Hero of Ukraine

Mykhaylo Borysyuk, Hero of Ukraine

The title of Hero of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Герой України, Russian: Герой Украины, Transliteration: Heroy Ukrayiny) is the highest award that can be conferred by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma, and it is currently awarded in two grades: one for heroism and one for great achievements in labor. Since Borys Paton first received the title in 1998,^[1] 141 people have been awarded the title. Decorations that are similar to the Hero of Ukraine are Russia's Hero of the Russian Federation and Belarus's Hero of Belarus. All of those decorations were influenced in some way by decorations handed out by the Soviet Union.

Creation

The origin of the Hero of Ukraine can be traced to the Hero of the Soviet Union, established on 16 April 1934, and the Hero of Socialist Labor, established on 27 December 1938. Most of the recipients of the former title received it for heroic military action, while those awarded the latter were recognized for their contributions to national economy and culture. The awards could be given to the same individual more than once, and only the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet could deprive a recipient of the award once given. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, similar award were created in the resulting independent countries, including Ukraine.

The title Hero of Ukraine was created on 23 August 1998 with Edict #944/98 by President Leonid Kuchma. Similar in structure to the titles issued by the Soviet Union, the title is awarded in two grades: "The Order of the Gold Star" and the "The Order of the State". Unlike the Soviet awards, Ukrainian law allows for a person to receive each grade only once, although the person may receive both grades. This means that a holder of the Order of the State performs a heroic action, they can be presented with the other grade, Order of the Gold Star. And if a holder of the Order of the Gold Star performs a great deed in the labor force, they can be eligible to receive the Order of the State. Either grade can be presented posthumously and a hero cannot have the title voided upon conferment.

Design

Order of the Gold Star	Order of the State	Wearer's Copy

Because of the two grades of the title, two medals have been created by Ukrainian law, each one representing a grade. They have several common features—for example, both medals use a ribbon 45 mm long and 28 mm wide and divided equally into two bands along its length, with a blue band on the right and a yellow band on the left, matching the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Connected to the ribbon is a suspension device joined to a medallion, both of which are made out of gold. On both medals, the name of each decoration and a serial number are engraved on the reverse side of the medallion. ^[2]

Below the ribbon of the Order of the Gold Star, the golden suspension device contains an engraving of the Coat of Arms of Ukraine. The medallion is shaped like a five-pointed star with the width of 35 mm from one end to the other, and is set within a wreath of oak leaves. Inside the star, there are two smaller stars engraved inside it. ^[3] In contrast, the medallion for the Order of the State has the trident of Prince Volodymyr placed on top of a wreath of oak leaves. The size of the medallion is 35 mm high and 36 mm wide. There is no special design or symbol engraved on the suspension device. ^[4] In addition to the formal award, recipients of either grade are given a wearer's copy for use in public. Only one design of the wearer's copy exists, being modeled after the Hero of Socialist Labor medal with the red ribbon replaced by a blue and yellow ribbon and the hammer and sickle insignia removed. This medal is made out of non-precious metals and it is worn on the left breast. ^[5]

Regulations

File:Leonid Kuchma 2004.jpg

Leonid Kuchma

Two different regulations have been issued by President Leonid Kuchma: the edict of 1998 and a new edict in 2002.^[6] The edict of 2002 voided the edict of 1998, being issued after the law of Ukraine on state awards^[7] confirmed the status of the title in 2000.

The 1998 edict contained general guidelines about the title. Some of the subjects mentioned were the criteria for receiving each grade of the title, who can present the title, and how the medal should be displayed in public. The decree specified the title as being awarded to "citizens of Ukraine for their personal heroism and great labor achievements." It stipulated that only the president can award the title, though certain other bodies of the Ukrainian Government can recommend people to receive it. The edict also allowed for special benefits, including increased pay, social security, and health care, that heroes could use until their death. The decree also covered the topics of duplicate medals and the display, ownership and storage of the insignia.

