Latest news with #OrderoftheGoldStar
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Putin will have to try harder than that in order to kill me,' says NI aid worker injured in Ukraine
Peter Jennings, who escaped death after being caught up in an explosion, received the Order of the Gold Star, Ukraine's highest civilian honour, from President Zelensky last year following his ordeal. He travelled to Buckingham Palace for a garden party last month, where he met the future King and Queen. The 'once in a lifetime' experience was shared with Ukrainian refugee Tatiana Atananenko. He said: 'We met with Prince William and Princess Kate, along with Sophie and Edward, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 'They were all there. It was an amazing day. You don't go back twice for that. 'It was a nice honour for me, but it's not really my scene, because I don't like publicity. 'It was more for Tatiana. That was the biggest honour bestowed on her. 'She said to me: 'I never, ever thought, being a refugee, I would be in a position with you to go and see the royal family, going to Buckingham Palace and walking around the gardens, having tea and eating the same food as the King eats'. 'She can't quite get her head around it yet, that she has been to Buckingham Palace. 'I got to meet Princess Kate, she looked absolutely amazing following her cancer treatment. 'You never would have thought she was ill, she looked a million dollars. 'She was so polite and so nice. She had time to listen and talk, not just shake your hand and disappear. 'She was really down to earth. She was a lovely woman. 'Prince William said to me: 'Peter, we are all very proud of you. We know everything about you because we have been told about you'.' Mr Jennings began organising humanitarian trips to Ukraine in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion. He is grateful for the generosity of local people who support his work, especially small businesses in Derry. On his last trip he visited an orphanage and children's hospital near the front line, where he delivered more than 750 Christmas presents to young people affected by the war. Earlier in the year, while travelling to the contested region of Kherson in the east of the country, he was blasted out of his lorry during a Russian strike which claimed the lives of three soldiers he had become friendly with — Ivan Kovalenk, Aleksander Shevchenko and Maxim Kravchenko. Despite being left with permanent injuries to his eyes and a limp, Mr Jennings is committed to delivering on a promise he gave the men. He said: 'I made a vow that day to the soldiers: 'Don't think you have seen the end of me, because I will be back'. 'To the three soldiers who were lost and their families, I owe it to them.' Mr Jennings also keeps in touch with President Zelensky, who has become the public face of his country's defiance against the Russian invasion. He explained: 'I have a lot of time for Zelensky, I actually have his mobile number. 'He sends me a text every once in a while, asking if I am okay, and how my injuries are. 'I think I am the only one in the UK to have the Golden Star. 'They are very rare. It's the biggest civilian award they can give you. 'I am proud of that one. It means more to me than the other medals, it's very special. 'I have got 10 medals — one from Kyiv, a volunteer one, Patriot of Ukraine, one for Bucha, then there's the star, and one for Kharkiv. 'I got one for being injured as well, not that I need a reminder.' PM says Putin 'not serious about peace' While suffering as a result of his injuries, he insisted he will not be stopped from delivering much-needed aid to Ukraine. Mr Jennings intends to continue defying of his doctor's orders — and the Russian leader who started the war. 'I am OK at the moment. Ukraine is more important to me,' he said. 'Putin is going to have to try harder than that to kill me.'
