On June 3rd, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska awarded the first recipients of the newly established “Future of Ukraine” distinction.
Among the 24 honored children were Kira Obedynska, Illia Matviienko, and Oleksandr Radchuk — Ukrainian children who had been forcibly transferred by the Russian Federation and have since returned home.
The awardees included children who had rescued others from danger, survived Russian attacks and occupation, supported Ukraine’s defenders, and demonstrated extraordinary resilience and civic responsibility in times of war.
The “Future of Ukraine” award was established by presidential decree on May 29 and aims to recognize children whose stories and actions inspire the nation.