(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Zelensky reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

Zelensky said: "We honor Ukraine's warriors. We thank Ukrainian families for giving us such warriors."

He stressed that Ukraine was doing everything to become stronger every day, to repel every Russian strike, and to restore justice for the fallen soldiers.

He added: "For each of our fallen heroes, we will take revenge. And we will force Russia into peace – without any doubt."

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine sought to guarantee real security for current and future generations, and that the memory of all heroes who gave their lives for the country would always be honored.

According to the President's Office, Zelensky presented Gold Star orders to the relatives of fallen defenders. The Hero of Ukraine title was awarded posthumously to:

Senior soldier Hennadii Afanasiev, who defended Kyiv and took part in the defense of Irpin and Bucha, as well as in battles in the Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions. On December 18, 2022, he and a group of seven soldiers held the line in Luhansk region under mortar, artillery, and tank fire despite the enemy's far superior numbers. Afanasiev was killed while holding back the enemy near Bilohorivka.

Senior lieutenant Oleksandr Bondarenko, who last December near Pokrovsk took part in capturing a defensive line and coordinated the actions of assault groups. He later carried out missions in Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions, planning assaults to retake positions from the enemy. On April 26 of this year, he personally led an assault group to a position but was fatally wounded during a firefight.

Lieutenant colonel Serhii Kandyba of the National Guard, who during the defense of Mariupol and the heavy fighting at Azovstal personally eliminated about 40 occupiers, destroyed vehicles, disabled an IFV, three APCs, and an enemy tank. He helped save at least a squad of wounded defenders and several dozen civilians. He was killed on May 2, 2022, by a mine explosion while covering his unit's maneuver.

Volunteer Taras Karpiuk, who carried out special combat and reconnaissance missions in temporarily occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. On December 24, 2022, he entered the enemyvs rear with a reconnaissance group and completed the mission successfully, but the group was ambushed on the way back. The reconnaissance team fought to the last round.

Staff sergeant Ivan Kedyk, who carried out missions in Donetsk region and took part in the operation in Kursk region. On August 13 last year, he detected an enemy ambush with his reconnaissance group, but the enemy hit their vehicle with an anti-tank guided missile. He was killed, but managed to transmit precise coordinates of the ambush, allowing battalion command to change the main force's route and avoid heavy losses.

Senior lieutenant Ruslan Luknytskyi, whose platoon in April 2022 came under ambush by a far larger enemy force and more equipment near Popasna while storming enemy positions. He was killed on April 24, 2022, while covering the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, saving the lives of ten subordinates.

Soldier Mykola Postovyi, who was wounded during fighting in Kharkiv region but refused evacuation and continued repelling the enemy assault. Despite being outnumbered, his unit repelled four assaults, killed nine enemy soldiers, and wounded eight. On November 23 last year, he evacuated a wounded comrade under heavy drone attacks. After reaching almost the evacuation point and saving the soldier, he was fatally wounded by a dropped munition and later died in hospital.

Sailor Oleh Khomytskyi, who fought in the Donetsk and Kherson regions. Using drones, he eliminated nearly 130 occupiers and wounded more than 120, destroyed 20 enemy shelters and Russian equipment. He identified enemy positions, enabling the destruction of over 90 Russian soldiers, an enemy mortar, an EW station, two MLRS units, an armored vehicle, and a drone base. On July 18 this year, Russian drones hit the UAV control position of his unit, fatally wounding him.

Zelensky also personally awarded the Gold Star of Hero of Ukraine to Colonel Oleksandr Dovhach, commander of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade. He carried out over 150 combat sorties, striking command posts, weapons, equipment, personnel, infrastructure, and communications. He covered strike and bomber aircraft, shot down drones and cruise missiles, and took part in the liberation of Snake Island, Kyiv region, Kharkiv region, and the right bank of Kherson region. He repeatedly flew missions under life-threatening conditions. About 20 Russian missile launches targeting his aircraft were recorded just this year, yet Dovhach always completed his tasks.

Zelensky also presented the Cross of Combat Merit to junior sergeant Yevhen Minzhener, who conducted aerial reconnaissance near Krynky from April to September 2024 and corrected artillery and mortar fire under continuous artillery and drone strikes. His work enabled the destruction of dozens of enemy shelters, strongpoints, guns, mortars, and assault groups.

Zelensky additionally awarded service members with the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Order (I and III class) and the For Courage Order (I–III class).

Read also: Zelensky honors 272 more Ukrainian service members, 160 of them posthumously

As Ukrinform reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky honored another 42 service members with state awards.

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