Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree to strip 34 individuals of their state awards, in line with a decision by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. The list includes former officials, such as members of parliament, heads of the Security Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office, as well as Russian political, religious, and cultural figures.
Among those affected by the decree are Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian People’s Deputy, and Mykola Azarov, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine. State awards were also revoked from several prominent Russian figures, including singers Nikolai Baskov, Philip Kirkorov, Alexander Malinin, composer Igor Krutoy, and singers Ani Lorak and Taisiya Povaliy.
The decree, which applies the sanctions indefinitely, reflects Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to hold accountable those perceived as betraying the country or supporting Russian interests amid the ongoing conflict.
