On Thursday, April 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially awarded the honorary title of “Hero City of Ukraine” to a new group of municipalities. This prestigious designation recognizes the extraordinary resilience, courage, and sacrifice of both civilians and military personnel defending against Russian aggression. The announcement was published by the official internet representation of the head of state.
The newly decorated municipalities include key settlements in the Donetsk region: Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk, and Sloviansk. For a long time, these cities served as vital logistical and humanitarian hubs for Ukrainian defenders. Today, they stand as frontline outposts, enduring increasingly severe Russian bombardments and structural devastation.
In the Zaporizhzhia region, the title was granted to Huliaipole, a town surrounded by continuous heavy fighting, and Orikhiv, which has been subjected to relentless Russian artillery and aerial strikes since the very first days of the full-scale invasion. In the Kharkiv region, the strategic city of Kupiansk was honored. Having survived occupation and subsequent liberation, Kupiansk remains an active combat zone under constant enemy fire.
The Dnipropetrovsk region saw Marhanets, Nikopol, and Pavlohrad recognized as Hero Cities. Despite facing daily cross-river artillery terror from Russian forces, the residents of these communities have demonstrated remarkable organization, ensuring their cities continue to function against all odds. Furthermore, the city of Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region received the award. Because of its critical strategic importance to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, the city has been a constant target for Russian missile and drone strikes since the war began.
President Zelenskyy also highlighted the heroism of the Sumy region. The regional capital, Sumy, which was encircled at the onset of the full-scale aggression, successfully repelled the invaders through fierce local resistance. Additionally, Trostianets—which endured a brutal 31-day Russian occupation—was honored. It was in Trostianets that the Russian advance toward Okhtyrka, Lebedyn, and Sumy was ultimately halted.
Alongside the municipal awards, Zelenskyy decorated several local government officials and military administration leaders who have maintained governance under extreme wartime conditions. Serhiy Solomakha, the Mayor of Myrhorod in the Poltava region, received the Order of Merit, 1st Class. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov was awarded the Order for Courage, 2nd Class. Svitlana Zachepyla, head of the Bilenke village in Zaporizhzhia, and Olena Zhuk, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council, received the Order of Princess Olga, 2nd and 3rd Class, respectively.
Background: The “Hero City of Ukraine” award was established by the President on March 6, 2022, to honor civilian resistance. With these latest additions, a total of 26 Ukrainian cities now proudly hold this historic title.