A Ukrainian man was posthumously awarded a UN honor for exceptional bravery
UN Secretary-General António Guterres posthumously awarded Ukrainian flight attendant and rescuer Serhiy Prykhodko the highest honor for peacekeeping service—the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal. This is the first time in history that a civilian has received this award. The award was presented to the family of the deceased during a ceremony in New York.
At the United Nations headquarters in New York, during events marking International Peacekeepers Day, a historic moment took place: UN Secretary-General António Guterres posthumously awarded Ukrainian Serhiy Prykhodko the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal, recognizing his exceptional courage and dedication in his work, which involved rescuing people under difficult conditions. This is an unprecedented case for the international organization, as previously such an award was given exclusively to military or police personnel of peacekeeping missions, but never to a civilian.
During the ceremony, Guterres emphasized that the death of people serving peace is an unacceptable tragedy, and that the protection of UN personnel must remain the responsibility of all states participating in peacekeeping operations. In his speech, he emphasized that “no one should die while serving the cause of peace,” and that any attacks on peacekeepers constitute a gross violation of international humanitarian law.
The award was accepted on behalf of Serhiy Prykhodko by his six-year-old daughter Yelyzaveta, who attended the ceremony in New York with her mother Tetiana, and this moment was one of the most emotional of the event, as the award has effectively become a symbol of remembrance for a man who dedicated his life to saving others. Representatives of the airline “Ukrainian Helicopters,” where Prykhodko worked, noted that he was one of the best employees and participated in numerous complex civilian missions, saving people’s lives in critical situations.
The Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal is considered the highest UN award in the field of peacekeeping and was established by the Security Council in 2014 in honor of the Senegalese captain who died in Rwanda while rescuing people during the genocide. It has been awarded only a few times in its history and symbolizes exceptional courage that goes beyond the call of duty.
In the case of Serhiy Prykhodko, the award has also become a symbol of international recognition for the work of civilian rescuers who risk their lives every day while carrying out humanitarian missions. The UN emphasized that his contribution to saving lives is an example of true service to humanity, regardless of profession or status.
For the first time since gaining independence in 1991, Kyrgyzstan was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
