Ukrainian farmer Oleksandr Hordiienko, who worked in the frontline area, shot down drones and manually cleared fields of mines, has been posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. The corresponding decree by President Volodymyr Zelensky was published on the President's Office website on November 10.
“For civic courage, heroic service to the Ukrainian people during the defense of Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity, I decree to confer the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Order of 'Gold Star' to Hordiienko Oleksandr Dmytrovych — head of the NGO 'Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Kherson Region' (posthumously),” the document states.
Hordiienko was a deputy of the Kherson Regional Council and the owner of the farming enterprise 'Hordiienko'. He died on September 5 during a Russian drone attack on his car, reported the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin.
The farmer received support from American businessman Howard Buffett and the 'Harvest of Victory' fund, which provided him with combines and tractors free of charge, allowing him to work under the cover of electronic warfare systems. Despite this, the farm suffered significant losses: the base was destroyed by aerial bombs, and drones burned down a house, a tractor, and other equipment.
Hordiienko independently shot down about a hundred Russian drones using electronic warfare systems and a rifle. After the partial de-occupation of Kherson region, he cleared hundreds of hectares of fields, neutralizing several thousand anti-tank mines.
On October 21, the Verkhovna Rada supported the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to Hordiienko, his daughter Alina reported. Earlier, the necessary 25,000 votes for this were collected by the corresponding petition.
