Prosthetic gymnast, volunteer and bodyguard: Interior Ministry awarded 8 children who suffered from Russian aggression for their bravery
Eight Ukrainian children who suffered during the full-scale war have been honoured with awards for courage and bravery at a charity event sponsored by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the ministry has announced.
"This is the second time the Hero Children charity event has been held in Ukraine. Its purpose is to celebrate and pay due respect to child heroes who have shown courage and bravery in dangerous situations.
The children who have received awards have suffered from Russian aggression, but they continue to support Ukraine with all their might and bring its victory closer," the organisers of the event explained.
The Interior Ministry presented awards to:
- Oleksandra Paskal, a champion gymnast from Chornomorsk
Oleksandra lost her leg during Russian rocket fire. She underwent a long rehabilitation, after which she returned to her artistic gymnastics training. She performs with a prosthesis and dreams of winning Olympic gold.
- Nikita Savicheva, 10, from Sumy and Oleksandr Demianenko, 12, from Poltava
These children fearlessly helped to save their younger brothers and sisters from a fire trap while emergency workers were rushing to their homes.
- Arsen Ajubey, an artist from Bila Tserkva
Arsen, who has autism, helps the Ukrainian army by painting pictures and selling them with his parents’ help. All the funds raised go to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Solomiia Reut, who plays the sopilka
Solomiia, who is 7 and comes from Dnipro, plays the sopilka (a Ukrainian folk instrument in the flute family) to raise money for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"It’s thanks to this little girl that we have been able to close several fundraising campaigns. Solomiika admits that she wants to popularise playing the sopilka as well as helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where, by the way, her father is serving at the moment," the Ministry of Internal Affairs adds.
- Valentyn Chornyi, a young guard
When the full-scale invasion started, 17-year-old Valentin Chornyi from Kyiv Oblast joined the soldiers of the State Border Service. He did not hesitate to offer his help to the border guards.
Valentyn spent 168 days with the border guards, helping to dig trenches and monitor the situation around them.
He said he has dreamed of becoming a soldier since he was a child.
- brave and clever Kostia Orekhov from Velyka Dymerka
When the tail of an Uragan rocket fell in Kyiv Oblast, Kostia took his grandparents to a safe place. Because of him, they were able to escape the collapse of their house.
- brave Bohdan Pechenyi from Bakhmut
9-year-old Bohdan's parents were killed in the centre of his hometown by a Russian shell in October 2022. Their son could not believe they were gone, and he rode alone at night on a bicycle to the place of their deaths. Bohdan covered the distance with bullets whistling overhead, and he made it to one of the most dangerous areas to say goodbye to his stepfather and his pregnant mother.
Now Bohdan dreams of becoming a defender of Ukraine.
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