Zelenskyy awarded four European cities the "City of Rescue" distinction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded the honorary title of “City of Rescue” to the cities of Budapest, Gdańsk, Tallinn, and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
This was reported on the website of the Office of the President.
The award was given to cities that, following the outbreak of full-scale war, took in Ukrainian refugees, provided humanitarian aid, and supported Ukraine and its citizens.
The Office of the President noted that the cities were recognized for: “their demonstrated humanity, compassion, and solidarity with the Ukrainian people, as well as their assistance to Ukrainian citizens who were forced to leave their homeland as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine.”
It is also emphasized that the award is granted to cities in foreign countries whose residents are providing humanitarian protection to Ukrainians on a massive scale, assisting displaced persons, and supporting Ukraine in its struggle for independence and sovereignty.
The honorary “City-Rescuer” award was established by a decree of the President of Ukraine on May 22, 2022.
The first city to receive this award was Rzeszów, Poland, which became one of the key humanitarian and logistical centers for aid to Ukraine after the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion.
In addition, on April 4, 2023, the president approved the official regulations for the award, as well as sketches of the commemorative plaque and the award itself.
Prior to this, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees No. 317/2026 and No. 318/2026 on awarding state honors to over 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen, some of whom received the awards posthumously.
