Vadym Filashkin, alongside Colonel Hennadii Kutsyi, Commander of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, presented state and regional honors to the unit's soldiers.
Service members received the "Defender of Donetsk Oblast" (*Захисник Донеччини*) and "Badge of Honor" (*Знак пошани*) chest badges.
The brigade has been defending Donetsk Oblast since 2014 and was among the first units to repel the full-scale Russian invasion. Its soldiers have demonstrated immense heroism and high professionalism in battles for Chasiv Yar, during the Slobozhanshchyna counteroffensive, and along the Kramatorsk and Sloviansk axes.
Where these National Guardsmen hold the line, the enemy has been unable to advance a single meter for years.
"Special thanks to the brigade commander, who is always alongside his unit. His decisions, attitude toward the fighters, and coordinated leadership are of paramount importance on the battlefield.
May these awards serve as a symbol of our respect and gratitude. We continue to support our defenders with everything they need.
Glory to our defenders! Glory to Ukraine!" stated Vadym Filashkin.