Cross of Military Merit

The Cross of Military Merit was instituted on May 5, 2022 by decree of President Zelensky. It is a state award, presented along with the title, Cavalier, for (1) outstanding personal courage and bravery; (2) outstanding heroic deed during the execution of a combat mission under conditions dangerous to life and in direct confrontation with an enemy; or (3) outstanding achievements in the management of troops during combat operations. The first awards occurred on May 6, 2022. It ranks immediately below the Hero Order.

The 40mm, silver-gilt Combat Merit Cross is in the form of a straight, equilateral cross, the arms of which end in pentagons, superimposed on crossed broad swords with the tips up. The rays of the cross are faceted. The rhombus in the center of the cross is covered with translucent blue enamel and contains the gilt Sign (Tryzub) of the Princely State of Volodymyr of Kyiv. The reverse side of the cross is flat with an engraved serial number.

Initial recipients included the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhny, who from the beginning of Russia's armed aggression successfully organized the defense of the state and personally led the heroic resistance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. General Zaluzhny became the first Knight of the Cross of Military Merit.

The Cross of Military Merit was also received by the (1) Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Yevhen Moysiuk; (2) Commander of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko; (3) Deputy Commander of the mechanized battalion of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Captain Vladyslav Kaliyevsky; and (4) combat medic of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Sergeant Dariya Mazurenko.


Cross of Military Merit and Medal for Defense of Ukraine


The obverse of the new 2022 Medal for Defense of Ukraine depicts four broad swords with tips pointing east, west, north, and south. In the center is the Sign Tryzub) of the Princely State of Volodymyr of Kyiv. The reverse is inscribed in Cyrillic on three lines, FOR DEFENSE UKRAINE.

The medal will be awarded in two classes (gold and silver) to servicemen and intelligence officers, who directly participated in the implementation of measures necessary to ensure the defense of Ukraine. The statute also provides for the award of the medal to military personnel and employees of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Security Service, Foreign Intelligence, law enforcement, and other authorities who were directly involved in the implementation of measures to ensure the defense of Ukraine and protect the security of the population and the interests of the state.


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