Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump one of Ukraine’s highest state honours in recognition of her contribution to humanitarian efforts during the
war, including assistance in securing the evacuation of civilians from a frontline town.
A presidential decree published on Wednesday confirmed that Melania Trump had received the Order of Princess Olga, First Class. The document, dated November 2, praised her “significant personal contribution” to humanitarian support for Ukraine and her efforts to protect Ukrainian children, particularly those deported or forcibly transferred from Russian-occupied territories.
The award recognises women who have made outstanding contributions to society in fields such as science, education, culture and charitable activities.
According to Ukrainian officials, Melania Trump played a key role in facilitating a six-day ceasefire that enabled civilians to leave the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky. The temporary suspension of hostilities ended on Sunday, following what officials described as an unprecedented humanitarian operation.
The evacuation was particularly significant given the scale of the fighting in the region. Ukrainian authorities said the six-day pause was the longest locally agreed cessation of hostilities since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Melania Trump said that nearly 800 people had been evacuated from the area during the operation, providing a rare opportunity for civilians to escape the dangers of the frontline.
Her recognition comes amid continued international efforts to address the humanitarian consequences of the war, including the displacement of civilians and the fate of Ukrainian children taken from occupied territories.
The Order of Princess Olga, named after the medieval ruler of Kyivan Rus, is awarded to women for exceptional achievements and contributions to Ukraine. The first-class distinction represents the highest level of the order. Photo by Marc Nozell from Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA, Wikimedia commons.
