On Defenders' Day, the President of Ukraine signed a decree awarding the title of "Hero of Ukraine" to Andriy Parubiy, Gennady Afanasyev, Stepan Chubenko, and Volodymyr Vakulenko.
Points of attention
- The President of Ukraine awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously on Defenders' Day to Andriy Parubiy, Gennady Afanasyev, Stepan Chubenko, and Volodymyr Vakulenko for their bravery and sacrifice in defending Ukraine's independence.
- Zelenskyy highlighted the significance of honoring those who dedicated their lives to Ukraine's defense, expanding the tradition of respect and gratitude on Defenders' Day.
- These legendary Ukrainians, from different regions, are celebrated as defenders of the idea of Ukraine and symbols of the country's resilience against external threats, particularly from Russia.
Four legendary Ukrainians received the highest state award
Zelensky noted that it is on Defenders' Day, on the Day of the Protection of the Mother of God, that Ukraine is expanding another tradition of respect and gratitude.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the highest title of Hero of Ukraine has been awarded only to soldiers — Ukrainians who have shown themselves exceptionally in combat conditions, in the defense of our state, our positions, and our people. 722 such soldiers have already become Heroes of Ukraine, and 445 of them — posthumously. Today I signed decrees on conferring the title of Hero of Ukraine on four more Ukrainians, unfortunately, posthumously: Andriy Parubiy, Gennady Afanasyev, Stepan Chubenko, and Volodymyr Vakulenko.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
Zelensky noted that these were special people — defenders of the idea of Ukraine, of our independence.
Their lives were different, and they came from different parts of our country — Lviv region, Crimea, Donetsk region, Kharkiv region. But each of them is now, for many, the personification of the Ukraine that managed to show character and stand up to Russia.
We honor all our Heroes. We remember. And we thank everyone who dedicates their lives to Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!
Andriy Parubiy — former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, who was killed in Lviv on August 30, 2025;
Gennady Afanasyev — activist of civil resistance to the Russian occupation of Crimea, political prisoner, publicist, military officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who died in 2022 near Bilogorivka;
Stepan Chubenko is a Ukrainian schoolboy who was tortured and shot by pro-Russian militants in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region in 2014;
Volodymyr Vakulenko is a Ukrainian poet and children's writer who was killed by the Russians in May 2022 during the occupation of Izyum, in the Kharkiv region.
Earlier this day, the president recognized not only the military, but also 16 cities whose residents actively participate in the defense of the state.
