On Defenders’ Day, on the Feast of the Intercession, we are expanding yet another of our traditions of respect and gratitude. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the highest title of Hero of Ukraine has been awarded only to warriors – Ukrainians who distinguished themselves extraordinarily in combat, in the defense of our state, our positions, and our people. 722 such warriors have already become Heroes of Ukraine, 445 of them posthumously. Today, I signed decrees awarding the title of Hero of Ukraine to four more Ukrainians – tragically, posthumously: Andriy Parubiy, Hennadii Afanasiev, Stepan Chubenko, and Volodymyr Vakulenko. These were special people. And they too were defenders – defenders of the idea of Ukraine, of our independence. Their lives were different, and they came from different parts of our country – Lviv region, Crimea, Donetsk region, Kharkiv region – but each of them has now become, for many, an embodiment of that very Ukraine which has shown its character and stood firm against Russia. We honor all our Heroes. We remember. And we thank everyone who devotes their life to Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!(Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський)