Zelenskyy awards Hero of Ukraine title to defender Dmytro Maslovskyi, who died in hand-to-hand combat

The president announced this on Telegram.

“Dmytro’s last battle, a fight in Donetsk region, was witnessed by millions of Ukrainians. Exemplary bravery from our warrior. Ukraine will always remember this courage. I handed over the Hero of Ukraine’s ‘Golden Star’ to his mother,” Zelenskyy wrote.

The award was granted to the fallen soldier for personal courage and heroism in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for selfless service to the Ukrainian people, according to the decree.

About Dmytro Maslovskyi

Dmytro Maslovskyi was born on November 7, 1994, in the village of Yanyshivka, Podilskyi district, Odesa region. From 2017 to 2020, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

In 2023, he was mobilized for military service. Maslovskyi served in the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade, participating in battles in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia directions.

In late November 2024, the Lyubashivska community reported that the defender was killed on November 17 during a combat mission near the village of Trudove in Donetsk region.

In January 2025, Russian Telegram channels circulated a video of hand-to-hand combat between a Russian and a Ukrainian soldier, in which the Ukrainian soldier was killed. Military medic Vitsyk confirmed that the video featured Dmytro Maslovskyi.