Cross of Military Merit will offer tangible rewards to soldiers — Zelenskyy files bill in parliament

The president stated that he signed and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law about respect for warriors awarded the Cross of Military Merit. It is a high honor, but at the legal level, this distinction holds only symbolic significance.

"We will ensure that the award provides warriors with real benefits, and in the hierarchy of awards, the Cross of Military Merit will be ranked between the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky," Zelenskyy emphasized.

He added that as of today, 318 warriors have been awarded the Cross of Military Merit, each of whom deserves gratitude.

The head of state urged the Verkhovna Rada to promptly prepare the draft law for voting.

Photo: Cross of Military Merit (decree of the President of Ukraine)

Cross of Military Merit

The Cross of Military Merit is a Ukrainian state award established on May 5, 2022. It is presented by the President of Ukraine to military personnel for bravery, heroism, and successful combat operations.

This award can be received by both soldiers and commanders if they have shown courage on the front line or successfully conducted an operation in battle. The award may also be given in situations where a person risked their life or acted under enemy fire.

The first recipient of this award was the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

The award’s design features a cross with swords pointing upward — a symbol of victory.

Last year, the Cabinet of Ministers introduced payments for Ukrainians who have been awarded the Cross of Military Merit three times.