On Ukrainian Marine Corps Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with warriors, congratulated them on their holiday, and presented them with state awards.
The Head of State stressed that the Marines are among the strongest and truly proud branches of the Defense Forces, who have demonstrated their extraordinary courage in the fight for Ukraine’s independence.
“Our Marines fought for Mariupol, fought for the south of Ukraine, defended Mykolaiv, defended Kherson and the Zaporizhzhia region, and took part in intense battles in our Donbas. And it has always been reliable, always brave, in a way that allows our other units to rely on the Ukrainian Marine Corps,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President noted that Ukraine’s Marine Corps continues to successfully carry out complex combat tasks on the Kupyansk, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivsk, and Prydniprovskyi directions of the front.
“I thank you, warriors, and all your brothers-in-arms, for this strength, for this loyalty to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian people. Thank you for your reliability. And I also want to thank every family today – all the mothers and fathers of our Marines – for such sons, for such children, for such Ukrainian men and women who serve our state, fight for Ukraine’s survival, and achieve meaningful results,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President called on everyone to remember all those who gave their lives defending our freedom and independence. The memory of the fallen warriors was honored with a minute of silence.
The Head of State presented the Order of the Golden Star to the brother of a fallen Hero of Ukraine, Junior Sergeant Viktor Korol, who was conferred the highest state honor posthumously. Viktor Korol took part in reconnaissance operations in the Luhansk and Kherson regions. In May 2024, he carried out dozens of successful operations on Kozatskyi Island. Together with his brothers-in-arms, he captured a Russian GRU serviceman. Based on the intelligence obtained, he developed a plan, led a group, and destroyed a sabotage and reconnaissance group of seven Russian special forces personnel. Viktor Korol was killed on October 8, 2025, during the rotation of Ukrainian defenders to the left bank of the Dnipro River as a result of a strike by an enemy drone.
The President awarded Orders of the Golden Star to two Heroes of Ukraine. The highest state honor was presented to:
Senior Seaman Andrii Yelkin. As an UAV operator, he carries out missions in the Donetsk region. During the defense of Myrnohrad, he held combat positions for 114 days. In extremely difficult conditions, he ensured continuous aerial reconnaissance and the detection of enemy forces and equipment. Over this period, he directed fire against around a dozen and a half armored vehicles, seven mortars, and more than twenty fortified positions. He enabled the destruction of approximately one hundred occupiers. He has repeatedly assisted wounded brothers-in-arms.
Senior Sergeant Serhii Maar. Since May 2025, together with the Valkyrie unmanned systems crew, he has carried out reconnaissance and destruction of enemy forces, fortifications, strongpoints, and FPV drones in the Donetsk and Dnipro regions. Over the past nine months, Serhii Maar has spent more than 230 days in combat positions. Under his leadership and direct participation, the Valkyrie crew conducted around 4,000 combat sorties, identified over 1,800 enemy targets, and destroyed or damaged nearly 700 of them.
The Head of State also awarded two servicemen the Cross of Military Merit:
Major Zorian Pelekh. In August 2025, a Marine battalion under his command seized dominant heights near Horikhove, eliminated 50 occupiers, and took control of enemy supply routes. In September, near Novopavlivka, he coordinated the repelling of four enemy assaults and the destruction of 80 invaders and their equipment. From November 2025 to February 2026, amid intense fighting, he strengthened defensive positions along the Pokrovsk–Rodynske line.
Lieutenant Oleksandr Prus. Throughout 2025, he took part in numerous operations to defend the Donetsk region. An assault unit under his command eliminated more than 30 occupiers and destroyed eight enemy motorcycles and quad bikes. He repeatedly organized and led the evacuation of wounded brothers-in-arms, helping save more than 30 warriors. In particular, under enemy mortar fire, he evacuated a severely wounded brother-in-arms on a quad bike, saving his life.
In addition, the President awarded defenders the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class, and “For Courage,” I–III class.
The Head of State also presented the battle flag to the 426th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment, the distinction “For Courage and Bravery” to the 501st Separate Marine Battalion, and the honorary designation ribbon “Borysfen” to the 34th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy.