courageous Lifesavers
The awardees included:
- Volunteer medic Artem Prasok, who stopped the bleeding of a 16-year-old boy wounded in a shelling incident this March;
- Driver Serhiy Soratokin, credited with rescuing four teenagers who had fallen through ice on a lake;
- Tractor operator Volodymyr Usik, who helped an elderly woman escape a house fire and later, alongside police officers, saved another woman and two children;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs cadet Davyd Bilousov, who jumped in to save a friend from drowning in a pond;
- Driver Vitaliy Yordovskyi, cadet Roman Plikhtyak, and student Yarema Knyshchuk, who rescued four children trapped under ice last winter;
- Rescue driver Leonid Ovcharov, who, off duty, assisted neighbors in escaping a burning building after a Russian strike;
- Rescuer Dmytro Derevyanko, who pulled two 11-year-old boys from icy water while on vacation.
Rescuer’s Day in Ukraine highlights the vital role of emergency responders and volunteers who put their lives on the line to save others. Honoring these individuals not only acknowledges their extraordinary bravery in life-threatening situations but also inspires the wider community. Such ceremonies foster a culture of solidarity and readiness to support one another during emergencies, a value especially significant given Ukraine’s ongoing challenges.
In addition to the heartfelt tributes paid during the ceremony, it's important to recognize the ongoing efforts of rescue workers across the nation. For instance, Andriy Danyk also celebrated these heroes on their professional holiday, honoring both their bravery and the sacrifices made by those who have fallen in the line of duty. Such acknowledgments serve to strengthen the community's appreciation for the selfless acts of these individuals during crises.