President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the military personnel taking part in the Oleksandrivska Operation and presented them with state awards.
The Head of State congratulated the defenders on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence and thanked them for defending the country in one of the toughest areas. The President highlighted the results on the battlefield and the defense of Zaporizhzhia and the Zaporizhzhia region, a place with Ukrainian roots, history, and the Sich.
“Of course, the enemy always wants to cross this out, because our history is longer than any Russian aggression and any history in Moscow. And, of course, this is something we must fight for. We – you and our entire country – have a great chance, for the first time in this full-scale war for the independence of our state, to defeat an enemy that is not to be feared, because you demonstrate not only your strength, but also your humanity. That means not only intellect, which is very important, but also heart. And this is what very clearly distinguishes our army, the face of Ukraine, from the Russian aggressors,” the Head of State said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy separately called on commanders to take care of their personnel.
“The most important part of our army is the warrior. Technology is also very important, but technology is there precisely to protect the warrior, because the warrior is above all – just like Ukraine,” the President said.
The Head of State presented the Orders of the Golden Star to two Heroes of Ukraine. The highest state award was bestowed upon:
Commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi. In 2014, he founded the volunteer battalion “Azov,” which was reorganized into the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade in September 2022. In March 2025, the brigade became the 3rd Army Corps. Andrii Biletskyi is implementing technological solutions, including the global integration of unmanned ground robotic systems. As of the end of August, the defense line under the army corps’ responsibility extended up to 171 kilometers – about 12% of the entire length of the front. Overall, the corps’ warriors eliminated nearly 23,000 occupiers and wounded more than 16,500 others, captured 362 Russians, destroyed more than 126,000 drones of various types, more than 220 electronic warfare systems, 55 multiple rocket launchers, around 40 tanks, and more than 310 artillery systems.
Commander of the 79th Separate Tavriiska Air Assault Brigade, Colonel Eduard Kolodii. From January to August 10 this year, units of the brigade under Colonel Kolodii’s command conducted a range of defensive, offensive, assault, and search-and-strike operations in the Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Oleksandrivska, and adjacent areas. During this period, they inflicted more than 1,000 personnel casualties on Russian forces, captured seven Russian occupiers, and destroyed equipment, communications systems, and ammunition depots. Under difficult conditions of intense combat, Eduard Kolodii ensured steady command of the brigade and the timely deployment of reserves, making it possible to thwart a number of the enemy’s offensive and counteroffensive actions and hold important defensive positions.
The President awarded 31 service members the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I–III classes, and “For Courage,” I–III classes, as well as the medals “For Military Service to Ukraine.” The Head of State awarded the military rank of brigadier general to Colonels Oleh Honcharuk, Valerii Skreda, and Oleksii Khalabuda.
As a result of the Oleksandrivska Operation, which has been ongoing since January this year, 745 square kilometers of territory have been liberated, and 26 villages in Dnipro, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions have been brought back under Ukrainian control. Russian losses amount to at least 9,550 killed and more than 6,600 wounded. The operation also helped replenish Ukraine’s prisoner-exchange fund.