Klychko Awarded Families of Fallen Defenders with the 'Honor. Glory. State' Medal on the Day of Remembrance of Heroes

On the eve of the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine, which this year is observed on August 29, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klychko, on behalf of the capital, awarded the 'Honor. Glory. State' medal to the families of fallen military personnel. The city head announced this in his Telegram channel, emphasizing that the awarding ceremony was part of the official program commemorating the fighters who died in the struggle for Ukraine's independence, freedom, and territorial integrity. The ceremony took place against the backdrop of memorial slides bearing the names and dates of life of the heroes, with representatives of the city administration present alongside the families.

The Medal Awarding Ceremony

According to Klychko, the awards were handed over to the relatives of several fallen defenders whose names were displayed on a large screen during the ceremony. The mayor noted that the city has been systematically caring for the families of the fallen military since the start of the full-scale invasion, and that a separate system of city assistance is in place for them. 'We remember every man and every woman who gave their life. But we care for those who have lost their loved ones and close ones – the brave defenders of Ukraine,' the capital's head stated, adding that the awarding of the medals is a way to publicly affirm the gratitude of the state and the city for the heroes' deeds.

The Memory of Ilovaisk as the Basis for the Date

Klychko reminded that August 29 is linked to the Ilovaisk tragedy of 2014, when Russian troops violated the agreement on a safe withdrawal of Ukrainian military personnel from encirclement. 'Twelve years have passed since then. The scale of the war, our experience and understanding, and the value of what the enemy is trying to take from us have changed. But the main thing remains unchanged – Ukraine continues to fight for its right to be free and pays a high price for it,' the mayor emphasized. Thus, the date marks not only a specific battle but also the multi-year nature of the conflict, in which the city and the country bear human losses.

Stories of the Heroes Honored at the Ceremony

In his address, Klychko gave two examples illustrating the different ages and paths of those who stood up to defend the country. According to him, among those honored was Andriy, who was only 21 years old at the time of his death: 'At this age, life is only beginning. But the war cut it short...'. Another hero – Volodymyr, the oldest among those being honored – was 64 years old at the time of his death. Since 2015, he had been engaged in volunteering: he personally made 'burzhuyki' (portable stoves) and delivered them to Ukrainian defenders at the front, and with the start of the full-scale invasion he was among the first to stand up to defend Ukraine. The mayor emphasized that these people had one thing in common – the readiness to defend their state.

Contradictory Data

When cross-checking the mayor's written address with the official photo report, a discrepancy arises in the list of heroes mentioned. In his written statement, Klychko names two people as examples – a 21-year-old Andriy and a 64-year-old Volodymyr – whereas the memorial slide in the ceremony frame displays different data: 'OLEKSANDR OLEKSANDROVYCH, 25.06.1988 – 16.03.2024'. This means that other fallen defenders, whose names are not disclosed in the text of the mayor's post, were also honored at the ceremony. Readers should not identify the hero in the photo with the two examples given in the address, since the written statement contains only illustrative, and not exhaustive, information about the awardees.

The City Assistance System for the Families of the Fallen

Klychko also detailed the support measures that Kyiv provides to the families of fallen military personnel. These include financial support for children and non-working parents, free travel on municipal transport, health-improvement trips for children accompanied by an adult, sanatorium-resort treatment, and other social services. It was previously reported that in the capital there are monthly and annual assistance payments to non-working family members, utility, social, and educational benefits, free meals for children in schools and kindergartens, as well as funding for sanatorium-resort vouchers. According to the mayor, it is precisely this comprehensive system that allows the city to care for those who have lost their loved ones and close ones – the defenders of Ukraine.