Chuhuyev's pride: our compatriot is a Hero of Ukraine!
Chuguiv region is celebrating an extraordinary event: according to the Decree of the President of Ukraine, the highest state award — the title of HERO OF UKRAINE with the award of the Order of the Gold Star — has been awarded to our compatriot, a military woman who dedicated her life to defending the Motherland, YULIA KHNYKINA.
This news has a special meaning for our community. Yulia is one of us: she was born here, taking her first steps through the streets of our city, here she studied, tempering her character and gaining knowledge that later became the foundation of her feat, here she lived, making plans for the future that she is now heroically fighting for all of us.
The awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine is a recognition not only of the personal courage and professionalism of our Defender, but also evidence that the Chuguiv land gives birth to true titans of the spirit.
“We always knew that our people are courageous and indomitable. But today the heart of every resident of the community is filled with special trepidation. This is not just a state award — it is a symbol of our gratitude for every peaceful morning that Yulia Khnykina and her comrades give to their hometown. We are proud of our Heroine! Her path — from an ordinary girl from a neighboring street to a cavalier of the «Golden Star» — will become an example for entire generations of Chugui residents. Raising such a daughter is a great feat of a mother's heart. Thank you to our Heroine's mother for raising a true patriot, whose name is now forever inscribed in the history of Ukraine in golden letters. Your faith and support have become her strongest shield!” – noted the mayor of Chugui, Glina Minaeva, on her Facebook page.
Junior Sergeant KHNIKINA Yulia Nikolaevna was born on 06.02.1989 in the city of Chuguiv. She graduated from 11 grades of secondary school No. 8, then studied at the Chuguiv vocational lyceum, received the profession of an accountant, later a hairdresser. In December 2020, she signed a military contract with the command of the 54th separate mechanized brigade named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa. She served as part of the brigade artillery group as a computer operator, detachment commander. As part of the brigade, she participated in the Joint Forces Operations in the battles for the Svitlodar Arc, in the Bakhmut, Siversk, Soledar area. Lysychansk, Kupyansk, Horlivka, Popasna and almost throughout the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Yulia met a full-scale war in the Donetsk direction. At that time, the brigade units were on the defensive in the Marinka and Krasnohorivka areas. Next was Soledar-Bakhmut. In December 2023, Yulia signed a contract with the command of the "Skala" battalion. Here she continued her combat career as a UAV pilot, and was later appointed to the position of commander of the UAV detachment. Hundreds of flights behind the front line for the purpose of reconnaissance and surveillance, adjusting artillery fire and precisely directing strikes on enemy targets. As part of the battalion, Yulia was involved in battles in the area of Avdiivka, Maryinka, Zaporizhia, Chasovy Yar, New York, Toretsk, Pokrovsk. During direct participation in the fighting, Yulia received several concussions and wounds, but each time she returned to her comrades to continue to destroy the enemy with them, to fight for her Motherland.
During her service, Yulia was repeatedly awarded. She has awards from the President of Ukraine and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. On February 24, 2026, for her personal courage and heroism shown in protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and selfless service to the Ukrainian people, she was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. The announcement of Yulia Khnykina's award states that she "Distinguished herself during the repulse of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation troops into Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. Thanks to her courage and professionalism, a significant number of occupiers were destroyed and their advance was restrained.". On March 6, 2026, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Yulia Khnykina with the Order of the Golden Star.
