Occupiers Fled Kherson Under Pressure from Our People, Thanks to the Strength of Ukrainians – President on the Third Anniversary of the City’s Liberation

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On the occasion of the third anniversary of Kherson's liberation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored warriors, police officers, rescuers, volunteers, doctors, teachers, and energy engineers with state awards.

The Head of State thanked everyone who has fought and continues to fight for the city and ensures its vital functioning.

"Today we mark a very important day - the third anniversary of the expulsion of the Russian occupiers from Kherson. The occupiers fled under the pressure of our people, thanks to the strength of Ukrainians. Even Russian propagandists now acknowledge that Kherson is part of Ukraine, because it's simply a fact - a powerful fact - that Russia has no place here," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The President noted that only time separates us from the arrival of peace, a time Ukraine must go through and will overcome, thanks to those who fight.

Attendees observed a moment of silence in memory of all warriors who fell fighting for Ukraine.

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The President presented the Order of the Golden Star to the son of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, farmer Oleksandr Hordiienko. After the de-occupation of the right bank of the Kherson region, he personally cleared mines, removing over 5,000 anti-tank mines by himself. He came under fire and shot down more than 100 enemy UAVs with a rifle. Oleksandr Hordiienko was killed on September 5 this year by a Russian drone strike on a car near Beryslav.

The Order of Merit, III class, was awarded to Serhii Buhanov, an electrical fitter with Khersonoblenergo. After the de-occupation, he participated in restoring and rebuilding the electricity networks in the Kherson region. He also repaired the lines that supply Kherson.

The President also presented the Orders "For Courage," III class. The recipients are:

Rescuer Viktor Buiukli. He daily participates in emergency rescue operations at sites of destruction caused by Russian attacks, including following the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP dam and shelling of the Kherson Children's Regional Clinical Hospital.

Unit Commander of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kherson region, Oleh Vitkovskyi, who constantly engages in eliminating the consequences of enemy attacks in the region. On October 20, after a Russian UAV strike on a school, he found a woman trapped under the rubble, rescued her, and provided first aid.

Junior Sergeant Vladyslav Hudnichenko (NGU). He destroys occupiers and enemy equipment in the Kherson region. On September 20, he demolished shelters and dugouts of the Russian occupiers, eliminating nine enemy personnel, and later hit a storage site with at least 30 tons of fuel.

Soldier Vadym Levchenko (NGU). He destroys Russian occupiers, their weapons, and equipment in the Kherson region. From May to September, his squad neutralized a total of nearly 30 enemy drones of various types, ensuring reliable coverage for units in the Kherson direction.

Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Nikolaiev (NGU). He carries out combat tasks in the Kherson region, including eliminating the enemy on the left bank of the Dnipro. On October 5, the National Guardsmen repelled an enemy infantry assault. Oleksandr Nikolaiev personally neutralized two invaders; he was concussed but continued his combat mission and was sent for treatment in early November.

Volunteer Andrii Petukhov. During the temporary occupation of Kherson, he delivered food, water, and medical supplies, often passing through occupation checkpoints. He participated in evacuating over 300 residents from occupied areas, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Major of Civil Protection Service Oleksandr Soloviov. He remained loyal to his oath during the occupation of Kherson. After the city was liberated, he organized evacuation from affected areas, provided medical assistance, responded to fires and explosions, and rescued people after the occupiers blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam.

The Order of Princess Olga, III class, was awarded to:

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Primary school teacher, Larysa Paladii. She has worked in education for over 30 years and was conducting classes in the Points of Invincibility. She focuses particularly on children with special educational needs, applies inclusive teaching methods, and adopts an individualized approach using modern educational technologies.

Director of the Social Services Centre, Oksana Pashchenko. She assisted elderly people during the occupation of Kherson and collaborated with volunteers who support people living alone and unable to work. After the liberation of Kherson, she organized the Social Services Centre's work and participated in the evacuation after the Kakhovka HPP dam was blown up.

Correspondent of the "We - Ukraine" channel, Tetiana Savulia. During the temporary occupation of Kherson, she continued working in the city, and some of her reports were published by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as confirmation of the actual situation in southern Ukraine. Tetiana Savulia continues to cover events in Kherson today.

The Orders of Danylo Halytskyi were awarded to:

Captain Vadym Kukharskyi. He participated in battles in the Kherson region. The unit under his command eliminated at least seven occupiers, an enemy mortar, various equipment, and several drone operator positions.

Senior Sergeant Volodymyr Repeshko. He took part in battles in the Kherson region, was wounded multiple times, but returned to the front. The combat unit under Volodymyr Repeshko's command eliminated over 50 occupiers, 3 electronic warfare stations, 5 ammunition depots, more than 30 observation posts, and 4 enemy radio and satellite antennas.

Chief Sergeant of the 79th Border Detachment, Yevhenii Tsapura. Between 2023 and 2025, in the Kherson region, as part of reconnaissance strike UAV combat groups, he eliminated 3 and wounded 5 occupiers, destroyed 2 artillery pieces, 5 vehicles, and 3 enemy electronic warfare stations.

Medal "For Impeccable Service," III class, was presented to Police Colonel Rustam Karimov. Under his leadership in Kherson, 135 serious and particularly serious crimes were solved, and 14 cases of illegal circulation of weapons, ammunition and explosives were uncovered. He identified collaborationists and arrested four individuals who set fire to Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicles in Kherson last summer.

The Medal "To the Defender of the Motherland" was awarded to Police Captain Serhii Kovtun. This year, he conducted nearly 500 missions to areas of combat operations to clear territories of explosive devices. He neutralized over 350 explosive items, including two aerial bombs, high-explosive fragmentation and cluster munitions, as well as other lethal ordnance.

Honorary title "Merited Doctor of Ukraine" was bestowed upon radiologist Olena Martsenius, head of the South Ukrainian Center for Radiation Therapy. She implements modern radiotherapy methods for oncological diseases and other advanced cancer treatment techniques.

The title "Merited Health Worker of Ukraine" was granted to Deputy Medical Director of Kherson City Clinical Hospital, Viktor Kolisnyk. He has been working at the institution since 1989, possesses extensive experience with patients, and coordinates the work of doctors and medical staff.

The honorary title "Merited Transport Worker of Ukraine" was conferred upon a representative of the regional branch "Odesa Railways," Vadym Melnyk. He has been working in railway transport since 2000. Following the de-occupation of Kherson, he organized the return of staff to their workplaces and the restoration of railway connections to the city.

ph	Working Trip of the President of Ukraine to the Kherson Region 11 November 2025 - 13:40