On October 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi honored defenders from the 

for their fight against the occupiers.

The head of state announced this in a traditional video message late in the evening on October 7.

"And today I want to honor the soldiers of the

. For these 225 days, 29,887 Ukrainian soldiers have already been honored state awards. 178 soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine," said the Ukrainian politician.

Zelenskyi noted that "such scale of courage and heroism of our fighters unequivocally proves that Ukraine cannot be stopped. And each of the Russian strikes, all manifestations of Russian terror - against Zaporizhzhia, against Kharkiv, against Mykolaiv, against Donbas and all our other territories - only prove that the liberation of our entire land is the only foundation of peace and security for all Ukrainians."

Deoccupation of Luhansk region

The beginning of the de-occupation of Luhansk Oblast was officially announced on October 5.

Serhii Gaidai, the head of the Luhansk OVA, reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already raised Ukrainian flags in some settlements of the region.

Already in the evening, the head of the OVA announced that the Ukrainian army had liberated six settlements in the Luhansk region. 

On October 7, the Ukrainian military publishes a video from Makiyivka in the Luhansk region.

The footage shows that the Armed Forces entered the village and dropped Russian flags.

However, there is still no official confirmation from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Read also:

• Deoccupation of Luhansk region: Gaidai explained the importance of Kreminnaya for the counteroffensive

• Counteroffensive of the Armed Forces: the expert told how the occupiers are fleeing from Luhansk region

• The Armed Forces of Ukraine freed Grekivka in Luhansk region: Gaidai described the situation in the region