Receiving the State Award "Hero of Ukraine" (posthumously)

Receipt of the State Award ‘Hero of Ukraine’ (posthumously)

The State Award ‘Hero of Ukraine’ is the highest degree of distinction awarded for special services to the state. The title can be awarded both during one's lifetime and posthumously. The posthumous awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine is an act of recognition of the feat, courage, and self-sacrifice of a person who died while performing their duty to the state and people of Ukraine.

Legal basis for receiving the State Award ‘Hero of Ukraine’ (posthumously)

The procedure for awarding the title of Hero of Ukraine is established by the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Awards of Ukraine’ and Decrees of the President of Ukraine.

Before starting the application process, it is necessary to clearly understand what actions are being considered for the award. The legislation defines the criteria that are mandatory for justifying the award initiative.

• Demonstration of exceptional courage and heroism that contributed to the strengthening of state sovereignty.
• Outstanding labour achievements or contribution to the development of society.
• A heroic act that led to the death of a person while performing official or civic duties.

This wording allows for both military merit and civic heroism to be taken into account. Particular attention is paid to evidence confirming the social significance of the person's actions.

Who can initiate the posthumous award of the title ‘Hero of Ukraine’?

The initiation procedure is somewhat flexible. This means that not only state bodies can be initiators. Submissions can come from various sources, both official and from relatives of the deceased. The main initiators are

• Military units or subunits in which the person served (with the conclusion of the command).
• The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine and other central executive bodies (as the main initiators).
• Local authorities or self-government bodies (mainly through executive committees or councils).
• Public organisations or volunteer associations (provided there is sufficient justification and support).
• Relatives of the deceased person or their legal representatives (may act independently or through lawyers).

After receiving the application, the Office of the President of Ukraine has the right to conduct an independent investigation of the circumstances and request additional clarification or evidence.

List of documents for applying for the State Award ‘Hero of Ukraine’ (posthumously)

In order to avoid delays in the review process, it is necessary to ensure in advance that the package of documents is complete and accurate. The collected documents must confirm both the identity of the applicant and the fact of the heroic act of the deceased. The required documents include:

1. Application for the award (from the authority, family or representative with the appropriate signature);
2. Biographical data of the person (copy of passport, TIN, personal file — if available);
3. Documents confirming the circumstances of death and specific merits (extracts, orders, official notes, reports, testimonies);
4. Characteristics from the command or officials (preferably with a wet seal and signatures of immediate superiors);
5. Photos, media publications, videos or other materials confirming the feat (if available);
6. Official death certificate (extract from the combat log, certificate, death certificate);
7. Document confirming the applicant's legal capacity (e.g. power of attorney or document confirming family relationship).

In addition to the basic package, additional documents may be submitted that provide more insight into the circumstances or significance of the person. These may include letters of support, recommendations, interviews, reviews from public figures or other participants in the events.

After all the necessary documents have been collected, they are sent to the Office of the President of Ukraine, where they are reviewed, after which a decision is made to award or deny the award.

Important aspects of receiving the State Award ‘Hero of Ukraine’ (posthumously):

There are a number of conditions and nuances that should be taken into account when preparing the application. This will help to avoid rejection of the application on formal grounds.

The title can only be awarded to citizens of Ukraine. In exceptional cases, foreigners may be granted citizenship posthumously before the award.

There are no strict deadlines for reviewing applications, but you should be prepared for a review period of 3-6 months. If necessary, the family can receive a response faster by contacting a member of parliament or the relevant committee.

Posthumous awards do not entail automatic social guarantees, but under certain circumstances, the family may apply for additional assistance through local budgets, charitable foundations, or programmes of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.

These points should be taken into account when calculating the time and effort required for the procedure.

Frequently asked questions about receiving the Hero of Ukraine state award (posthumously):