Hero City of Ukraine

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Hero Cities of Ukraine. Italics indicate Hero Cities declared as such by the Soviet Union.

Hero City of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Місто-герой України, romanized: Misto-heroi Ukrainy) is a Ukrainian honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1] It was awarded to six cities, in addition to four cities already awarded that title by the Soviet Union. This symbolic distinction for a city corresponds to the individual distinction of Hero of Ukraine.

History[edit]

Soviet Union[edit]

During the Soviet era, twelve cities were awarded the title of "Hero City", an honour awarded to cities whose residents showed outstanding resolve and courage in the Great Patriotic War. The honourary title is related to the Hero of the Soviet Union award, the highest distinction available in the Soviet Union. Several of these cities are located in what was the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, with the title awarded to the cities of Odessa, Sevastopol, Kyiv and Kerch. The status of these cities was inherited by the successor state of Ukraine. While all four of these cities lie within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders, the cities of Sevastopol and Kerch are de facto territories of the Republic of Crimea and the Federal City of Sevastopol, both of which are controlled by the Russian Federation, following the Russian annexation of Crimea.

The usage of the term "hero city" is dated to articles in Pravda as early as 1942. The first official usage of the title is dated by May 1, 1945, when Joseph Stalin issued his Supreme Commander Order No. 20 commanding to fire salutes in the "hero cities Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol, and Odessa."[2] On June 22, 1961 (the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War) the term "Hero City" was applied to Kyiv in a ukases that awarded Kyiv the Order of Lenin and introduced the Medal "For the Defence of Kyiv".

The award of Hero City of the Soviet Union was officially introduced on May 8, 1965, by the ukase of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of USSR, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. In 1988 the issuance of the award was officially discontinued.

Ukraine[edit]

The modern title of Hero City of Ukraine was introduced on 6 March 2022 by decree No. 111 of 2022 by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The award is related to the modern Ukrainian title of the Hero of Ukraine. In a public broadcast, Zelenskyy stated:

"I decided to mark our Hero Cities with a special title that already existed. When another invasion was defeated. But a similar invasion. Another invasion. But no less cruel invasion."

In addition to renewing the status of Kyiv, Odesa, Sevastopol and Kerch, decree 111 also awarded the title to the cities of Chernihiv, Hostomel, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol and Volnovakha.[3][4]

List of Hero Cities[edit]

Chernihiv[edit]

Hero of Ukraine - Siege of Chernihiv

The Siege of Chernihiv was launched on 24 February 2022 by Russian Forces. According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russian forces had failed to capture the city and instead opted to bypass the city through an alternative route to Kyiv.[5][6] Ukrainian officials reported that the Russian forces were heading towards the nearby towns of Sedniv and Semenivka. Ukrainian military forces reportedly captured significant numbers of Russian equipment and documents.

Hostomel[edit]

Antonov An-225 destroyed after the Battle of Antonov Airport.

Hero of Ukraine - Battle of Antonov Airport

The Battle of Antonov Airport began on 24 February 2022 during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. While initial assaults from Russian Airborne VDV units were repulsed by Ukrainian Forces, the airport eventually fell on February 25 following a second wave of forces. However, despite Russian control of the airport, Ukrainian forces continue to engage Russian units.

The Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest airplane, was at the airport at the time of the opening phase of the battle. It was initially confirmed to be intact by an Antonov pilot, despite the fighting.[7] However, on 27 February, Ukrainian officials reported that the Mriya had been destroyed by a Russian airstrike.[8] On March 4, Russian state-owned television channel Channel One Russia aired footage showing that the Mriya had been destroyed.[9]

Kharkiv[edit]

Hero of Ukraine - Battle of Kharkiv (2022)

The Battle of Kharkiv is an ongoing engagement as part of Russia's Eastern Ukraine offensive. Kharkiv, located just 32 kilometres (20 mi) south of the Russia-Ukraine border and a predominately Russian-speaking city, is the second largest city in Ukraine and is considered a major target for the Russian offensive.[10][11][full citation needed] The battle has been described by a Ukrainian presidential advisor as the "Stalingrad of the 21st century."

Kherson[edit]

Hero of Ukraine - Battle of Kherson

The Battle of Kherson began on 24 February 2022 with Russian Ground units as well as Airborne Forces launching an attack from the Crimean Peninsula, crossing the Dnieper River and capturing the city itself on 2 March 2022. Kherson was the first major Ukrainian city captured by Russian forces in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mariupol[edit]

Hero of Ukraine - Siege of Mariupol

The Siege of Mariupol is an ongoing engagement between Russian along with DPR forces against Ukraine which began on 24 February 2022, as part of the Eastern Ukraine offensive. The extent of the conditions of the siege of the city has been compared to the Siege of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War.[12] Current control of the city is disputed, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently being besieged by Russian and DPR forces as of 13 March 2022.

Volnovakha[edit]

Hero of Ukraine - Battle of Volnovakha

The Battle of Volnovakha was initiated on 25 February 2022 by Russian and DPR forces as part of the Eastern Ukraine offensive of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The battle resulted in the capture of the city on 12 March 2022 by DPR forces. The governor of Donetsk Oblast, Pavlo Kyrylenko stated that the city had been largely destroyed.[13][14] The Associated Press independently confirmed that the town had been captured by pro-Russian separatists and much of it had been destroyed in the fighting.[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Zelenskyy, Volodymyr (6 March 2022). "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №111/2022" [Decree of the President of Ukraine No 111 / 2022]. Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України [Official Internet Representation of the President of Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ^ Sudakov, Dmitry (2015-05-08). "Hero Cities still victorious and heroic, despite squabble". PravdaReport. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  3. ^ "Zelensky gives the honorary title 'Hero City' to Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Hostomel, and Volnovakha". The Kyiv Independent news desk. March 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Zelensky awards Hero City title to Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Hostomel and Volnovakha". Interfax-Ukraine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ Channon, Max (2022-02-25). "Ukraine 'halts Russian advance' on city, reports UK MoD". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  6. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Russia has failed to take any of its major objectives, lost 450 personnel and made 'limited progress', Ministry of Defence says". Sky News. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  7. ^ "Antonov An-225 reported safe". www.key.aero. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  8. ^ Tabahriti, Sam. "World's largest cargo aircraft was destroyed during a Russian attack on an airfield, Ukrainian minister says". Business Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  9. ^ Jankowicz, Kieran Corcoran, Mia. "Video shows charred wreck of world's biggest airplane, the Antonov AN-225, after it was destroyed in Russian invasion of Ukraine". Business Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  10. ^ Higgins, Andrew (2022-02-24). "Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is a major target of Russia. Here's why". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  11. ^ The Washington Post, 2022-03-13
  12. ^ "Siege of Ukraine's Mariupol city draws comparisons with Nazi blockade of Leningrad". Firstpost. 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  13. ^ "Eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha destroyed after Russia invasion, local governor says". Reuters. 2022-03-12. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  14. ^ Kyiv, Richard Spencer. "Putin wipes out entire Ukrainian city of Volnovakha". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  15. ^ "Heavy fighting leaves much of Volnovakha in ruins". euronews. 2022-03-12. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
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