On March 6, 2022, the cities of Volnovakha, Gostomel, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv were awarded the honorary title of "Hero City of Ukraine." The corresponding Decree No. 111/2022 was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The honorary title "Hero City of Ukraine" was established to honor settlements whose residents demonstrated heroism, resilience, and fortitude in confronting the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine.
In the context of full-scale war, this title has become a symbol of the state's deep respect for the communities that were the first to bear the brunt of the enemy's powerful blow.
In Donetsk Oblast, this title was awarded to Volnovakha and Mariupol.
The Russians almost wiped Volnovakha off the face of the earth: houses, schools, hospitals were destroyed, and infrastructure was devastated. Today, its name serves as a reminder of the price of freedom and of the people who remained loyal to their country until the very end. Donetsk Oblast has been defending Ukraine for many years, and Volnovakha is one of its tragic but proud pages.
Mariupol is a separate, deeply emotional page in modern history. The city was completely surrounded and subjected to continuous air strikes and artillery shelling. Despite the humanitarian catastrophe and the lack of water, electricity, and communications, the defense lasted more than two months. The defenders of Mariupol demonstrated an example of self-sacrifice that became known throughout the world. The civilians who survived the siege showed extraordinary strength of spirit.