Russia-Ukraine war: People of Ukraine officially given EU’s top human rights prize in France ceremony

From left to right, head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU Vsevolod Chentsov, State Emergency Services of Ukraine Stanislav Kulykivskyi, Mayor of Ukrainian city of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov, Founder of the medical evacuation unit Angels of Taira Yulia Paevska, Nobel Peace Prize winner and head of Centre for Civil Liberties Oleksandra Matviichuk, Spokesperson of the Yellow Ribbon Civil Resistance Movement Yaroslav Bozhko and Director of the Department for emergency prevention, State Emergency Services of Ukraine Oleksandr Chekryhin, pose with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, third from right, after receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Award. Photo / AP

The people of Ukraine and their representatives were given the European Union’s top human rights prize on Wednesday for their resistance to Russia’s invasion and defiance during the ongoing war.

The 27-nation bloc awarded the “brave people of Ukraine” the prize in October. Yulia Pajevska, founder of the medical evacuation unit Angels of Taira, human rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk and Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the occupied city of Melitopol, were on hand to receive it during a solemn ceremony in Strasbourg, France.

“We have witnessed the inspiring resistance of ordinary citizens making the ultimate sacrifice to delay a column of tanks, senior citizens standing up to face down Russian troops with nothing but pride as their weapons. Brave women forced to give birth in underground metro stations,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

“To these people, the message from Europe has been clear. We stand with Ukraine. We will not look away,” she said.

The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.

It’s the second straight year EU lawmakers used the Sakharov Prize to send a message to the Kremlin.

Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny won it last year.

The defiance of Ukrainians during the nearly 10-month-old war has persisted despite an uptick in attacks in recent weeks. Ukrainian forces have reclaimed broad swaths of the country, dealing a blow to Russia’s military prestige, since launching a counteroffensive in late August. - AP