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Category: Ukraine

The Order of Merit (Ukraine)

The Order of Merit (Орден За заслуги) is given to individuals for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture, and politics.

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

The Order of Merit (Орден «За заслуги») is given to individuals for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture, military or political spheres of activity. The Order was first established by Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma on August 18, 1992. On September 22, 1996, it was transformed into three classes of the Order of Merit.

There are 3 grades to the Order, the highest being the first grade honors. Those who are awarded the Order of Merit have the official title Chevalier of the Order of Merit. The order can be granted posthumously.

The Order of Merit Design

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

The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise

The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Орден князя Ярослава Мудрого) is awarded for distinguished services to the state and people of Ukraine.

The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Орден князя Ярослава Мудрого) is awarded for distinguished services to the state and people of Ukraine in the field of state building, strengthening the international prestige of Ukraine, development of economy, science, education, culture, art, health care, for outstanding charitable, humanistic and public activities. The motto of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise – “Wisdom, honor, glory.“

The Order was instituted on 23 August 1995 by the Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma. It is awarded in five classes (I, II, III, IV and V degree). 

The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise can be awarded to citizens of Ukraine, foreign citizens, and stateless persons. Those awarded the Order of any degree and is called a Knight of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.

Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise Design

The insignia of the order was designed by sculptor and professor of the National Academy Of Fine Arts And Architecture, Valeriy Shvetsov.

The Order has a blue ribbon with a yellow stripe on each edge.The badge of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise I degree is worn on the chain of the Order, one star of the Order – on the left side of the chest, the other – on the ribbon over the right shoulder below the bow. The insignia of the Order of the I degree is made of silver and is an equilateral cross with rounded ends, topped with miniature crosses. 

The star of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise is made of silver and has the shape of an octagonal convex star with gilded and silver diverging rays.

The Order of Liberty (Ukraine)

The Order of Liberty (орден Свободи) was instituted on April 10, 2008 to honour merits of citizens for strengthening the Sovereignty and Independence of Ukraine, as well as for consolidating Ukrainian society, developing Democracy, advancing socio-economic and political reforms, and advocating the Constitutional Rights and Liberties of Man and Citizen.

The Order was instituted by President Yushchenko by decree № 1177/2005. It can be given to citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons may be awarded the Order of Freedom.

Awarding the Order of Freedom may be carried out posthumously. Those awarded the Order of Freedom are called a Knight of the Order of Freedom.

The Order of Liberty Medal Design

 The Commission on State Awards and Heraldry was instructed to hold an all-Ukrainian competition to develop designs for the Order of Freedom. On May 20, 2008, Decree of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko № 460/2008 approved the Statute of the Order, which includes a description of the Order’s badge.

The sign of the Order of Freedom is made of gilded silver and has the shape of an equilateral cross with diverging sides. The sides are covered with white enamel and decorated with four rectangular Swarovski crystals. In the centre of the cross is a round blue enamel medallion with a gold image of the Sign of the Princely State of Vladimir the Great framed by a laurel wreath. The sides of the corners of the cross are framed by stylized floral ornaments. The reverse side of the sign of the order is flat with the engraved number of the sign.

The ribbon is white silk moire with longitudinal stripes – in the middle of wide blue and yellow, bordered on the edges by narrow stripes of yellow and blue, respectively, and on the edges of the ribbon by narrow strips of orange. 

A person awarded the Order of Freedom is awarded a badge of the order and an order book of the established pattern.

The Hero of Ukraine Medal

The Hero of Ukraine Medal (Герой України) is the highest national title conferred upon an individual citizen by the President of Ukraine.

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Year of Institution: 26 November 1998
  • Country: Ukraine

The Hero of Ukraine Medal (Герой України) is the highest national title conferred upon an individual citizen by the President of Ukraine. The award was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma.

The title is granted to two different order recipients: the civilian Order of the State, and the military Order of the Gold Star. These are the highest national award to citizens for accomplishing a remarkable work achievement and for accomplishing a remarkable heroic act.

The “Hero of Ukraine” medal can be traced to the Soviet medals Hero of the Soviet Union (established 16 April 1934) and the Hero of Socialist Labor (established 27 December 1938), which were the highest decorations in the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, similar awards were created in the resulting independent countries, including Ukraine

The Hero of Ukraine Medal Design

Two medals were created by Ukrainian law to differentiate between the titles. Both medals have a ribbon measuring 45 mm (1.8 in) long and 28 mm (1.1 in) wide, divided equally into two bands (a blue band on the left and a yellow band on the right, matching the colors of the Ukrainian flag). 

The Order of State and Order of Gold Star are as follows:

Order of Gold Star - Ukrainian Medals
Ukrainian Medals - Order of State