Hero of Ukraine

Hero of Ukraine Герой України
Top: Order of the State (left), Order of the Gold Star (right), Bottom: Miniature Medal
Awarded by the President of Ukraine
Type	National order
Eligibility	Citizens of Ukraine
Awarded for	"personal heroism and great labor achievements"
Status	Active
Grades	Order of the State (HOU) Order of the Gold Star (HOU)
Statistics
Established	23 August 1998
First induction	26 November 1998
Last induction	20 February 2017
Total inductees	432
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Next (lower)	Order of Liberty
Ribbon bar of the award

Hero of Ukraine (HOU) (Ukrainian: Герой України, Heroy Ukrayiny) is the highest national title that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the President of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as of 20 February 2017 the total number of awards is 432. The title is granted to two different order recipients, a civilian Order of State and a military Order of Gold Star.

There has been controversy over some of the awards, including allegations that they have either been politically motivated or given to those undeserving of the award.

The origin of the "Hero of Ukraine" award can be traced to the Hero of the Soviet Union (established 16 April 1934) and the Hero of Socialist Labor (27 December 1938), the highest decorations established in the Soviet Union, of which Ukraine was a constituent republic. Most of the recipients of the former title received it for heroic military action (with Soviet cosmonauts being a notable exception), while those awarded the latter were recognized for their contributions to national economy and culture. The awards could be given to the same individual more than once, and only the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet could deprive a recipient of the award once given. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, similar awards were created in the resulting independent countries, including Ukraine.

The title Hero of Ukraine was created on 23 August 1998 with Edict #944/98 by President Leonid Kuchma. Similar in structure to the titles issued by the Soviet Union, the title is awarded in two distinctions: "The Order of the Gold Star" and "The Order of the State". Unlike the Soviet awards, Ukrainian law allows a person to receive a title in each distinction only once, although the person may receive both levels in due course. This means that if a holder of the Order of the State performs a heroic action, he or she can be presented with the Order of the Gold Star. Vice versa, if labor achievements of a holder of the Order of the Gold Star are recognized to be of exceptional value to the nation, the recipient can be eligible to receive the Order of the State. Either of the distinctions can be presented posthumously, and a hero may only have his title removed by the president if they are convicted of a serious crime.