Member of the Ukrainian national team and skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has been awarded the Order of Freedom by a decree of President Volodymyr Zelens

The corresponding decree was published on February 12 on the President’s website.

As stated in the decree, the award was given “for selfless service to the Ukrainian people, civic courage and patriotism in defending the ideals of freedom and democratic values”.

Today, Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified before the first run at the 2026 Olympics for refusing to replace the “Helmet of Remembrance”, which depicted Ukrainian athletes killed by Russians.

The Order of Freedom is a state award of Ukraine established to honor citizens for outstanding and special merits in strengthening Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, consolidating Ukrainian society, developing democracy, socioeconomic and political reforms, and defending constitutional rights and freedoms.