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Putin will have to try harder than that in order to kill me'
Peter Jennings, who escaped death after being caught up in an explosion, received the Order of the Gold Star, Ukraine's highest civilian honour, from President Zelensky last year following his ordeal. He travelled to Buckingham Palace for a garden party last month, where he met the future King and Queen. The 'once in a lifetime' experience was shared with Ukrainian refugee Tatiana Atananenko. He said: 'We met with Prince William and Princess Kate, along with Sophie and Edward, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 'They were all there. It was an amazing day. You don't go back twice for that. 'It was a nice honour for me, but it's not really my scene, because I don't like publicity. 'It was more for Tatiana. That was the biggest honour bestowed on her. 'She said to me: 'I never, ever thought, being a refugee, I would be in a position with you to go and see the royal family, going to Buckingham Palace and walking around the gardens, having tea and eating the same food as the King eats'. 'She can't quite get her head around it yet, that she has been to Buckingham Palace. 'I got to meet Princess Kate, she looked absolutely amazing following her cancer treatment. 'You never would have thought she was ill, she looked a million dollars. 'She was so polite and so nice. She had time to listen and talk, not just shake your hand and disappear. 'She was really down to earth. She was a lovely woman. 'Prince William said to me: 'Peter, we are all very proud of you. We know everything about you because we have been told about you'.' Mr Jennings began organising humanitarian trips to Ukraine in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion. He is grateful for the generosity of local people who support his work, especially small businesses in Derry. On his last trip he visited an orphanage and children's hospital near the front line, where he delivered more than 750 Christmas presents to young people affected by the war. Earlier in the year, while travelling to the contested region of Kherson in the east of the country, he was blasted out of his lorry during a Russian strike which claimed the lives of three soldiers he had become friendly with — Ivan Kovalenk, Aleksander Shevchenko and Maxim Kravchenko. Despite being left with permanent injuries to his eyes and a limp, Mr Jennings is committed to delivering on a promise he gave the men. He said: 'I made a vow that day to the soldiers: 'Don't think you have seen the end of me, because I will be back'. 'To the three soldiers who were lost and their families, I owe it to them.' Mr Jennings also keeps in touch with President Zelensky, who has become the public face of his country's defiance against the Russian invasion. He explained: 'I have a lot of time for Zelensky, I actually have his mobile number. 'He sends me a text every once in a while, asking if I am okay, and how my injuries are. 'I think I am the only one in the UK to have the Golden Star. 'They are very rare. It's the biggest civilian award they can give you. 'I am proud of that one. It means more to me than the other medals, it's very special. 'I have got 10 medals — one from Kyiv, a volunteer one, Patriot of Ukraine, one for Bucha, then there's the star, and one for Kharkiv. 'I got one for being injured as well, not that I need a reminder.' While suffering as a result of his injuries, he insisted he will not be stopped from delivering much-needed aid to Ukraine. Mr Jennings intends to continue defying of his doctor's orders — and the Russian leader who started the war. 'I am OK at the moment. Ukraine is more important to me,' he said. 'Putin is going to have to try harder than that to kill me.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy presents awards on Infantry Day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with soldiers and the families of fallen defenders, presented state awards and promoted three colonels on the Day of Infantry of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Source: Office of the President of Ukraine; presidential decrees Quote from Zelenskyy: "Ukraine stands because the Ukrainian infantry stands – fights, destroys the occupier, defends and regains our Ukrainian positions, as well as carries out brilliant operations that have already become exemplary parts of global military history – your history, the history of the brave." Details: Zelenskyy also presented the Order of the Gold Star of Hero of Ukraine to Junior Lieutenant Vladyslav Datskyi and Junior Sergeant Mykola Molchanov. Separately, Zelenskyy handed the Order of the Gold Star to the families of three fallen Heroes of Ukraine: Yaroslav Khybovskyi, Vasyl Yaremko and Ivan Holubka. The president emphasised that Ukraine will always honour its heroes and urged people never to forget the fallen. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy posthumously awards Hero of Ukraine title to pilot Oleksii Mes who died in F-16 crash
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine along with the Order of the Gold Star to Ukrainian pilot Oleksii "Moonfish" Mes, who died in an F-16 crash on 26 August 2024 while engaging in combat during a Russian missile attack. Source: Decree No. 165/2025 Quote: "For personal courage and heroism demonstrated in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I hereby decree: To posthumously award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Gold Star to Colonel Oleksii Serhiiovych Mes." For reference: Oleksii Mes was one of the first Ukrainian pilots to master flying F-16 fighter jets. In autumn 2023, he trained in Denmark alongside other Ukrainian pilots. Background: During the night and morning of 26 August 2024, Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure, using over 100 missiles and approximately 100 Shahed attack drones. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed in Ukraine on 26 August. Later, Ukraine's Air Force confirmed that pilot Oleksii Mes died that day while repelling Russia's large-scale combined missile and aircraft attack. Ukraine's General Staff also confirmed that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed while intercepting Russian missile strikes. In September, Breaking Defense reported that the crash may have been caused by debris from a downed Russian missile. On 14 February, The Wall Street Journal published an article suggesting that the fighter jet may have been downed by friendly fire from a Patriot air defence system, although Ukraine has not officially confirmed this. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
