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Category: Ukraine

The Medal for Lifesaving (Ukraine)

The Medal for Lifesaving (Медаль «За врятоване життя») was established 20 May 2008 by presidential decree № 461 and is presented for saving human life, acts of charity, humanistic and other activities in public health and accident prevention. 

The Medal for Lifesaving Design

The medal is circular, made of silver, and measures 32 millimetres (1.3 in) in diameter.

The obverse depicts the image of two gold plated hands, one extended to rescue the other. The image is superimposed over the sun with rays, symbolizing life saved. Around the edge of the medal is inscribed “За врятоване життя” (Medal for Lifesaving).

The ribbon is 45 mm (1.8 in) long and 28 mm (1.1 in) wide. It is made of white moire silk with two longitudinal 3 mm (0.12 in) wide stripes of red 2 mm (0.079 in) from the edges of the ribbon.

The Defender of the Motherland Medal

The Defender of the Motherland Medal (Медаль «Захиснику Вітчизни») was awarded to war veterans, Ukrainian as well as citizens of other countries, who participated in the liberation of Ukraine from Nazi occupation. It may also be awarded to other citizens of Ukraine for personal courage and bravery while protecting the public interest, and strengthening the defense and security of Ukraine.

The medal is presented by the President, heads of central and local executive power bodies, leaders of military formations and foreign representatives. It may be awarded posthumously ad revoked  in cases of the recipient being convicted of a grave crime.

The Medal For Irreproachable Service

The Medal For Irreproachable Service (Медаль «За бездоганну службу») was established on 5 October 1996 and is presented to officers and Warrant Officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as Officers and enlisted men of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security Service of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, Border Troops of Ukraine, Civil Defense of Ukraine.

The medal is awarded for reaching a high level of combat and professional training, as well as success in exercising authority over subordinates and serving as an example of fidelity and allegiance while performing all other service duties in an excellent manner.

The award is presented in three classes, with the first class being the highest. The first class is presented to those who meet all of the criteria and have served at least 20 years, the second class is for 15 years, and the third class is for 10 years. 

The Medal For Military Service to Ukraine

The Medal For Military Service to Ukraine (Медаль «За військову службу Україні») was established in 1996 to honor servicemen of the Armed Forces and other military formations created in accordance with the Ukrainian legislature – as well as other individuals for courage and valor displayed at protection of state interests and for excellent execution of service duty. It can be awarded:

  • For personal Courage and valor, devoted actions displayed at protection of state interests for reaching a high level of troops’ combat readiness and assuring the Ukraine’s defense capability;
  • For excellent execution of military duty;
  • For execution of special tasks to assure the state security of Ukraine;
  • For 25 years of perfect military service.

The Medal can be awarded to foreign citizens or individuals without citizenship and  posthumously. 

The Medal For Military Service to Ukraine Design

The award is made of silver and has the shape of a wreath of oak leaves. The obverse shows a composition consisting of military weapons and symbols (rocket, cannon, saber, battle antimony, flags, etc.) superimposed on the wreath. The diameter of the wreath is 40 mm. The reverse side of the medal is flat, with a relief number.

The wreath is connected with a ring with an eyelet with a rectangular block covered with a ribbon. The ribbon is silk moire, blue with a blue stripe in the middle and two yellow on the sides. 

The Order For Brave Miners’ Work

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Year of Institution: 2 September 2008
  • Country: Ukraine

The Order For Brave Miners’ Work (Орден «За доблесну шахтарську працю») was instituted in 2008 and honor workers that extract coal, iron-ore, non-ferrous metal ores, rare-earth ores, manganese and uranium ores, workers of mine building enterprises. The Order may be awarded to workers who are employed full-time in underground work. 

The first 19 people awarded the Order “For Valiant Mining” III degree (for significant personal contribution to strengthening the energy potential of the state) were coal miners, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Stakhanov movement and the Miner’s Day.

The Order has three degrees; the highest degree of the order is the first degree. Awarding of the Order is carried out by the decree of the President of Ukraine.

The Order For Brave Miners' Work Design

The emblem of the Order is made of rock crystal and has the shape of a straight equilateral cross with pointed edges. In the center there is a rhombic medallion covered in white enamel and depicting the small State Emblem of Ukraine. Under the emblem there are crossed picks and a hammer made of yellow metal. The medallion is framed by an image of a ribbon interwoven in the corners, in dark red enamel with the inscription “For valiant mining work.” At the top of the ribbon is bordered by branches of bay leaves, at the bottom – oak leaves. The cross is superimposed on a quadrangular star with diverging faceted black rays. 

The author of the insignia of the order is the artist O. Rudenko.

The Order of Danylo Halytsky

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Year of Institution: 20 February 2003
  • Country: Ukraine

The Order of Danylo Halytsky (Орден Данила Галицького) was instituted on February 20, 2003 to honor the military men of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was created by the Verkhovna Rada, the unicameral parliament of Ukraine.

Awards to serving members of the armed forces bear crossed swords.

The Order of Princess Olga

The Order of Princess Olga (Орден княгині Ольги) is a Ukrainian civil decoration bestowed to women for personal merits.

The Order of Princess Olga (Орден княгині Ольги) is a Ukrainian civil decoration bestowed to women for personal merits. It was established by Presidential Decree № 827/97 of 15 August 1997 and features Olga of Kiev.

The award is given for “personal merits in state, production, scientific, educational, cultural, charity and other spheres of social activities, for upbringing children in families”. It has three grades or classes, the first being the highest. 

Both Ukrainian citizens and foreigners are eligible for the order. The order can be rescinded by the President of Ukraine if a bearer is convicted of a serious crime.

The Order of Princess Olga Design

The 1st grade medal is adorned with four rectangular amethysts and features a gilded ornament with silver parts. The two other grades also feature precious stones.

The Order for Courage (Ukraine)

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Year of Institution: 22 September 1996
  • Country: Ukraine

The Order for Courage (Орден «За мужність») is a Ukrainian award for courage established on August 21, 1996.

Before August, 1996, personal bravery had been honored with Awards of the President of Ukraine for Courage: the Star for Courage and the Cross for Courage instituted on April 29, 1995. On August 21, 1996, they were transformed into three classes of the Order for Courage. 

The Order for Courage Design

The order was designed by Mykola Lebid, a Ukrainian painter, graphic artist, designer, Honored Artist of Ukraine, and professor, and winner of Nikolai Ostrovsky Premium in 1986.

The Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes

The Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Орден Героїв Небесної Сотні) is awarded for civil courage, patriotism and the defense of democracy.

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Year of Institution: 22 September 1996
  • Country: Ukraine

The Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Орден Героїв Небесної Сотні) is awarded for civil courage, constitutional principles of democracy, human rights and freedom; humanitarian, social and charitable activities; selfless service to the Ukrainian people and any events related to the protection of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The name “Heaven’s Hundred” refers to the participants killed during Euromaidan, a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. 

Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes Design

A nationwide contest for the best design of the Order of Heroes hundreds of Heaven was won by Taras Wozniak and Konstantina Kovalyshyn from Lviv.

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (Орден Богдана Хмельницького) was established in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. It’s named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Hetman of the Ukrainian Cossacks (a group of predominantly East Slavic Orthodox Christian people who became known as members of democratic, self-governing, semi-military communities).