The new 2002 regulations differ only slightly from the original ones. The designs of the medals were not changed, the new edict introduced the measurements of the miniature medal, or the "wearer's copy". Article 4 outlines the details on the ownership of the insignia and special procedures for the medals to be displayed in museums.

Display

Ribbon bar

The medal that is presented with the title is always worn on the right breast and is worn above any other medals and decorations awarded by Ukraine. If a person has been awarded both grades of the title, the Order of the Gold Star medal is placed to the right of the Order of the State medal. A copy of the medal, made out of non-precious metals, can be presented to the hero for daily wear. If wearing the medal is not permitted, a ribbon bar measuring 12 x 18 mm can be worn in its place. Another copy of the decoration, called the miniature badge, is worn above the ribbon bars on the left side of the uniform.

Procedure

In order for a person to be awarded the title, a recommendation must be made to the President by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine), the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, any of the ministers or heads of other central executive bodies, or any regional authorities.

If the title is to be conferred to a member of the Ukrainian military, security services, national and border guards and civil defense services, a recommendation must be filed by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service, the National Guard, the National Border Guards Committee or the Ministry of Emergencies.^[8]

The recommendations are then sent to the President for consideration, along with a package composed of the details of the the nominee's deeds and the recommendations that have been filed on his or her behalf. If the President agrees with the recommendation, he will issue a decree to award the person the title, which includes receiving a medal, miniature badge and certificate at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Kiev. ^[9]

Notable recipients

Vitali Klitschko, right, with his brother Wladimir

Sofia Rotaru - arguably the best known popular singer from Ukraine in the former Soviet Union.
Yana Klochkova - Yana won gold medals at the Athens and Sydney Olympic Games in the sport of swimming. She was awarded the title in "recognition of Klochkova's outstanding services to Ukraine and her efforts to build up the country's reputation in the Olympic arena." ^[10]
Vitali Klitschko - boxer: was given the grade "Order of the Gold Star" in 2004. ^[11]
Valery Lobanovsky, the former trainer of the football club FC Dynamo Kyiv (Dinamo Kiev). Lobanovsky died on 13 May 2002 on the operating table to treat an "acute abnormality of circulation of the blood in the brain, against the background of hypertensive crisis" after he passed out during the football game of his team. Kuchma awarded the title to Lobanovsky for his years of service to Ukraine for the development of football inside the nation and also improving national prestige. ^[12]
Andrei Shevchenko - 2004 European Footballer of the Year and two time winner of the Serie A scoring title; awarded the "Order of the Gold Star" in 2004. ^[13] ^[14]
Pavlo Zahrebelnyy - writer, for "self-sacrifice for Ukraine, and for many years of writing and significant personal contributions toward the enrichment of the national spiritual treasury." ^[15]

Questionable awardings

There have been allegations that some members of Kuchma's inner circle, mainly Viktor Medvedchuk, may have made inappropriate awardings of Ukrainian decorations and titles, including the Hero of Ukraine title. Police, according to the Associated Press, have sent summons to Medvedchuk on 15 July 2005, asking for him to appear for questioning about these awardings. ^[16] Kuchma and Medvedchuk were also questioned on why they gave Aleksandr Bartenev the Hero of Ukraine title. Bartenev, known also as "Major", a supposed gang member, is currently facing legal charges in Ukraine. ^[17]

Due to these problems, President Yushchenko has agreed to stop awarding state decorations starting in June 2005 until further notice. This move was announced by Ivan Vasiunyk, the First Deputy Secretary of State, and it was backed by the Commission for Decorations and Heraldry. According to Vasiunyk, 41 people were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine in 2004, with some of the awardings being presented during the pre-election period. Vasiunyk was also quoted as saying "I don't think you know a third of these names," referring to those who were presented with the hero title in that year. The Commission also agreed to not strip anyone of their decorations, unless Ukrainian law would permit them to do so. ^[18] Even so, two posthumous titles were awarded in July of 2005 to Oles'(Oleksandr) Honchar and Vadym Hetman.

References

External links