Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday posthumously awarded a solider who died in hand-to-hand combat with a medal designating him a Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star, Zelensky's office announced.
Why It Matters
The title Hero of Ukraine is the highest national decoration that can be given to an individual citizen by the president of Ukraine.
What To Know
Zelensky gave the honor to Dmytro Maslovsky, call sign "Cobra," a soldier of the 71st separate ranger brigade who died fighting a Russian soldier on November 17 near Trudove, a village Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.
According to a statement on the official website for the president of Ukraine, Maslovsky "eliminated" four Russian troops before engaging in hand-to-hand combat with a fifth soldier. After a struggle, the Russian came out on top.
Before Zelensky honored Maslovsky, the Ukrainian solider's combat skills had already received worldwide attention when a graphic video of his final fight was widely shared on the internet.
In the video, Maslovsky can be heard telling his rival, according to an English translation by the independent Russian outlet The Moscow Times: "I want to go on my own...You were the strongest fighter in this world. Farewell."
The Russian serviceman was identified as Andrey Grigoriev, and he later expressed respect for Maslovsky in an interview recorded after the video of the fight went viral.
Grigoriev was also awarded the title of Hero of Russia by the Kremlin on Saturday.
The Honored Soldier's Background
According to the statement from Zelensky's office, Maslovsky had been serving in Ukraine's military since 2018. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, Maslovsky performed combat missions in the Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, as well as in the Belgorod region of the Russia.
During the presentation of the medal to Maslovsky, Zelensky also honored Ukrainian soldiers who he said were the first to capture North Korean troops fighting on behalf of Russia.
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement posted on his office's official website: "Everyone saw Dmytro's last battle, the battle in Donetsk region, millions of Ukrainians saw it—against the occupier, who was brought here five thousand kilometers from Yakutia to kill our people. It was a heroic battle and exemplary bravery of our guy."
He continued, "Ukraine will always remember this bravery. And we will never forgive Russia for the deaths of our heroes—we will respond to the enemy for every such loss."
What Happens Next
Unless a surprise peace deal is reached, next month will see the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
English (US) ·