Hero of Ukraine

Hero of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Герой України, transliteration: Heroy Ukrayiny; Russian: Герой Украины) is the highest state decoration that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma, and currently has two classes of distinction: one for heroism and the other for achievement in labor. Since the technical scientist Borys Paton first received the title in 1998, 173 people have been awarded the title. The decoration of Hero of Ukraine closely resembles awards in neighboring states, such as Russia's Hero of the Russian Federation and Belarus's Hero of Belarus. The nature of these decorations together has been historically and culturally influenced by decorations awarded in the now-defunct Soviet Union (USSR), especially (in this particular case), the prestigious Hero of the Soviet Union.