Zelenskyy honored another 411 service members, 193 of them posthumously
On September 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding state honors to 411 defenders of Ukraine. Of these, 193 military personnel were honored posthumously for their courage in defending Ukraine and fulfilling their military duty.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded state honors to 411 military personnel who defended Ukraine against Russian aggression. The corresponding decree No. 845/2026, dated September 1, was published on the president’s official website. The document states that the servicemen were honored for the personal courage they demonstrated while defending Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The awards were also granted for their selfless fulfillment of their military duty.
The decree specifically notes that 193 of the awards are posthumous. This means that these servicemembers died while defending Ukraine, and the state honored them after their deaths. Among the awards received by the defenders is the presidential decoration “Cross of Combat Merit.” It is awarded to service members for exceptional bravery and heroism while carrying out combat missions.
The servicemembers were also awarded the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Danylo Halytsky, and “For Courage.” These state honors are bestowed upon servicemembers for their courage, devotion to Ukraine, and contribution to the defense of the state. In addition to the orders, the list includes medals. Among them are the “For Military Service to Ukraine,” “Defender of the Fatherland,” and “For a Life Saved” medals.
The awards were given to military personnel from various units and for various achievements. Some defenders demonstrated courage directly on the battlefield, while others carried out complex military missions or saved the lives of their comrades. Posthumous awards hold special significance. For the families of the fallen, this will not bring back a loved one, but it is official recognition of their contribution to Ukraine’s defense. State awards are regularly conferred on military personnel throughout the full-scale war. Presidential decrees record the names of the defenders and their merits to the state.
In this instance, 411 service members received awards, with nearly half of them—193—being posthumous. This number of awards once again highlights the scale of the losses and the contribution of the Ukrainian military to the country’s defense. According to the decree, the awards were granted specifically for courage, self-sacrifice, and the fulfillment of military duty. The awards are one of the ways the state honors the military personnel who are defending Ukraine.
What awards did the servicemen receive?
Among the state honors listed in the decree are:
- the “Cross of Combat Merit”;
- the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky;
- the Order of Danylo Halytskyi;
- the “For Courage” Order;
- the “For Military Service to Ukraine” Medal;
- “Defender of the Fatherland” Medal;
- the “For Saving a Life” Medal.
The presidential decree took effect on September 1, 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines, insurers, and other companies that use Russian airspace about the increasing danger of flying over Russia. According to him, due to the war and the activity of Ukrainian drones, Russian airspace will effectively become unsuitable for safe civilian flights.
