Ukrainian President Honors Volunteers, Energy Workers, and Teachers with State Awards

Ukrainian President Signs Decree on State Honors

According to Главком: On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 137/2026, conferring state awards upon volunteers, energy sector workers, teachers, medical professionals, journalists, cultural figures, and athletes. This act of recognition comes at a time when the contributions of civilians on the home front are as critical as those on the battlefield.

Among those awarded the Order of Merit, Second Class, is Yuriy Savchuk, Director General of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. Under his leadership, the museum has actively collected artifacts from the current war since February 2022, opening its first exhibition on life under occupation in May 2022. Savchuk traveled to Bucha, Irpin, Izyum, and Kherson following their liberation, and visited the Kursk region just days after the start of the Ukrainian operation there.

Awards for Artists and Medical Personnel

The Order of Merit, Third Class, was awarded to members of the band 'Kurgan i Agregat,' who have provided vehicles, drones, and equipment to the military. During a European tour, the musicians raised over 14 million hryvnias for the Main Intelligence Directorate, and a 2025 concert at Kyiv's Palace of Sports brought in more than 9 million hryvnias for the Defense Forces.

Recipients of the Order of Princess Olga, Third Class, include:

• Vira Ageyeva, a literary scholar, writer, and Shevchenko Prize laureate;
• Tamara Hundorova, a professor who has taught at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, as well as Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Toronto;
• Anastasiia Pustovit and Oleksandr Rudynskyi, awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class;
• Ivan Meleta, an artist with the Myroslav Skoryk Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra, who received the Order of Merit, Third Class.

Asan Seitvaapovych Charukhov, commander of the First Separate Medical Battalion and a major in the medical service, was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Fifth Class. Additionally, President Zelenskyy posthumously conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine on three of five servicemen so honored.

The decree also honors individuals for various merits in the medical and educational fields, including distinguished doctors and educators of Ukraine, and a medalist for saving lives.

This decree reflects the state's recognition of the vital contributions made by diverse sectors of society during wartime, fostering a spirit of patriotism among Ukrainians. The awards not only highlight individual heroism and dedication but also serve to encourage broader societal participation in the nation's recovery efforts.